Letters to the Editors
BIKE ON DYKE.
Dear Editors,
Yesterday afternoon, we saw a noisy green scrambler motor bike bearing no licence plates being ridden back and forth along the top of Devil's Dyke close to the village. The bike then went down the slope onto the dismantled railway track, and returned towards the village along the Reach Road.
The fair haired young rider wore a quilted black leather jacket and camouflage trousers, with a white helmet bearing red flashes. Those with his welfare in mind should advise him that:
- motor vehicles are not permitted on public footpaths
- motor vehicles are not permitted on national monuments
- motor vehicles are not permitted within nature reserves
- unlicensed motor vehicles are not allowed on the public highway, and
- underage drivers doing so place themselves and others at unnecessary risk
Of course, those responsible for minors may face claims for compensation for damage or injury arising from the actions of the minor.
The Red Lion Incident and that Clock
Dear Editors,
I refer to your amusing account of recent events at The Red Lion (May edition), and I would like to put it on record that I have never objected to "that noisy chiming clock"; in fact, I would prefer to hear it chiming on those nights when I do lie awake in the small hours.
Many apologies, Janet! We meant "next door" in a loose sense. The naughty Eds are perfectly well aware that the chiming clock has never woken up anyone. Except, of course, the Chairman of the Chiming Clock Restoration Committee!
Of Frogs and Taxes
Dear Editors,
I'm not sure exactly how my contribution to the last Crier represents a return until normal service from the Editors is resumed, but I would like to take this opportunity to deny absolutely any involvement in Frog-sparring, with Mr Everitt or with anyone else: I have my standards and a frog is rather lower than I would go (whatever might be alleged by documents that may or may not subsequently be unearthed in the Baghdad Foreign Ministry).
However, if Mr Everitt were to read his Frogham Croaker more closely be would know exactly what those frogs were up to, and that legislation regarding these and similar activities is being prepared. (I decline any challenge to spar upon the subject, so whosoever chooses can say what they like).
Thank you to Charlotte Ca-ane, long may she rei-eign (just toadying to the Editors here) for her reply re Council Tax: I don't take issue with her arguments - indeed, I for one would be willing to pay more if I knew my pensioner neighbours were paying less. However, whilst I wouldn't choose maths as my specialist subject, I'm fairly sure 1998-9 is not six years ago. I can check this against my daughter, born a few days before the start of the fiscal year 1998, who is happy to announce to anyone who asks that she was five in March.
My council tax records verify that 1997-8 was indeed not that many quid short of half what I am paying now, whereas 1998-9 was at least 10% higher than that. Reading Charlotte Cane's letter prompted visions of a set of balances with central government taking off weight from their side, leaving local government to pile up on theirs to achieve the same total - at which point the image failed: that total is not the same - it must be increasing annually and the figure she does not give is: how much more does it actually cost since 1997, per council taxpayer, to run the systems she describes - not how much is levied from us by different services. These are figures I could obtain for 1998 from her letter and for subsequent years - had I kept all the council's literature, but I didn't. Readers who had surmised from my reference to my records that I may be an eccentric hoarder of old bits of paper may at this point opt to revise their opinion. I only have eight pieces of paper, one for each year I have owed council tax to ECDC, stating how much I should pay them (I especially didn't keep the grumpy letters for when I had forgotten to pay up for a given month). I do not quarrel with the transparency of her figures - only that they don't tell me what I asked.
The Guardian reports (April 25) that on average, council tax has doubled since it was introduced in 1993 - that's ten years, not six. Something very different has happened here. Why?
No Miracle here
Dear Editors,
I Fear Where has our worthy Village Hall Chairman been all these years? Come, come, Alastair. In the family Ramidae/Bufonidae (Frogs/Toads), unlike we humans (as a rule), the females are larger than the males. However, like humans, a male frog/toad when choosing a partner, "clings" on to her for all he's worth, if he has any sense, once the selection has been made.
Need I remind that it's only spring in spite of the weather. At that time, as with humans, whose fancy is supposed to turn to thoughts of you know what, so it is with frogs/toads. Mr frog/toad is just doing what comes naturally. The real miracle is what ensues.
...and back to the main story
Dear Editors,
May I update you as to the state of the amphibians in my pond.
The early arrivals hatched and formed a cluster of spawn of small tadpoles. One night in early April, a sharp frost froze the water and most of the young toads. We now have a batch of toads from a later spawning plus two or three large tadpoles from the first lot.
The frogs are doing well, having arrived later, and the cluster of these young amphibians is growing fast and will soon be swimming all over the pond. Reference to "piggy-back" of these animals in your last issue seemed trivial to me as I thought everyone knew that the large female, full of eggs, carried her mate on her back ready to fertilise her eggs when she had found a suitable pond or stretch of water.
Yesterday, 8th May, whilst inspecting the pump on the waterfall, I lifted the cover to the electric supply and out slithered a grass snake some twenty inches long. He (she) was in no hurry to hide, and my wife had time to come over, and we both watched it swim across the water, and climb out and disappear among the rocks. It will feed on tadpoles and young fish, and has most likely eaten my newts, as I haven't seen them this year.
We are all very lucky to have all this wildlife: hedgehogs; amphibians; reptiles; and a large variety of birds, all living happily in our back garden.