Doug Tait

Did he call you Dempsey after that

Granted that sounds awkward. I once said it to a gent I cut hedges for, he laughed uproariously before inviting me up to the "birds nest" attic above the garage. It was like a Naval museum and I got a tour from Vice Admiral (ret.) Sir blah-blah with letters. Think he was the first man to lead a British fleet through all the great lakes. Interesting man.

Thanks, it's not something I'll dwell on though. Worse things happen at sea as they say. I used to box, a little martial arts and plenty of rugby so I'm no stranger to a bit of rough and tumble. Just didn't expect to deal with any more than threats and name calling at work really.

You'd think but In this day and age I'm doubtful of that.

Well Mick my tactic until now when threatened is to say I've been given a direct number to the traffic police for these instances and by the time I photograph the number plate they've usually calmed down and apologise, but this guy didn't give me chance!

I've had a lot of abuse from the general public over recent weeks while doing traffic management for roadside work, several threats of violence, a couple of people even got out their vehicle to "do me in", all in the name of being delayed for a few minutes by a traffic light. Today we were working over a busy junction so 4 way lights operating, unfortunately someone posted on Facebook last week the lights are broken which has led to a substantial amount of drivers ignoring red lights, it was mayhem. When this happens I'll stop them and explain what's happening and how it is for their and our safety. A guy in a Navara took exception to being delayed and when I tried the polite explanation he totally lost it, came out his window punching me before trying to drag me by the collar alongside his truck! I dissuaded him at that point by gently squeezing his windpipe until he let go, then a lady got out her car filming him and asked if I wanted the police which calmed him down and he apologised. I know as a driver myself how frustrating it is to be delayed but what gets in to people to behave like this over a couple of minutes at a traffic light? Anyone else been assaulted at work?

Got it

-10 here until around 10am, took a while to get the tractor and mewp woken up due to frozen diesel. Forecast says it's to warm up a bit (-5) tomorrow

Cutting back Willow today on the little stretch of river I look after. Lovely crisp, quiet day on my own, temp got up to -4 but cosy while working. The ice on branches I pulled out that were just dipping into the water was beautiful.

Well when you put it like that, my integrity is apparently priced at 1 weeks income! In my defence though I don't see it being quite so black and white. If I passed on every job I disagreed with for some reason I'd work a lot less. Incidentally we've been several weeks so far doing a roadside butchery job which I'm far from proud of either.

I know what you mean but I don't think the council should be buying anything. Surely if travellers want a permanent site they have to buy something suitable themselves and apply for Planning Permission, or get on the Social Housing List like the rest of the community. I'd like a log cabin in the woods. Which form do I submit in order to get the Council to buy a woodland of my choosing, install access and amenities, and sort all the permissions it needs...

That unfortunately wouldn't change anything apart from our workload.

He does the sniffing and I do the slaying, what a team we are

Just a local issue but I'm unimpressed. Our benevolent local council (Scottish Borders) are putting out the feelers for a plot of land centrally located in the region. They want to buy somewhere in order to provide a permanent site for Gypsy travellers. They expect to spend over £3million to provide 10-14 pitches with associated services. This particularly bothers me as during the summer we spent a week with 5 guys, trucks, chipper, crane, timber trailer doing a site clearance for the Council on an old abandoned mill site. We were followed by another contractor who erected security fencing and gates to secure the site, all in order that it could be provided as a permanent traveller site. Then the travellers (ironically, having dumped a load of Arb waste) decided they didn't want to live there which has led to this. “Potential sites... most importantly must meet the needs and aspirations of the gypsy/traveller community.” It seems to me that the council intend running a lovely Caravan Club type park, open year round, exclusively for non council tax payers. Bid for a new £3m traveller site is on the agenda | The Southern Reporter WWW.THESOUTHERNREPORTER.CO.UK Private landowners are to be invited to submit bids in a move to establish a permanent £3m travellers site in the...

@woodlover2 you have to stop calling it a shed, it's beyond shed!

Got some snow last night, he's excited, in an old dog kind of way!

That's not the thinking of most Scots around here with an opinion on it. Shows how the regions differ I suppose but in the Borders it's largely accepted that the auld enemy are also our closest kin. Personally, with no Scottish involvement I'd like to have seen England do well, I'll be supporting Croatia now.

Agreed, breeks are troosers up here, it's the the Scots version of Breeches.

Aways had the same effect on me, though I've often been accused of being more dog than man. Been a lovely crisp day here but -8 wind chill makes mewp work miserable.

Moving it will be your first heat from it!

Very nice, like the feeding fox one, and those polecats look like real characters.

Leaving aside the artificial versus real grass argument, the hard landscaping looks to be done well Jack.

That's like the eye test poster in a doctors surgery

I wouldn't overlook using softwood, it is firewood too, and including your location would help. Register here if you haven't already... https://arbtalk.co.uk/recycling

It's doubtful the cow was returned...