Bang! Bang! Bang!

Yep - it's that time again: bird scarers are touching the limits of the legal and driving residents insane. Farmers claim that it's necessary to ensure they don't lose their seeds down birds' gullets - however, if they were in a city, they'd been done for causing a nuisance.

Do we have a two-speed legal system in the world of the countryside? One for farmers and one for the rest of us? Sometimes it seems that way when you are herded off the road by mighty tractors bearing unstable loads; covered in mud by the leavings from a tractor's tyres on the highway; or have your tyres punctured by careless leavings of hedge clippings.

But ... would you really have it any other way. These guys are at the front line of food production. Without them we would only import food and be dependent on others for our daily bread - literally. They need the space to do what they need to do and sometimes, we just have to put up with the consequences. Bird scarers though, aren't they a step too far?

Strange Lights in Jacksons

As I walked my dogs through Jacksons Coppice early one morning I was drawn to a bright light shining out of a wooden box. The box was half covered by branches and lay just off the path.

Intrigued I followed the light.

If I had been a moth this is exactly what Chris would have wanted. He is our local moth expert and luckily I met him furthur along my walk so he could explain to me why he puts the boxes out. He is in the process of collecting data about these insects and you may see the bright light shining from the boxes if you are about early or late in The Marsh or Coppice.

Chris has asked that we please leave them alone so that he can collect more information about these insects.

The community that plays together ...

... stays together. How true that seems after a big bash for Andrew's birthday. What a great night! Young and old together, strutting their funky stuff or not, but enjoying each other's company and shouting hoarsely to make themselves heard above the wonderful band and a well-considered disco.

Bishops Offley is a special place - you'll hear that from many in the community. And the reason? It's simply that the majority of people in the community closely knit without being in each other's pockets. We play. We care. We enjoy. We mourn. We try. Sometimes we succeed. But most of all, we do it together.

So, when all the rest of the guests had mostly left that party, who were left, still dancing, still chatting, still smiling? The Bishops Offley contingent, of course!

P.S. Well done Anne and Andrew!

I'm a small ad that got lost on the way to e-bay

Not often that the Bishop reduces the number of bikes in the stable, but space is getting tight! This one's a pretty basic mountain bike, medium size, 21 gears, no suspension front or rear, and must now be 12 or 13 years old. It's purple.

It's a Saracen, and at the time they had a well-deserved reputation for great value. This one cost around £450 new, and was a steal at that price. I originally bought it for myself, but it was mainly used by the Bishop's good lady wife. It's purple.

The other thing Saracen had a reputation for was the toughest paint-job around, and this certainly doesn't look like a 12-year-old bike. Plus it has of course been rather well-maintained.

Looking for something in the region of £50 - can probably throw in the odd extra accessory, too!

Did I mention it's purple?

The aliens have landed

Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) - it's here and it's staying, unless we do something about it. You'll find it everywhere. Traverse the boardwalk, it's there. Walk up to Offley Marsh, it's along the verge. Webmaster and his assistant even grew this "pretty flower" for a while thinking it was a good thing to have in the garden. It takes some getting rid of.

If you see it, pull it out. If you don't it'll be there a hundred-fold next year. They're coming! Quick! Run away! (Or, on second thoughts, just give 'em a yank.)