It's The Pits

Technically, Perhaps Only "The Pit"
NO!  I do not refer to any of the lower circles of Hell, nor any of the higher ones, either.  Although this does have to do with dogs, it's nothing to do with Cerberus - who I'm sure you recall was featured earlier this week in a post by your humble scribe - and if you don't recall that, go back and check.  Or else.

http://comsatangel2002.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/security-logistics-at-gates-of-hell.html

     There.  Now you've got no excuse.     
     Your modest artisan in fact refers to a local feature known as "Gravel Pit", which is between the Summit and Lower Royton.  From it's outline it appears to have been a quarry of sorts a long time ago, because there's no stone or gravel visible.  It does have two springs that perpetually supply a stream of water, one that runs on the pavement, the other that gushes down the approach path and into the gutter.  No fun trying to walk on those in winter when they freeze and still run with water.  The ever-present water also means non-stop mud.
     "Why this lesson in the local geography of your bucolic domicile, Conrad?" I hear you call.  Why I thought you'd never ask!
     Edna, of course, whom I have taken on a different tour each day this week.  I walked her up to the drier edge of the Pit.

Whether the heather -

     Once let off the lead, I had to keep a keen eye out to make sure she didn't run down into the Pit itself, where there were other dogs present, as well as a picturesque water feature.

Safely distant from the Pit

     It was such an extraordinarily nice day that I took a photo of distant Oldham, basking in the sunshine (that will probably count as our entire summer).  Art?

Picturesque.

     Now, after walking around the edge, we then descended into the Pit itself, where I had to keep Edna out of this -

The water, featuring extra mud

     This is why she was off the lead on the drier higher ground, not where she would inevitably, with all the surety of taxes, head for the mud.

The Aftermath
Of course, if she's not being pandered to 24/7, Edna deems life to be barely worth living and will lie in a sulk, facing away from you, just to drive the point home that Conrad Is A Cruel And Neglectful Human:

Sulking downstairs

Sulking upstairs

     At present, since I am typing this up, she is out sulking in the hallway.

A Bit Of Improv
There happened to be a bit of aging tuna in the fridge, and some old cold rice, and past-their-sell-by-date spring onions and cucumber, and I'd opened an extra tin of kidney beans by mistake, so -

Just out of shot: eager doggeh

     Not a bad thrown together salad, actually.  However, your stomach might vary, so best not to share.  O yes the sandwich - got cheese and bread to use up as well, y'know.

Bus Wait Rate
Hopefully I have got across the concept that I'm on leave, although one can say that looking after a small child wearing a fur coat* renders "leave" more like "parental chores" than "carefree holiday".
     One thing I did notice whilst holding court on the settee is how often the 409 buses whiz past the window in both directions.  There goes one now - oh, and another - and another - and two more - and another - <cont. ad nauseum>

Buses are dull.  Have an underwater lawnmower instead

     This is clearly because I'm not using the buses at present.  Were I to venture forth to the bus stop, and the parlous supply situation may make this necessary, then ZAP!! the buses would suddenly run with huge gaps in the schedule, or five would come at once with none stopping, or they would break down at the next stop.


"Futureshocks - The History of 2000AD"
I know what you're thinking - "Conrad's making a meal of this, isn't he?  How much longer can he stretch it out?"
     Yes THANK YOU for your vote of confidence in my creation of quality!  Cheeky blaggards**.
     2000Ad began in a corner of the offices at Fleetway Publications, springing from the heritage of "Action", except in a sci-fi fashion.  It was brash, bold, different and rather like a 10,000 Scoville enema rendered unto the British comic industry.  Fleetway did not get it, nor like it, nor understand it.

Fleetway icon lower left corner.
And, no, I have no idea what the heck this cover is about.  Daredevil vs. the Green Meanies?

     So they sold it, to Egmont, as part of a bundle of titles -

Here an aside.  If you stayed up late into the small hours during the Nineties you got to see some awful dross on television, like "The Highwayman", because this is the drivel that gets sold with premier quality programmes like <thinks desperately> "Friends", since you as the buyer have to take a job lot.

The coolest and best thing about "The Highwayman" - yes the truck

     - and thus it was with publishers Egmont.  They wanted the UK Disney comic franchise - Lovely Fluffy Bunnies - and had to take 2000AD with it - Raving Psycho Mutants.  They did not get it, nor like it, nor understand it (at this point Conrad ceases to buy).  Fast forward and Revolution publishing offer to take 2000AD off Egmont's hands, acting nonchalantly as if doing them a favour (they were!).
     Revolution very much get it.  They fully backed the Editor (Andy Diggle at this point) which is the first time in it's history that this has happened.

Pat Mills, original editor, and considerably less sweary as he's not speaking

Oops, I accidentally wrote 1,001 words, time to go see if I can cheer Edna up with attention and/or food, either of those usually work.

Chin chin!


* This is a metaphor, before you go calling Child Services
** Have you gone and read about Cerberus yet?