Moan, moan, moan----get it off your chest or have a chat

[Martin Baxendale]

Yesterday evening, after a quick pint in the 'Tappit Hen' (local pub, not one of those imaginary sleasey ones between here and Glasgow) I took Heidi for a walk up the hill. Had to pull one of those red rubber bands (the ones posties drop all over the place) out of her bum!

I'm really, really hoping that Heidi is your dog.

[ranunculus]

really[/i] hoping that Heidi is your dog.

[KentGardener]

Anthony and Martin - you have just had my office chortling!   

[Anthony Darby]

I'm really, really hoping that Heidi is your dog.

Yes

She seems to like eating anything except her own food. The best one was a red Christmas paper napkin. It came out totally unchanged, except that it was neatly folded. Gave my wife a real shock!

[Ragged Robin]

Who would blame a dog for not eating most dog food today...dry and boring  The only way our dog eats it is with tempting left overs and she loves vegetables especially asparagus and beans and fruit like brambles and raspberries - in fact anything that looks/smells better because we're eating it  

[Anthony Darby]

I suppose once the habbit has started, but the food must be pretty bad if she prefers to eat paper and rubber bands!

[Sinchets]

Does anyone understand the way Agricultural Subsidies work within the EU? An increasing number of hay meadows here are being ploughed up as set-aside just now.

[David Nicholson]

Maybe a wider question? How does the EU work- period. (OK I'm an 'Islander')

[Sinchets]

Well here the idea seems to be, that you get money from the EU to take land which was not in agricultural use out of agricultural use. I guess it isn't important to protect biodiversity as long as the price of commodities is kept artificially high.

[Michael J Campbell]

Does anyone understand the way Agricultural Subsidies work within the EU? An increasing number of hay meadows here are being ploughed up as set-aside just now.

Quite simple,they give farmers lots  money not to work, and not to use good arable land to produce crops, while about one third of the worlds population are dying from starvation. You need a lot of education to be able to understand it,which leaves me very much in the dark.

[Sinchets]

Yes great to have a system where people with lots of land and money are rewarded for doing nothing.

[Paul T]

Anthony and Martin - you have just had my office chortling!   

I think a lot more than just your office are chortling.  Got a good guffaw from this neck of the woods too.    I was thinking "too much information, Anthony", until I read Martin's reply.  Then, I was so glad Anhtony had made his comment and set Martin up for that reply. 

Thanks for a good laugh, guys. 

[arisaema]

The sun is shining inbetween huge drops of rain and thunder, I just saw a whirlwind of dandelion seeds being blown from the nearby field into my garden, and last night you couldn't go 5 feet out the door before being covered in hungry, biting midges... Summer's certainly arrived! 

[David Nicholson]

Temperature on my drive: Wednesday 3 June at 1330= 30C sun from a blue sky with not a cloud in sight.

Temperature on my drive: Saturday  6 June at 1330 = 8C rain pouring down from the greyest of skies and the central heating switched back on.

Ah! the joys of a maritime climate.

[Maggi Young]

We had torrential downpours all yesterday, which I hope did my rhodos some good and  I suppose I should be glad that there has only been a little light rain today ...... but Lily and I have just been for a walk and I had to wear my winter duffle coat.... it's perishing! Lily didn't find it too cold... she was distracted by chatting up a very tall greyhound and a cute short jack russell..... that dog is a west highland slapper!