People tend to think that nothing happens out in the countryside. They imagine people sit about on walls, chewing on sprigs of hay, discussing manure and mangel wurzels; nothing could be further than the truth.
Firstly it is surprising how many extremely talented, interesting, and intelligent people one encounters, the idea that country dwellers are all six fingered yokels is a myth (except for a few). Country people are no different to town people, they simply choose to live a quieter, and healthier, life.
However, life is never really as quiet as one imagines. Just recently we have encountered two upside-down cars in roadside ditches, a row of PINK hay bales, and a suspiciously broken wall. All far more interesting than stabbings, political elections, or preparations for war, that commands the attention of most town folk.
I didn't photograph the two unfortunate young ladies who'd obviously been driving much too fast, but I did stop to offer assistance.
I was half expecting to see Katie Price driving her silly 'Essex Girl' pink car when I saw these bales (above), but in fact I believe they have something to do with Breast Cancer awareness.
The broken wall we found much more baffling, but it seems that the two events are tenuously linked.
A local man was driving up the hill towards the church, with a large round bale of hay (not pink) in the back of his pick-up. It managed to come loose, and rolled down the road and ended-up hitting our cemetery wall and part-demolishing it. It must have given it a helluva smack; that was one very solid stone wall!
It's nothing but excitement out in The Styx.
It is every balers dread when working on hills. If one discharges the bale from the machine at anything other than 90° to the slope it's away and could end up anywhere. Sods law dictates it will hit a Ferrari and not a Ford.
ReplyDeleteI was looking at some wrapped bales yesterday. They really are big heavy beasts.
DeleteThat bale did quite a bit of damage.
ReplyDeleteGood thing no-one was standing there!
DeleteLife where you live seems to be different to John Gray's village - yet very similar. Do I sense a book coming out soon??
ReplyDeleteJohn's village is a village; our village consists of the church and mayor's office, with the 240 residents spread thinly about our village's 19 square Kms of farmland.
DeleteWe used to cycle that hill. I could have been wiped out by a hay bale!
ReplyDeleteI tried to introduce the idea of a Soapbox race down the hill, but no-one was interested. Hay bales are obviously more popular.
DeleteThere are frequent car rallies staged along our lane throughout the year and they place hay bales at strategic points for protection. I am not sure I would want to hit one of those huge beasts at speed though. They are pretty solid.
ReplyDeleteThe big round wrapped bales are not things to bump into; like hitting rock.
Deleteits scary seeing bales on trailers with only the weight holding them on,no ropes or straps...
ReplyDeleteEspecially if they're going uphill.
DeleteThe barrier guards at the broken cemetery wall are necessary because? I guess not to keep people in.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same principle as finding a dozen coppers outside a house that's already been burgled.
DeleteThere might be more things to do in the city, and I do love the excitement, but I enjoy my country living and seeing all the trees, farms, animals and the kindness and companionship of local folks.
ReplyDeleteOne really needs a good balance; leaning towards the countryside.
Delete"People tend to think that nothing happens out in the countryside." Really? Per-capita I suspect the countryside is much more interesting. A farmer told me that he used different coloured baling plastic to differentiate between cuts - ie first and second - and, sometimes, fields.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with your analysis, but I suspect that most townies think of the countryside as boring. There are lots of different colours used for baling, but I'd never seen pink before. Have a look on Google images, I believe the Breast Cancer awareness thing bagan a couple of years ago (but not here).
DeleteIt's like an episode of Last of the Summer Wine over there! Expect Compo, Clegg and Norah Batty to turn up any minute. Be careful out there, squire.
ReplyDeleteAs if to confirm your theory Pat at Weaver of Grass who also lives in the countryside reports that someone ran over her friend's cat earlier today.
DeleteIt's all very exciting. Here the government is about to fall. Half the ministers have resigned and a vote of no confidence is in the pipeline. I don't mean UK it's Vienna, Austria. Fall out from Ibizagate affair. Bit boring apart from that. More rain on the way.
It's all go. I too found a dead cat last Sunday! I really don't know how city dwellers find the time to go around stabbing each other.
DeleteYou have a point.
Delete