It was full tide on the River Teign last Saturday morning and the water was brimming the riverbank. I had never seen the water level so high. All the birds on the river looked joyous and the ones on the bank even more so for someone had left meat pies for the swans, the ducks and the geese.

Whilst I was taking photographs of the swans and geese an unmanned boat came into view and drifted gently with the tide that had turned. One swan, rather put out by the loose cannon, darted out of its way and gave it a dirty look from the safety of the riverbank. Thus the boat, in a bid for freedom and great adventure, headed for the mouth of the River Teign and the sea. I was in the process of spoiling the boat’s jolly jape by phoning the Coastguard when the boat became stuck in reeds and grasses.

“Thank you for calling us,” said the man at the helm of the Coastguard switchboard (perhaps excited to have some action on a slow day), “I’ll get someone out there to secure the vessel. You have a nice day!”

The wildlife, no longer concerned by the boat caught in the reeds just past their feeding ground, returned to the water. Feeling somewhat virtuous, I went back to the car and proceeded to have a very nice day shopping.