The rant has mentioned the vexed question of low flying aircraft on previous occasions. They can be quite frightening roaring up on you without warning and giving you one heck of a fright even if you are already doing something noisy like mowing the lawn-as I was yesterday-global warming has ensured that cutting continues all winter, as does low flying Tornados and F16s. The Community Council has complained from time to time but has always met a load of guff about Defence of the Realm, National Interest and helpful advice about taking the number of the fighter when it is under 300 feet (try doing this at home); actually under the new regulations under 200 feet is ok in certain circumstances like during a major exercise. The Borders being an 'underpopulated area' is liable to be inflicted by these nuisances as in the case of the Highlands, and othef really deserted parts of the UK. Perhaps if the Laird can fill his field in Paxton with lots of shiny new houses we will no longer be underpopulated and the RAF will have to play elsewhere.
Anyhow I was driven to so much distraction yesterday that I decided to present the RAF with photographic evidence of very low flying fighters-perhaps if blown up enough the registration number might be visible, and the offending pilot suitably disciplined. This proved difficult with my digital state of the art camera. Aircraft kept themselves concealed until I had switched off the camera (to conserve batteries) and then came suddenly from unexpected directions not giving me a chance to 'point and shoot' At last I got one in my sights with the result you can see below.
