A couple of weeks ago I had an exchange of correspondence with a member about our respective experiences with stoats.  These creatures when cornered have a habit of playing dead only to make a miraculous resurrection hen either danger has passed or they believe that a full frontal attack will prove a better strategy.  It seems that we both bear scars from having picked up a seemingly 'dead' stoat only to have the little blighter fasten its gnashers to a digit and refuse to let go.  Mind you, I have had the same experience with a ferret only this time the offending mustilid clamped onto my hand.

To return to stoats, I read today that one in Lincolnshire decided to seek a new career as a car mascot.  A sports car driver was surprised to find that a stoat that he thought he had inadvertently run over had travelled for 32 miles clinging to the radiator grill.  The traveller was treated for minor dehydration at an animal sanctuary and released back into the wild.

On a similar theme (stoats like dark holes) I get a strong attack of the Victor Meldrew's when firms fail to keep promises.  The latest episode centres around my drains of which I have referred before.  Having dismally failed to clear a recalcitrant blockage I rang a drain company yesterday morning who cheerfully informed me that they would be along by 1.30.  By 3pm I was getting a mite tetchy so got on the blower and was told that the engineer was just finishing his last job and would be with me shortly.  At 6pm I get a phone call to say that the engineer will be with me at 10 today.  I thought of telling them not to bother, but let it go.

By 12 noon today still no sign of Drainpipe Dan so on the phone we get again to be told that I will get a call back in a couple of minutes.  Half an hour passes so sod this for a game of soldiers I think and ring another firm.  "We will have Richard with you in 2 hours" I am told. An hour and half later Richard arrives and does a brilliant job.  I now have sparkling clean drains, have seen more of my drains than I knew I had  thanks to a large endoscope and am a happy bunny. so yah boo sucks to EconomyRod and a big whoopee for MetroRod.

The river is now past its best due to an incredible run of 4 days without rain.  A record for this summer.  It's a glorious evening and I'm off to the Tarn now to help set traps for the final crayfish course of the year.  The plan is to take the students up to the Tarn again late tomorrow evening to see crayfish doing crayfish things.

Ian