"Theft of farmers' livestock, vehicles and fuel is on the rise due to the UK's cost-of-living crisis, according to a new countryside crime report.

Rural crime claims payouts between January and March were over 40% higher than in 2021, insurer NFU Mutual says.

It warned rising food prices could see livestock thefts increase further and contaminated meat enter the food chain.

The NFU wants the government to launch a national taskforce to deal with rural crime." (BBC website 2 aug 2022)

The amount of stuff you can burn or bury on farmers land. No wonder the NFU statement isn't mentioning the fact they think their clients (farmers), maybe committing insurance fraud as a cause for rise in claims.

The farmer I currently work with let slip yesterday that he was in prison in the early 1990's. Did prison life turn him to farming ? He was also on the phone to the police yesterday, but i couldn't hear what that was about.

I disengage, I turn the page.

Never really had any experience of farmers other than the Jolly Farmers in Purley and Frazer, a youngish Cornish farmer just outside Bude.

I'd played pool for a mate's team from Bude against Rock (in Cornwall) and on the way back we had to drop Frazer back on his farm. As we're driving down his track towards the house the bloke in front says to Frazer, "Frazer, there's a light on in your barn", to which Frazer replies in a strong Cornish accent

"Yep, I leave a light on in the barn to remind me to turn it off when I come in."

Genius.

Living down here does have some advantages. At least you can see them cry.

When I was about 7 I stopped with my dads mate on his sheep farm for a week.
A ewe rejected her lamb and another lamb died but that ewe was in mourning.
So he skinned the dead wanted one. Stuck the skin on the rejected one and put it with the dead ones mum. Took it as her own because it smelt like hers. Quite touching now I think of it. Straight on the teet.
Although lambs actually turn into spring lambs when the elastic band went on their tails to dock them. Jump around like tigger for a while. Don’t think that’s allowed now.

President Higgins can give a speech on it. Sabina can send a letter.

Red and Blue Army!

Barley Mow at Tandridge, which is just outside Oxted, off the A25, between Oxted and the A22. Eating pub with locals drinking in the bar area at night. It’s reopened again apparently.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (02 Aug 2022 9.54pm)

COYP

I think the Scots call them 'dukes' (of Argylles). More roughage helps.