Foxy Tales

I was up at 5.00 am this morning, looking out of my window across the sea wondering if anyone was across the sea looking out of their window at me. You see last night was the book club (or as the husbands call it 'The Wine Club'). We take it in turns to meet in each other's houses and everyone takes a bottle - Co-op pink fizz is the choice of the moment. (The host always has to supply several more.) I arrived home after midnight and an alcohol fuelled exhaustion lulled me to a quick slumber. However, at 5.00a.m I was wide awake. So there I was, in my curlers and pink mules, a cup of tea in one hand and two paracetamol in the other staring out across the still, pre-dawn ocean when I noticed - a dog? walking up Southcliff, keeping close to the wall. I looked around for it's owner, but as it got closer the large bushy tail gave it away and I realised that I was fnally witnessing The Southcliff Fox. I'd heard tell of him from the neighbours, (those with young children, or others setting out for an early fishing trip). He stopped outside my window and jumped over the low railings onto the grass on the cliff top, and then for no apparent reason stood perfectly still, turned and looked out to sea, raising his head as if listening for something from far away. Was he perhaps wondering if somewhere across the ocean another fox was standing like him, staring back? I felt a certain affinity with this elegant, wild, ethereal creature. He remained like this for a full 15 seconds, then, perhaps sensing my stare he turned, and trotted silently away. If when you stay, you find yourself up early in the morning, take a look out of the window. And if you see the Southcliff Fox, give him a wave from me.