Today is the first day of June, not that you’d know it by the weather. It’s barely above 10c and raining again. David decided we needed to go to the Post Office and as I had a package to mail we went together. Did we get anything exciting in the post? Dunno – we both went without our mail box keys! I convinced David to come with me to check on Captain Courageous, temperatures had dipped rather low overnight and I was concerned for him, wondering if he was still hanging around or sitting with his feet up by a nice warm fire sipping tea with a dash of brandy. On the way, I very sneakily set two more monkees free! Clarence was the first to go 
Followed by The Organ Grinder (I do hope that doesn’t sound too ghoulish!) 
Unlike poor Captain Courageous these two chimps were lucky enough to find sheltered locations – they’ll be nice and dry at least! As we headed down to Captain Courageous’ location we discussed the possibility of me ending up behind bars over this whole idea. Surely someone out there will be a spoil sport and report me for desecrating the landscape or something worse. I might be looking for bail money before long! As I peered in CC’s direction I told myself ‘My Gosh! He’s GONE!!’ ‘He’s NOT there’ — then I realised I was looking in the wrong spot as I felt CC’s piercing eyes burning a hole in the back of my head. There he was! Right where I had left him! I wasn’t sure whether to jump for joy, or feel totally deflated that no-one had found him yet! Given the weather and his location I think it could be next weekend before he’s actually found. Clarence and The Organ Grinder however will disappear quicker than that I think!
This idea wouldn’t work everywhere, but I happen to live – you guessed it – in Merrickville, Ontario. Merrickville has been called the ‘Jewel of the Rideau’ and over the last several years has become a hot spot for tourists. Lots of gifty/crafty/artsy stores combined with the Rideau Canal that cuts through the village make for a wonderful destination. For better or worse I chose today to place some monkees in the Wild. I headed out the door and down town. The sky looked a bit ominous but I wasn’t worried, I wasn’t going far. I confess it was the strangest feeling, knowing I was on a secret mission and at the same time feeling very obvious. As I passed through the park by the Canal I was scouting out good hidey spots, but not really plucking up courage to HIDE anything in case someone saw me doing it and I got fined for littering or something worse! I had a spot in mind and proceded on to it. I reached into my pocket and pulled the first monkee out – Oh Good! It was Captain Courageous! What a perfect way to start! 
As I drew close to the hiding spot I felt a few drops of rain. As I grew closer I realised it wasn’t rain but hail. By the time I reached the hidey place it was beating hard hail on me and Captain Courageous! I admit I felt awfully guilty hanging him up in the wind and hail all on his own! It felt a bit like leaving one of my children out at night for the wolves to devour! (not that I EVER did that!). POOR CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS!! There he hung, battered by wind and hail looking oh so lonely. I wished him well, wiped a tear from eye and turned my back on him, feeling like a most horrible traitor! By this time the hail was pelting my hands and face and really starting to sting! There was no way I could hide more monkees in this weather. Deserving of a reward, or something to deaden the guilty feeling I had, I stopped by the chip wagon for a treat. It was still raining/hailing but not quite so heavily by this point, so I tucked the box of fries in my coat and hurried home. I climbed over slippery mountains of hail and waded through rivers of the stuff before I reached the house – it’s true!! 
That’s Raff’s office in the background and his little chair where he spies on the world. 
Brrrr…. hard to imagine it’s June 1st tomorrow! Wet and guilty I sat down to a dish of Salted and Malted 
Captain Courageous if you can hear me, it’s all for a good cause – really! I’ll check on you in a day or two! I AM sorry, but it did seem like an awfully good idea at the time!