Lochwinnoch

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When I set off on the train from Glasgow to Lochwinnoch I felt quite excited, as you do when you're visiting some place you've never been before. Five minutes into the journey and a large group of children got on. They looked about five or six years of age, and they were excited too. Their adult chaperones herded the squealing kiddiewinks into various seats in the carriage, and before I could fully grasp what was happening, I was surrounded and enveloped in a sea of gushing enthusiasm for what the day had in store. The journey, pleasant at the best of times with nice green swathes of countryside to admire, became more interesting than it had ever been. Various things were being pointed out along the way... 'There's a cow!' said one small child. 'Where?' said another. 'There,' said the first. Everyone in the carriage turned their heads to see. 'Loooook!' said all the children in perfect unison... 'A cow!' Clearly keen to be one step ahead of everyone else, the young boy who first noticed the cow then gave an update: 'There's more than one of them!' he said, as calmly as he could, which was difficult as he was fidgeting so much with excitement that I was fearful he might wet himself. 'It's a whole herd of cows!!' they all shouted, 'And they're all eating grass!' Not wishing to disappoint them, I duly turned to look, doing my best to adopt a facial expression that said I had never ever seen a cow before, especially one eating grass. And the reason the kids were so excited? ... they were off to see birds. Maybe there is hope in the world.