I have spent over 40 years with the geological community, about as long on committees of all sorts and more than that gardening. The vast majority of people I have met and communicated with have been sensible, sane and law abiding. BUT if they have the slightest 'collector' instinct, and it doesn't seem to matter what their collector interest is, then it can be no holds barred. I've watched the switch from one to the other with total astonishment. And there's always the ones who jump to conclusions without asking a few essential questions first. Of course there may be a simple explanation for your conundrum but..........
My sister and her partner took on an allotment in Kent, she gave it up after a very short time because one of the other plot holders kept dumping rubbish and old carpet etc on her freshly dug plot. She complained to the powers that be, but it kept happening. Glad to say we dont have that problem where I am and there seems to be a good spirit.
I lived in a village where the Catholic Church had some (very neglected) allotments. Not one of them was being used at all. So I asked the gent in charge if I could make use of some of the ground. He was well pleased but next news he was getting complaints from his parishioners because I wasn't a Catholic! I wasn't a rival religion either just not a Catholic. Fortunately the gent in charge had a forthright attitude to such nonsense. You can't, however, beat most village organisations including Parish Councils for spiteful behaviour. I've been on many different ones and nearly always there's at least one who has a very different agenda to the rest of the members and to the spirit of the organisation. The main problem seems to be that such perpetrators seem to have no idea that their actions are not 'civilised' as per RB's gyps or GG's rubbish dumping. And also that most committee people would be far too polite to interject when someone is determined to cause trouble. Unfortunately for some I have few such inhibitions.
Morning everybody-you have made me laugh and yes we also have all sorts of nonsense going on-tools and apparently pears have been stolen! In fact recently the police have been involved and we can have our tools marked etc. Our allotment is a massive site 120 yrs old in the heart of town hidden by houses, if the gates are not locked anyone can get in so security is a problem. In practice we know sadly its an inside job when produce goes missing. I have been leaving my shed unlocked but I will put a lock as recent events have 'unnerved' me.
People's behavior never fails to amaze me-despite having worked 4 yrs in the prison service I'm still too trusting, I'm pretty good at locking the plots gate though!
It has always been a certain level of society which has been a problem for me, apart from the Catholic allotments. There are those in village societies, usually not of village stock, who assume that any farmworker has to be useful as long as they are willing do what is required of them. It seems to come as a very nasty shock when they suddenly realise that not only do I have a brain but I use it. They don't admit that, of course, but they quite often become decidedly 'difficult' in relation to anything I am involved in. It has happened so often that it's an unmistakable reaction. Tends to be middle age or above males who have been used to secretaries etc running round after them or similar ladies who think they're queen bees in a village organisation. Not the vast majority at all but there's always one or three. As per WeyP but I find it all quite fascinating these days and am no longer amazed at the petty antics of the human race. The major deceits though are a different matter. Have you read the reports on the Swiss children?
None of my geological colleagues believe me when I say I used to be a shrinking violet, wouldn't say boo to a goose. They have been known to run around saying 'Don't upset her, don't upset her'. One fellow leapt across an exhibition hall, (which I had set up), and gently steered an arrogant idiot to a safer place. 'What did you do that for' I asked him later. 'I knew what was likely to happen next if I left you to it' he replied 'and I could see from your face your patience was wearing very thin'. Apparently this self important person was in the habit of turning up unannounced at these things and expecting someone to shift so she could put up her important poster in prime position and organisers HAD LET HER DO THAT rather than making a fuss. I had no intention of letting her if only because it would have been most unfair to those who had booked a space months before. And I had spent many hours arranging things so everybody had a fair crack of the whip
He did also say that he had been tempted to let things run its course if only so he could relate the resultant inferno to his mates! As he's a bit of drama queen there would have been quite a lot of added fuel to his recounting. And as some of his mates are also mine I would, as is often the case, be getting a lot of stick from the lot of them.
Life indeed. My now ex husband really. I found out that when he didn't want to do anything he was blaming me. Lots of things happened over the years which I didn't quite understand the wherefores of and then we went to the MoD camp Christmas do. The head man asked could he have a word which rather surprised me but yes of course. He then told me I should be encouraging my husband in his drive for promotion instead of holding him back. Which was when I lost it completely. My ex didn't want promotion, all he wanted was a quiet life not too far away from his mother (who was a lovely lady but she had spoiled him rotten). By the time I'd finished I think everyone present had a good idea of my opinions on the matter. From then on whenever things seemed odd I made sure I sorted it and not just my husband's funny little ways either
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I have spent over 40 years with the geological community, about as long on committees of all sorts and more than that gardening. The vast majority of people I have met and communicated with have been sensible, sane and law abiding. BUT if they have the slightest 'collector' instinct, and it doesn't seem to matter what their collector interest is, then it can be no holds barred. I've watched the switch from one to the other with total astonishment. And there's always the ones who jump to conclusions without asking a few essential questions first. Of course there may be a simple explanation for your conundrum but..........
My sister and her partner took on an allotment in Kent, she gave it up after a very short time because one of the other plot holders kept dumping rubbish and old carpet etc on her freshly dug plot. She complained to the powers that be, but it kept happening.
Glad to say we dont have that problem where I am and there seems to be a good spirit.
I lived in a village where the Catholic Church had some (very neglected) allotments. Not one of them was being used at all. So I asked the gent in charge if I could make use of some of the ground. He was well pleased but next news he was getting complaints from his parishioners because I wasn't a Catholic! I wasn't a rival religion either just not a Catholic. Fortunately the gent in charge had a forthright attitude to such nonsense. You can't, however, beat most village organisations including Parish Councils for spiteful behaviour. I've been on many different ones and nearly always there's at least one who has a very different agenda to the rest of the members and to the spirit of the organisation. The main problem seems to be that such perpetrators seem to have no idea that their actions are not 'civilised' as per RB's gyps or GG's rubbish dumping. And also that most committee people would be far too polite to interject when someone is determined to cause trouble. Unfortunately for some I have few such inhibitions.
Loving the vampire idea Philippa!!
People's behavior never fails to amaze me-despite having worked 4 yrs in the prison service I'm still too trusting, I'm pretty good at locking the plots gate though!
It has always been a certain level of society which has been a problem for me, apart from the Catholic allotments. There are those in village societies, usually not of village stock, who assume that any farmworker has to be useful as long as they are willing do what is required of them. It seems to come as a very nasty shock when they suddenly realise that not only do I have a brain but I use it. They don't admit that, of course, but they quite often become decidedly 'difficult' in relation to anything I am involved in. It has happened so often that it's an unmistakable reaction. Tends to be middle age or above males who have been used to secretaries etc running round after them or similar ladies who think they're queen bees in a village organisation. Not the vast majority at all but there's always one or three. As per WeyP but I find it all quite fascinating these days and am no longer amazed at the petty antics of the human race. The major deceits though are a different matter. Have you read the reports on the Swiss children?
None of my geological colleagues believe me when I say I used to be a shrinking violet, wouldn't say boo to a goose. They have been known to run around saying 'Don't upset her, don't upset her'. One fellow leapt across an exhibition hall, (which I had set up), and gently steered an arrogant idiot to a safer place. 'What did you do that for' I asked him later. 'I knew what was likely to happen next if I left you to it' he replied 'and I could see from your face your patience was wearing very thin'. Apparently this self important person was in the habit of turning up unannounced at these things and expecting someone to shift so she could put up her important poster in prime position and organisers HAD LET HER DO THAT rather than making a fuss. I had no intention of letting her if only because it would have been most unfair to those who had booked a space months before. And I had spent many hours arranging things so everybody had a fair crack of the whip
He did also say that he had been tempted to let things run its course if only so he could relate the resultant inferno to his mates! As he's a bit of drama queen there would have been quite a lot of added fuel to his recounting. And as some of his mates are also mine I would, as is often the case, be getting a lot of stick from the lot of them.
PS2 sorry to disappoint you- I used to manage healthcare so wore mufti but I do wear grey joggers on the plot same as the inmates lol!
Life indeed. My now ex husband really. I found out that when he didn't want to do anything he was blaming me. Lots of things happened over the years which I didn't quite understand the wherefores of and then we went to the MoD camp Christmas do. The head man asked could he have a word which rather surprised me but yes of course. He then told me I should be encouraging my husband in his drive for promotion instead of holding him back. Which was when I lost it completely. My ex didn't want promotion, all he wanted was a quiet life not too far away from his mother (who was a lovely lady but she had spoiled him rotten). By the time I'd finished I think everyone present had a good idea of my opinions on the matter. From then on whenever things seemed odd I made sure I sorted it and not just my husband's funny little ways either