I have been a bit busy lately, it has actually stopped raining and as the land is fit to travel on we are spreading muck on the arable fields before ploughing.
Sunshine and dry days do wonders for the spirit of optimism. In that spirit and after seeing our analysis results I decided to get the lime on now. Delivery was arranged and I was asked can you take an artic load. Yes was my smug reply, that was my first mistake. At 5PM after a day at muck I was just driving the forklift out of the straw store to bed cattle when 3 fields away I saw an artic and bulk trailer turn very slowly off the road. Not up my road, not indeed up any road but up a very narrow track leading to a bridge that consisted of two planks and a prayer. Stop forklift, phone out of pocket to lime supplier STOP the truck, what do you mean, you subbied it out and you don't have a number! Onto quad roar off in pursuit up track to find neighbours pickup already behind truck but no artic driver. Driver reappears says he went find the farm on foot as he thought things were getting a bit tight! Point out bridge, neighbour points out bridge, after severe persuasion he agrees death is likely if bridge crossed. Trucker now has to reverse a fully laden bulker up hill along a track and out. Does he succeed? No, tractor unit slides off and into my field crushing my fence, neighbour leaves. Survey situation, herself and all 5 arrive to watch chaos. Decide to retreat as outnumbered, suggest recovery vehicle (no way will I offer a tractor, artics cost £100k and I am not bending one) Take no4 to dancing lesson. Arrive back an hour later in pitch darkness to see recovery truck arrive, retire to house, go eventually to bed, get out of bed on hearing truck arrive, trucker says he will leave off tipping till "morning" Back to bed, 4.30AM trucker arrives back hooks up turns round and pops back to sleep in the cab, I did not, finally get up at 6.30 and insist he tip and leave!
9AM call truckers transport manager, a very world weary guy who has no doubt heard every disaster story ever agrees to pay for damages to fence. Go to muck, 9.30AM next truck (8 wheeler) arrives tips and destroys cattle pen gate on exit. Some days you just cant win.