There was absolutely no point in carrying a camera today. This morning the visibility was limited by a heavy, dank mist that clung to the top of the mountain like a shroud. As we took a slow stroll up the road to the mountain gate, it was hard to even hear vehicles let alone see them and even then the idiot drivers had no lights on and were driving far too fast. One ignorant idiot I witnessed was using a mobile phone and driving at speed. Crazy! Out of the mist by the top sheep pens, a Land Rover and trailer was barely visible within fifty yards, but I had a chance to catch up with the local news. The big gather, that brings all the last sheep off the mountain for winter and the rigorous attention of the tups in the in-bye fields ... is currently impossible due to the fact that one can hardly see sheep the same colour as the ground level mist ( thick fog would be even worse). Not only that, the days of rain have made the terrain supersaturated, even for well experienced drivers.
But there was one other piece of startling news. Someone had found a black plastic bin liner with the remains of what was obviously a stolen and butchered sheep. What the meat thieves hadn't considered, was that they left the ear tags in the bag, so the police were able to identify the owner ... the ewe had belonged to one of our local farmers!
Unfortunately this type of crime is not as scarce as one might think, just yesterday six elk were stolen from a farm in Somerset (An elk is what the Americans call a moose.) Folk in the area are being asked to report anyone trying to sell elk meat. Sadly, I doubt anyone will be advertising the meat from one ewe, so the offenders are unlikely to be traced.
Another problem with weather like this, is that it provides excellent cover for fly tippers.
So often up here, when the weather clears, vast piles of various household waste appears.
Anything from discarded three piece suites to things as gross as used disposable nappies!
Followers of my blog will know that there are times when I have found some dumped items amusing, but even though I may make light of the matter, it annoys me intensely.
Just walking the short length of the mountain road today ( a mere week since the verges had been litter picked) there were tin cans, alcoholic and supposedly energy boosting drinks, plastic bottles, crisp packets, the inevitable MacDonalds take away packaging and ... even the cardboard remains of an "Algae control for fish tanks" packaging ???
What is wrong with these people?!
So ... hoping the day would get better ... I waited for a break in the inclement weather to go shopping in our local supermarket and then take the dog for a short walk. Hmmm ...
Having shopped, I stopped off to do a tyre pressure check on the car. Apart from the fact that the machine didn't seem to be working correctly for my 20p insertion ... it suddenly started to hammer down with rain! Within the minutes it took to reel the hose away and get back in the car, I was soaked. Driving back home, visibility was very much impaired. Now given that the inclement weather was causing limited visibility and the rain was so hard one could hardly see just in front of the vehicle, guess what? Yep ... folk driving with no lights, at speed and in one case, incredibly ... someone driving whilst on a mobile phone and with no lights on ... F'g ... amazing! Do they have a death wish or what?
Anyway, we ... arrived home safely and without accident, luckily. At times it was a close call. So .... safely at home as the rain batters the outside of the house, we can at last relax!
Now ... I am very well aware, that so far this blog has been picture less, so I've decided to end with a photograph taken last year of a plant that I had hoped to see, a rarity locally ...
but sadly no sign of it this year. The musk Thistle, a beautiful, if very spiny leaved plant.
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