Musings from the Merse
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Hoarse with excitement?
The Berwickshire is seemingly increasingly desperate to fill its vast column inches and when it is not dogs stuck down rabbit holes it is horses writing to the editor
SIR, - We would like to thank the person who contacted the RSPCA, as they were concerned about our welfare at the Law Field, Coldingham, as on the inspectors’ findings we were described as being in very good condition.
The case may be that this person has no knowledge of the equine world - well rest assured our owners do.
So we ask this person, next time in passing, to take a good look around our field, and not from the window of a passing bus and they too will find we are well cared for. Yes there is not a lot of grass in our field just now, but we are fed and watered daily and we have all the hay our hearts desire.
So we ask this person not to worry as we are in NEIGH danger of starving!
EDD and NAVARA,
(Horses at the Law Field, Coldingham).
And its good to know that there are still parts of this wild frontier you can reach by bus-presumably mostly used by country folk who might know a thing or two about horses. And if this is Big Jim country-if your fields can no longer support your equine friends, don't worry-offer them for development.
You know that makes sense
(The image may be of Edd or Navara looking for spell checker on his Pony Computer (PC)
Labels: Berwickshire News, building in the countryside, Horses as writers
Comments:
Why is everything in the Borders so apparently confrontational? Lairds. Planning. Horses?
# posted by 
: 6:38 PM
: 6:38 PM
I am not sure that it is but there are controversial issues. People in small villages feel threatened by over development-in the case of Paxton the Laird apparently was planning a massive development and was only stopped by mass popular opposition which was at time 'confrontational' Generally the guy in the street feels helpless in the face of the developers and this colours his attitude to planning (and Lairds) But I am not sure that in this repect that the Borders is different to other rural areas-look at Donald Crump in Aberdeenshire. Horses I feel sorry for. Around here there are very few bridle paths for horses and here again the Laird has been somewhat horse unfriendly-paths built by him have been for walkers only and the riders have to make do with the public roads.
Thank you for the prompt reply. I see your point.
The reason I was asking is ... I was considering moving into the area. There are a number of houses for sale, and I found your blog while searching for information on the Internet. So ... if I understand you correctly ... people feel threatened because they feel powerless? In the case of the local issue – because the Laird/developers was pushing for development. BTW: Are you referring to guy who was an MSP and sat on the Communities Committee which oversaw the recent planning bill? (Isn’t the web wonderful).
The reason I was asking is ... I was considering moving into the area. There are a number of houses for sale, and I found your blog while searching for information on the Internet. So ... if I understand you correctly ... people feel threatened because they feel powerless? In the case of the local issue – because the Laird/developers was pushing for development. BTW: Are you referring to guy who was an MSP and sat on the Communities Committee which oversaw the recent planning bill? (Isn’t the web wonderful).
# posted by : 9:24 PM
: 9:24 PM
Indeed you have got the right guy! He was also heavily involved in the overseeing of the construction of the Scottish Parliament Building-behind schedule and over budgetBut I would not put you off moving here. There are good properties for sale and prices are currently depressed. It is a very peaceful area, Berwick and Duns are good shopping centres; communications are excellent north and south by National Express and Virgin Cross Country. Living aside confrontational lairds people are open and friendly; the countryside is attractive and the traffic non existent! Very low crime rate. Inappropriate development is likely to be slowed if not stopped by the current slowdown. We have sold our house but are only moving a few miles-I can strongly recommend a very pleasant property in Allanton which is being sold to pay for ours! And is still on the market: Brunton House (see the Frank Knight website) It rather depends what price bracket you are interested in
There are also a number of larger new houses for sale at Fishwick Mains [3 miles from Paxton], each with enough ground to keep a horse [if you want to!] - see Savills website - Meuchelstane House and Knowleyburn House [McMansions as huttonian calls them!]; or 2.75 - 10.0 acre plots if you want to build your own.
The reason there are so few buses is that there are so few potential passengers. We need a happy compromise between an active thriving community and the isolation, desolation and poverty of many more rural areas; the poverty of facilities and communal activities in particular [especially for teenagers]
As oil gets dearer we might revert to buses - or mopeds - or pushbikes - or horses!
The reason there are so few buses is that there are so few potential passengers. We need a happy compromise between an active thriving community and the isolation, desolation and poverty of many more rural areas; the poverty of facilities and communal activities in particular [especially for teenagers]
As oil gets dearer we might revert to buses - or mopeds - or pushbikes - or horses!
# posted by : 9:35 AM
: 9:35 AM
I'd also like to reassure Jim D that Berwickshire is a wonderful place to live, as long as your life doesn't revolve around eating out, trips to the theatre/cinema and shopping til you drop (and even then we're not far away from Newcastle and Edinburgh if you really don't want to give up these pursuits).
I've been here for 16 years now and can't imagine living anywhere else. There's currently a move back to shopping local, and Duns is great place for that, as long as you've got plenty of time, because everyone is so friendly and happy to chat.
We've even got an M & S now (in Berwick) and of course, this side of the Borders is served by a railway already.
I've been here for 16 years now and can't imagine living anywhere else. There's currently a move back to shopping local, and Duns is great place for that, as long as you've got plenty of time, because everyone is so friendly and happy to chat.
We've even got an M & S now (in Berwick) and of course, this side of the Borders is served by a railway already.
# posted by : 11:05 AM
: 11:05 AM
Well there you go Jimd. The Borders is the place to be-MandS, McMansions with plenty of scope for your horses (of the non letter writing category) A nice property in Allanton, perhaps as a town house to your country estate. And an active blogging community.
Rush
Rush
Thanks to everybody for the kind replies and information:
@FarmerC: No horse, but will look at the houses. Thanks for the tip.
@BirthdayGirl: Thanks for the encouragement!
@Huttonian: Great blog. Thank you.
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@FarmerC: No horse, but will look at the houses. Thanks for the tip.
@BirthdayGirl: Thanks for the encouragement!
@Huttonian: Great blog. Thank you.
# posted by : 8:53 PM
: 8:53 PM