this evening i was out walking the dog in a big field off the lee road, just outside cork city. there was nobody else around, and i was ambling along the banks (speaking of the banks, kerry = owned, cork owns u all) watching the fishies jump. the dog started getting agitated, at first i attributed this to a few anglers who had come through the gate in the distance into the field, heading towards the river. when my gaze returned to the water, i noticed a disturbance in the middle of the swift current upstream. i thought it was a log, but as it got closer it got bigger until i saw it was a big drowning bull. as it was swept towards me, to where the current slowed, it managed to find the ground, and was soon standing in the shallows.

having lived for years in the country and have often had to mind a herd of cattle, i was concerned about the bull and didn't leave until i was sure he'd be alright. i started heading away with the dog when i knew the bull could get onto the land, but i never stopped to think how pissed off he'd be after being battered and nearly drowned in the river. as i was heading back to the car, i noticed the anglers legging it for no apparent reason. when i turned around to look behind me the reason became clear... the bull had managed to drag himself out of the water and was looking for someone to take his anger out on. at first i strolled casually towards the road, but when i heard him bellow like a killer cow of death, followed by the thunder of his hooves i decided it was time to forget about dignity, and legged it towards the road. as i said, it was a big field, and it was at least 150 yards to the gate... but the bull knew this as well as i did, and in his rage he was determined to get me before i reached the safety of the road.

its been a couple of years since quake took the place of active sport in my life, and even back then i wasn't much of a runner... 'fastest in the front row' being my greatest honour. thank god the bull was tired after his long swim or he surely would have caught me, but i made it through the fence, and the dog was waiting there for me. there were a couple of ppl watching, anxious to find out what i said to the bull, because he started roaring like kildareman in a cage, charging back and forth, doing backflips almost. anyway, i lived to tell the tale... but this kind of thing always happens to me :|