Furry good news (From Times Series)

Furry good news

8:30am Thursday 28th August 2008

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In a newsroom, the old adage that “bad news is good news” often rings too true when it comes to filling the paper.

Whether it be the tragic circumstances around a death, residents' disgust at new planning proposals or, as we have written this week, the pending financial doom around the credit crunch, it can all be too emotionally and intellectually draining.

So imagine my joy when I opened my emails last week to read a few lines about a hamster falling from a fifth floor balcony, and surviving.

It was like finding a flavoursome Coco-pop in amongst a drab bowl of Rice Crispies.

With the information I had, I went out to the address and knocked on the potential door of the relieved owner in the hope he would talk me through the highs and lows of the potentially tragic event.

Despite being keen to avoid conjuring stereotypes before meeting people, I did feel I would be met by a slightly aging widower who was solely devoted to the pet he so nearly lost. I couldn’t have got it more wrong.

When a well mannered American music star opened the door I thought I must have gone wrong somewhere, until I saw a furry creature scuttle off behind him.

I was swiftly informed that he didn’t own a hamster, but he did have a ferret which had fallen onto a ledge 60 feet below his flat. That was near enough for me, and so there it was, enjoying the light relief from the dour news agenda which seems all too relentless at the moment.

The guy was really chipper, gracious for the help he had received from the fire service and adoring of the pet. It was a real delight hearing about, chasing up and reporting the story.

So if and when we do get the chance to write stuff which switches from the mundane to the quirky, we will most likely jump on it quicker than a ferret over a balcony.

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