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... the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves ...
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Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 19 7:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The adders trick has been used in the past I believe. The old gamekeeper used to take a dead one into the local schools and claim he got it from the woods. We have been there 16 years now and never seen one, so think he got it from elsewhere. Son does have some thunderflashes I think, but I have forbidden him from using them, as I am afraid the police might take a dim view as they would be reported as all sorts of awful things. We do have a camera in the yard, but luckily, the only time anything was taken it was of little value. The police do get informed if anything untoward happens.

Anyway, the bags have been redelivered and I stayed home for them, so all is well. The suppliers are claiming off the couriers insurance I believe; not good, but at least it is not at our cost for their negligence.

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 19 7:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

At least they have been replaced.

We have had some shoddy courier behaviour round here. Deliveries to completely different addresses, which I have then had to go find after they couldn't tell me where my parcel had been delivered, other than (it had a porch and a blue door - we have neither). My favourite is "couldn't gain access to the building, key code needed". We live in a house, not a block of flats and you would be hard pressed to find a block of flats within a 10 mile radius.

I do understand that they are given far too many deliveries however, a little truth would go a long way.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 19 8:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The first courier took a pretty picture to show it was delivered, and at the right address. From the picture you could be forgiven for believing that it was in a lovely rural road with no traffic and nobody within miles. Husband sent them the dash cam of him and son arriving home to an empty pallet an hour later showing it was within 20' of a busy road. Anyone could have pulled up, cut the bindings and taken it. I managed to cut them and bring them inside with the second delivery that was brought down the side of the house to the front door, so any reasonably fit person could.

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 19 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think common sense is clearly lacking with some couriers. We have the exact opposite here in that there are at least half a dozen safe places to leave things... and they don't. You can't win.

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 19 9:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Shan wrote:
At least they have been replaced.

We have had some shoddy courier behaviour round here. Deliveries to completely different addresses, which I have then had to go find after they couldn't tell me where my parcel had been delivered, other than (it had a porch and a blue door - we have neither). My favourite is "couldn't gain access to the building, key code needed". We live in a house, not a block of flats and you would be hard pressed to find a block of flats within a 10 mile radius.

I do understand that they are given far too many deliveries however, a little truth would go a long way.


I think that some couriers are seriously stressed with time constraints, and their gadgets don't have enough boxes to enable them to tell the truth. I do get fed up though, when their website tells me "Item handed to resident" when the truth is "Item was left in the rain just inside gate. Didn't have time to knock on door."

Henry

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 19 7:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They are seriously overworked but perhaps there needs to be a box which says: 'didn't have time to deliver'. I'd actually be more accepting of that rather than 'couldn't gain access to the building' or 'tried to deliver but no one available'.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 19 7:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The blame does need to be put on the companies that employ them. In some cases, it is that they have too many deliveries, which if the traffic is bad, or they can't find the place, must make it impossible for them. The first lot were delivered on a pallet twice the size needed, so made it hard for the courier to get it to the front door with the trailer in the way; again the companies fault. On the other hand, I sometimes don't think they employ good people, but that could be all that will take the job given the unnecessary stresses imposed on them.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 19 2:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The internet has much to answer for with regard to these home deliveries; the delivery man has to complete a lot in an allotted time as I understand it-that is as the last man to come to my home said! I try to avoid buying anything that way. My friend buys clothes and the like and if they don't fit or he doesn't like it/them; it/them get collected the next day. I can't imagine myself getting that carried away and much prefer to go and see what is available in person, and trying on clothes there and decide, yes or no. I think perhaps these people doing delivery work is probably all the work they can get locally for themselves. Jobs are no longer 2 a penny as we used to say. You have to take what is available and if you are 60ish you don't find too many ordinary jobs about. I was lucky and have been in my job for the last 13 years, but in theory I am keeping a man of working age out of a job-I am going to stop soon; it is not the 6am starts, it is that the work is getting heavier as tractor's parts get bigger; I am 12 years older than anyone else there, but the nearest in age is in the office!

I do like the "Please do not let your dogs play with adders" I have a suitable place to put that as I have a footpath right through my upper fields and folks have had picnics there in my hay fields! Or I like the blanks firing off..... panic and a free tea for me, seems OK.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Nov 01, 19 7:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes, sadly most people wouldn't know a hay field and the damage they are doing to the crop. Some people regard the wood as 'waste ground' that they can do what they like in without it mattering.

I expect that when you retire, they will have to replace you either with one full timer or two part timers Gregotyn. You may be well past retiring age, but I am sure because you have been doing the job a long time, you are faster in many ways that someone younger would be.

As you say, jobs are no longer 2 a penny, particularly if you are unskilled. When I left school at 18 wanting training and day release to study furtner, but with A levels, I was offered 3 jobs, so took the one that looked the most interesting. Now, an 18 year old would struggle to find one. The students I see at a local 6th form college are now going either to university, which I would have encouraged in the past, or doing apprenticeships which sometimes involve block release or some other way of getting higher qualifications.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Nov 01, 19 2:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you MR., but I am slower than I was, but I know more now-just takes me longer to execute my duties, but I know where things are so that saves time and I am up to speed with their computers, which also helps. I don't think they will need 2 to replace me. I expect them to get a school leaver, farmer's son/daughter, to bring "on" from having basic knowledge of practical farming from home and an interest in machinery, with some liking/knowledge of New Holland tractors would help! not too much at 16, but cheap! It is time I went in reality, getting up in the morning is ok, but by 12 noon, I have had enough.
You are right about school leavers. Almost impossible for them to drop on a good job at 16 or even 18 with a future; they have to get further qualifications, if they are to get anywhere, or be very big lads who can wield a shovel! I was lucky to get a place on a farm at £4 per week, after 6 months, which I gave to my mother, who gave it back to me in food and a roof over my head! My father died when I was 8 and brother 13. So as you can imagine it was not too easy for her. I was into Hornby Dublo, Bakyo, Meccano and Dinky toys-still got them all, as my defunct marriage didn't produce children to destroy them!
I won't be around in the morning, I am having a pre MOT on the motor and that involves a wheel bearing change on the rear, we have done the front one already, both LHS so that says something about my driving!

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Fri Nov 01, 19 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have been told that "WARNING Allolobophora longa and Lumbricus terrestris are free to roam this land" can help deter wanderers, but have no evidence that it actually works. It may be a myth.

Henry

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Nov 02, 19 8:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It would be an interesting one Henry. I had to look it up, but it seems to be something about the composition of earthworms.

Hope the motor is all right Gregotyn. One of our trucks went in for MOT on Wednesday, and we have to pick it up today as it needed a new exhaust. We thought it did, so no surprise. We may also need a new tyre, but we will get that at a tyre place as we use mud terrains, and they are a bit specialist. It won't be cheap repairs, but at least it is a Ford, so cheaper than some other makes, and it is a 51 registration, so not doing badly.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Nov 05, 19 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Saturday was a bad day- the motor alarm was going mad so I went up to the mechanic's and we spent a morning putting that right. Not fun but most of it has come back to normal but the clock is wrong and if I want music when I am driving, I have to sort the radio!
I also had a doctor's appointment as I had been bitten some time ago and although he said I was not catching, the bites were taking a long time to heal, and I also have an allergy on my fore arms for some reason which he gave me some cortisone, and has suggested I use it all over both lots of troubles!
Work has got much better these last 2 days, the boys are not giving me any grief. I will be leaving soon, however, as I think it is time I spent my money and stopped hoarding the stuff, and went back to living on a proper budget, and enjoying doing "things"!

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Tue Nov 05, 19 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I hope the bites and rashes clear up. Very annoying when that happens. I once ended up with a stress rash, caused by my psycho-sister but that's another story. It was very itchy and did not endear her to me.

I also seem to have car trouble. Tried to go and get some chicken feed today but my car started juddering and I decided to turn back just n case I didn't make it home - so that it wouldn't be so far to walk. Fortunately, I did make it home... Mr Shan will have to look at it tomorrow.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Nov 06, 19 7:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Oh dear, vehicles can be a problem sometimes. Hope both are sorted completely and quickly. If you can find out what is causing your allergy as well, that will help Gregotyn. Have you been eating or using anything unusual, new washing powder, soap etc? Have you been in contact with something at work that might have caused it. Nickel brings some people out in a rash, so have you been handling anything nickel plated; you might think it is chrome, but is often bright nickel these days.

I spent yesterday making besoms. Made 2 heads completely and got as far as putting the belt round a third, but then gave up because of lack of light and time. I also cut and de-barked 6 handles, so they are now drying so the brooms can be assembled when needed.

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