P1100614
Subject: A bit of a bitty day.
Please feel free not to forward this on to those who were there on the day but not found in my contacts list.
It was a Walker's morning - Crisp.
We were down a bit on the usual group of voles as we gathered around our leader for morning assembly. Mr. T. spoke to the gathering: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers....." it was at this point that Ros and Wendy stopped listening. This being several seconds after the 'brothers' who, having heard it all before, began trudging off towards the horizon knowing full well that any task at SSNR required trudging off towards the horizon.
And so to make a short story long, Mr. T. explained it was going to be a bit of a bitty day. He proceeded to disgorge various bits of tools along the permissive path and divided us up into various bits of teams to go with the tools. Steve and I were taken a bit further afield to do a bit of bramble bashing. One or other Dave and Jim did a bit of fence repairs, (always prone to exaggeration they will say it was much more than a bit). Remaining voles were given various bits of brash removing, de-elming of the path and making a bit of a fire, (probably the smallest in vole history). Oh, and Mr. T. did a bit of supervision, but having learnt by now this is a bit of a waste of time went off and did a bit of chainsawing.
Come elevenses we had a bit of a break whereupon Mr Pitts joined us for a bit, had a bit of a bite to eat, then wandered off for a bit.
Up to lunchtime it was a bit the same. However after lunch a few of us went off to do a bit of brash bashing further off a bit. Then it started to rain for a bit so we all went home.
Actually there was a bit more than this but I can only remember bits of it.
Anyway thanks to all who came and I'll see you all in a bit.
Footnote
On arriving at SSNR I discovered a young gentleman hammering iron stakes into the ground for way marker arrows. On approaching him he thought I may be wondering what he was doing. I did make comment along the lines that I was mildly interested. He informed me that the base was having a cross country run next day. I politely enquired if he had sought permission of the Greensand Trust whose land this was. He replied he had spoken to 'people in the houses'!
At this point I mentioned that we (GT) were rather concerned about certain previous incidents, namely taking down fencing, failing to reinstate said fencing and driving over newly planted trees. I suggested it may have been appropriate to mention the forthcoming run. On consideration he agreed and wondered who he should contact. I replied how fortunate he was as a Ranger would shortly be joining us. Whereupon we were joined by Mr Spencer. Having recounted the story so far the young gentlemen then explained he had not been sure who he should have contacted. Mr Spencer very helpfully showed the young gentlemen the rather large notice board nearby that had all the relevant contact details displayed. Mr Spencer also mention the previous unfortunate occurrence relating to the base's excursions into the nature reserve.
The young gentlemen continued to disavow himself of any knowledge of such events. Mr. T. explained some of the niceties of mutual respect neighbours should have for one another.
Now this slight misunderstanding is all cleared up I am sure we will get on amicably with our neighbours from hell.
For the benefit of Wendy I have removed those words and phrases that make have occurred during the above discourse. They could possibly be considered slightly offensive to the more gentile voles amongst us and possibly may have shocked the young gentleman who came to hammer in a few iron posts for way marker arrows on someone else's land.
Once again, many thanks to all who came and did a bit on the day.
Malcolm
P1100614
Subject: A bit of a bitty day.
Please feel free not to forward this on to those who were there on the day but not found in my contacts list.
It was a Walker's morning - Crisp.
We were down a bit on the usual group of voles as we gathered around our leader for morning assembly. Mr. T. spoke to the gathering: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers....." it was at this point that Ros and Wendy stopped listening. This being several seconds after the 'brothers' who, having heard it all before, began trudging off towards the horizon knowing full well that any task at SSNR required trudging off towards the horizon.
And so to make a short story long, Mr. T. explained it was going to be a bit of a bitty day. He proceeded to disgorge various bits of tools along the permissive path and divided us up into various bits of teams to go with the tools. Steve and I were taken a bit further afield to do a bit of bramble bashing. One or other Dave and Jim did a bit of fence repairs, (always prone to exaggeration they will say it was much more than a bit). Remaining voles were given various bits of brash removing, de-elming of the path and making a bit of a fire, (probably the smallest in vole history). Oh, and Mr. T. did a bit of supervision, but having learnt by now this is a bit of a waste of time went off and did a bit of chainsawing.
Come elevenses we had a bit of a break whereupon Mr Pitts joined us for a bit, had a bit of a bite to eat, then wandered off for a bit.
Up to lunchtime it was a bit the same. However after lunch a few of us went off to do a bit of brash bashing further off a bit. Then it started to rain for a bit so we all went home.
Actually there was a bit more than this but I can only remember bits of it.
Anyway thanks to all who came and I'll see you all in a bit.
Footnote
On arriving at SSNR I discovered a young gentleman hammering iron stakes into the ground for way marker arrows. On approaching him he thought I may be wondering what he was doing. I did make comment along the lines that I was mildly interested. He informed me that the base was having a cross country run next day. I politely enquired if he had sought permission of the Greensand Trust whose land this was. He replied he had spoken to 'people in the houses'!
At this point I mentioned that we (GT) were rather concerned about certain previous incidents, namely taking down fencing, failing to reinstate said fencing and driving over newly planted trees. I suggested it may have been appropriate to mention the forthcoming run. On consideration he agreed and wondered who he should contact. I replied how fortunate he was as a Ranger would shortly be joining us. Whereupon we were joined by Mr Spencer. Having recounted the story so far the young gentlemen then explained he had not been sure who he should have contacted. Mr Spencer very helpfully showed the young gentlemen the rather large notice board nearby that had all the relevant contact details displayed. Mr Spencer also mention the previous unfortunate occurrence relating to the base's excursions into the nature reserve.
The young gentlemen continued to disavow himself of any knowledge of such events. Mr. T. explained some of the niceties of mutual respect neighbours should have for one another.
Now this slight misunderstanding is all cleared up I am sure we will get on amicably with our neighbours from hell.
For the benefit of Wendy I have removed those words and phrases that make have occurred during the above discourse. They could possibly be considered slightly offensive to the more gentile voles amongst us and possibly may have shocked the young gentleman who came to hammer in a few iron posts for way marker arrows on someone else's land.
Once again, many thanks to all who came and did a bit on the day.
Malcolm