LO! FLYING AIRCRAFT

Huttonian has been reminded of the advice given by the RAF liaison officer at a Community Council Meeting some years ago-the post immediately below has some relevance





Low Flying Aircraft

"What do you advise?" Earnestly
asked the Chairman.

Some of our senior citizens are
Frankly terrified.

And our cows are dropping
their calves like Billy O

"What do you say to sweet Mrs Renton
Half way to the mobile post office?

Caught in the open when the F16
Comes out of the sun"

"What do you say Wing Commander?
Short succinct and to the point

But with a hint of comfort for
The barmy old Bat?"

In a word said Winco

"Duck"

Attrib: Frank Renton (Florit 1998)



(These F16s if seen over Duns are a bit off course: Singapore Airforce)

Labels: F16s, Low Flying Merse

  ¶ 5:47 PM (0) comments

  Per Ardua in your Astra

Yesterdays Road Flash, warmed up for today but still relevant:


Regular users of the B6437 will be heartened to know how seriously SBC takes the grooming of its street furniture. A mile or so W of Swinton a dedicated SBC team of 2 plus large wagon were seen in the vicinity of a traffic sign which one of them was cleaning to within an inch of its life. Nice to see the highways team has its priorities in place.
Rhoda Hogg


Its not the B6437 which is problematical today but the Duns airspace. Usually the low flying aircraft avoid built up areas (down town Hutton always excepted) but there must be a major exercise on this morning with Market Square as a secondary target, Its no good making a fuss about such things; the Hutton and Paxton Community Council was advised by a RAF liaison officer to take the registration number of any fighter flying under 200 feet and if you can identify the Pilot's eye colour that would be a bonus.

Its all Defence of the Realm stuff. Who knows the Taliban may infiltrate the Lammermuirs if they are driven out of Helmand. Can't take risks with National Security and anyone growing Poppies could have problems.

Labels: B6437, Low Flying Merse, Taliban in the Lammermuirs

  ¶ 1:20 PM (2) comments

 
ITS NOTHING BUT A TRI COLOURED HOUNDDOG
Country Strife http://countrystrife.blogspot.com/ has scooped Hutton on this-its the early bird which getteth the (offered-Ayton) can of worms on Berwickshire Freecycle-and this post is still up with no one so far claiming E.Presley's former pet. Actually its against the rules to mention pets on Freecycle (together with drugs, alcohol and hand held weapons of mass destruction) but in this case the moderator has made an exception

"A large tri colour hound type dog wearing a collar has been handed into
the BARK kennels Thursday Morning. We understand he was seen running
around Chirnside last night. He was picked up on the Chirnside Duns
Road near Briery Mill.

Please contact BARK if you have any information on 01289 306299"

And if you can't claim the dog for goodness sake offer a large tent, marquee or gazebo. You know it makes sense

(If you put 'hound dog' into Flickr out pops hundreds of images. This is one of them and may not bear any resemblance to the one chez BARK )

Labels: Berwickshire Freecycle, Elvis Presley, Low Flying Merse, Silly dogs

  ¶ 4:06 PM (1) comments

 









Fishwick Kirk I Presume?

Indeed yes. At last. After several failed attempts-unfriendly natives and marauding beasts, Huttonian and the wife, led by valiant Sherpa, penetrated the bandit country of the riverine Tweed lower valley to reach the ruins of Fishwick Kirk, where human feet have rarely tread in recent years. This was only achievable by out flanking guard cows protecting the obvious approach from the West while we snuck in from the East.(See image of the savage beasts-no doubt a bull lurking nearby-on Death-by-Coo Hill)The church is obscured by trees from every angle and is only just visible from the northern side when you are right on top of it. The main structure-a mortuary chapel built in the 1830s on the site of a much older church-legible tombstones date from the 17th century. The earliest on an inventory made in 1970 is 1661. The structure, apart from the roof tiling where the timbers are mostly intact is in surprisingly good nick but Vandals (or possibly Goths) have removed brass, glass and no doubt looted the vaults as well.The door was being used as a ramp (by earlier looters?) and the working party aka Sherpa, put it inside the church-image show it propped up outside the entrance

To paraphrase Dr Johnson's description of his visit to the Giant's Causeway:

Worth Seeing. Worth Going to see

But take food, warm clothing (it was 68f yesterday), machetes, midge repellent, dock leaves-the nettles are gigantic, GPS, small arms, stun grenades, flak jackets, and a cell phone. Help would be slow to reach you. So take care

(Click on the images for fine detail)

Labels: Fishwick Kirk, Low Flying Merse, Tweed

  ¶ 7:39 AM (2) comments

  Defence of the Realm starts here

Thank goodness we wil still be away from the Borders for Operation Joint Warrior which is due to raise the Merse Decibel Count very shortly.
As reported in the Berwickshire:

BERWICKSHIRE MP Michael Moore is advising residents of a military exercise that will take place between April 21 and May 1 which will involve a significant increase in low flying over the area.
The exercise, known as Joint Warrior, will involve units from all three branches of the UK armed forces as well as invited NATO and Allied Nations. Its aim is to equip these forces with the skills and expertise necessary to deal with multiple threats.
Thirty-eight ships, two submarines and up to 45 aircraft from the UK, NATO and Allied Nations will operate from various bases in Scotland.
Commenting in advance of the exercise, Mr Moore said: "We all realise the importance of equipping our armed forces with the skills and expertise required for active combat. In my experience, people in the Borders are extremely supportive of our armed forces and the vital job that they do in protecting us.
"However, it is important that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum, and the MoD lives up to its promise to ensure careful coordination of flying throughout the period to ensure that aircraft activity is spread as evenly as possible to minimise the impact on any one area.
"If anyone has any questions or concerns that arise from this exercise, I would be happy to take them up with the MoD."



Any one bothered by planes flying really low ie under 100 feet-can feel free to ring the MOD/RAF complaints line without bothering Mr Moore. We actually did this once after a F16 had flown between our chimney pots giving one hell of a fright to Rosie the Cat, both visiting Pheasants and prematurely de-gooseberrying our best bush.

We contacted a a very sympathetic retired Squadron Leader on the line who took all the details whilst expressing dismay that we had not been able to take down the registration number of the offending aircraft. Three months later we received a nice letter signed by a very senior RAF officer apologising for disrupting our Grouse Moor-shome misshtake shumewhere, presumably.

A submarine aground in the Whiteadder might be taken more seriously?

Labels: Low Flying Merse, Rosie the Cat

  ¶ 12:06 PM (0) comments

 


At last the Berwickshire News will have some real Borders news to fill its front page next Thursday-a change from loony self styled Regents and the commemoration of Rabbi Burns one visit to Coldstream; local lass makes real good: Oscar for Tilda Swinton. How local? Certainly much more so than Jim Clarke and Duns Scotus although I am not sure how long she has actually spent in Berwickshire at her family home. Her fathers family have been Borderers since slightly before the year Dot. Tilda S lives in Nairn, a bit north of here-indeed north of most places but I am sure that she will be claimed as 100% one of their own in these parts. 100% may be a bit steep given that her mother is Australian so perhaps it will be appropriate that the Merse will be alive with the sound of music as people hum that catchy Aussie/Scottish tune:

'Waltzing McTilda'

Labels: Berwickshire, Low Flying Merse, Oscars, Tilda Swinton

  ¶ 9:22 AM (4) comments

  Where there's Muck....

Hutton Think Tank have been asked by VisitScotland to analyse the quantity and quality of public signs/notices in the Merse area providing warm greetings and other information for visitors. At the bottom of the numerical list with three sightings is 'Welcome to Scotland' , 'Scottish Borders, Scotland's Favourite Short Break Destination' just avoids relegation with four. The Top Three in ascending order are : 3rd: (45 sightings) Signs for Dog Pooh Disposal; 2nd: 'You are Being Watched-Neighbourhood Watch (51) and in runaway top spot: 'Mud on Road' (108)

The last group are invariably home made and also win the quality category.

Well done our public spirited farmers. And if as much energy was put into actually clearing the mud as warning about it.

We would be even more delighted

Labels: farmers, Low Flying Merse, Mud

  ¶ 6:49 PM (2) comments

  Observer Status


I nearly broke into French:'Es que vous avez L'Observeur?' but just in time I remembered it was Chirnside, not L'Etang La Ville. Monsieur did. The last one. Last out of three apparently-two had just gone to 'strangers' possibly to people as far away as Allanton. As a Huttonian, I was lucky. Chirnside is our nearest 'retail complex. It will be different in Duns, two newsagents within two hundred yards; Observers galore but you have to get there before noon to be sure of having one left. Once, desperate for our weekly prize crossword fix I remembered too late that Chirnside closed at noon. I got to the shop at 1205. Closed. I was turning away wondering how to get through until next Sunday crosswordless when the door opened and I was ushered inside. Purpose of visit explained the owner painstakingly opened packages of unsold Sundays and finally emerged with the last Observer. I offered the £1.90 and had my money waved away.

The paper is unsold he said. Lets leave it that way.

And you can even get the English edition of the Daily Mail-as insisted upon by our neighbour -we alternate the paper run. This can be problem in Scotland. Once in Greenlaw I asked for the 'English' Daily Mail. Don't take it said the shaven headed Newsagent, giving me a nasty look, as if to say :

'What's wrong with the Scottish version?

Jimmy'

Labels: English newspapers, Low Flying Merse, Sunday

  ¶ 10:20 AM (0) comments

  ALL DOGS TO BE CARRIED


Thursday morning is good news for Huttonian as the letter column of the Berwickshire can usually be relied upon to cast light on the issues which really concern Borderers. Not Mr Brown and his fears over terrorism, nor the 'occupation' of Iraq, nor even Blue Tongue or Bird Flu (although we are urged to be vigilant*) but canine poo which surely takes more column inches than any other topic. For example:


SIR, - I wish to take issue with Robert Dickson (Letters, November 1, 2007).
Whilst I also abhor, and despair at the state of our pathways, which is correctly attributed to dog excrement, what I cannot agree with are the sweeping statements, that seemingly classify all dog owners as irresponsible.
Yes there are unfortunately some dog owners that do not behave in a correct manner (I am not one of them I must say) but to intimate that if they do not look after them in public, then in his mind they cannot look after them at home, this does not follow.
Also, as for his assertion that the RSPCA or the Police should check on the way these dogs are treated, presumably at home, this statement seems to imply that he knows the offenders.
If so report them, if not, do not make such comments.
We responsibly minded dog owners have also had to cope this past year with some deranged person trying to poison our beloved pets, so I on behalf of all dog lovers, ask please, if you have a dog do the decent thing - PICK IT UP!

Indeed a novel solution. Picking up and carrying your dog will greatly increase the exercise value of your daily walk and its effleunts will full conveniently on to your palm and not foul our pristine footpaths.You will not need a nasty plastic bag as long as you have deep pockets. 'Pick it up** and pocket it' can be the new slogan for dog owners.

* One of our sparrows sneezed this morning.

** I am not sure that this is what the letter writer meant. Blog-Ed

PS this Great Dane might be a bit of a challenge?

PPS I can't resist reminding bloggees of the Kerry Man*** who when seeing a notice at the top of a London Underground escalator insisting' Dogs Must be carried' exclaimed, in despair;

'Where can I find a dog at this time of night?'

*** Yes, Yes, Yes. Politically incorrect. Racist? OK; for Kerry Man read ' a person from Paxton'

Labels: Dog Poo, Kerry Men, Low Flying Merse

  ¶ 9:42 AM (0) comments

 
Last Orders Please

Just when you think you have tidied up the house for the last time you have another set of viewers-as we did on Sunday. After a bit you get to recognise the time wasters-roar around, don't ask any questions, either about the house or the locals, but admire your rugs, sniff when you mention that some of the furniture Will be left behind and usually have hyperactive children running riot too near the flimsy Broadband connection. And this category go around the garden with the greatest reluctance as their Gucci loafers soak up the heavy dew from the meadow (aka back lawn). The Sunday bunch were of 'it's 1130 it must be Hutton' variety' They had, like the others, run the gamut of Old and Auld Manses and were on their way to admire a Mc Mansion not too far from Fishwick (I warned them to allow time becuase of the traffic) They were also from the south -being relocated to Scotland by ssome huge multi national-money to burn, it seems, and I suspect it will be the McMansion, with its stables, its pillars and room for 3 Range Rovers which will see the colour of their money. For the horsey fraternity we can offer a carriage house and adjoining stalls, complete with original features including hay troughs and a genuine cobbled floor. I am not sure how many Polo ponies in a String but we can accommodate three horses and up to 6 Shetlands if they don't mind standing on each other*. And we also have an outside loo amongst the nettles-a feature absent from most Mc Mansions.

Closing date-7th November.

Hurry.

The image is not (r) not of our pond but of the Tweed, just down the road.

* Only the Shetlands need to stand on one another-the Polo ponies can have a stall each

Labels: Hutton, Low Flying Merse, McMansions, Selling the Manse

  ¶ 9:50 AM (0) comments

 
Huttonian moves to Duns with a feeling of increased relaxation after reading the result of a recent 'knife amnesty' in the Borders with no less than 16 weapons handed over in the town: Story in the Berwickshire as follows:


Public hand knives over to police


16 weapons handed over in Duns


Mike WynneBy Simon Duke
POLICE have announced that a total of 25 knifes were handed in to Berwickshire stations during a three week campaign in the Borders.
The Safer Scotland initiative saw police use metal detectors in pubs and sheriff courts throughout the area, while red bins were situated at six police stations for members of the public to hand in any weapons.
A total of 64 knifes were handed in, as well an axe, a scythe, a cleaver and three screwdrivers.
Duns saw 16 knifes handed over, the second highest in the Borders behind Galashiels, while Eyemouth Police Station had nine weapons given up.
Out of a total of 1275 searches made on people in the Borders, none were found with dangerous weapons in their possession.
Mike Wynne, Operations Officer at Hawick Police Station, said: "This three week long campaign under the Safer Scotland banner is part of a number of initiatives we have been involved in.
"The campaign saw hand held metal detectors used outside license premises and courts in various locations. No one was found with a weapon on them, which is very pleasing and shows that the Borders does not experience the problems associated with other areas of the country.
"Red bins were also situated at police stations across the Borders and 64 knifes were disposed of, the majority of which were kitchen knifes."
Galashiels saw the highest number of weapons handed in with 21 knifes, an axe and one cleaver.
Selkirk and Hawick both had eight knifes given up, along with three screwdrivers in Selkirk and one scythe in Hawick.
Lauder Police Station saw two knifes handed in over the three weeks.
Despite no one being caught in possession of a knife during the campaign, those who are found in possession of a weapon are dealt with severely in the courts.
Last week, an Eyemouth man currently in custody was sent to jail for a further five months at Duns Sheriff Court after he was caught last December in the town with an eight inch kitchen knife.


No word of this came to Hutton-certainly never mentioned by the pollis when attending the local community council meetings. I have an axe, a hatchet, a couple of scythes, a panga, at least 12 screwdrivers (Philliphs mostly so not too lethal) and a very large bicycle pump. Must avoid going to the Cross when tooled up, I suppose.

I can't help feeling sorry for a recent immigrant from Cork who mistook the purpose of the amnesty.

She handed in all her kitchen knives.

And can't get them back.


The image is apparently of a weapon not covered by the campaign and is now stuck firmly into pre-Autumnal foliage in the Whiteadder valley. It was nicked from the Fishwick Special Branch armoury some weeks ago together with a pair of Flintlock Muskets from the strategic weapon reserve. Usual rewards apply.

Labels: Amnesty, Berwickshire, Duns, Low Flying Merse

  ¶ 2:55 PM (0) comments

  On Your Bike Mate

A British minister, Michael Wills has suggested that we should have a national motto to encapsulate our 'Britishness' something which could be incorporated into national documentation like Passports or Death certificates. On our passports we already have a coat of arms and a motto: Dieu et mon Droit (My God You are right?) but it is French and it is the royal motto rather than a people's national one-as Tristam Hunt points out in the Gerdian today.

Perhaps we should run a national competition to select one but it might start better at local level with each community having, if not its own coat of arms, which is just too 14th century, but its own motto on the town sign at the entrance to the area: Some have already : 'Thankyou for Driving Carefully' or in the case of Duns : '20MPH when lights flash' Can't get more uplifting than that. Hutton proclaims 'You are being watched' on a rather aggressive Neighbourhood Watch sign as you come into 'town'.

Hutton Think Tank has been commissioned by Scottish Borders Council (Vision and Local Plan section) to come up with a series of signs appropriate to villages and wee villages indicating the individual charecter of the place and the warmth of the welcome for the first time visitor: ' Paxton. Keep moving' for example. ' ' Fishwick: The Car Free Zone'or the ethnically influenced 'Will Ye NO come back again' Suggestions welcome as always.

The bigger towns already have welcoming signs: 'Coldstream: the First Toon in Scotland'-or the last, thankfully, if you are heading south.Greenlaw 'The Ancient Capital of Berwickshire' 'Ancient' equals ancien: former. Duns now has that honour and should surely greet visitors with 'Duns; twinned with Armageddon: Duns Dings 'A'
Peebles, that poncy pompous pretentious place has an unoffical motto; Paris for business. Peebles for Pleasure. I have never really liked the dump since 10 years ago staying for a week in a self catering flat using it as a base for house hunting, I rang the golf club and asked if I could play a round. I was told

'No'

Thank the Lord we did not find a house there.



But my favourite town motto is for Llantrisant Pontyclun in Welsh Wales which is simply known as

The Hole with the Mint in it

Labels: Duns, Hutton Think Tank, Low Flying Merse, Wee Villages

  ¶ 6:46 PM (4) comments

 
I am grateful to the Norn Iron bloggee for the following story from BBC Belfast which resonates in the Borders

"Grey squirrels should be given a contraceptive in a bid to prevent the wiping out of their red cousins.
That is the recommendation of a forestry expert following the publication of the 2007 Irish Squirrel Survey.
The all-Ireland report recorded no red squirrels in County Armagh with only 47 sightings across the rest of Northern Ireland in a seven-month period.
"A contraceptive product would remove the threat of red squirrel extinction," said Dr Michael Carey.
However, the co-author of the survey said such a product was not currently available.
"We first have to get it developed and then get it fed to the grey squirrels, who have the breeding capacity of rats.
"We don't want to see grey squirrels eradicated, just their number brought under control.
Virus
The Irish Squirrel Survey showed grey squirrels, which carry a virus which kills the smaller red variety, now populated a number of counties in the Republic for the first time.
It also warned if left unchecked the grey squirrel population could also affect the timber industry given its ability to remove vast amount of bark from trees.
The first grey squirrels to arrive in Ireland are thought to have been six brought over from England as a wedding present in 1911.
It is believed they were released into woods somewhere in County Longford in that same year."


Resonates here? Yes. The Red squirrel is under threat in the Borders as well but not even the Hutton Think Tank (Vermin, Squirrels and Panda section) have come up with the idea of contraception. And it is surprising that this idea emanates from Ireland given the attitude of the RC church to this practice. Condoms (for humans admittedly) were long hard to come by in Irish pharmacies south of the Border. I well remember in the 1960s an English visitor to Dublin desperate for a leg over was told in great confidence by a friendly Chemist where he could find a rubber-the only one in the 26 Counties, under 'a wee bridge' in Tipperary, behind the second loose brick from the left. And he was urged to return it after he had finished with it as 'Its used by the Tipperary Gaelic Football Team-on Saturday evenings'*

Np such problem here-we even have a chain of animal friendly pharmacies in the wilder reaches of the Whiteadder Valley-Known as
Roots the Chemist.

But do they stock The Pill for Grey Squirrels. I don't know.

I have never thought to ask

* It may still be there. Directions on request but it is possibly past its fill by date

Labels: Condoms, Low Flying Merse, Norn Iron, Squirrels

  ¶ 7:54 PM (0) comments

  Paxtonmanballs

We get the odd moment of genuine insight at community council meetings. At one recent discussion of anti social behaviour by local yuff a harassed member of the community asked a visiting copper what she should do if a football is kicked into her garden and no one comes round to claim it. 'Call the Police' was the reply-and then thinking that this might be a bit OTT for a very small nuisance he reformulated his suggestion. ' Get a very sharp knife

And stick it into the ball'

Nice to hear the local fuzz offer such

Penetrating advice

Labels: Low Flying Merse, Paxton

  ¶ 1:06 PM (0) comments

  No need to sign for this one

One advantage of living in rural areas (this one at least) is the very personal postal service. Not only does the postie deliver the mail as per his (in this case) job description he will also pick up the outgoing letters. Nothing to do with us having been a post office, just part of the service. And as we live next to the only industrial outfit in greater Hutton, we get our mail nice and early in the morning. And, a bonus this, thanks to the enthusiasm of our postal guy I now know more about Newcastle United than I ever did before and much more than I really need to know for most purposes. But at least I can shout 'Come on the Magpies' with some authority. Not that it often seems to work. And I don't really want to worry about Michael Owen on top of trying to sell a large house.

The Posties cover a huge parish berween 7am and 2 pm or so having started off at Ber Wick sorting office. TD15 being English,basically. And I sometimes see them in unexpected places sipping their coffee or munching their dinner. Or up to something else less explicable.

Like this morning there was the little red van parked outside the 'new' cemetery-only been in use this past thirty years. No sipping no munching-some other mission.

Suddenly the thought of a dead letter box popped into my head. In the new cemetry. Of course.Fishwick Special Branch would never have thought of that. And the whole operation would give a new dimension to the expression:

Last Post

Labels: Hutton, Low Flying Merse, Posties, Royal Mail

  ¶ 10:14 AM (0) comments

  Monday, Bloody (Bank Holiday) Monday

Where is it an English Bank Holiday in Scotland? Answer: in Hutton (and Paxton, and elsewhere in occupied TD15) Yes we are in Berwickshire, Scotland. Yes it is not a bank holiday in Scotland. But yes it is in TD15 and that includes big chunks of the Scottish heartland, Brave and otherwise. If we are sent a letter addressed: Berwick upon -Tweed TD15 etc it will arrive in a day-put in Berwickshire, and leave out the English Garrison Town it will take a day later despite the Post Code. Weird.

And irritating. I had an urgent missive to post and remembered at 11.50 AM that on Bank Holidays there was a Royal Mail collection from down town Hutton at 12 noon.Putting on the only First Class stamp sold in the Hutton Post Office since 1997 I raced out to the box. En route a villager told me with some satisfaction that the post man had emptied the post box a minute before (11.55 AM) Running five minutes early-blast his zeal. Nothing for it but to go to Free Scotland-the nearest point, so I was told, outside TD15 being Allanton. First, Second and Last Post not collected until 2pm. 10 am on Bank Holidays so I hope that our frenetic English postie did not get there first taking, as it were, the Bank Holiday with him.

At least in Duns we will know where we are -holiday wise.

Labels: Bank Holidays, Low Flying Merse, Royal Mail

  ¶ 12:51 PM (2) comments

  Vandaloo?

Huttonian is intrigued by the following letter in today's Berwickshire:

SIR, - As a frequent visitor to the Berwickshire area, I was saddened on my last visit to see that the paint spraying hooligans had been busy on the approach road from Burnmouth to Morrison’s roundabout.
I thought little more about it until I read in the Berwickshire News that the graffiti had in fact been done by the council. I find it difficult to believe that the very people who should be ensuring that the area looked good could actually create such vandalism.
I have always liked the Conundrum adverts. They are well designed and attractive and add to the appearance of the area. If only all signs were as good!
I am all in favour of sensible planning rules and regulations but whoever authorised such vandalism has used excessive zeal.
I would welcome the re-appearance of the Conundrum scarecrow adverts.

Council Vandalism ? And which council? Scottish Borders (Burnmouth) or Northumberland (Berwick) Do the Conundrum ads refer to the artwork of Big Jim Conundrum the successful Tory candidate for East Berwickshire? 'Build More Houses on farming land-mine preferably'might be one of his spray jobs. Or it could be 'Scotland Sucks' but surely that is not the official slogan of the city fathers of B-u-T.

Elucidation please. And any suggestions for official grafitti may be sent to the Hutton Think Tank at its usual deadletter box. Offensive comments about Paxton wil not be published. And certainly nor on the lines of a one written on the bench on the upper road in the early 1990s: 'P A X T O N spells trouble'. Under which wa scrawled:

'NO IT DOESN'T. IT SPELLS

PAXTON'

Labels: Hutton Think Tank, Low Flying Merse, Paxton

  ¶ 1:57 PM (0) comments

  GREAT MERSE TRAINING RUN-CONGESTION IN FISHWICK HORROR

A bloggee, near neighbour has asked for the following to be posted


I am taking part in the BUPA Great North Run 2007, Sunday 30th September.

Running as part of the British Red Cross team - over 350 in the team this year - I hope to complete the 21K / 13.1 Miles in under two hours. My best time for a Half Marathon is 1 hour 43 minutes, but that was over 15 years ago :-)

If anyone wishes to sponsor me you can do so via the Just Giving Web Site. All funds raised go directly to the British Red Cross.

If you are local to the Hutton area you may see me training three / four times a week, Hutton -> Fishwick -> Paxton -> Hutton. Two laps, 11.3 miles, 1 hour 50 min's presently.

See more on
http://www.hexcentric.co.uk

Best of luck Neil Couch but I am slightly concerned about the Fishwick training leg given the heavy traffic on that route

Labels: Fishwick Bypass, Great North Run, Low Flying Merse

  ¶ 1:24 PM (0) comments

  Bye Bye GNER

National Express is taking over the franchise for the East Coast route from GNER in November. This news has gone down big in The Cross in Paxton according to what Huttonian was told by a habitue who overheard the news being discussed by two local gents with some intensity.

First Gent ' Hear about National Express?'

Second Gent 'Aye'

FG That will be the way to Lunnon and Embra come November.

SG 'Aye'

FG 'Wonder if they will be faster than GNER'

SG 'Fat Chance'

FG 'Why do you say that?'

SG' Bloody Buses..Bloody slow, especially if they are flippin

Double Deckers

Labels: GNER, Low Flying Merse, National Express

  ¶ 11:39 AM (0) comments

 
EFFing Fifteens

We spend much time and expend more energy complaining about low flying fighter aircraft in the Borders. A favourite training area for the RAF as we are thinly populated-unlike, say, Surrey or the Euphrates Delta. Huttonian has had several vain attempts to photograph low flying jets but with no luck after 10 years of trying. You may have some success in heading off the wilder pilots If you can prove that a plane is under 200 feet (take the registration number or describe the pilot's eyes to be convincing- RAF Liaison Officer Wing Co 'Bombs Away' Douglas Worse usually advises would-be complainants)
At last success! Image above of a plane at 199 feet terrifying defenceless civilians-it does not look too low as it was taken on my fairly basic digital without benefit of zoom-but click on image and it is large enough to identify by flight buffs.Take the ear splitting noise on trust and lets have no crap about defence of the realm. This was no 'essential training' but a post tea pre Gin and tonic jolly to notch up mpre air miles before a freebee to Basra.

So Mr H where precisely in the Merse was this image taken? Asks W/C Worse, mouse poised.

Well, actually, it wasn 't.

Oh where then?

Er, just north of here at Tentsmuir, Fife.

Is that near RAF Leuchars?

ER, not very, about a mile away.

So the plane was flying low to land at its base after evening manoeuvres? And flying slowly?

Of course it was flying slowly, that's how I could photograph it.

So whats your complaint then?

IT WAS FLYING UNDER 200 Feet.

But.....

Put phone down
No use arguing with these RAF wallahs.

A fence for every gap.

Labels: Low Flying Merse

  ¶ 11:06 AM (1) comments