We were dressed like a couple of 'nu ravers'. Me in a fluorescent day-glo jacket and Esme with a flashing collar.

One would have thought we were highly visible on the country lanes. But a disconcertingly high number of drivers seem to be having trouble spotting us.

In recent weeks there have been several near misses as we walk to Cheriton rec for a few circuits before retracing our steps.

Walking the dog in winter is akin to taking your life and putting it into the hands of other people. The hands of people driving at 40 miles per hour whilst perhaps using a mobile phone, unwrapping a chocolate bar or fiddling with a CD. That is everything but looking where they are going and spotting a man and Jack Russell in high-visibility clothing that should be obvious for half a mile.

Completely unscientific analyisis of the close shavers reveals 4x4s and old Ford Escorts as the worst offenders.

Yes, we could trudge the normal country paths but that is no fun after dark, slipping and sliding in the gloom and walking into low-level branches.

If the last-minute swervers carry on we may have to invest in a giant hamster wheel for some indoor exercise.