"OK, let's go then", I said to my dog, Max.
He was sat there right in front of me gazing at me with his big brown intelligent eyes, willing me to look his way, telling me it was time for his walk.
As I spoke, he bounced up and ran to the door, his tail almost wagging his backside off. He rushed back to me and then back to the door whining in his excitement.
"Come here Max!" I said as I grabbed his collar and lead from the side. He came to me quickly and stood still briefly, long enough for me to snap his collar together before he rushed off to the door again.
I finished tying my boots, put my phone and cigs in my pocket, grabbed my keys and opened the door.
Max bounded out waiting for the gate to be opened getting ready to rush out.
"In the car!", I said before he started up the street. I let him onto the back seat of the car and went round to the driver's door and stepped in, to be greeted by Max's face level with mine, very pleased with himself for getting onto the passenger seat.
"Where are we going to go then?" I asked him while trying to decide.
I started the car, and we were off. I would normally have taken him to the beach as it was his favourite place, but it was windy and I didn't fancy getting driving sand in my face.
"Let's go to the nature park shall we?" I asked him.
He bounded into the back and then back into the front again showing his excitement at recognising the words.
It was a quick ten minute drive up the road and I parked in the usual spot, at the bottom of a slow gradient hill that was once a slag heap from the coal mine that used to occupy the ground. It had been transformed into the nature reserve when the mining industry had been closed down, making the phrase 'Bringing coals to Newcastle' redundant as coal was actually being brought to Newcastle from abroad.
I let the dog out and he shot off, tearing around the long grass in his excitement. He did what he needed to do before getting down to the serious business of sniffing.
As I walked slowly up the hill, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, I remembered a similar day 12 years ago when I first moved up to the area. It was a beautiful autumn day; fresh but not cold, with the autumn colours of red, gold and brown being lit by the sinking yellow light of the sun that made them stand out against the blue sky.
I was lonely then, having just split up with my first love. We knew that it wouldn't work out between us as neither of us wanted a long distant relationship and we both knew that it was time for me to move on. My heart was broken but I knew that the university degree course I was enrolled on was the right one for me, especially as I'd had to fight so hard to get it.
As I was walking, I wished I had brought my camera with me. It was one of those things that I had let get away from me since becoming a professional. As I spent all day, every day with a camera in my hand, I often forgot to use it for my own enjoyment. I loved my job, and didn't want to do anything else, but it was easy to forget the passion and enthusiasm that came from just creating the pictures that I wanted, not what some client or picture editor wanted.
I turned around to see what Max was doing and shouted for him. He looked up at me, had one last sniff where he was stood and came charging towards me. I walked on, listening as the thuds of his paws sounding like mini horse hooves came towards me and then rushed past me.
I smiled at him. You would never believe that he was five, he acted more like a puppy, but he was good for me. I loved his characteristics and his little funny traits and he kept my heart happy.
As I reached the top of the hill I stopped and looked at the spectacular views. The hills of the Cheviots stretched away in the north and I could just about see the North Sea with the white topped waves in the east.
In the corner of my eye a movement attracted my attention. At the same time Max noticed as well. His ears pricked up and his tail went up, just watching. As we watched, I saw a big Dalmatian appear from behind a hedge making short work of hauling the woman on the other end of the lead behind him. As the Dalmatian saw Max he lunged away from his poor hapless owner and rushed up to us.
I knew Max would be OK with this dog – Dalmatians were his favourite friends, and I scrambled down the bank to where the woman lay on her front. As I got there I could hear her grumbling to herself,
"Bloody dog, always does what he wants".
"Are you OK?" I asked as I kneeled down beside her.
"Yes, I guess so", she said as she started to pull herself up to her knees. She examined her hands and her clothes, "Nothing broken or bleeding except my pride, although I'm not sure about these grass stains on my shirt".
"I wouldn't worry about that", I said, "just be glad you didn't land in a little land-mine that our friends leave and their owners don't pick up!"
She chucked, "True!"
She looked up at me. I was finally able to see her face properly. She had an almond shape face, with short dark hair styled so it flicked around her face, softening it and the most beautiful dark eyes I had ever seen. She licked her full lips and before saying, "Where's my dog?"
"Oh, he's up there with mine", I smiled as I looked at her.
She looked around and could see that Max and her dog were getting on just fine.
"Oh, good", she said as she picked herself up off the floor.
"Hi, I'm Hannah", she introduced herself holding out her hand.
"Jess", I said, taking her hand.
"They look like they're enjoying themselves", she said nodding towards our dogs. They were playing now, running around and chasing each other before turning and crashing into each other, chest on chest.
"Yea, Max loves Dalmatians", I said as I watched them.
"Good, I hope it'll tire Tyson out. He takes a lot of exercise and it's difficult with him being so big!"
"Max is like that", I smiled, "Hopefully they'll tire each other out! Do you want to go and sit down?" I asked, pointing to a seat at the top of the hill, where I had come from.
"Yes please, I need a bit of a breather".
We clambered up the bank and sat down on the bench. I took out my cigarettes and offered her one.
"Thanks", she said, taking it out of the packet with her long slim fingers and short cut, but manicured nails.
I lit my cigarette before offering her a light. She cupped her hands round mine to prevent the flame going out in the wind, holding on a fraction too long. As she inhaled she said, "That's better! I've been trying to quit on and off for a few months but there's nothing like a good smoke after being knocked off my feet by a loony dog!"
I laughed and said, "True, although I've only ever been knocked off my feet by Max once so I haven't got much experience with that!"
"Oh, it happens quite frequently with me!" she laughed.
I could see she was studying me quite openly. Much as I had taken in the rest of her as she walked up the bank; her curvy tight backside in her low cut jeans, and her well proportioned breasts hidden in her fitted and now grass-stained shirt.
"I can see why it takes quite a bit to pull you over", she said. "Do you work out?"
"Sometimes. I tend to keep fit more by playing sport – tennis, cycling and walking the dog of course, and also my job is fairly active. I tend to get bored in the gym and much prefer being outside."
I had always been an active sort of person. Never sitting still as a kid and always finding something to do outside rather than sitting inside watching TV. I had been fortunate that my parents had encouraged me taking up sport and I'd always had a natural ability to turn my hand to anything. I'd put on a few pounds since leaving school, but I always looked athletic and fit, although generously curvy.
"What made you get a dog like Tyson then?" I asked.