We live next door to a childrens nursery . I rest my case. Although it's not the lovely kids giggling ,singing etc it's the parents 8am rushing little mites "mummies got a meeting in 20mins " Oh for the sound of tractors and crows
Can I please volunteer to be one of those who walk in the fields to clean up cow poo in plastic bags? (On condition, of course, that I can recycle it for my vegetable patch rather than placing it in one of those dog poo recycling bins!).
Hi "Mouse" I like your idea for a "ruralship test". Might be fun to think up some possible questions, together with the "correct" answers, and answers one might get from "townies". Suggested Q.1 You are continually disturbed by next door's hens noisily laying eggs. Do you (a) shoot the lot of them (b) Sneak in at night and steal the eggs. (c) Say how much you enjoy a new-laid egg and offer your neighbour a fair price for a regular supply. John N
I like the idea of a "ruralship test". Here's another exam question: You move into a house a few yards away from the church. On Christmas Eve, the bells start ringing at 11 p.m. for the Midnight service. Do you:
a) Phone the Police/Environment Dept to complain about noise disturbance, b) Turn up the audio system in your lounge where you're having a drinks party to drown out the sound, c) Say to yourself "Ah, they're ringing Grandsire Doubles and that tenor's clipping No. 5 at backstroke."
Don`t like being called a 'townie'. Feels like being sneered at. OH and I moved from the village because we had to work and can`t get back because our suburban semi won`t fetch enough to get us a village house nowadays.
We have the best of both worlds. Live right on the edge of a small town- all supermarkets of every type within 8 miles... fields on the back, a National Trust Garden across the fields and the Peak National Park within 15 miles drive..
Who wants to live in the country when it's full of peasants or farmers or toffs?
We're in a similar position to Madasafish. Front of the house onto an estate, back of the house onto the old Great Central Railway linear park and nature reserve beyond which are the Rugby School polo fields and farm and then nothing for two miles but open countryside. Allotment at the end of the road and what's more, until Rocky moved to Worcestershire, a cock crowing at dawn with absolutely no complaints!
Chantal
I know this corner of the earth, it smiles for me...
Actually, thinking about it, the muntjac deer freak me out with their strange barking in the wee small hours. I don't really object, it just sounds so strange it gives me the creeps.
Chantal
I know this corner of the earth, it smiles for me...
Chantal's comment about the noise of muntjac deer reminds me of the spine curdling sound of foxes during the mating season. On more than one occasion our local police have been called out in the middle of the night because somebody phoned them thinking somebody was screaming because they'd been attacked. After a while you get used to it, but the first time you hear it, it does sound rather alarming.