Fences and neighbours

Got to vent!

We are having a fence replaced at the back of the house. Approx 65metres. First panel goes up, neighbour around complaining about the concrete posts used to keep the panels up, the height of the panel, etc etc. The list is long! Main issue seems to be the asthetics of concrete posts. I explain the need for concrete posts (which are 4" wide) due to the wet clay ground and the poor drainage. To move things along we have adapted fencing at our expense to keep the peace. More work, more complaints. We adapt. More rework for contractor. Everyone happy. I wouldn't mind but i gave them details 2 months previously and everyone agreed! I have put up with abuse and some interesting language, but have remained calm (i know it's not like me!)

Funny part? The poor contractor who is doing the work got doorstepped by the wife of the neighbour today (who has been the worst offender during the past week). Guess what? She wants the contractor to put some fences with concrete posts. Go figure. The funnier part is the contractor is arranging a special high price to do the work as he doesn't like the way we have all been treated. Now that's funny!

You pay for what you sow!

Dark Nights!

Daylight starts about 5am and finishes around 9pm at the moment. Unfortunately, in a few weeks time, the darkness will last to later in the morning and the darkness will descend earlier in the evenings.

4 months and the christmas cards will be out in the shops :)

Do Not Follow Sat Nav!

Are we becoming too reliant on technology?

In part of the south downs i visit regularly we have just had a new sign put up. Seems delivery drivers aren't using maps anymore. The paper map shows via colours and icons difficult roads. Alot of drivers are relying on sat nav and following blindly that seductive voice from the dashboard!

I think we might be seeing more of these signs being erected over the coming months.....but i'm not sure how effective they are as most drivers don't read roadsigns much these days!

Where has the time gone?

It's been a while as alot has happened in the last two weeks - mostly work. Time in paris chasing a big deal, 2 day leadership offsite, 1 day team building - which turned into me on the phone for 1/2 day and lots going on?

The trees?

We've had the tree surgeon in the back garden to take down the fast growing willow which was endangering various gardens and buildings! Now we look for a smaller evergreen to fill in the gap!

Another Day another ride

Another great day weather wise today. Finished work, dinner, then loaded the MTB onto the back of the land rover and headed down the road. 15 mins away is the start of a 10 mile disused rail track (thanks mr beeching) . Good surface for majority of the way, outbound has a slight include that goes for miles and miles so a bit of a slog, but managed to do 17 miles in 90 minutes tonight. When the sun went down (around 2030hrs) it was still 17C ! Another 1500 calories burnt. Just as well as i am on a 7am train into London to catch the eurostar for Paris. Back Friday!

Contrast

Clear blue sky? That's a heat haze. Bet you never thought you would be reading that about good old England.

This is the view over the downs after a very nasty ascent. Deceptive how sudden the hill climbs are. Especially when your near 40 and your getting back into the exercise regime! Heart was hitting 180 beats per minute by the time i got to the top. 2,000 calories burnt though.

Now wheres the nearest McDonald's?

Half way point

22C clear blue skies. What a sales pitch and i bought into it. 2hrs on the MTB over the South Downs towards Winchester.

1/2 way point was cheesefoot head - a welcome stop!

Lost something?

it's probably under the bed !

A little hand

It's amazing where you find a little helping hand ! :)

Size apparently is everything!

After a little experimenting looks like blogspot does not like large-sized JPEG's when you upload them.

The original of this photo is 1.65M in size JPEG, but will not upload properly, but with a bit of adjustment with Photoshop down to an 8in by 12 in image the file size is reduced to 165k high-res JPEG.

Wierd!