Short back and sides

In the course of a Horton Clockwise yesterday, I came across some council workmen with chain saws, not chain saw volunteers at all, chopping away at a bit of rough hedgerow at the northern end of Hook Road Arena - a place where we have had travellers setting up camp and where I have picked low grade hazel nuts. For which last see reference 1.

My own inclination would have been to leave the rough hedgerow alone, partly because I liked it the way it was, partly because it provided habitat for all kinds of endangered species.

I then moved onto to the mentality of whoever it was who was in charge of hedgerows, perhaps a chap with long service in the army and very keen on short back and sides. On trimming hedges and lawns to within an inch of their lives. Perhaps he had had long hair when very young, the only relic of which was the ardour of his conversion to the short hair faith. Converts always a bit of a pain.

But then I felt a bit guilty. It is very hard to have a sensible discussion about public policy - on this or any other matter - if one descends to personal abuse. Let's hope that the people who make a living out of public policy understand this and exercise a bit of restraint & discipline. OK to let one's hair down in the pub, but not in the council chamber - let alone on the floor of the House.

Reference 1: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/nut-report.html.

Reference 2: http://pumpkinstrokemarrow.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=chain+saw+volunteers. For a selection of older material on the chain saw volunteers.