(I could drink sangria in the park, but doubt it would do much to enhance my professional reputation.)

I count myself so very lucky.

I started my dog-walking business almost seventeen years ago, and am pleased to say I have regular ‘ideal’ days – despite the frequently inclement weather we suffer here in the west of Scotland.

I mean, how cool is it, being able to spend your day with small packs of happy dogs in the beautiful, local countryside? It’s not just the dogs, either. Through time, I get to know the various other animals, birds in particular, over whose territory we pass on our walks. I used to have three crows, for instance, that would fly from their roost on the other side of a loch, when I entered the field and whistled for them. They would follow the dogs and myself over a two mile route, hopping on the ground close to me in the hope of scrounging some dog biscuits.

I’m a sucker for all that stuff, so they always got their wish.

Squirrels, buzzards, swans, cattle, sheep, foxes, deer, rabbits: I share my day with them all.

So here’s how my most ‘ideal (non-weekend) day’ would pan out:

06:00 – rise and shine. Either head to the gym for a solo session, or go a run.

07:45 – update my diary / accounts for the day.

08:30 – breakfast while catching up with ‘Eastenders’ on BBC I-player. 😉

09:30 – out on dog walks / cat & other pet visits until @ 16.00.

16:00 – blog / book writing / play some loud music.

18:00 – sit ups / stretches / weights.

19.00 – depends – some evenings, I’ll have tennis matches; sometimes I’ll watch football on TV; I may go to a Circuit session at the gym (I wouldn’t have done a solo, morning session if I’d planned to go in the evening) or perhaps just chill and watch television in the company of my wife.

10:30 – bed.

Hey – it’s not the most exciting, I know, but until I retire, it’ll do for me.

Best of all – I actually get paid to spend my day this way!

Now that’s what I call an ideal day!

😉