I'VE always used a blotter on my 'office' desk, it provides a smooth non-slip surface for writing on and when typing, the machine doesn't slide about. But as for its original purpose, for blotting, well, that sort of died out with the advent of the ball-point pen. While blotting paper is rather impractical where the desk is a busy one, as it shows dirt very quickly, and I always used to use a dark green, but shortage of this colour caused me to use blue on the occasion of my last purchase. Now, even all that has changed, you can have any colour you like as long as it's white. I've tried all Malton shops, and several in York, and all tell the same story. So, once again, progress marches backwards. I've now got to think of some other product I can use as a desk mat.

On the nautical subject of 'old rope' recently, I had a phone call from 'Bill' of Pickering to wise me up about the word 'bung'. This he tells me is a payment (in this case from the bosun to a seaman) for helping him unload the old ropes, and relates to any occasion where someone was handed some cash for an occasional job. Thanks Bill.

Then, another aspect of 'Friendly Fire', which is akin to scoring an 'own goal' and to what became known as 'The Battle of Barking Creek'. Around 6.15 on the morning of September 6, 1939, a searchlight site reported a formation of aircraft heading towards the Thames Estuary. It was assumed that they would be hostile and following their plotting at Fighter Command HQ and Operations HQ, a flight of Hurricanes were scrambled from 56 Sqn to patrol at 11,000 feet. In all the excitement, a further flight of Hurries from 151 Sqn were sent up as back-up. Radio location spotted all these multiple aircraft and 11 Group then ordered up four flights of Spitfires from Hornchurch. Red alert sirens were sounding in London, Essex and Kent, and anti-aircraft guns started firing at two lone aircraft they spotted, and this caused a flight of Spits to attack these two unfortunates, which were Hurricanes, one being shot down and the pilot killed, the other crash-landed. With 24 Spits now dogfighting 18 Hurricanes, 12 Group decided some back-up was needed, and scrambled two full squadrons. On top of this, the anti-aircraft batteries of Sheerness, Thameshaven and Chelmsford were giving the aircraft all they had. To cut a long story short, one squadron leader decided that all the 'attacking' aircraft were friendly, and the battle eventually subsided after only one further one was hit with its pilot unhurt. The resulting enquiry and court-marshall were kept quiet and the file, I believe remains closed. Aircraft magazines of the period put two and two together following the casualty list for September being published, but it remained under wraps for many years. Incidentally, it was thought that the aircraft reported by the searchlight site, were in fact a flight of geese leaving their overnight sleeping quarters by the Thames! I have a couple of first-hand incidents which I won't go into now, but it was happening all the time. Bad aircraft recognition was one problem, and adrenalin another! As for the Navy, they didn't take any risks, and who can blame them, which was why the RAF tended to keep well away from surface vessels. It only needed one chap to pull the firing lever and everyone else followed suit.

The last three rides out on the bikes have resulted in three punctures for us, due to thorns from hedge cutting. I had admired the trimness of the hedges, because they really are a smart job. But the puncture makes you have second thoughts. However, the weather was fine, and one hole was repaired at the roadside, and the other two, both within a mile of home, allowed us to get home by leaving the thorn still stuck in. It's a great temptation to pull it out, but usually the loss of air doesn't happen until it is removed. There's umpteen regulations about cutting roadside hedges, even to the fact that notices should be put up to warn people that it's happening, but only once have I seen them. Like the sweeping up afterwards - I did once see that being done.

We had a local effort last year to get a speed gun for the police, which I gather has been in use recently with some good effect. Villagers affected by speeding vehicles seem to have found the answer down in Somerset. There they have a Community Speed Watch, after villagers had complained about the road being a 'race track'. So the first village, Ash, has had a gun supplied by the police at a cost of £1,000, and one of the villagers, wearing a yellow jacket, points the gun at offenders. The offenders don't know it's not a PC, nor does it seem to matter, for the recorded info goes to the police, and offenders are sent warning letters, and the scheme is found to be successful. Whilst the Avon and Somerset police would like to expand the scheme, the cost of guns means they can't supply one to every village, but it's a start, and there's a hope that local councils might do some financing.

Just a thought! "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." (Oscar Wilde. 1854-1900)

Updated: 10:28 Wednesday, September 18, 2002