tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58047591179127579832024-03-18T19:45:36.090-07:00The farm at the back of beyondThe farm at the back of beyond.GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.comBlogger224125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-32895740017807364442015-11-22T04:19:00.000-08:002015-11-22T04:19:31.689-08:00Martinmas in 2015 ScotlandMany excellent blogs and articles have been written regarding the forthcoming eviction of Andrew Stoddart, a tenant farmer who has lived and worked Colstoun Mains for twenty two years. Much has been written and discussed regarding the legal aspects of this eviction but very few cover the human aspect.<br />
Andrew, his wife and three young daughters plus his tractorman, his wife and four children all face a pre Christmas eviction from their homes and workplace. Martinmas, to be precise. (28th of November although research shows that the Feast of St Martin takes place on 11th November).<br />
<br />
Who is St Martin?<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">St. Martin of Tours started out as a </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_soldier" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Roman soldier">Roman soldier</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"> then was baptized as an adult and became a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Monk">monk</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">. It is understood that he was a kind man who led a quiet and simple life. The best known legend of his life is that he once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, to save the beggar from dying from the cold. That night he dreamed that </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Jesus">Jesus</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"> was wearing the half-cloak. Martin heard Jesus say to the angels, "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clothed me." </span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10.909090995788574px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Martin%27s_Day#cite_note-2" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup><br />
<br />
Whilst Martinmas is celebrated all over Europe in the form of feasting after a gathering in of the harvest, in Scotland it is the day tenant farmers pay their rent or get evicted. Oh the irony of a day when the ethos of a humble and generous man becomes as far removed from the original sentiment.... St Martin, the friend of children and patron saint of the poor.<br />
<br />
Many years ago, when I was in an absolute state of despair regarding the conditions on our own farm, Andrew Stoddart was the first person to contact us and offer any help he could. He had never met us nor had we ever spoken on the phone yet here was a man offering unconditional help to a fellow tenant...... nor are we the first people whom Andrew has helped. This quiet, painfully shy man, built like an oak tree, is enduring an agony few of us can comprehend. Even at this late hour with only a few days left on his tenancy, the Scottish Government seem oddly reluctant to come up with a solution whereby the families are not made redundant and homeless.<br />
Yes, the lairds may have won the legal debate, big whoop, but morally some of them appear devoid of humanity, utterly lacking in empathy at the prospect of seven children being thrown out of their homes, having to leave their school and friends in the depths of winter. The landowner of the Colstoun Trust does not <u>have</u> to evict Andrew Stoddart from the land he has worked for 22 years, the landowner is evicting him because he can.<br />
<br />
Scotland. Be ashamed.<br />
<br />
The tie between a farmer and his land is an extremely intimate relationship, it has taken me years to understand just how intimate, but safe to say every farmer's wife or partner will understand when I say that when you live with a farmer, there are three in the relationship and the farm comes first. How do you begin to describe how a farmer feels about the land he works? How can I illustrate an emotion so deep and unseen, the driving force which compels the farmer to endure sometimes raw and savage conditions, the successes and failures, the births and deaths....I don't like to make a generalisation but some farmers are astonishing in their tenacity and their tie to the soil itself can appear that it is part of their Soul.<br />
I asked a tenant farmer how he would feel if he saw another person working his land, especially land he had worked yet been taken from him. "It would be like seeing another man sleep with your wife" was the quiet reply.<br />
<br />
There are human beings behind these evictions, people who are worried sick, probably unable to sleep or eat properly, worried how their bairns will cope. I'm not going to argue the EUHR legal stuff as I don't really understand it but I will ask why the right to own property has precedence over living, breathing human beings.<br />
<br />
This eviction, the first of several, need not take place. It invokes a dark, dark time in Scottish history when families were thrown from their homes as sheep were more profitable; humans were seen then as a commodity and now, in 21st Century Scotland, we have never progressed with the rest of the world.<br />
Scottish people are still being used as a commodity, discarded once they have been bled for their achievements, bled dry of their assets. In the place of the small family farms, we are beginning to see an anaemic type of farming arise, huge crops of subsidies being harvested yet the spoils hogged by the powerful and wealthy. Slavery is still alive in Scotland, it would appear.<br />
<br />
I urge you to act on behalf of the tenants facing eviction. Please imagine how they feel right now, please try to imagine how you would feel if it were happening to you, how worthless you would feel, how rejected and hopeless a situation, and not of your making.<br />
<br />
Richard Lochhead MSP, you are the man who is in charge here. I cannot say that you have shown a proactive stance on any aspect of Scottish agriculture or fishing.<br />
Many of us would fully understand if you were to step down given the difficult personal challenges you face. Whilst many have described you as being a warm and lovely man, we need someone as cold and calculating as the very law which has created a situation of exclusion and inhuman abandonment of tenant farmers.<br />
I urge you to stop this eviction and the other evictions which are forthcoming or watch whilst those who pay your handsome wage evict you.<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-65619644545251763892015-03-05T02:51:00.000-08:002015-03-06T00:10:58.200-08:00Still haven't found what you are looking for?<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“The STFA continues to suggest that there are tenants being treated unfairly by landlords. <span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; text-align: justify;">own survey into landlord-tenant relationships showed the</span> </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“If it is the case that there are examples where tenants are being treated unfairly we want to root out the problem but the STFA needs to produce evidence of this and we urge them in the strongest possible terms to do that.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Quote from the Scottish Land &Estates publication. Read it and try to ignore the mental image of a Billy Idol style sneering twist of the mouth by the author/ authors.<br />
"IF it is the case". *sneer*<br />
<br />
I know that we are able to freely read about the wonderful relationship that 'tenants' have with their landowners but firstly, let us be realistic about the type of tenant. Let's concentrate on 1991 Secure tenant farmers in Scotland. I have yet to meet the Secure tenant who is happy in his relationship with his landowner, never mind the alleged 80% who are utterly ecstatic with theirs.<br />
<br />
We Secure 1991 tenants are experiencing an extremely vulnerable stage in our lives; proposals have been put forward by the Agricultural Holdings Group after extensive meetings/ talks etc with both farmers and landowners. Some of the proposals are very worrying indeed for the farmer and have created feelings of deep insecurity. Some of us feel demoralised, others are angry.<br />
Who can afford the £10,000 per day for the land court and legal representation? Certainly, none of the 'ecstatic', happy Secure tenants that I know.<br />
<br />
The Scottish Farmer warned last week of landowners using evasive action hence the spin from the SL&E. The faux shock in the SL&E publication at the fact that there may still be problems and issues between laird and (Secure) tenant is demeaning, dismissive and evasive. How ironic.<br />
<br />
What did the C.E.O. of the S.L&E not see when he came to visit our farmhouse? Did he fail to see the thick green mould on the walls, did he not see that I could not offer him a cup of tea as there was no electricity? Did he see a bottle of clean water to drink rather than risk his health with the erratic and frankly, filthy water we are provided with?<br />
Did he see a house which people in 2015 Scotland are expected to live in? Was he unaware of a seven year old child who has never in his life drunk water from a tap on the farm?<br />
Did he not understand the stress of human beings being excluded from their own homes due to the evasive actions of their landowners?<br />
Did he conveniently 'forget' the issue of fields being taken from agricultural use - fields which would provide income and food - for pheasants to roam on? Did he forget about the compensation or the legal paperwork whereby the farmer agreed (or disagreed) to release the land YET is still being charged rent on a field which is padlocked.<br />
<br />
Did he forget the reason that GentleOtter began to write about? She wanted a roof for the family farmhouse but had to ask. She wanted the 150 year old roof, which her husband's family had maintained for well over 100 years but through fair wear and tear had come to the end of its life, she wanted it made wind and waterproofed. Did he feel she was being unreasonable to ask for such a basic thing which belonged to another man?<br />
<br />
It has been a year and a half since that visit. What was achieved, apart from a bit of P.R. spin for SL&E?<br />
Absolutely nothing.<br />
<br />
What has arrived is a whopping electricity bill and another water failure notice.<br />
<br />
We had a small fire in the agricultural shed in November which affected the electricity supply to the entire farm. My husband had sustained an injury whilst working which rendered him incapable of mobility. I took over his work, the care of our family, the care of the livestock and this was done with no power, no access to hot water unless you lit a fire outside to boil a kettle. No access to clean water for washing in unless it was from a barrel of rainwater - just like they did in days of yore.<br />
Yes, we have all ingested the water and yes, we have all been affected. You get used to it.<br />
<br />
When the abnormal becomes the norm, then it is time to worry. When you become used to such primitive conditions, it becomes a form of institutionalisation. The base of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs isn't so much chipped at, it is utterly demolished.<br />
<br />
This may be uncomfortable for some but try ploughing a field whilst menstruating. Try lighting a fire, boiling a kettle then finding a secluded area of an open field in an attempt at keeping dignity and personal hygiene. Basic needs which could and ought to be available on the farm we have rented for 125 years. One hundred and twenty five years.<br />
Ignore the utter exhaustion that occurs at that time of the month and push yourself to the limit, in the dark. You do it as you are fully responsible for good husbandry to your livestock and family, yes, in that order.<br />
The fire in your soul fuels you with energy, the injustice of those who have gone before you or those who live like you push the bellows which provide oxygen to the furnace. This injustice has gone on for too long. Scotland in 2015 looks no different to Scotland 1715.<br />
<br />
We tried to communicate with the estate regarding the reconnection of the electricity, we employed men to come and dig a new trench (despite an appeal to the estate who were employing digger operators working on neighbouring farms....they could have come and done some work to help us), we bought and laid a new electricity cable which is ready for reconnection and has been ready for some time.<br />
Phone calls to the estate have been dismissed with haughty messages that the person in charge is in a meeting. Yes, that old chestnut again. Email replies have been tardy. My appeal for reconnection was met by a stinging reply that 'They would get back to us in due course".<br />
Fine if you are sitting in a warm office with electricity and a clean water supply, not fine if you are desperate for the luxury of washing your hands in warm water on the farm.<br />
<br />
Evasive is not a strong enough word. Rude, arrogant, ignorant, yes. Uncaring, inhuman, negligent, dismissive. Controlling.<br />
Feudal. There now, I've said it. The 'Eff' word.<br />
<br />
So, SL&E dudes. If you still haven't found what you are looking for, your CEO knows the road to our farm. It lies forgotten at The Back of Beyond, out of sight, out of mind but there are human beings trying to live and work here, trying to raise a family and care for animals. In hellish conditions. I have only ever asked for a roof, clean water and our land back. Now I am adding an electricity connection.<br />
Sell the farm to us if this is too difficult for you. Sell us it anyway, we can do a better job with it than you are doing. We are working people with basic needs and will achieve our needs if given the freedom to do so. We have bought and paid for this farm many times over yet are treated like dirt - our difference being that we cherish the dirt, improve it and make a living from it to provide others with food.<br />
<br />
Just because we cannot wash our hands in warm, clean water does not mean you can wash your hands of us.<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-19842664153943114342015-03-03T04:32:00.000-08:002015-03-03T05:14:15.186-08:00Tarquin has 432 biscuits.....Do you remember those old maths problems at school? Pages and pages of them which rendered the pupil almost comatose with boredom and non-comprehension.<br />
"If it takes Tam two days to dig a trench at £6.60 minimum wage, how long does it take before his piece break gets longer and his attitude begins to stink a bit?"<br />
<br />
Say Tarquin had 432 biscuits.<br />
Now, if he ate them all, he would be setting himself up nicely for morbid obesity, tooth decay, stroke, diabetes and being thought of as a greedy pig.<br />
<br />
Say Tam had no biscuits.<br />
If Tarquin were to share his stash, technically Tam could have 216 biscuits but only if Tarquin agreed to share. The onus being on Tarquin's willingness to find it in his heart and conscience to share his biscuits with Tam.<br />
If Tam was a tenant farmer, Tarquin might compare his biscuits to something unreasonable, say a comparison between Tesco basic-buy biscuits to Organic Fancy-Pants Originals dipped in artisan chocolate which has passed through the intestine of a rare civet cat.<br />
Tarquin would then demand Tam was responsible for 432 fancy biscuits which would come out of Tam's income, Tarquin would hog the lot then ramp Tam's rent up using the threat of the Land Court and a Life Of Hell.<br />
If Tam's wife wanted to diversify and make her own biscuits, Tarquin could and would demand half of her profit then try to terrify her if she tried to complain. Tam's wife would pay tax on her biscuits yet Tarquin........<br />
Tam would have to be jolly well thankful for Tarquin's non sharing of the biscuits but secretly Tam hoped that a large dog would come and scoff the biscuits when Tarquin was gazing over 'his' vast expanses of bleak grouse moorland, mountains and rivers. He hoped the large dog would take a chunk from Tarquin's gluteus maximus as it was growing in size with all those biscuits.<br />
<br />
Tarquin could share with 431 others and if they halved their biscuits, 862 people could enjoy their sweet, buttery delights. A<strike>pology if my maths are out a bit. I gazed out of the school window a lot</strike><strike>.</strike><br />
<strike><br /></strike>
On the other hand, Tarquin could hog the lot and say his family had always owned lots of biscuits as they had 'relocated' other people's biscuits, historically, to amass a stockpile except their biscuits lay in a fousty, mouldering heap, quite inedible as they had not been kept very well.<br />
Tarquin felt he was <u>entitled</u> to his 432 biscuits therefore did not have to justify his stash to anyone.<br />
<br />
Tam and his fellow workmates were sick of the minimum wage, sick and tired of Tarquin's unreasonable and selfish behaviour. Tam's kith and kin saw a future whereby abody had a biscuit, hell, Tam and his workmates could supply the raw ingredients, the wheat, eggs, milk and butter, there was no reason why everyone could not have a biscuit. The biscuit would be plain at first but with work, variety could be introduced.<br />
<br />
Other biscuitless people from town and country empathised with Tam and realised they wanted a biscuit too. They wanted to escape the urban sprawl and enjoy their biscuit in the fresh country air. They had fresh, new ideas on the type of biscuit they wanted to taste.<br />
<br />
Tarquin freaked out at the thought of his biscuits shared by the many as opposed to being hogged by the few. The Biscuitless people met and discussed how to share the stash, bloodlessly, given that it is now 2015 and Things Have Moved On.<br />
<br />
So, good people. The biscuits are out there, no more will be made, they are precious and need tender care but they will reap great benefit if shared out equally.<br />
<br />
We just need to teach Tarquin how to open his hand and share.GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-85490539018963027872015-01-06T13:06:00.001-08:002015-01-06T13:06:39.182-08:00Rocks and rolls.Today was one of those days when you try something for the very first time, succeed and fall in love with it. Today was my first time ploughing a field alone.<br />
<br />
The Farmer's leg is still firmly out of action so I am trying my best to carry his workload; it seemed a good day to swallow any fears about hitching the plough and turning over the little field which has seen no chemicals or artificial fertilizers for many years.<br />
The Farmer muttered a few instructions, pointed to some levers, dials and switches in the tractor then, rather wisely, hobbled off to a safe distance to observe.<br />
<br />
The feeling of turning over tired looking old pasture into rich, brown fat dumplings of earth is indescribable. It is a sensory experience, the musky scent of the soil, the hidden crumbly brown earth lying neatly in a row, birds appearing from nowhere to pull rudely disturbed worms and insects, the human contortion of driving forward whilst looking backwards..... a blissful delight of a task.<br />
I'll admit to having The Extreme Fear a couple of times when the tractor hit a hidden dip or two, the wheels lifted clean off the ground and the steering suited itself, sliding worryingly towards the fence or the plough steadfastly refusing to budge an unseen boulder thus grinding everything to a halt despite the screaming complaints of the tractor's huge engine.<br />
The ploughwoman rocking and rolling, whooping with sheer delight and terror, whilst the earth herself became exposed to the crisp, winter air with a sleepy reluctance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnP_BCVXvoK1bzj_HUiaq8v6QYti5T67HsM3z1VIivFGJP0qK7VE6ZBImdWmI009CQWbTXsINkK2zB3B1VnRL3jmDU1WkfviMcSb9YUTPtKUcLH-FWG_lHpzC-HVAnEhK3j4h8nJD9iU/s1600/1st+ploughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnP_BCVXvoK1bzj_HUiaq8v6QYti5T67HsM3z1VIivFGJP0qK7VE6ZBImdWmI009CQWbTXsINkK2zB3B1VnRL3jmDU1WkfviMcSb9YUTPtKUcLH-FWG_lHpzC-HVAnEhK3j4h8nJD9iU/s1600/1st+ploughing.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The ground will rest a while and be broken up by frost, rain and sun. When the time is right, it will be harrowed to a fine tilth then planted with a meadow mix of grasses and wild flowers which will hopefully encourage insects and birds to the little field. It will be cut for hay and provide the sheep with feed in the winter months.<br />
The sleepy field will soon transform into a riot of colour and a haven for wildlife.<br />
<br />
On days like these, this isn't work, although sweat was broken.<br />
This is sheer, unbridled joy.<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-86554018736070095342015-01-02T02:31:00.002-08:002015-01-02T02:38:03.264-08:00The Year of Change. Bring it on.Happy New Year!<br />
<br />
I have not written for such a long time, my apologies as there is no excuse but the New Year always begins with fresh hopes and ideas.<br />
<br />
The Old Year is one I've been glad to see the back of. It started off well, no complaints about weather, etc but as the year progressed, we were hit by a series of misfortunes which added to the workload considerably.<br />
<br />
The Farmer had an accident in the Big Shed, he fell over a piece of machinery and ruptured his Achilles tendon so was rendered immobile with a large knee to ankle plaster cast. I think it happened in October, the months have morphed into a blurry frenzy of farm activity; we moved back to the farm, where I tried to look after all in Chez Otter - Rosie, who has now left school and needs full time care, Young Otter who is 7 and full of energy plus The Farmer... vexed at his inability to do physical farm work during a hectic season or two .......also a herd of cattle, small flock of sheep, farm collies, farm cats, a million hens, the guinea pig and Bob the duck. All are well and thriving.<br />
<br />
We managed to get into some sort of routine, a bourachy guddle of a routine but with an eventual semblance of order, things were ticking over until a fire in the mains electricity box saw zero power to the entire farm. This was compounded with an intermittent water supply and things just got A Bit Much so we had to leave again and return to the temporary house.<br />
The power is still off and it is going to be a big task to have it replaced and reconnected. I've taken to lighting little fires outside to boil a kettle and warm frozen fingers which hurt like mad from being bashed on all the things you can bash your hands on in a dark cow shed.<br />
<br />
On the positive front, we were very fortunate to have good new neighbours move into the farm next door and we look forward to working with them over the forthcoming years. Young Otter is delighted as they have children his age so he has a new pair of best friends and we have a huge amount of respect for this very hard working, honest family. The New Farmer has a wealth of knowledge and experience with sheep and it has been an education to pick up snippets of advice or general chat about breed types, etc and we wish them every good luck on their new venture.<br />
<br />
We have also been helped by a cheerful bunch of Fifers - hard workers, grafters to be honest, who carried out some of the very heavy work with great humour, excellent swears, music, flasks of steaming hot coffee and cigarette breaks. They shifted grain, plumbed in a new trough, built the rickety, antique bull pen, plus many of the wee footery jobs which needed doing - all with enormous energy and good nature. It brought a lungful of fresh air and joy to the almost depressed, Cold Comfort Farmesque scenario we lived/live in.<br />
<br />
This year is the year of Land Reform.<br />
There are so many of us eager to see positive change in Scotland, change which will bring a fairer distribution of land, opportunities for many, hopefully. There is an energy brewing and swirling from a cauldron of frustration but the time is ripe for radical change. The old 'system' dying a death as it has become untenable and unfair.<br />
I would love to see an improvement in rural housing, rural water supplies, investment in ramshackle farms, opportunities to diversify and expand without having to pay the 'laird's share', better rights for Crofters and much of the stagnant, redundant grouse moors utilised for the benefit of the majority rather than the plaything for the few, the countryside opened to the people from towns and cities. I also want to see our unique culture respected and acknowledged.<br />
<br />
We shall see. It is an exciting year and here on The Farm At The Back Of Beyond, we have managed to cope with pretty grim conditions so things can only move up locally and further afield.<br />
<br />
I wish you all good health, happiness, fairness and positive change.<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-89212467615912549542014-05-08T05:54:00.000-07:002014-05-08T06:01:35.341-07:00Imposing a culture- an update.There has been an almost overwhelming interest and response to my last blog "Imposing a culture" and from the feedback, there are a couple of issues which I feel compelled to justify.<br />
<br />
Firstly, the entire point of the blog, (one born from sheer frustration and vulnerability), the point was to illustrate compromise and respect to others who do not wish to have a culture imposed upon them yet who are bullied into compliance.<br />
<br />
Several people have taken great exception to my choice of diet. What are they offended by? Do they think I would hide in the bushes and flick lumps of tofu at them? Did they assume that I would scream at them to give up eating meat? Make them wear pleather shoes? If this was their thoughts then they missed the point I was trying to make; I would not *force* my choice of diet on my own family or others, it is a personal choice.<br />
Our family spent yesterday evening at Stirling market where we were selling some cattle. The mart is a fairly basic place, the sale was huge in respect of the amount of stock being sold. Some of the cattle would go for slaughter, some for breeding some for fattening up.<br />
Our family saw the culmination of a year's work go in five minutes. Hours spent not only feeding and caring for our cattle through the winter months but the ploughing, sowing and harvesting of the hay, straw and grain which would sustain our herd.<br />
The money raised will keep our farm and family going for a while (not a long while as our cattle were sold near the end of the sale and most buyers had long gone home). Our hard work did not realise a great price and we feel despondent today as a result. Our cowsheds are very quiet.<br />
<br />
This is what we do. If the issue of vegan married to a beef producer causes no arguments in our own household then I fail to see what the problem is for those who found it offensive. People eat meat and our work is in response to that demand regardless of personal dietary choices.<br />
This vegan would be willing to teach someone who was hungry or reliant on food banks, how to skin a rabbit, gut a fish, pluck a pheasant or cook a stew from inexpensive cuts of meat.<br />
<br />
My husband is the farmer - a proper farmer to those who doubted his credentials. He is not a hobby farmer who farms subsidies or breeds overtly expensive types of cattle, he is a bog standard, grass-roots farmer, fourth generation tenant farmer, his family have farmed this land for 124 years. I am merely the farm hand/ orrawoman* although circumstances have forced me into taking responsibility for the entire farm eg when my husband suffered a heart attack, the cattle still needed fed that morning, the fields were half ploughed and the running of the farm continued despite the absence of the 'proper farmer'.<br />
*An Orraperson can turn their hand to anything needing done on a farm. Tasks include operating machinery, animal husbandry, farm records, entertaining farm bairns, nurse, psychologist, cook, mender of broken things...you get the idea. It is easier to say 'tenant farmer's wife'.<br />
<br />
To those who asked if we had even approached those who were imposing their culture upon us, I can state, yes, we tried. In fact, I am trying to think of who I have not appealed to but perhaps it is easier to list those who have responded and offered practical help.<br />
Our M.P. has been very supportive and our communication is ongoing, fellow tenant farmers have been incredible and have offered us much more than mere solidarity. The land reform campaigners have been highly supportive in so far as they recognise injustice, oppression, feudal high handedness, rural vulnerability. They fight for us and use articulate, academic arguments, facts, figures and examples. Their energy is tireless and our gratitude and loyalty to them is unfailing.<br />
<br />
We have received support from those who are concerned - more than concerned, worried sick- about our native wildlife; our birds, wild animals and environment. Many people recognise something insidious happening to the countryside and are prepared to try and change the existing situations suffered by ordinary people and the wildlife in the rural environment. They put hours of footwork and hard graft into their work only to see demoralising low punishments for those who are caught killing or injuring our wildlife.<br />
<br />
I must ask if some of the landowners who are 'giving shooting tenants permission' are even aware of what is happening on the land they own? Many landowners are non residents of this country, many of them have no direct communication with the tenants on their land.<br />
We are never invited to estate meetings where our lives are discussed, decisions made which affect our lives, we are excluded entirely and this is not part of a democratic society which we voted for.<br />
Would these people be prepared to live in the sort of housing we are expected to live in? Would they be prepared to show the public actual receipts on all the 'investments costing millions' they claim to be throwing at tenant farms? Are they willing to announce the amounts of subsidies they receive from the public and true estate incomes from shoots?<br />
<br />
Historically, we have observed a decline in standards in this area which correlates to the introduction of large estate 'managers' taking over the running of these estates. Large professional companies where once there was a factor or gamekeeper who would liaise with the laird/ tenant directly. Now, you have to try to communicate with the Chief Executor of such and such and these people can be very difficult to work with when you are a tenant. No rapport.<br />
Personally, I have found a very high handed, aloof and snobbish type run these agencies. Personally, I have experienced a grey area when shooting tenancies/ tenant farming is involved, the line between what shooting rights are and the blurring of common sense, consideration for neighbours or downright patronising feudal actions. It is 2014 for Goodness sake!<br />
The estates around here who do not employ these agencies appear to have a much better rapport with their tenants and estate workers. There are some decent lairds in this area who do hold the interest of their tenants close, they interact with them on a personal basis and therefore a mutual respect is realised. The tenants are not patronised but are listened to and these estates attempt to resolve issues within their means. Yes, it is old fashioned but it is the best we have to offer in 21st century Scotland and in these instances, the community help each other and help the lairds.<br />
<br />
We are not inferiors to anyone.<br />
<br />
In this day and age we are equals. We have rights, laws which everyone is supposed to adhere to and we are human beings, not human cash cows to be bled dry to enhance the life of some unseen person. The fact that we pay rent for a farm, farmhouse and land does not mean others have carte blanche to diminish our lives in any way. We want to welcome the public to our farm, share our environment and perhaps generate a little income from this yet the constrains are set against us therefore there is little to offer visitors to this area who do not shoot. The imposition of an alien culture prevents us from offering so much to so many.<br />
<br />
More than any of the above, we want to feel safe and right now, we feel very vulnerable indeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-19558734933853849132014-05-03T06:28:00.000-07:002014-05-03T06:28:25.457-07:00Imposing a culture.I had the good fortune to receive a call from a much respected friend who follows this blog.<br />
During the conversation, my friend remarked that certain elements of society "Had no right to impose a culture on others which has an affect on diminishing our lives".<br />
<br />
This conversation came about as I needed to talk to a friend on how our family felt after yet another shooting incident on our farm.<br />
<br />
On Easter Sunday, a Larsen trap was set in the middle of the field where my sheep graze. We were given no warning that this trap was to be set, no warning that a vehicle would be used across a field which will yield hay and therefore, a standing crop.<br />
We were not given any warning that the gates would be left open, my sheep released then worried by a dog, no warning that this dog would kill poultry then enter our cattle shed where pregnant cattle are due to calf.<br />
<br />
We had no idea who the Larsen trap belonged to as it had no identifying number. I will admit that I had no idea what a Larsen trap was although I have seen them on the hillsides in the area. On research, I find that they use a live lure, usually a Corvus, and the given the social nature of these birds, the live lure is used to catch other Corvus.<br />
That is the theory but in practise, the Larsen trap is capable of trapping owls, raptors and other birds. These traps are supposed to be checked every 24 hours with the provision of food, water, a perch and 'shelter' for the live bird. The dead rabbits begin to stink.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcM5IMCI5BaXpMqY7MX2xyTblnmsjF2WPhJdSuNMXriJORIGYoVkNCcz84FBH6SJiyj7ySHqRHXwNSc02G1WToOtX3GnuPXQgPiW0RSX3NIJtz7wrqGM5CzAkzeW78fsgVyLtHqSl4eY/s1600/Larsen+trap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcM5IMCI5BaXpMqY7MX2xyTblnmsjF2WPhJdSuNMXriJORIGYoVkNCcz84FBH6SJiyj7ySHqRHXwNSc02G1WToOtX3GnuPXQgPiW0RSX3NIJtz7wrqGM5CzAkzeW78fsgVyLtHqSl4eY/s1600/Larsen+trap.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I am assuming that the water supply is contained in the jam jar which the stressed bird knocked over? I could not see any water in the jar.<br />
<br />
We were to discover that the only law broken was an absence of a number on this cage, not sheep worrying, death of stock, abandonment of an injured dog, leaving gates open....this is, and I quote Police Scotland, not a criminal act as the person has the landowner's permission".<br />
<br />
Really? This appears to be from a law that I cannot find any reference to on the internet. My guess is that the person who owns the land has no idea this is going on, I would even go as far to hazard a guess that if they did, they would not be greatly impressed.<br />
I personally find these traps hugely offensive and cruel.<br />
<br />
Have we received an apology? No.<br />
Has our stock been replaced? No.<br />
What followed was a fair bit of shooting (on Easter Sunday) then some 'lamping'* in our field, again without warning, shooting continuing in the dark.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
* This definition by Wikipedia: <b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">Spotlighting</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"> or </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">lamping</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"> (also </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">jacklighting</b><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotlighting#cite_note-1" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">) is a method of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Hunting">hunting</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnal_animal" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Nocturnal animal">nocturnal animals</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"> using </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-road_vehicle" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Off-road vehicle">off-road vehicles</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"> and high-powered lights, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searchlight" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Searchlight">spotlights</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">, lamps or</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashlight" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Flashlight">flashlights</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">, that makes special use of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapetum_lucidum" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Tapetum lucidum">eyeshine</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"> revealed by many animal species. A further important aspect is that many animals (e.g. foxes and rabbits) often remain to continually stare at the light and do not appear to see the light as a threat as they normally would view a human. It is possible to carefully approach animals on foot to a short distance if the bright light is continuously maintained on the animal to greatly improve chances of successful killing. Spotlighting may also be used as a method of surveying nocturnal fauna. Repeated, frequent spotlighting may have a detrimental effect on animals and is discouraged.</span></blockquote>
We received a high handed reply from the person whom I assume has accepted responsibility. The reply contained a reminder that they were acting in accordance with the agreement they had with the owner of the estate, in other words, they had shooting rights on our farm.<br />
I cannot find the rule which states this gives them an arrogant, inhuman right to make people's lives miserable, in fact, I feel there is a whiff of the feudal about this 'shooting right' which smells worse than the rotting rabbits in the Larsen trap.<br />
<br />
This brings me back to my friend's comment; "What right do these people have to impose their culture upon others to the detriment of people's lives?".<br />
Our family do not shoot, we do not keep guns on our farm, we are in the industry which creates life, food for others, we sow and harvest crops. We assist cattle to deliver their calves safely so that one day, the meat will feed others.<br />
<br />
I personally have chosen to stick to a plant based diet for almost forty years with a choice to include dairy products during my pregnancies. That is my own personal choice, one which I would not impose even on my family. I am happy to cook meat, fish and poultry for them as that is their choice of food. I can gut a fish, rabbit or even assist in butchering up a cow, pig or sheep as my father taught me to do when I was young. The fact I can do this does not mean I personally have to eat this meat.<br />
<br />
Our family manage to find a compromise where vegan lives with beef producer. I am realistic and respect my husband's ability to produce good cattle, he in turn respects my refusal to eat meat.<br />
<br />
We are fortunate that we have a choice on what we eat - so many do not and have to rely on food banks or diets low in fresh produce through no fault of their own.<br />
How many pheasants from shoots are handed in to food banks? How many rabbits, how much venison or heavily subsidised Wagyu beef steaks are donated to those who cannot afford the £198 per kilo this meat costs to buy in Harrods?<br />
How many pheasants are dumped after a shoot only to attract Corvus thus the Larsen trap cycle begins ad nausea?<br />
<br />
I might add that the rogue dog who killed our poultry has denied my children a few dinners? Perhaps that breed of hen was for table use as well as an egg provision for my family, neighbours and friends.<br />
<br />
This culture of shooting being imposed upon us has a detrimental affect not only on our quality of life but our income. We are unable to rent out our farm cottage due to issues that tenants have experienced from shoots, shooting parties, noise pollution, aggressive behaviour from some individuals who carry a gun?<br />
Damage to standing crops by 4x4s, pheasant damage and the noise. Oh God, the noise.<br />
Who would come here for a quiet holiday in stunning countryside when the peace is shattered by shooting? Why is this activity acceptable here yet would be unthinkable in an urban setting?<br />
My friend pointed out that it would be offensive if someone urinated beside your house, they would be arrested if they defecated beside your house yet some are allowed to kill beside your house, in view of children.<br />
<br />
This is not our culture.<br />
<br />
When did it become acceptable to foist another culture from a tiny minority to the majority ie most of us do not partake in the shooting culture- most of us either cannot afford to or have more common sense not to. I am sure that the thousands of acres of grouse moor land could be put to a wider public benefit by ploughing them up and sowing crops - the lands here showing ancient signs of having been productive for thousands of years. Ecology, proper ecology and not gamekeeper 'conservation' can easily live beside agriculture if carefully thought out. The Ancients managed it!<br />
Nature would sort itself out if given a respite from the release of millions of game birds. The raptors would flourish, given a chance.<br />
<br />
The incident which took place on Easter Sunday has much wider social and ethical implications - one man controls several thousand acres of land yet contributes little if anything to the plates of the hungry, contributes little to the community economy, prevents diversification in tourist accommodation due to noise nuisance, fear and alarm. It could be understood by some that these shoots can have a detrimental affect on the actual population of an area - certainly here, the population is in decline, industry non existent, school role threatening to drop to single figures next term.<br />
This area once had seventy farms. The same area now has less than ten.<br />
This area was rich in agriculture, the three schools had a role of a total 300 pupils, there were five hostelries, three churches, plus a much greater population than today.<br />
Some of the old farms have been amalgamated into a single 'unit' - run in partnership between an estate and a farmer on a very short contract. Great for subsidies, not so great for anything else and certainly terrible for the other sixty nine families these farms once provided for. If the old farms were still running today, the population here could be increased by a potential 280 (if each family had 2 children). The moors which now lie empty once grew oats, barley and potatoes. It is beautifully fertile ground.<br />
<br />
The reason the farms became empty here was a refusal by the farmers and their families to adopt the laird's religion. Their own church was closed to them by the laird, a new church built by the laird and those who did not comply with this alien religion were evicted or 'opted' to leave for Canada.<br />
<br />
Imposition of a culture having a detrimental affect on people's lives.<br />
<br />
I feel we are seeing Clearance by shotgun. Clearance by fear, stress and control. Clearance by subsidy. Clearance by the imposition of a culture.<br />
<br />
It is apparent in the wildlife, the most common bird being the large pheasant rather than the robin or blackbird. How much feed does a pheasant need in comparison to a small robin? Are our garden birds being deprived of feed by some of the 50 million pheasants* reared and released in this country?<br />
Our own crops, silage and grain stores are decimated by hundreds of pheasants each year and going by our archaic tenancy agreement, we are forbidden from shooting and eating a single one.(Not that we would).<br />
*Google the figures.<br />
<br />
A recent poll in the Scottish Farmer <a href="http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/opinion/question-of-the-week/question-of-the-week-for-april-26-2014-x.24048997" target="_blank">http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/opinion/question-of-the-week/question-of-the-week-for-april-26-2014-x.24048997</a> asked if any of us believed the amazing facts and figures ejaculating from the Scottish Land and Estates stating how much money they had invested in tenant farms (millions!), THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF LANDOWNERS IN SCOTLAND screamed the grandiose release. Gazillions of pounds were being made on these shooting estates.<br />
Apparently.<br />
<br />
The quiet reply came from those weary farmers who actually have to live and work with shooting tenants tramping roughshod over their fields and farms, tumbledown farmhouses. Shoots climbing over broken fences onto land which has not seen landowners 'investments' for generations.<br />
<br />
100% did not believe the findings.<br />
<br />
Listen to the quiet voice of the farmer.....if you can hear him over the gunshot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-17627285931725679462014-03-26T09:59:00.001-07:002014-03-26T10:17:32.484-07:00Be careful what you wish for....There has not been a night where I have not prayed for my family before going to sleep.<br />
I will pray to anyone who will listen, God, Buddha, Great Spirit and include prayers for those in need of prayer.<br />
I have prayed nightly for a roof and clean water too. Lately, I have been asking for a few slates to patch up the worst of the holes.<br />
<br />
It seems my prayers were answered but with a TransAtlantic slant.<br />
<br />
I have shingles!<br />
<br />
So here we go, Dear God, Buddha, Great Spirit,<br />
Bless and care for all who need your help, watch over them, help and protect them and please provide us with roof slates, roof shingles if you are an American deity and not the trigeminal nerve type of shingle which is a bit sore.<br />
<br />
Thank you, Amen.GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-54113366595116749122014-03-02T06:32:00.000-08:002014-03-02T06:32:04.285-08:00Curling, sugar and the FATBOB OlympicsSaturday and by 8am the bairns were at a loose end. Youngest had been caught 'being the Jamaican bobsled team' and hurtling himself down the stairs in an old tin bath, wearing my Bob Marley hat.<br />
He had been attempting cross country skiing wearing two pieces of wood tied to his feet <strike>with bailer twine</strike> (the closest we have to skis) and flapping his way through the mud outside. The Winter Olympics had made a strong impression on him and now he was attempting a gold in his own Farm At The Back Of Beyond (FATBOB) Olympics whilst his family rushed around doling plasters, ice packs and consternation.<br />
<br />
The Courier had carried a piece on curling "TRY CURLING!" and Eve Muirhead had been along to help the newcomers on Wednesday at the Dewars Rink in Perth, The Farmer 'kent her faither' and thought it might be worthwhile going along to see what was happening; with the bairns in tow. Youngest had decided he would be part of the Scottish Curling team circa 2030 and he would get to meet his heros, the Jamaican Bobsled team. Rosie wanted to go and give curling a try as she felt it would be similar to the carpet bowls (which she and The Farmer go to on a Thursday).<br />
None of our children had ever been inside an ice rink In Their Lives.<br />
<br />
(As a slight aside, I have been zealous with a healthy eating approach and have been making sugar free, fat free and dairy free, ok, vegan, foodstuffs in an attempt to avoid junk food and heart attacks yet unknown to me, they had discovered the American foodstuffs in the 'World Foods' aisle and had breakfasted on marshmallows the size of your head plus Oreo Poptarts).<br />
<br />
I stayed at home as I had plenty to do and loathe feeling cold <strike>plus two hours of peace</strike> - <strike>nightmare week</strike>. The family were fired up on a sugar rush and ready to curl.<br />
<br />
When they returned, they seemed oddly subdued, no doubt the sugar high had worn off and the prospect of my oat and banana slab was nowhere as exciting as a giant marshmallow or Oreo Poptart (shown here with an ordinary and jumbo marshmallow).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoRQVkgZ7IQwAtn2cke6oTErX8OsNBVTE2FzA38kqQlSVtU05WmpDFmau4MY9fuCF4_eaV-LdecfZp38cPHrEkngM-wPf0yG0vANGOh3EjHyHTziJFmR-3MzIgfCwctQJdCvu7R0R8Dg/s1600/Oreo+Poptart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoRQVkgZ7IQwAtn2cke6oTErX8OsNBVTE2FzA38kqQlSVtU05WmpDFmau4MY9fuCF4_eaV-LdecfZp38cPHrEkngM-wPf0yG0vANGOh3EjHyHTziJFmR-3MzIgfCwctQJdCvu7R0R8Dg/s1600/Oreo+Poptart.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I got the truth from my husband this morning and will write exactly what he said, exactly as he said it - then I'll translate.<br />
<br />
<b>DEEP BREATH.....</b><br />
<br />
"Ah kent, ah just KENT whit wid happen. The bairn loupin' an' skitterin' aboot, loupin' on the ice tae see if it wid crack and Rosie fell on her dowp then roared an' gret and ma breeks dinnae fit an' a cannae find a belt, there's nothin' o' me, ah wiz a' poke ersed an a'hin then the bairn skited an' louped an' fell ower and dunted his heed aff a curlin' stane; we were the family fae hell.".*...He looked quite crestfallen.<br />
I was quite shocked. This is the most he has ever spoken in one breath in all the years I have known him.<br />
<br />
*Translation: I knew what would happen. Our youngest child was 'spirited' and jumping on the ice to see if it would break then Rosie fell on her derriere which upset her and I have lost so much weight that my trousers are falling and our youngest slipped and fell, his head making contact with a curling stone. I am not sure if this is the criteria looked for by the Royal Caledonian Curling Society.<br />
<br />
The bairn is out practicing curling as I write, (cranium intact) mud curling or lobbing large stones into the mud to hear it plop. He is 'clattered in glaur' and 'fair fu' o' gled' *covered in mud and very, very happy. The Farmer has been handed a belt for his trousers, Rosie, lots of chamomile tea and sympathy.<br />
<br />
I like to think that this most noble of sports originated (circa 1500s I think) when a laird was taking his leave after giving a tenant grief one hard winter and someone decided to 'caw the feet fae the divvil'. Whatever the origins, it has evolved into a very worthwhile sport to be enjoyed by all ages.<br />
<br />
If you do decide to give it a try, wrap up warmly and please look kindly on Team Otter because they are doing it again next week..... without the sugar.<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-65133787383857668712014-02-25T06:31:00.000-08:002014-02-25T06:45:36.745-08:00Prove it.The Farmer recently engaged in a conversation with another farmer and invariably, news, gossip, who had died, etc was swapped. The other farmer told my husband that someone he knew was thinking of passing his farm to one of his several daughters (assignation) and there was some consternation over 'a lassie taking over'.<br />
<br />
I have strong feelings about this and the way the existing tenancy laws appear archaic where women and tenancy are concerned.<br />
Heaven forbid but should a female partner of a tenant farmer become widowed, she has to prove that she is experienced enough to continue running the farm. All aspects are taken into consideration (including financial) yet, in my opinion, excluded are the day to day roles a tenant's wife undertakes.<br />
<br />
Can you calf a cow, plough a field, step into the farmer's wellies should he be taken ill? Can you do the books, order in supplies, fix a broken tractor? Can you run the farmhouse, do a decent job of raising children, feed cattle, worm and dose sheep, work out a crop rotation, do soil analysis, shoo the ducks out of the house, keep on top of the ever changing bureaucracy, hold down a part time job/ full time job, mend fences, patch wellies, lamb a ewe, ad infinitum....?<br />
Well, yes you can and you do. Half the time nobody sees your work but then, you are not looking for acknowledgement, you are merely doing what is required.<br />
<br />
If you are bequeathed a large estate of many thousands of acres which encompass many tenants and houses, are you required to prove your worth? I don't believe that you are but with the laws of primogeniture being the way they are in Scotland, the odds will be that the new laird of an estate is male and therefore does not have to prove anything to anyone of his 'competence' in running an estate. Does he have to show how much money he has to anyone? No.<br />
<br />
Very different for, e.g. a newly widowed tenant with say, less than 500 acres to run and the pressure on her to prove her ability.<br />
<br />
I know a couple of female tenants and one of them is the absolute top in her field. Her stock is superb, highly acclaimed and she is very well respected for her knowledge and ability; yet this is a fairly unusual situation in farming, tenant farming especially.<br />
<br />
I also know of another tenant farmer's wife who was tragically widowed young and who not only lost her much loved husband but her home and business too due to her inexperience in farming. This woman held and holds down a highly professional job outwith the farm and no doubt contributed hugely to the farm income yet these issues are not considered.<br />
<br />
There appears to be a call for new entrants to farming and it will be very encouraging to see young women and men starting out in our profession but surely the restrictive views of assignation must be considered and changed? Can you imagine how difficult it must be for someone who has just lost a partner/ the father of their children/ workmate to go through the ordeal of proving they are worthy and capable of running the farm whilst grieving and adjusting to their loss?<br />
Certain large estate agents, who appear to run estates, are not known for their humanity but rather their fondness for money and subsidies. Often, the human factor is ignored and the monumental task of a lone widow having to stand her case to these people is too much to cope with so farms are lost, tenancies are lost.<br />
<br />
What other industry would you have to prove your ability and finances after the death of a partner when all along you have been the invisible 'orraperson'? **<br />
<br />
I am also unable to find out where a same sex partner stands in the assignation laws? Would a man have to prove his worth, ability and finances if he wished to continue the tenancy on the death of his husband? I don't know the answer to that question but feel this is an area which has been ignored.<br />
<br />
I propose that these issues could be avoidable through introducing agriculture and agricultural law as part of the National Curriculum. For those who wish to farm after us, make things easier for them by enlightenment, education, hands on experience beginning at an 'O' level basis (or whatever O levels are called these days). If people have to prove they are worth (and please realise how demeaning this is) then help acknowledge their work in the first place, all aspects of their work.<br />
<br />
This goes for lairds too. If the widowed tenant has to prove her/his ability then so must the new laird - after all, his actions have the ability to change lives - he has the land and the power.<br />
<br />
The French addressed 'Liberte,egalite,fraternite ou la mort' circa 1763.<br />
Prove your worth, Scotland and show us what equality really means - we will do the rest.<br />
<br />
**orraperson - Jill/Jack of all tradesGentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-75228209613423236142014-02-17T04:21:00.001-08:002014-02-25T02:59:15.531-08:00Lies, damn lies and statistics.I wanted to update on the farm issues, given that seven months have passed since the meeting with the estate, MP and Scottish Land and Estates.<br />
<div>
The main points raised were the farmhouse, roof in particular, a water supply, the replacement of march fences and the land which was taken from us without compensation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The farm was given a water supply on Christmas Eve last year, a connecting pipe from the supply which feeds the big school (and runs through our farmland) was installed. Good to have a supply but it is fairly intermittent having had a series of bursts in the last few days.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Roof? Surveyors came and surveyed the house last year. Decent, professional fellows who never complained when the hall ceiling fell at their feet. </div>
<div>
Has anything progressed since they submitted their report to the estate?</div>
<div>
No.</div>
<div>
Have the estate replied to my emails enquiring about progress?</div>
<div>
No.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
March fences. </div>
<div>
We sent the estate a copy of an estimate from a good fencing contractor. Response?</div>
<div>
Nothing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Land resumption.</div>
<div>
The issue was addressed by the estate after ten years of asking them to acknowledge the problem.</div>
<div>
The grand sum of £42 was offered. This is supposed to cover our loss of crops, loss of SFP, pheasant damage to crops, rodent and pest (rat and pheasant) damage to stored silage bales, vehicular damage to non land resumption area amongst other issues. Forty two pounds.</div>
<div>
Fearing this over-generous compensation, the estate then showed up with the game tenant and <u>hinted strongly</u> that now this 'game strip' was sterile and useless after ten years of bad management, they wanted a fresh two acres from the opposite side of our most productive field. Compensation was not mentioned.</div>
<div>
Setting aside the arrogance and entitlement here (for land we still pay full rent yet cannot use), this ruination of what was once excellent, fertile ground illustrates ignorance and sheer greed, greed to whack in crop after crop of kale, year after year, no organic matter, outside contractors to work the land we pay full rent for.</div>
<div>
Has the issue been remedied?</div>
<div>
No.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Improved communication.</div>
<div>
Initially after the meeting, communication with the estate had improved but this appears to have slipped. My emails have not been answered of late.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Overall conclusion of the results from the meeting?</div>
<div>
A complete waste of time however it was good PR for SL&E to be seen to have been proactive with a tenant farming family. The trouble is that being seen doing something and actually implementing the issues are very different.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Multiply our problems with similar experienced by tenant farmers all over Scotland and you can just about gauge the frustration and exasperation in our industry. The main question being "How do you get these estates to actually DO something?" "How can SL&E say that millions of pounds of investment is being thrown at farms?" "How can you get the laird to implement his side of the tenancy agreement without having to involve expensive and lengthy legal battles?" (Answer, you can't).</div>
<div>
From the Secure 1991 tenant's viewpoint, the 'investments' are non existent unlike the lies and spin which are spread as thickly as the Somme like mud on our farm.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We attended the annual Scottish Tenant Farmers Association dinner in Perth on Friday night, the guest speaker was Professor Jim Hunter.</div>
<div>
He proposed a radical change. Do away with the existing, overtly complex and untenable tenancy laws which are only able to be interpreted by a handful of Agricultural lawyers (costing approx £160 per hour.)</div>
<div>
Do away with viewing tenant farming as a separate type of farming to, say, crofting, small holding, etc.</div>
<div>
Give the tenant (including the Limited Partnerships*) ARTB. - (My personal view would be to concentrate on 1991 Secure tenants only).</div>
<div>
Give the land back to the people. 435 individuals own 50% of Scotland. There are approx 5 1/2 million people in our country. </div>
<div>
The statistic speaks for itself. </div>
<div>
Professor Hunter for First Minister with a cabinet of Andy Wightman, Lesley Riddoch, Ron Greer, Rob Gibson, Alastair McIntosh and others who eloquently debate land reform.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We have to undergo months of enquiries, meetings by quangos and from the tenant's point of view, it is beginning to look like The Judean Popular People's Front versus The People's Front of Judea. The reality is that the future of tenant farming lies in the hands of four lawyers (plus one tenant, a new entrant?).</div>
<div>
Meanwhile, the land itself suffers from poor management, housing is dire and a stasis befalls the country like a prolonged Bach fugue.</div>
<div>
The buzzword is 'vibrant' tenant farming and so help me, I want to slap anyone saying this with the side of a wet fish.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Plain old 'farming' would suffice, whether we are crofters, small holders or whatever. Give us our farms and we will do the rest. We know what is required and see through the lies, damn lies and statistics.</div>
<div>
ScotGov, just drop a gear on this, please? The tenants will tell you what you what needs to be done. Just listen to them and implement what they say instead of toadying to the lairds who ruined the land in the first place. 21st Century Scotland is the same for tenants as it was for their Great Grandfathers. </div>
<div>
Are you not <i>ashamed</i> of this statement?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A roof, better living conditions and freedom from feudalism. In Scotland 2014.<br />
<br />
* Edited 25th February. My apologies for stating an incorrect type of tenancy.</div>
GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-5069313461935295782014-01-25T05:43:00.001-08:002014-01-25T05:43:34.405-08:00Address tae a vegan haggisOh haggis wi yir sonsie face,<br />
Stuffed wi veg and hint o' mace<br />
Blood an' puddin's, nae a trace<br />
Nae painch, tripe or thairm.<br />
Well are ye worthy o' a Grace<br />
And dae ma hert nae herm.<br />
<br />
Rustic Labour makes fine a coo,<br />
Big o' hurdie, slavering moo,<br />
A cross o' Limmy an' Belgian Blue.<br />
Nae slechered in sharn!<br />
The kye are a' vegan but end up as stew<br />
Oh, whit a shan.<br />
<br />
But mark the Rustic, haggis fed<br />
Stuffed wi' oats and nuts (well shred)<br />
Neeps and tatties, oaten bread,<br />
Fit fur a king!<br />
Stappit fu' wi' a muckle spread<br />
Nae blud or onyhin'.<br />
<br />
Is that a scornful een I see!<br />
Gowkin' sneerily at ma tea?<br />
A widnae poke fun at thee.<br />
Each tae thir ain.<br />
Eat whit ye like, it's nae up tae me,<br />
I'll eat ma grain.<br />
<br />
Ye Pow'rs wha make Mankind your care,<br />
Dinnae care whit gings in oor fare,<br />
Loadit wi' sugar, horsemeat and mair,<br />
Gies me the boak.<br />
A weel made haggis whether bloody or bare,<br />
Will dae maist folk.<br />
<br />
Slainte!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-65498629875726554762014-01-11T10:39:00.001-08:002014-01-11T10:39:31.255-08:00"Is your wife prettier than mine?"A belated but Happy New Year to you all.<br />
<br />
I'm just about back to good, rude health again and raring to see an incredible year for Scotland, land reform, tenant farming amid others.<br />
<br />
Like thousands of others, our family watched David Miller's "The Men Who Own Scotland", topics covered were investment (or apparent lack of), land which has been kept by one family for many years, concentration of land ownership (predominately male thanks to primogeniture or a male heir) plus other issues.<br />
The opening gambit made by one landowner (53,000 acres) was astonishing. In response to the question whether such concentrated land ownership in Scotland was 'fair', the landowner's reply included "It may not be fair but is it fair that your wife may be prettier than mine?"<br />
The arrogance and sheer vapidness of this man's reply is overwhelming yet the same 'brain' lairds it over some 53,000 acres and all within.<br />
<br />
Sadly for us, very few lairds were willing to make similar statements yet some who live on these vast estates are all too aware of an uncaring, callous and somewhat sexist view held by the men who make decisions over the lives of those who live on these estates. The ordinary tenant, whether they are farmers or rent a house often find that it is a complete waste of time trying to get anywhere with such narrow minded men - I include factors (or the pseudo factors who never quite made the grade yet who have influence in estate matters. Power rich, I.Q. poor).<br />
<br />
In this year, 2014 for those still stuck in medieval times, the ability to manage land is shared by very capable and competent women and men. The country is run by very capable women and men yet our country is owned by men who appear to gauge whether a wife is pretty or not so pretty as a reply to whether the most concentrated landownership <i>*in the world* </i>was fair or not. Vapid and out of touch does not even begin to describe it.<br />
<br />
Well, Sunshine, let me give it to you straight, you may not be aware of real life up there on your ivory tower but whilst you measure a person's ability in Helens without the 1000 ship launch, how do you feel about the fact that people think you are an utter fool? We could use this as a new measurement for being out of touch "Is your husband lairdier than mine?"<br />
To the man on the same programme who wondered if he would have his estate for another 500 years, I would be surprised if you will continue to own it for another 500 days.<br />
To the man who was alledgedly worth 1/4 of a billion sitting on a run down estate yet blathering on about how much he had 'invested', we can see through the bluster. You just want a windfarm for the subsidies, dude. If the estate is costing so much, sell it to the community for the price you paid for it. I bet those derelict houses soon become home to families, the schools repopulated, communities thrive.<br />
<br />
Whilst these men disassociated themselves from reality and used our land as personal playgrounds or tax avoidances to the exclusion of others, women stopped giving a toss what men thought about their looks and got on with things using their intelligence, capability and the belief in equality. We women live in the now, realistic and comfortable about ourselves and our abilities.<br />
Those of us who have less (in this instance, do not own vast estates) have less to lose and more to gain, the difference being that your ordinary Scot recognises equality and recognises the land itself needs urgent care.<br />
Farming needs a good kick in the 20's but landownership needs a revolution. A feudal castration.<br />
<br />
Why are we sitting back permitting these medieval, feudal fools to own, hog and decimate the views you see as you pass on a journey? They are using good Scottish land for their own financial gain and we, the Scottish people are paying them to do it.<br />
<br />
Regardless of looks, sex, money and status, the common person is more than capable of better managing and maintaining the vast and sterile looking land than the vapid and sterile looking men who currently own it.<br />
<br />
My favourite response to the issue of the division of land in Scotland not being fair and the thoughts of the landowners being "Tough, deal with it" was the excellent reply from Andy Wightman who simply stated...<br />
<br />
"Don't worry, we will".<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-84648934288284171872013-12-09T10:53:00.000-08:002013-12-09T10:58:12.365-08:00Please make life a little easier?I have not blogged for ages as I have been quite unwell so my apologies to those who have written to ask how things were going.<br />
<br />
The family are just in - we have all been working at rebuilding the cattle court so the cattle can come in from the field. The cattle should have been in long before this but we were faced with a Catch 22 situation namely, we did not have water in either the sheds (nor in the cabin) so the cattle had to stay outside in order to drink from the burn.<br />
<br />
The shooting tenant, however, decided to hold a shoot in the same field as the (pregnant) cattle. This stressed our herd and (on professional advice) increased the risk of 'spontaneous abortion'. They could lose their calves plus fall ill to infection, etc.<br />
Our herd are very calm, usually. There is an unwritten rule among the farmers here that their cattle never see a raised stick nor hear a raised voice. I have never heard my husband shout at his cattle and if they need guiding then he holds out his arms as a means of directing them.<br />
You can imagine how the herd reacted then, to several guns going off beside them. I see it as an act of cruelty.<br />
<br />
We are desperate to take the cattle in and will tomorrow but there is a limited amount of water which we received from the estate. A herd of pregnant cattle will easily drink <u>in one day</u>, the contents of the cubes of water we have been given.<br />
<u><br /></u>
It has been five days since the supply ran and whilst we are aware of a 'problem' we would expect the problem to be resolved by now. We are fortunate to have help rebuild the cattle court and are accommodating someone in the cabin. Can you imagine how you would feel after working in a cattle shed for several days yet you could not wash your hands or body? Toilet flushed by a bucket from the cube of water outside?<br />
I think someone from Medieval times could imagine such unsanitary conditions and that is what it feels like.<br />
<br />
We have to double up the cattle shed as a grain store.<br />
When the cattle go out in Spring (if the weather is good and the grass has grown). We are high up in the hills so have a relatively short growing season. Our grass comes in later that the pastures on farms a few miles away but who enjoy more sheltered areas.<br />
Once the cattle are out then we clear the dung, wash the floors and walls then go over them again then a final wash with a steam cleaner to kill any bacteria. It is a huge task but we do not have anywhere to store our grain (as the grain shed was built in the 1800s and tiny due to carts and lower yields).<br />
<br />
This task of cleaning out the cattle shed was hampered by a lack of water this year. I will not elaborate on how we finally managed to wash it out but I will admit it was backbreaking and laborious. Farms use a lot of water for these sort of jobs.<br />
<br />
No, it has not been easy at all these past few weeks but I was heartened when the entire community of some 70 people came together to try to resolve the problem with an antiquated water system which has now come to the end of its life.<br />
<br />
The landowner has exercised 'the landowner's right' and taken the grant which was available from the council (for water improvement) from the tenants. Several private homeowners also gave their grant to the estate and we await a plan plus time constraint from estate and council.<br />
I worry that all 70 will be left without water if the weather becomes very cold or if we get snowed in. It happened to us a few years ago so it is possible.<br />
I'm not aware of a contingency plan, bowser or anything in place for those in more remote areas.<br />
<br />
There has been mention of connecting the farm to the pipe which runs through our land (to a big school). We are a bit wary of this option as the school appear to have issues with their supply and I believe it was off again at the weekend. It does not bode well that a former teacher has sought legal means due to having to ask for a bucket of water to flush her toilet. Neither bucket nor water were provided....<br />
<br />
Contrary to blusterings on Twitter by Scottish Land and Estates, what I am saying is "A total misrepresentation of the situation". Why then don't some of us have a) a supply b) a clean supply c) a reliable supply? (I say 'some' as one or two have giant water storage tanks with filtration systems).<br />
I Tweeted this yesterday-<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Community (70 strong) working with council, estate, SEPA etc. Still think boreholes are the cheapest solution.</span></blockquote>
Please do clarify the situation, SL&E because an entire community would love clarification.<br />
We are not working against the estate, to the contrary, residents are willing to explore any means possible of receiving clean, plentiful water. We are working with estate, council, SEPA, Scottish Water and anyone else who can help. It is just not acceptable to deny that there is a problem.<br />
<br />
It is written in the title deeds of the private homeowners that the landowner owns the mineral rights. This prevents the sinking of boreholes (as favoured by several in the community).<br />
Scottish Water mentioned circa £2,500,000 to connect the glen to public water. Who pays? Who is responsible?<br />
Nobody really knows who owns the water pipe itself as the land is divided by trusts, etc. My guess is that if gold was found then the owners/trustees would soon pipe up. (Unintentional pun alert).<br />
<br />
I have been threatened with an injunction to ban me from speaking on Blogger or Twitter about the situation here yet I can assure you what I write is true. I truly fear for the welfare of our community this coming winter especially the elderly and the very young.<br />
<br />
I would say that our problems are exacerbated greatly by the shooting and selfishness of the shooting tenant yet they pale greatly when people are without water.<br />
If our family are unable to provide our cattle and sheep with water whilst they are inside and dependent on us then we have no option than to sell all the livestock. My husband refuses to accept this but I can't see any other option when the welfare of the animals comes first. If they stay outside, they will not put on weight plus it is easier to feed them or carry out checks on their wellbeing when they are in. Plus they are protected from the stress that a shoot brings.<br />
<br />
A neighbour summed things up recently when she was asked to renew her subscription to Water Aid. "Can we have some water aid here, in a glen, in Scotland, in 2013, please?"<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-64837823612454314892013-10-11T04:09:00.001-07:002013-10-11T04:18:29.773-07:00Think before you drink.This is the fourteenth day without water on our farm.<br />
<br />
The supply yielded a small amount yesterday but that quickly went off again and despite having written to the estate to ask why we have no water, I have not received a reply. So much for the promises of improved communication from the CEO of the Scottish Land and Estates and the estate representative when they sat at our kitchen table.<br />
<br />
The situation here is that the supply which has fed the farm since 1890 has ceased. The farm is fed from a reservoir and shares a pipe with a large public school. The public school have embarked on an improved water supply system and it would appear to me that they may know something about the cessation of our farm supply....<br />
The deal was made in 1948 that the school would be allowed to lay a pipe through our farm on the condition that the farm would receive water. This permission was given by the landowner and the tenant farmer had no input into the agreement.<br />
<br />
Given the disruption to our crops by an ancient pipe system bursting (or being burst by estate plumbers smashing our pipe with mechanical diggers), the sensible solution would be to replace the pipes along the roadside thus it would make access easier plus it is a shorter distance.<br />
But this would involve common sense - something I find lacking in certain elements around here.<br />
<br />
The genius solution the estate came up with was to pump raw water from the little burn, top up the local community holding tank with said burn water and from what I can glean, divert some of the water to the big public school. I mention that my understanding of this is limited due to lack of clear information from the estate.<br />
<br />
Further up the burn lie the carcasses of sheep which have died over previous winters. There are pheasant carcasses in the burn too.<br />
A boil water notice has been advised but the practicalities and expense of boiling a lot of water, for example for a bath are impractical. Most people have showers and have discovered that the raw water has damaged the showers given the amount of sediment and solids plus how do you boil water for a shower? You still ingest the water, skin being the largest organ in the human body. Try brushing your teeth with a tub of boiled and cooled water. Try reminding your children that taps are not for drinking water. Try telling children who have learning difficulties not to drink or bathe in the raw water.<br />
<br />
I was heartened to read that the Scottish government have pledged an enormous sum of money for overseas aid to assist those suffering health issues due to lack of sanitation and clean water as well as other issues.<br />
<br />
I ask that they also take into consideration, the communities in their own country who are also experiencing difficulties due to a lack of clean water plus the constraints of being reliant on an estate who owns the water, charges for the water yet who are incapable of supplying this most basic human resource to those who need a clean, potable, reliable drinking supply.<br />
<br />
The alternative is to drill a borehole but the permission of the landowner is required. Given that the landowner collects quite a considerable sum in council rated water charges from each household, I somehow doubt permission would be granted.<br />
The cost of a borehole is between £6,500 and £10,000 and considering the geography of this area plus the fact it lies on a major fault line, there is no shortage of underground water. Several owner/occupier farms have sunk boreholes and have had no issues at all with either supply or quality.<br />
People are afraid to ask permission in case their supplies 'dry up' - just like the farm supply has 'dried up'. I don't know about you but I have issues at having to ask permission to spend a small fortune on sinking a borehole to improve our quality of life, especially when it would end up being considered as a landlord's improvement.<br />
<br />
I suspect that our community is not the only one facing such a nightmare as there are roughly 100,000 people on private water supplies (probably owned by a handful of landowners).<br />
<br />
Have you visited an area served by private water? Have you ingested putrified sheep/ pheasant carcass? Have your children paddled in burns which may harbour cryptosporidium, Ecoli, etc? Has anyone spread human faeces in the surrounding fields?<br />
<br />
In an odd way, our having no water supply is probably safer than being supplied with raw burn water however, we honestly do not know how we can provide water for our livestock when we bring them into the sheds for winter soon. Are we being forced to sell our herd of cattle and flock of sheep due to lack of provision of water? Are we being driven out by drought? It looks like it to me except we are not leaving. No intention of giving up no matter how much the estate tries to harass or make life difficult.<br />
<br />
The law itself needs changed but it appears nobody who can change it is listening. Until then, we are at the mercy of the landowners.<br />
God help us.GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-53655839333534798712013-10-03T09:30:00.000-07:002013-10-11T03:23:46.030-07:00Sunshine on DullSeven days now without any drinking water at the farm.<br />
<br />
This came in from the council -<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I understand that the FarmAtTheBackOfBeyond cabin and caravan are served by ********** private water supply and that (neighbouring) farm cottage is served by (local parish) private water supply. <u></u><u></u></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">********* Estate have been having problems supplying water to the properties on ****** supply and water was initially tankered to the main tank at (neighbouring farm) before they arranged a temporary abstraction from (the wee local) burn to keep the main tank supplied. As burn water was being used and the treatment provided at that time was not guaranteed to produce wholesome water PKC issued all properties on the (local parish) supply with boil water notices. The Estate has also advised occupants not to consume the water. I understand this situation is still ongoing.<u></u><u></u></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I note that the estate provided you with bowser water from a burn. This water should certainly be treated as unwholesome and should not be consumed without treatment and/or boiling.<u></u><u></u></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As you are a tenant of *********** Estate you should continue to make representations to them about the provision of water to FarmAtTheBackOfBeyond cabin. I would suggest you examine the terms of your lease or tenancy agreement to establish who has responsibilities in this matter. </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yours uncaringly,</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Cooncil</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do you see any reference to supplying our family with clean drinking water? Me neither (sorry for the bold writing all of the sudden).</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What I do see is an estate and council who do not care one whit about their tenants/ people who pay tax and council tax.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From what I can glean, a new pipe is being laid somewhere (although the plumbers had not turned up as it was raining) so rather than wear hoods and not be total Jessies, it was easier to keep our supply turned off. We are not informed when the water will go off but find out by turning on the tap.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This rocked up after my requests for drinking water for the farm.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGRjiIlrf6VvDFL1My1wYjy5a3nFBwXXuuY1zjAYybKHq3NFPOfYfb0ZOljSrCKkfiSEw83s4AvubN05_p4-0pOiiE9YGwZfQVXm3ITexTI68yv0TAmGwHZfIsL87j1ci_G4RvvqBkHU/s1600/blog+Unwholesome+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGRjiIlrf6VvDFL1My1wYjy5a3nFBwXXuuY1zjAYybKHq3NFPOfYfb0ZOljSrCKkfiSEw83s4AvubN05_p4-0pOiiE9YGwZfQVXm3ITexTI68yv0TAmGwHZfIsL87j1ci_G4RvvqBkHU/s320/blog+Unwholesome+water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The dirt is on the inside of the bowser and the water really is a murky green colour.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N1nQlxZgd78IONOTooOgMQPbUeZsapJ4Im51G7gaWGbG9hURcwYOrte5CjTXBJhU1Std1Qff3kZVkHVIwUEpk_mVTxpmGwWyp6IIMwX81Nd6TSTlNR3hd0w15pSiJIB4_-SJgkx5z2o/s1600/blog+3+murky+tanks+are+we.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N1nQlxZgd78IONOTooOgMQPbUeZsapJ4Im51G7gaWGbG9hURcwYOrte5CjTXBJhU1Std1Qff3kZVkHVIwUEpk_mVTxpmGwWyp6IIMwX81Nd6TSTlNR3hd0w15pSiJIB4_-SJgkx5z2o/s320/blog+3+murky+tanks+are+we.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How do you get the middle tank off the trailer?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6__w1_eAsqP1Yhe4vbAJdQzKHwbPy5lnT1ullNk42u-OaehDB249P2eXA8UPV4aHHEJ379sEB8OyR_kDeF-X0Cy5tujbW74J2Xab-5ZYoHslQcIeg32AvHr1GYz6muSss1yBqQCWzMk/s1600/blog+here's+what+you+could+have+won.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6__w1_eAsqP1Yhe4vbAJdQzKHwbPy5lnT1ullNk42u-OaehDB249P2eXA8UPV4aHHEJ379sEB8OyR_kDeF-X0Cy5tujbW74J2Xab-5ZYoHslQcIeg32AvHr1GYz6muSss1yBqQCWzMk/s320/blog+here's+what+you+could+have+won.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Here is what you could have won" - pumps and everything but sadly.....</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwXjI0UWFmJ5MUw4E33lkT1BnKFv5JMc0I3G_cMtp1h4XtTg_ag1bKvu1SsJcFoD28kuw46BP59LtI0FX8skt2nFkCn5LUq_IKJBpz6hU3PRCq21U_lcIhyw2mHFcLPqS3Nc6gmVyWZA/s1600/blog+water+away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwXjI0UWFmJ5MUw4E33lkT1BnKFv5JMc0I3G_cMtp1h4XtTg_ag1bKvu1SsJcFoD28kuw46BP59LtI0FX8skt2nFkCn5LUq_IKJBpz6hU3PRCq21U_lcIhyw2mHFcLPqS3Nc6gmVyWZA/s320/blog+water+away.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The water bowsers, pumps and everything were removed the following morning leaving us with one minging bowser and no means of transporting the water unless by bucket.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">21st century Scotland, mind.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Do the police know that the estate trailer has no number plate?)</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Plus this nonsense was going on in the lower field at the same time. The field where the cattle graze.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7AX81sLZ508uiVr7bUPGVchhe2DWdmQzUM1msos6rSARwaZI4jfAAKm0_6py2mxxT-VP58JJAiTL_OfXVfjo6OW6eZrXt4FHd6ujIdNvRXHfCPHJwST-QArdk8ON7jxOpTcZFoR1FeQ/s1600/blog+shooters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7AX81sLZ508uiVr7bUPGVchhe2DWdmQzUM1msos6rSARwaZI4jfAAKm0_6py2mxxT-VP58JJAiTL_OfXVfjo6OW6eZrXt4FHd6ujIdNvRXHfCPHJwST-QArdk8ON7jxOpTcZFoR1FeQ/s320/blog+shooters.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Looks like a lovely Autumnal landscape until you look right in the centre of the photo. Rather sinister?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here is a better view.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3qg9tkoup6S5Shni34XUFOeQFNdV4JDaay67TX1xGfiX0IePwQJ67ehMdH1WkQBDPLxoO8DhLKnPN7bXeWqQbHhyphenhyphen4sa-7UCcNz3-UCWLAFN0VwXLAMx2femzeMAKdvD2rvaMr08IGyM/s1600/Blood+sports.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3qg9tkoup6S5Shni34XUFOeQFNdV4JDaay67TX1xGfiX0IePwQJ67ehMdH1WkQBDPLxoO8DhLKnPN7bXeWqQbHhyphenhyphen4sa-7UCcNz3-UCWLAFN0VwXLAMx2femzeMAKdvD2rvaMr08IGyM/s320/Blood+sports.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Blood sport before lunch.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So the list of 'People who could do something to help but are turning a deaf ear/ blind eye' grows. We are only tenant farmers, after all.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Where does the Sunshine on Dull come into the equation?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>The answer is that I took such a scunner to the situation that I took off to Dull for a change of scenery. The Birks (birch trees) of Aberfeldy are just beginning to change colour and were beautiful, indeed all the trees between Aberfeldy and Dull wore a different colour.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCQ3i5ObvjPY01rwdeYklQ8sSVO1zZTan6cJTkCPXpWH6190uVSWWrxzaOoc7I5aSOXruTo9zbmjLp1hTv2yb-KfIXkZteGdAe8WzTn_im1pfs66A59he5NNWiDsLNYy_1TLhzyG4dU4/s1600/Birks+o+aberfeldy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCQ3i5ObvjPY01rwdeYklQ8sSVO1zZTan6cJTkCPXpWH6190uVSWWrxzaOoc7I5aSOXruTo9zbmjLp1hTv2yb-KfIXkZteGdAe8WzTn_im1pfs66A59he5NNWiDsLNYy_1TLhzyG4dU4/s320/Birks+o+aberfeldy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>The people at Karelia House, Dull welcomed me like an old lost friend and plied me with mugs of hot coffee, home baking and all the news.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Their first ever coffee morning at the weekend raised a massive £3034.79 for Macmillan on Saturday. A brilliant amount from such a tiny community and enough to cheer the gloomiest of spirits.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>It felt easier to return to the farm after being treated so kindly at Karelia and it helps to strengthen resolve and spirit. A little human kindness goes a long, long way.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Home to a different glen and an indifferent estate.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Home to no water.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Update: Saturday 5th October 2013 - Still no water. Supply was on for a short while but went off again at around 4.30pm.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Sunday 6th October - water still off.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Monday 7th October - no water. Is this now permanent?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Tuesday 8th - No water. Not a drop, plumbers are now digging holes on a neighbouring farm and the huge pump which is supposed to be feeding our farm is switched off.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Wednesday 9th. Not only is there still no water, the taps are acting like hoovers in that they are sucking air in. I have never seen this happen before. The water supply has literally been sucked dry. No word from the estate.</b></span><br />
<br />
Friday 11th October - small amount of water yesterday but it went off again and none at all today. I have discovered that other members of the community are afraid to complain to the estate in case their water supply is cut off too. All they can do is refuse to pay the full council water rate which the estate charge each person. Some are afraid to do this.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-15232199069120609622013-09-29T08:54:00.001-07:002013-09-29T08:54:16.420-07:00We URGENTLY need water.The farm and farmhouse has had no water for days. The occasional sporadic amount but not enough to store in a tank to wash your hands or flush a toilet.<br />
<br />
Apparently, it is news to the estate who are responsible for the supply.<br />
<br />
Given that I have taken to emailing them almost daily to let them know we have no water and given that they read this blog, I will ask "Please can we have some water?"<br />
<br />
We are currently working in the antiquated grain sheds - a filthy job so the ability to wash our hands would be a luxury right now, even from the outside tap.<br />
<br />
The water has been on and off (mostly off) for almost *three months* now. The anticipated 'precipitation' precipitated. The reservoir which has fed our farm since 1890 is full.<br />
<br />
I would be asking the wee man in the white van (who is working for the estate) - "What is it that you are doing near the valves early in the morning?" And "Are you going to give us 24 hours notice before the supply stops?"<br />
For the record, there are no leaking pipes on our farm.<br />
<br />
It is quite simply really. If the estate are unable to supply us with water then they ought to have this responsibility taken from them and this fundamental human right, the basic right to clean water in Scotland in 2013, given to someone who does have a clue.<br />
<br />
Because right now, it looks like harassment and an attempt to drive us out.<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-39219746083339192102013-09-21T14:35:00.000-07:002013-09-21T14:35:51.888-07:00The Smoky Smirr O Rain"The hills aroond war silent wi the mist alang the braes.<br />
The woods war derk an' quiet wi dewy, glintin' sprays.<br />
The thrushes didna raise for me, as I gaed by alane,<br />
but a wee wae cheep at passin' in the smoky smirr o rain.<br />
<br />
Rock an' stane lay glisterin' on aa the heighs abune.<br />
Cool an' kind an' whisperin' it drifted gently doon,<br />
till hill an' howe war rowed in it, an' land an' sea war gane.<br />
Aa was still an' saft an' silent in the smoky smirr o rain."<br />
<br />
George Campbell Hay<br />
<br />
The Autumn mist has made our house quite invisible to the world, the hill at the front floats, only the top can be seen backlit by the full moon and inside, we are huddled around the fire, recovering from a horrid lurgy which struck the whole family, bellies filled by the plums and apples we picked from the garden, settling into the return of the dark nights.<br />
<br />
We have worked at getting the harvest in; a bumper harvest of oats this year. The straw and hay for the livestock has been bailed and stacked but best of all, we had a holiday at the invite of another tenant farming family on the Islands.<br />
I won't say which island to preserve the anonymity of those we met but what I will say is that we were treated like family, welcomed with such warmth, love and friendship that it was difficult to return home.<br />
<br />
We met many other tenant farming families during our stay, gathering around the big kitchen table, everyone from the youngest to the more mature in years had their say, stories were swapped; not in bitterness just hard facts.<br />
We heard of the young, articulate, highly qualified farmer who desperately wanted his own farm yet who was badly let down at the last moment by the landowner, the farmer who had worked at farming with his sibling all his days yet on the sibling's death, he would lose the farm due to the succession laws which prevent a sibling taking on a tenancy.<br />
<br />
As we travelled around the island, there were so many houses like this one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdtY1Bx6glF_U6fNcv4opOmUyAGWmmJ86rrhG2P9LHtCSOudqH9ts9x5F4V8yYnKtLDZU6JMA2cAL_jPC1uV40ONPJDD3w9jEVPFGLcuMXSTL9f_QZjforP1BK4-3a3rmGaR7OHwiUw8/s1600/Smoky+smirr+o+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdtY1Bx6glF_U6fNcv4opOmUyAGWmmJ86rrhG2P9LHtCSOudqH9ts9x5F4V8yYnKtLDZU6JMA2cAL_jPC1uV40ONPJDD3w9jEVPFGLcuMXSTL9f_QZjforP1BK4-3a3rmGaR7OHwiUw8/s320/Smoky+smirr+o+rain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Houses staring with dead eyes over ground which once saw crops. Houses which once saw families where bairns tumbled off to school, now the schools lay empty, abandoned. There were few shops, just miles and miles of grouse moor.<br />
<br />
You did not need to travel as far as the Islands to see this desolation, it is evident all over Scotland and the Islands. Dead eyed houses, empty schools, no shops, miles of nothing but barren waste where once stood crops and workers.<br />
<br />
On the last night of our visit, I stood outside for a puff. The air was so pure and the smoky smirr of rain hung in the air. I'm not sure how it happens but nights like those have the ability to catch sound and as I smoked my cigarette, I could hear a man singing at a wedding some distance away. I don't know what he was singing as it was Gaelic but his voice was beautiful and ethereal in the mist. It did not matter what he was singing as the message of his song rang clear and hit my Soul.<br />
<br />
I see lights in that little house. I see bairns tumbling off to school, crops being tended, animals grazing, neighbours swapping news in the shops. If ever a message rang home, it was that this land is worth fighting for to bring it back to life and to make the community feel valued again.<br />
<br />
Our home too, depressing as it was to return to.<br />
Nothing has progressed despite our meeting with our visitors. NOTHING.<br />
<br />
The entire glen has suffered water shortages and I feel for them as they are not used to the disruption, ruined water filters and inability to bathe their children safely. We are used to it as it has happened to us for years. The only difference appears to be their willingness to speak out and try to get something done.<br />
The community received a rather high handed email explaining that 'lack of precipitation' had caused the shortages and no mention of the antiquated, patched, <strike>lead in places </strike>burst pipe system which has long since died a death.<br />
<br />
The smoky smirr of rain has arrived, the rain or 'precipitation' has fallen in abundance, yet still no water.<br />
Still no roof.<br />
<br />
A surveyor had a quick look around and we were promised a proper survey...... no word about when he will be back or what the hold up is. What are a few more weeks after initially asking in 1976?<br />
No place to store our oats either. The grain shed is circa 1850 something and built for carts. It holds 30 tons maximum and this year we were able to produce 70 tons. The grain shed is 'fixed equipment' ie something which came with the farm in 1890 yet the roof has fallen in - once an object has passed its life 'through fair wear and tear', it is the landlords obligation to replace - not the farmer's. Tenants are wary of building new sheds as after a certain length of time, if the farmer leaves,the sheds depreciate in value (in theory) therefore the landowner can deem the building obsolete on waygo but in practice, the shed still has many years of life left. So the farmer has paid for the shed himself yet when he leaves, the landowner can write it off and pay no compensation on waygo but let the farm to a new tenant and include the sheds!<br />
Plus, try getting a fit for purpose shed out of a certain type of landowner....it is easier getting a pint of clean water.. Aye, right.<br />
<br />
The grain prices are low just now as everyone has had a good harvest but it is prudent to store the oats for a few months until the price improves. This is just one example of when a landowner fails to invest in fixed equipment, it can affect the income of the farm. We heard so many similar examples when we were visiting the Island plus many more from others on the mainland.<br />
<br />
It is not good enough. There has to be something better than this. What has happened to our country that complete strangers can empathise with your situation as they have experienced the same neglect? They are no longer strangers but become kith and kindred spirits through these shared experiences and hardships in modern day Scotland.<br />
<br />
I think we are not getting a roof/ clean water <strike>or any water</strike> as the question of the absolute right to buy our own farms is raised and some estates would hold tight rather than provide a roof to, let's remind them, sitting tenants. Since 1890 in our case.<br />
Some estates deserve to lose their tenants as the tenants themselves will make a far better job of providing themselves with basics like a roof for their homes and sheds plus that basic human right, clean water, than wait for an indifferent landowner to make the house wind and watertight.<br />
<br />
I look forward to the day when the Smoky Smirr o Rain falls on our roof and we are warm and dry inside....it will be by our own hands, our own work and a reliance on no laird. I will be so bold as to speak for many Secure tenant farmers who wish the same, regardless where in Scotland they are. These good families deserve better.<br />
<br />
Freedom, come all ye.<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-58234857329843586292013-08-15T09:24:00.001-07:002013-08-16T01:54:10.473-07:00A conflict of interestI am really, really upset writing this.<br />
<br />
The Farmer, Rosie and I had a meeting with the new shooting tenant plus the estate spokesperson today regarding a troublesome 'game strip' which was taken from us ten years ago; apparently when the laird executed his right as laird under the 1890 tenancy agreement.<br />
<br />
There are no resumption papers, no signed documents, no rent reduction, no compensation, no land in lieu. On the contrary, we pay the full amount for land which we cannot use.<br />
Here is an indication of what a 'game strip' looks like - yes, it is the entire area that you see.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVhAJXY0Gvxa2E1Aqh5hjsto-0Ik0b3-n36fSpwN2QhKz5mjjC8nzjOk3sOe15UD4ST8FZHOoyA3UOihQHzx2uNCdy3G1aK2vT9N38uamdymVYieCyU8EI4SOjspOawl9Uamw5dttTuk/s1600/2+acres+of+game+strip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVhAJXY0Gvxa2E1Aqh5hjsto-0Ik0b3-n36fSpwN2QhKz5mjjC8nzjOk3sOe15UD4ST8FZHOoyA3UOihQHzx2uNCdy3G1aK2vT9N38uamdymVYieCyU8EI4SOjspOawl9Uamw5dttTuk/s320/2+acres+of+game+strip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
It is a considerable area, two acres, plus it is two acres taken from the best field we have. The last crop which we grew in the 'resumed' strip was barley.<br />
<br />
The issue I have, apart from the feudal, almost Medieval resumption is that the ground which once yielded barley is now sterile and sour. Ten years of 'land management' by inexperienced shooting tenants have resulted in two acres which is not fit for purpose. Nothing will grow on it as it has not seen crop rotation, no organic material, pheasant damage, in short, the land has been ruined by ignorance.<br />
To what purpose? So a handful of people can shoot pheasant or other game regardless of the cost to the ground itself or the noise and nuisance to those who live in the area.<br />
<br />
Things are potentially very awkward for our family as the new shooting tenant has moved in to the house which overlooks our farm. He has a family and we will be neighbours yet there is a real conflict of interest due to two businesses on the same piece of land. Furthermore, they are conflicting businesses especially if we wished to diversify into offering quiet rural breaks or wild camping.<br />
<br />
What has upset me is the fact our family have to decide whether to take the ruined strip back, repair it at our own cost and time but if we do then we may have to give up the other end of the same field as a game strip. I wonder if this would fall under the '<i>Such cartage to perform yearly free of charge five day's work of any kind, by one pair of horses and one man, with suitable carts'</i>, as written in our 1890 lease and the terms of which we are bound today.<br />
The estate resumed the land using terms from that lease so why not invoke the slavery bit too? In 2013. Why just pick and choose from the lease? Why not go the whole hog and go for absolute humiliation? It worked in 1890 and is still possible today if you ignore the tenant's Human Rights.<br />
<br />
Why do an estate of some 28,000 acres require a two acre strip of our best farmland?<br />
The reason, apparently, is because the land falls steeply to the river and the pheasants can be easily shot mid flight from the game strip.<br />
<br />
Some tens of millions of pheasants have been bred for sport in this country and they are so prolific here that they are close to being vermin. They ruin silage bales by pecking at them and destroying the contents, attract rats to the feeding areas, pull up the young shoots of winter wheat or barley not to mention damage to vehicles when they fly out in front of a car, smashing a headlight or splattering their bodies over a windscreen.<br />
<br />
We discovered too that if a neighbouring shooting estate's pheasants cross the river on to our farmland then they are 'dogged' or chased back by dogs and their handlers to their side of the river. No permission asked for.<br />
<br />
We are talking about life in 21st century rural Scotland here just in case you thought this was historic.<br />
<br />
28,000 acres of moorland. How many people would that feed or house if the land was worked and opened up?<br />
One of the points raised by those against a reform of the land was that "The land was not productive". Wrong.<br />
I found reference in 'Present State of Husbandry in Scotland' 1778 (housed in the Innerpeffrey Library) on how to reclaim moorland and turn it into viable soil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNwIR5O20JRHLzPRBDnM9Ui_Tk_nr8V_55AgE2tDjgc1coKgXsXtaPLXddjDGwdwSrF0vVMcotwA7Hc0RWCUR3dAYQs-4VnBPH9rnnfhrLXnmh2lJa6Xpa-0gwFTznjH8ajgWqHy-8jA/s1600/aa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNwIR5O20JRHLzPRBDnM9Ui_Tk_nr8V_55AgE2tDjgc1coKgXsXtaPLXddjDGwdwSrF0vVMcotwA7Hc0RWCUR3dAYQs-4VnBPH9rnnfhrLXnmh2lJa6Xpa-0gwFTznjH8ajgWqHy-8jA/s320/aa1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit66CJbE7xuigxetWV0ucKFqDnv_ZgF1GktUaz0gYj281UvB1jEy8lEnifIpI5z1QZHEjEoViJTLgK0t_DjbZeT5dSPD1lJniuRvOTVNSxyD-iIbO3Q3TWb5wV5Ph3b1b8x2-zJO4PAuM/s1600/aa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit66CJbE7xuigxetWV0ucKFqDnv_ZgF1GktUaz0gYj281UvB1jEy8lEnifIpI5z1QZHEjEoViJTLgK0t_DjbZeT5dSPD1lJniuRvOTVNSxyD-iIbO3Q3TWb5wV5Ph3b1b8x2-zJO4PAuM/s320/aa2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-1V9opKYVIVL-4N_Lmei8_taEEZxKrZ0aYmTSFrw9RNbU_T7xtc-ts7wRREIM9yoDVcodFDwO8WOx_uSETFY5CcjydOiNvCahTBpD8qEGEcAg-mZjVFo41sCXA18bbb1fasH9xAfL84/s1600/aa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-1V9opKYVIVL-4N_Lmei8_taEEZxKrZ0aYmTSFrw9RNbU_T7xtc-ts7wRREIM9yoDVcodFDwO8WOx_uSETFY5CcjydOiNvCahTBpD8qEGEcAg-mZjVFo41sCXA18bbb1fasH9xAfL84/s320/aa3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
That is how moorland was reclaimed and used to grow crops in 1778. By hand.<br />
<br />
I do not think our estate need our two acres when there are 28,000 other ones. I do not like having to decide which part of our best field we have to give up for 'sport'. It is a classic rhetorical question and one which has the potential to affect our farm business.<br />
I loathe the feeling of sheer entitlement that 'sport' for an elite takes precedence of putting food on tables. A pheasant will feed very few, two acres of oats will feed many and is accessible to all.<br />
<br />
Enough is enough.<br />
We should not be put in a position that we have to decide which part of the land we pay full rent for should go for an elite sport. That is a hellish and despicable thing to do to a farmer and is no less than land grab by slyness, in my opinion.<br />
<br />
We are supposed to be in a new era where communication was improved (which it is) but issues like this hellish choice are not conducive to building trust and mending bridges with the tenant farmer.<br />
<br />
Look at the other 28,000 acres of desolate, uninhabited moorland then take a damn good look at your own motives.<br />
<br />
Find somewhere else to shoot and ruin. Plenty of scope in 28,000 acres, I'm sure but remember that the farmer who knows proper land and soil management is looking over your shoulders with an eagle eye.<br />
<br />
:Update 16th August 2013.<br />
<br />
We were under the impression that the meeting with the shooting tenant and estate would provide us with shooting dates, etc. This would enable us to move livestock and provide the children with ear protection plus prevent them straying into shoot areas. No dates were forthcoming.<br />
The meeting at the farmhouse with our MP, CEO of the SL&A plus the estate spokesperson was an extremely positive one yet none of us were made aware that this crass proposal was in the offing.<br />
Alternatives were mentioned but no direct reference to what occurred yesterday.<br />
<br />
I do not lay blame with the estate spokesperson as they are only following order but who gave the order? Who came up with this suggestion? Were they unaware of the fragility between landowner and tenant despite the best efforts of Doug McAdam to smooth the issue?<br />
<br />
This does look like our roof is being dangled like a carrot but first we have to forego certain conditions. A wind and water tight house, clean water and a right to a peaceful life ought to be a given in 2013 Scotland as opposed to being railroaded into giving up areas of productive farmland.<br />
<br />
No, is our reply. No, our land is not up for grabs for game shooting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-26642313706694222062013-08-09T03:44:00.000-07:002013-08-09T06:11:31.979-07:00Guest blog by Scottish Anglers for ChangeScottish land reformation is due for a radical change in the not too distant future.<br />
The reform of the land ownership, tenant farming, land use, community ownership has been due for a very long time. Too long have these issues been ignored or shelved by those who had the clout to change our country for the better.<br />
There are many articles on land reform. Andy Wightman's excellent blog <a href="http://www.andywightman.com/" target="_blank">http://www.andywightman.com/</a> informative, intelligent and hosts some cracking discussions.<br />
Lesley Riddoch <a href="http://www.lesleyriddoch.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.lesleyriddoch.co.uk/</a> plus the 432:50 briefing paper <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/scottish-affairs/432-Land%20Reform%20Paper.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/scottish-affairs/432-Land%20Reform%20Paper.pdf</a> written by Professor James Hunter, Andy Wightman, Peter Peacock and Michael Foxley. Please take time to read it.<br />
<br />
I have, however, read very little indeed on reform for our rivers, burns, lochans and lochs so I hand you over to an article written by Scottish Anglers for Change, a group which is campaigning to bring about reform to what it sees as an exploitative, hierarchical and outdated system. <a href="http://scottishanglersforchange.org/" target="_blank">http://scottishanglersforchange.org</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;">Growing up in Ayrshire, I fished. I fished in the sea, I fished in the rivers, the reservoirs, the flooded quarries, the lochs - I even fished for goldfish in the garden pond. Tales told by my paternal grandmother of her second husband's fishing skill, of Canadian aunties' cousins' trips to the wilderness for lake trout in waters that would swallow my whole country, of conger eels pulled from local harbours as thick as myself, drove me wild with excitement and wonder as to what I might catch.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There's something about fishing which is far more than the catching though: it's an attachment to the land and the wildlife, and perhaps the retaking of our place amongst nature itself, something often lost by those growing up in towns. For some folk the therapy comes in the cooking, for others it's in the growing, for me it was in the hunting, and still is more than ever.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Of course, at seven years old, we tend to follow the rules. In the sea, fishing was free, in freshwater, one paid for a permit - that's just how it was. That this was due to the lack of any meaningful reform to the elitist structure of recreational freshwater angling since 1868 (when Jesse James was at the height of his powers) probably wouldn't have bothered me when my local fishing was cheap enough and I'd enough trouble getting a lift to the local river never mind the Tay.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It is only in recent years that the difference between Scotland and the majority of the Commonwealth, the US and much of Europe has struck me. New Zealand's riparian strip system, ironically initiated by Queen Victoria, allows anglers access to all freshwater, and with it some of the finest trout fishing in the world, whether land is adjacent or not, for the price of around £80 a year. This would buy you a few hours on the Cargill beat of the Tay in September. Nova Scotia, to which the same species of salmon – Atlantic – migrate to spawn as come to our rivers, has similar rules regarding land access, with the permit around $35 a season, and free to under thirteens. Each US state, of course, has its rules and regulations, but for the most part, wonderful fishing is available very cheaply. The world's beacon of capitalist evils and whipping boy to champagne socialists the country-wide, it would seem, appear to view the right to fish through far more socialist eyes than Scotland.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Scotland, under the rule of supposed left wing governments since the first Scottish elections, sees fishing under the control of the Crown Estate, landed gentry, and new rich who move in, some of whom then decide that no fishing should be allowed, others that it should be let on a day-to-day basis, or syndicate, at ludicrous costs.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To be fair, it would be harsh to criticise any of the governments. Fishermen are hardly the most vocal in this country, despite angling being the nation's largest participation sport, probably as a result of the 'We cannae dae it, nuhin will ever chinge' attitude that permeates us. Calling round the various political parties last year, I was greeted with initial silence on the other end of the line when asking of their policy on freshwater angling, then, 'Well the government is in discussions with the Faroese over mackerel catches at the moment', or something similar. Quite simply, it's unlikely any young researcher with dreams of a future cabinet position has ever picked up a fishing rod – or kicked a football for that matter – in these days of the professional politician.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The most interesting response came from the Tories. 'Well we tend tend to side with the landowner', came the reply in a thick European accent. 'What's the fishing like in your country then, does it cost much?', I asked. 'Oh, of course we don't charge for fishing in my country. It's all free', came the reply, with a tone suggesting that such an idea would be utterly ludicrous.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For anglers desirous of reform, the main hope is that we can hang on to the coat-tails of the land reform movement, which has far more momentum and academic weight behind it. Strangely, from what I have noticed anyway, land reformers rarely seem to have an interest in fishing rights, and indeed in some community buy-outs, North Harris in particular, they were happily to allow salmon rights to stay under the ownership of the local landowner. </div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If owning such vast swathes of land as is common in Scotland whilst growing rich on subsidies, rent from tenants etc is unfair, then the ownership of fishing rights, both those which can be held independently of the land (salmon and sea trout) or those tied to ownership the land (mainly brown trout, but essentially all other freshwater fish), is as equally out of place in a modern country. Similarly, anglers will feel very aggrieved should such communities then decide to keep the salmon fishing for themselves; it is as much the disadvantaged of our cities right to fish the River Lochy as anyone else's, and a small landowner charging a fortune is the same as a large one to us.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Scottish Anglers for Change is calling for the a complete review of angling from grassroots level. Primarily, a national body, controlled by the majority of association anglers, not the minority who own the fishing rights, should to be set up to which all anglers, whether resident or visiting, pay a national license. This funding would then allow a proposed national angling association to buy both salmon rights and riparian strips from estates and landowners if and when their salmon rights become available, and to allow members of angling associations the freedom to roam on all other association waters in what is simply an extension of the current, and rather outdated, exchange ticket system now in place.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Another aim would be the conservation of stocks. As it stands, some clubs, such as the River Kelvin Angling Association, have a tagging system in place similar to that in Nova Scotia. Five fish per year is the maximum to be killed. However, other associations don't, and it's all up to a local committee, many of whom lack the expertise to make such decisions, and others who simply don't want to stop taking as many salmon as they can.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The protection of pike and wild trout anglers from further commercialisation should also be a priority as it increases in popularity. The only reason this is as cheap as it is is that it was never a fashion in the 19<sup>th</sup>century. This will soon change if money can be made.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This country is blessed with thousands of miles of lochs and rivers and some wonderful wild trout fishing, some of which is never touched. The Royal Society of Edinburgh, however, suggests that wild trout lochs should be 'promoted, marketed, and policed' by district salmon fisheries boards, i.e. there should be a price put on fishing them in order landlords can grow richer on the back of fish they don't own. This must be stopped, and trout rights either separated from the land such as is the case with salmon, and the brown trout's genetically identical wandering friend, the sea trout, or a riparian strip system put in place.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is only a very brief outline of Scottish Anglers for Change's aims, with a more detailed explanation found on our website. The first sallying-forth into the world of reform has brought with it an expected reaction – anti-Scottish racism, prejudice against 'Chimney sweep Bobs' who apparently don't belonging on the big rivers, and the cries of 'It'll never work' All a good sign, in my opinion, that something's been hit quite close to the mark.</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 25.454544067382813px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
All feedback is welcome from land reformers, anglers, and the prejudiced alike.</div>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://scottishanglersforchange.org/" target="_blank">http://scottishanglersforchange.org</a><br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-37647592301597357552013-08-01T07:34:00.001-07:002013-08-01T07:53:31.382-07:00Inclusion"I do not think the measure of a civilization is how tall the buildings of concrete are; but rather how well its people have learned to relate to their environment and fellow man"<br />
<br />
Sun Bear of the Chippewa Tribe<br />
<br />
We were happy to have the company of our MP, the CEO of the SL&E plus a representative from our estate round the table at our farmhouse yesterday. It was the first time in years that we had folk in and despite the lack of electricity so no tea, it was good to meet the faces behind the emails or phone calls.<br />
<br />
Communication was first on the agenda and whether it is due to a new estate representative or something else, I have noticed an improved communication between estate and ourselves.<br />
As it should be.<br />
It should not have to take several years of legal battles, blogging, etc in order to sit round the table as equals and have a say on what will affect your home, family life, business and other issues. It has only taken 123 years but we finally discovered who actually owned our farm and farmhouse. The landowner himself, apparently.<br />
This ought to be obvious but not necessarily so as the estate is owned by various trusts, individuals and others. A bit of a burach, in my opinion, but at least we know who is responsible for our bit.<br />
The estate representative is able to approach the landowner directly and request our farmhouse receives a new roof, external building repairs and windows to make their house wind and water tight.<br />
<br />
I thought about the people from Applecross and Mount Stuart on the Island of Bute <a href="http://www.landaction.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.landaction.org.uk/</a> estates where the tenant is excluded from decision making on issues which affect their lives. I thought of the tenants who want to speak but are afraid to speak, so great is the divide between them and their lairds or hurt by high handed land agents. Inclusion is paramount for so many reasons but it brings an equality and balance to discussions. Nuances, body language, eye contact all bring a discussion to life.<br />
The tenants sometimes have no idea who the people are who make the decisions which are so vital for their future, some have discovered that the people on these boards do not live locally or indeed, do not even live in Scotland. Exclusion breeds contempt, creates barriers and negativity.<br />
<br />
The crux is that we are offered some hope that our farmhouse will indeed receive a new roof and fairly soon. I cannot say for certain as the landowner must decide then legal documents drafted up, read and considered, yet, we are hopeful.<br />
We will hopefully be meeting the new shooting tenant and estate next week in order to address some of the conflicts of interest that shooting/ farming bring plus addressing the resumed land which used to be our barley field - ten years of bad management by inexperienced game keepers has rendered the soil sterile. We did ask why an estate of some 28,000 acres needed two acres of our best land for a few weeks shooting and if I am not mistaken, the estate are willing to move this game strip. I hope they move it off the farm completely and utilise the 28,000 other acres more efficiently.<br />
Guns and family homes do not mix. Best there is a lot of distance.<br />
<br />
It has not been easy this past seven years, watching the decline of our home, treated poorly by past factors and estate agents whilst plodding on with our daily work and trying to raise a family but with hope and a new inclusion of sorts, we look forward to the future.<br />
<br />
We have gathered around our kitchen table and had a decent discussion with various people who have differing political opinions and aims yet the outcome was one of calm and agreement.<br />
<br />
Which is as it should be.<br />
<br />
We are all Jock Tamson's bairns; each of us have something valuable to bring to the table. I ask other estates to consider what I am saying here and begin to include the tenants, not exclude them. Estates wonder where the animosity stems from or why things get out of hand and communication breaks down....ask your tenants. They are the ones who know the very ground the best.<br />
Reply promptly to your tenants if you receive a letter, listen to the issues which are upsetting people, do not make the mistake of remaining silent, aloof and as untouchable as the English royal family who appear to be role models for certain lairds.<br />
Life is a struggle enough without added complications and burdens.<br />
<br />
I will still shout from the rooftops about the need for the Absolute Right to Buy and equality. Some of our guests will disagree completely but that is their choice in a free world. We can agree to disagree but that is the beauty of a democracy.<br />
<br />
I will shout from the roof top when there is a roof top but in the meantime will extend our family's thanks for the first moves towards progress and agreement to our MP, estate spokesperson and to the CEO of the SL&E. It was a big step forward for all, I think you will agree?<br />
If this a new era in the SL&E then Luke Borwick must consider that he has made a good choice with Douglas McAdam. I liked the man even although our points of view are polar opposites. He is energetic, intelligent and keen to make amends, admirable qualities.<br />
Those around the table who have clout are going to work together to try and get a public water supply to our area; a very positive aim indeed.<br />
<br />
There are a good few hundred tenants who will serve up something more palatable than water and a dish of biscuits (the best chocolate ones wolfed by the youngest bairn before guests arrived).<br />
Listen to them, include them and get to know them. Here are the people who have worked the land you own, some for generations. Feelings run strong, especially just now; some may refuse to talk for various reasons and this has to be considered too, what has happened to create such a barrier? Were they included or excluded when the decisions were made? Were they made to feel unwelcome and inferior by their lairds? Do they feel ripped off and cast aside when they had given the best years of their lives to their farms?<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;">“Any situation in which some men prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry is one of violence;… to alienate humans from their own decision making is to change them into objects.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;"> </span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/41108.Paulo_Freire" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px; text-decoration: none;">Paulo Freire</a><br />
See the human. See the family. They have a Soul, they bleed when wounded, hurt when excluded.<br />
<br />
I don't know what will happen in the future, when land reform will bring in changes and where the Scotland of old finally blows the stour of past away but right now the scent of change is in the wind and it smells sweet.<br />
It won't happen overnight but it will happen.<br />
<br />
I think there are five and a half million of us in Scotland and I doubt there is a single one of us who does not agree that our country is worthy of change by the people, for the people.<br />
<br />
All Jock Tamson's bairns.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-32775808416886406992013-07-29T03:17:00.001-07:002013-07-29T04:48:32.396-07:00The STAG roarsI have not blogged for a while as it has been a busy time on the farm, gathering in hay, cleaning out sheds, shearing (which took place a few weeks ago) plus the myriad of other jobs which needed doing.<br />
<br />
We almost got away for a short break but the steering damper decided to break only a few miles from home so there was no alternative to return and the upside was the comforts of our own beds and The Farmer thrilled to be home again.<br />
<br />
We caught up on reading the news, catching up on emails and proper time to read the Scottish Farmer which was sporting this advert...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlGbTLbgAgjN9PsoHhZNyZgd0D6jpAokA1JGf0tF_QdFVSlXIfHtBxsuW6mfVnKU37ACyzKDet0_yYp6IMwD-kgRycu5KZlLhF-zxr3-kZs2G2V7GGabh6zqy6ovBwEl0vBlSd1nidbc/s1600/STAG+advert+in+the+Farmer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlGbTLbgAgjN9PsoHhZNyZgd0D6jpAokA1JGf0tF_QdFVSlXIfHtBxsuW6mfVnKU37ACyzKDet0_yYp6IMwD-kgRycu5KZlLhF-zxr3-kZs2G2V7GGabh6zqy6ovBwEl0vBlSd1nidbc/s320/STAG+advert+in+the+Farmer.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Yes, of course we got in touch and offered our support for the Absolute Right to Buy our own farms.<br />
The STFA (Scottish Tenant Farmer's Association) have sat on the fence re this issue and have been rather irritating in their blindness that the majority of Secure Tenant farmers (people like us who have farmed the land for generations) DO want the ARTB.<br />
I cold called a selection of tenant farmers across Scotland - quite daunting but interesting and once they ascertained who I was, where we lived, who your father was, etc, every single one of them wanted to buy their own farm and be freed from the constraints of a tenancy.<br />
<br />
The feedback received brought up several issues - from the farmer who felt he had bought his farm several times over to the farmers who had invested their own money in sheds, ditches, drainage yet their rents were raised and their improvements undervalued.<br />
Several farmers objected strongly to the 'Laird's cut' whereby a percentage of a diversification project eg tourist accommodation, etc has to go to the landowner simply for being the landowner. No input just output at the tenants expense.<br />
Or the farmers who asked their landowners for a tiny piece of land to build a modest house for the next generation yet who are still awaiting, months later, a reply from their absentee landowner in London. That in itself shows how communities are kept to a minimum population due to the sheer rudeness of a non reply to the farmer's request for a few square yards of the farm they have worked for generations.<br />
How degrading and frustrating for that family.<br />
<br />
<br />
There was one overwhelming response from every single one - "Please don't give my name out". These men and women who are not afraid of hard work or the unexpected knocks life can bring, the harsh conditions in winter or a poor summer, none of them were willing to go public with their names. Many were in the middle of rent reviews and one or two genuinely worried about being evicted if they spoke out.<br />
In Scotland, in 2013.<br />
<br />
Why do we want the right to buy our farm?<br />
<br />
Well, for one, we would have a wind and watertight home. We have a meeting on Wednesday with our MP, the CEO of the Scottish Land and Estates plus a representative from our own estate.<br />
I really want to know why things got so bad.<br />
We have already met with the estate representative but she had to take our issues to a nameless and faceless board for discussion. Needless to say, the tenant is not included in any part of the discussion, has no place at the table with the decision makers.<br />
Also needless to say, they have not come back with a decision although it has been three weeks if you ignore the first request for a new roof in 1976 then all other requests in between.<br />
<br />
We have been airing the house and trying to dry it out over the last few weeks which were hot and dry - it is pouring rain now and the rainwater is lying in pools inside the farmhouse. All our efforts have been undone in a single day and I feel so demoralised as a result.<br />
<br />
We would have the right to a peaceful home life without the shooting which can take place at random - I want to write during the shooting season but there are course shoots throughout the year so you never quite know when one will take place and where. That makes things awkward if the tenant wishes to invite tourists to the area for peace and quiet plus has the potential to affect income.<br />
The new shooting tenant seems like a decent man but the laws he adheres to have not been reformed since around 1890 and seem very pro shooter and very anti anyone else.<br />
<br />
I could write for a week on the benefits of owning our own farm, in fact, I cannot think of a single reason against. This brilliant paper <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/scottish-affairs/432-Land%20Reform%20Paper.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/scottish-affairs/432-Land%20Reform%20Paper.pdf</a> written by Professor James Hunter, Andy Wightman, Peter Peacock and Michael Foxley, outlines the need for Scottish land reform and the benefits, not only for the tenant farmers but for all of us.<br />
<br />
Can I ask you, please support STAG. Help us to realise our aim to be independent and free from the constraints set by landowners who own us and to bring Scotland forward into the 21st Century.<br />
<br />
Thank you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-40131153813500546092013-06-20T04:18:00.000-07:002013-06-20T04:47:45.027-07:00Down to the river.Yesterday proved a little bit busy.<br />
<br />
The phone rang non stop, visitors arrived, the blog stats hit just short of 100,000 true hits, Scottish ex pat communities from all over the globe have been reading and we thank you for your letters of support.<br />
I was cheered by letters and phone calls from other Scottish secure tenants who empathise with us as they too have been dreadfully treated by their lairds and knew what we were going through. I also received communication from people who are on private water supplies and how their water, despite local authority 'treatment'; still affects their health and livelihood. Tenants rarely receive water notices but private houses do.<br />
<br />
We also had a farm to run plus the added inconvenience of my accidental ingestion of raw water on Monday so running a slight temp but hopefully the anti emetics from my doctor will work.<br />
<br />
I have a question:<br />
<br />
The Scottish Government are aware of the difficulties our family are experiencing, why are they not answering my letters or stepping in to help us and others like ourselves?<br />
<br />
Why do secure tenants want the right to buy our own farms? The answer is simple. We can do a better job ourselves rather than wait for a bad estate to fix their houses, mend or replace buildings, secure march fences, etc.<br />
We are familiar with every aspect of our farms, the soil and how best to manage it, wildlife areas, drains, ditches.....and quite frankly, the estates do not have this familiarity and tend to trample over areas which are environmentally sensitive and leave us to pick up empty gun cartridges and screen waterways for lead shot.<br />
<br />
How many people who attended the rather exclusive school where the water supply runs through our fields (yet they do not allow us water from their pipe) - how many old boys know that parts of their pipe are asbestos from circa 1930s? How many old boys suffer health problems as a result of drinking the raw water which came from an asbestos pipe?<br />
<br />
The nearest public water supply is not far away so why does an entire community including two schools, two inns (both sadly closed down), elderly, children and visitors, why can we not have clean water? The community are charged full council water rates by the laird yet everyone pays the charges and buys in bottled water. Why do they not speak out.....?<br />
The community water supply comes from the hills, gathers in a vile little tank then is fed to a larger tank which is treated by the estate. I would question the qualifications of a land agent who adds goodness knows what to the water but it has resulted in burned skin. Notices sometimes arrive to warn of Legionella and the water tank is not wind and water tight. Rats could easily get in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZGmloXM9up4N644nq2lKo82xhMLyaYw1u4veWW05pSYLR7_bwQgV4BSx131-tJSCMorH0IqmGH2GHDA92I5kCJdmrgaCX19rEypX2RMJsFWSL10OuI3xMfrP9pz6laOrKcZjbSoBzHM/s1600/1+Village+water+supply.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZGmloXM9up4N644nq2lKo82xhMLyaYw1u4veWW05pSYLR7_bwQgV4BSx131-tJSCMorH0IqmGH2GHDA92I5kCJdmrgaCX19rEypX2RMJsFWSL10OuI3xMfrP9pz6laOrKcZjbSoBzHM/s320/1+Village+water+supply.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Today is my birthday and I am away to the burn which runs through the farm, it is my solace and place of reflection. It is quiet and calm plus it is not the shooting season so I can sit for a while without my nerves becoming shattered.<br />
The stone blocks are the remains of the little water wheel which used to supply the farm with electricity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo67zsqYR8kGBY3-P38-E2evjdROOl2iLGMmwUmd31ljg50LMfi7i84BvD9PAoZ1uioysG676B9GoASuXyOPtyJxavHM9noVz-iEsZ3gRnELGUGBtjQVOZ8geVlRBLZ_0cAHt3xGpOrc/s1600/the+burn+on+my+birthday+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo67zsqYR8kGBY3-P38-E2evjdROOl2iLGMmwUmd31ljg50LMfi7i84BvD9PAoZ1uioysG676B9GoASuXyOPtyJxavHM9noVz-iEsZ3gRnELGUGBtjQVOZ8geVlRBLZ_0cAHt3xGpOrc/s320/the+burn+on+my+birthday+2013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I assume that the Scot Gov's silence is due to the fact that they simply do not care for the ordinary Scot. They appear to me to be falling over themselves to assist the lairds, what with the huge windfarm subsidies and whatnot. Fuel poverty for the rest of us who have to pay extra on our bills to pay for those subsidies.<br />
<br />
Our country needs strong leadership, it needs Independence, the ordinary people need help with so many different issues, the land must be shared out and tenant farmers must be given the right and the dignity to own their own house and farm.<br />
<br />
Clean water, a warm, wind and watertight home, freedom from health anxieties, freedom to roam without fear. Not much to ask for, is it?<br />
<br />
<br />GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-38464217199397293402013-06-17T05:07:00.001-07:002013-06-27T03:31:33.057-07:00Clearance by drought?The water has been turned off again, this time for four days now. - the usual; no written warning, nothing...<br />
<br />
We have a handful of cattle in the shed, one or two calves being hand reared some cattle ready for market. All of them need water so The Farmer and I are back to lugging 25 liter containers of water from the temporary house and up to the farm.<br />
<br />
The last time that the water was turned off with no warning came right in the middle of calving so water was imperative, clean water very important.<br />
<br />
During winter, our water went off - not through freezing but was switched off. Our MP demanded the estate provide water and a bowser appeared for the cattle - none for us - the bowser was then removed the following day and a limited supply of water reached the cow sheds. It went off again soon after and it was easier to lug containers than to get the estate to either explain why the supply was off or even contact us.<br />
<br />
Our 1890 lease forbids us from providing our own water supply. We are wholly dependent on the laird providing the farm with water. We are forbidden from digging a well or sinking a bore hole.<br />
<br />
I know that certain land agents read this blog so this part is for your eyes in particular.<br />
<br />
The same land agents who ordered someone to do this......<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL47SgGRTXsdFesVA-bItyrWji47BN4GUt600o1HkYC1pAt5Ce63mBUoz8TLZ8WdnodaegA0OLzVB-CznQibDbfDi6YsyGjuWoxNAZgyDKERgZMxr5aue3fhPZlBOWys33v8aAUoOL9M/s1600/Water+pipe+17th+June+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL47SgGRTXsdFesVA-bItyrWji47BN4GUt600o1HkYC1pAt5Ce63mBUoz8TLZ8WdnodaegA0OLzVB-CznQibDbfDi6YsyGjuWoxNAZgyDKERgZMxr5aue3fhPZlBOWys33v8aAUoOL9M/s320/Water+pipe+17th+June+2013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
There is now, in formal international human rights law, an acknowledged human right to water and sanitation. In 28 July 2010, following many years of discussion, debate, and negotiation, 122 countries formally acknowledged the "right to water" in a General Assembly (GA) resolution (A/64/292, based on draft resolution A/64/L.63/Rev.1).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_water#cite_note-1" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a></sup> Two months later, on September 24, 2010, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a binding resolution recognizing that the human right to water and sanitation are a part of the right to an adequate standard of living.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_water#cite_note-2" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
That resolution, in part:</div>
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); display: table; float: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; padding: 10px 15px;">
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
"Affirms that the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living and inextricably related to the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as well as the right to life and human dignity"</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The <b>human right to water</b> places certain responsibilities upon governments to ensure that people can enjoy "sufficient, safe, accessible and affordable water, without discrimination" (cf. GC 15, below). Most especially, governments are expected to take reasonable steps to avoid a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Water supply">contaminated water</a> supply and to ensure there are no water access distinctions amongst citizens.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Without discrimination". Read on.....</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18.233333587646484px;">"It is now time to consider access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right, defined as the right to equal and non-discriminatory access to a sufficient amount of safe drinking water for personal and domestic uses—drinking, personal sanitation, washing of clothes, food preparation and personal and household hygiene—to sustain life and health. States should prioritize these personal and domestic uses over other water uses and should take steps to ensure that this sufficient amount is of good quality, affordable for all and can be collected within a reasonable distance from a person's home." </span></blockquote>
<br />
I will remind the laird or the land agents who run the estate that we are humans. Our livestock rely on us, our crops are managed by us.<br />
We have dignity and will not be forced from our farm through harassment and bullying.<br />
<br />
If we were given the absolute right to own our farm then we would be free of the constraints and whims of the landowner who seems hellbent on Clearance by drought using terms set in 1890.<br />
<br />
Urgent reform NOW, Mr Lochhead. We thirst for it.<br />
<br />
Update:21st June 2013<br />
<br />
Estate plumbers arrived first thing this morning without warning that they were going to dig our hay field up and stop our water supply again.<br />
Water is off (it would be once a digger smashed its way through it) and we have been informed by the plumber that the situation is ongoing, they will keep digging through our fields, the estate never asked them to inform us of the work and they 'did not even know who people are'.<br />
<br />
Just to note that this farm has been inhabited by my husband's family since 1890.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxeqe_CBsEuubv7X1zvovOrp2qOrVSN4ytlgG5cHvg02JwaOafeDkYkUD82Vb8SPcCuJDhpq3tnTnfA1J0jgBJss5Kvq6zd7ca4NUT5Ilsv9nF5X-Pva1FODJzGZe-R4jLhZY7qAHWyI/s1600/Crop+Francesfield+21st+June+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxeqe_CBsEuubv7X1zvovOrp2qOrVSN4ytlgG5cHvg02JwaOafeDkYkUD82Vb8SPcCuJDhpq3tnTnfA1J0jgBJss5Kvq6zd7ca4NUT5Ilsv9nF5X-Pva1FODJzGZe-R4jLhZY7qAHWyI/s320/Crop+Francesfield+21st+June+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCALyVI5SoKMw1jxhoTXrHI8KEFY9w1bLEY5YYJ6EyJqwgRs9Bbqq6_LFJfecNvDCRBhKceb8EfQTuJXTlZnU5j1OboVP-8mVH8WgsgommbxP88lg3ueEJa_EuaOm-L4AhuGTD37WJoQ/s1600/Crop+Francesfield+21st+June+2013+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCALyVI5SoKMw1jxhoTXrHI8KEFY9w1bLEY5YYJ6EyJqwgRs9Bbqq6_LFJfecNvDCRBhKceb8EfQTuJXTlZnU5j1OboVP-8mVH8WgsgommbxP88lg3ueEJa_EuaOm-L4AhuGTD37WJoQ/s320/Crop+Francesfield+21st+June+2013+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
27th June 2013 : I received a phone call from Environmental health yesterday. The result of the sample taken from our water supply shows an e Coli count of 8 and a total coliforms of 11. Chemical analysis will take longer and I will publish the results when they arrive.<br />
As a result of the water taken from our farm water supply and used to top up the local village supply after the pipe was left open for four days, this has led to the entire community being put at risk. Boil water notices have been issued but people were drinking this water without realising how dangerous it was.<br />
I will reiterate that the landowners charge households on the estate, the council rate for water.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5804759117912757983.post-56029364372703402002013-06-12T21:49:00.001-07:002013-06-14T13:20:49.984-07:00"You'll have had your tea" updateJust a brief update and a copy of the reply by SEPA. I have edited out the names of individuals but you will get the jist of how pathetic the response.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From my visit to ****** ******* and the surrounding area last week I can update you of the following:<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: navy; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I walked the banks of the River *********** where possible and also inspected a number of locations downstream of the spreading activities. I was reassured to find that the sewage sludge cake was not spread in close proximity to the river and other watercourses. ‘Buffer strips’ to protect the water environment were complied with and no sign of detrimental impact of the water course was found.<u></u><u></u></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: navy; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As you are aware odour from the spreading activities is regulated by Perth & Kinross Council Environmental Health and ******* **** is dealing with this aspect of your complaint.<u></u><u></u></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: navy; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">With regard to livestock being present whilst sewage sludge is being spread. I did not find evidence of this during my own site investigations. I am aware that Animal Health (AHVLA) were visiting ******** **** farm on the same day as my visit and they shall carry out their own investigation into this matter. As mentioned before SEPA do not regulate this aspect of the activity. I shall pass on your photographs you provided to Animal Health and my colleagues in SGRPID (Scottish Government Rural Payments Inspection Directorate) for their own investigations.<u></u><u></u></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: navy; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">With regard to livestock having access to the stockpiled sewage sludge cake, I have looked into this issue. It is noted as ‘good practice’ to minimise access from livestock to stockpiles with recommendation for the storage area to be penned off. This however is a recommendation and not a mandatory requirement of the regulations and PEPFAA code which farmers and land managers must adhere to. I have contacted ORAN Environmental Solutions who provide the sewage sludge cake and register the storage of this waste with SEPA. I have made them aware of SEPA’s concerns with good practice not being followed and requested more information be provided to farmers to encourage livestock access to stockpiles is minimised where possible. <u></u><u></u></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">If I have anymore information with regard to SEPA’s investigation into this issue I shall contact you accordingly,<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Thank you again for your information,<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Regards,<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">--------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A pathetic response, in my opinion. At least, the 'good practice' could be tightened up and at best, the sludge removed from being stockpiled near humans and animals.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">So the lamb pictured nibbling the human sludge - that is ok? The lamb kebab that it may become one day, is that ok as well?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">The majority of beef/ lamb producers adhere to the strictest guidelines in Europe, Scottish produce being second to none so I think it is imperative to keep the vile practice of spreading human sewage and lime well away from the food chain or better still ban it all together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">I received this letter from a friend in Northern Ireland and was shocked at the contrast.</span><br />
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><th style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 5px;"></th><td style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px;" width="100%"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
"We live on a livestock farm in County Down. What I was going to say was the treatment your family have received is in conceivable to us! My husband reliably informs me that the EU directive states that it is illegal to spread slurry, manure or fertiliser within 50 metres of a water supply - ie bore holes or a well. We also need a special licence to spread human waste. He states that they would get a massive fine and lose all their single farm payment!<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
NI is always considered to be behind the rest of the UK, it just would not go on here. Our press would have an absolute field day. Our rural community here would not tolerate the treatment you have had to put up with. My husband states it would make our main news! I was especially saddened when you told how your daughter couldn't start a wee business.<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
Could you let us know if there is anything we can do from here. I<br />
would just like to say that we love your blog and are horrified by what is going on".<br />
<br />
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><th style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 5px;"></th><td style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px;" width="100%"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
"My husband has checked DARD NI's regulations and they state that animals should not be allowed to graze for 3 weeks, on land that has had human sludge applied. It also states that : ' Organic manures must not be applied within 250 metres of a bore hole used for public water supply. We have an EMERGENCY contact number for the public to report slurry etc getting into a waterway.<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
I really don't know how you do it! Journalism in NI is first rate due to 'The Troubles'. Is there no TV programme in Scotland that exposes injustices? Our MPs would be inundated with complaints. The minister responsible for the environment would take a pasting in our Assembly if he was found to be ignoring activity such as you describe.<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
It all seems so wrong to my husband and I. Farming is a hard life as it is, without being subjected to the trials and tribulations you face on a daily basis. Feel free to use any of this for your blog. I only wish that there was something we could do.<br />
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
Keep your chin up - someone somewhere in Scotland has to care enough to do something to improve your lives and the lives of others in the same position."<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AkkXcFXtacSVxJkMfEbpsGD7UqN4vmBS7f530HG3K26O0sTfpwc57MSLwNeUMXXCkWZS2JeB1IucMEe4VyeJymSzYiMGKdWoJ-th-_Vkf8xuNOjSCd40Fie-1n3lbPWH-O2Efcm63sM/s1600/water+course+june+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AkkXcFXtacSVxJkMfEbpsGD7UqN4vmBS7f530HG3K26O0sTfpwc57MSLwNeUMXXCkWZS2JeB1IucMEe4VyeJymSzYiMGKdWoJ-th-_Vkf8xuNOjSCd40Fie-1n3lbPWH-O2Efcm63sM/s320/water+course+june+2013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Closer look just beside the house and well within the 50 feet the sludge must be kept from a water course.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMLJUcE0a2oI685sFA8qz-qOPfZo8B4V1hQWfepCUysDb_r02R6eTbto2ctagkR46pd_w2eUD2D8RpeN4Y_bdpSSOOGT420YSxPTC4sQayxSn9rTRmAWYMpg1QJvd_ZmxETG0-F6GBAM/s1600/water+course+2+june+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMLJUcE0a2oI685sFA8qz-qOPfZo8B4V1hQWfepCUysDb_r02R6eTbto2ctagkR46pd_w2eUD2D8RpeN4Y_bdpSSOOGT420YSxPTC4sQayxSn9rTRmAWYMpg1QJvd_ZmxETG0-F6GBAM/s320/water+course+2+june+2012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px;" width="100%"><div style="text-align: center;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px;" width="100%"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have posted a photograph of the waterway which 'has not been hit' and you can decide for yourself bearing in mind that the waterway is where the lead pipe which feeds water to two houses lies. The estate have acknowledged there is a crack in the pipe in this area.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
For the record, every inhabitant in our tiny community are still experiencing unusual symptoms which range from burning eyes, burning lips and mouths, burning skin, vomiting and stomach upsets.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lamb is also off the menu......</div>
</div>
</td><td style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; margin: 0px; padding: 5px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" class="Bs nH iY" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; padding: 0px; position: static !important; text-align: start; width: 1017px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="Bu y3" style="height: 475px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 220px;"></td><td class="Bu" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="nH if" style="margin: 0px 44px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px;">
<div class="nH Gn">
<div class="l2 ov" style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: -5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 12px; padding-top: 100px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">
<div class="ae3" id=":123" style="float: left; text-align: right; width: 246.4166717529297px;">
<div class="l6" style="font-size: 11px; padding-top: 12px; text-shadow: none;">
<span class="l8 ou" id=":12i" role="link" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline; text-shadow: none;" tabindex="0"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="Bu yM" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 1px;"><div class="Bt" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="nH" style="width: 0px;">
<div class="no" style="float: left;">
<div class="nH nn" style="float: left; min-height: 1px; width: 0px;">
<div style="height: 64ex;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="dJ" style="clear: both; height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">
</div>
</div>
</td><td class="Bu y3" style="height: 475px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 220px;"><div class="Bt" style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="nH adC" style="margin: 0px; position: absolute; right: 44px; top: 57px; width: 220px;">
<div class="nH">
<div class="nH anT">
<div class="nH">
<div class="anr" id=":12k">
<div class="anL" id=":12m" style="padding: 8px 9px 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" class="cf an5" id=":12m" style="border-collapse: collapse; outline: none; overflow: hidden; table-layout: fixed; width: 202px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="anQ" style="color: #222222; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;" undefined=""><br /></td><td class="anS" rowspan="3" style="margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: top; width: 0px;"><div class="anR" id=":12o" style="height: 64px; padding-left: 3px; width: 64px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="anO anN" dir="ltr" id=":12p" style="color: #595959; font-size: 13px; height: 33px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<div class="an3 e" id=":13q" style="color: #1155cc; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="nH Pj" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; width: auto;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
GentleOtterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04728896118931496934noreply@blogger.com6