Confinement under Covid has brought much wildlife – some native, some clearly not – down into populated parts of the city. In the spring, one night, I watched a rather large wild boar saunter past our balcony. Some weeks later I remember hearing a tremendous racket during the small hours in a neighbouring street by what sounded like a gaggle of geese feeling particularly upset about something. Then there was that time a very colourful parrot swooped down Descartes, clearly ecstatic at having won its freedom from some cage. Just tonight, as I sat on the balcony contemplating the meaning of it all over a glass of wine, I witnessed a breeding pair of young “Pijos” stagger down Muntaner in a heightened state of arousal that required them to stop every ten metres or so against a convenient lamppost or building entrance to reinforce the importance of their mating ritual. I expected them to stagger on…but no. They settled on an element of public furniture just across the street. I suppose the female must have told him “take me now or loose me forever”. 

The show went on and the money shot was them engaging in the reverse cowgirl with her head thrown back with such elegance that it can only have been inspired by the most tasteful of top quality soft-porn. I’m quite an open minded person but I must say I was a bit astonished as it wasn’t even eleven and there were people still milling about with their dogs and their grannies. Ten out of ten for bravado, in my book.

Despite finding it hilarious, I was dying for a pee…but I did give them a standing ovation before going off to the bog.