The one thing this week on every ones lips is the ‘foot and mouth’ outbreak.

I was working in the rural area during the last outbreak in the late 60‘s and believe me, the farming community will suffer.

Do not go anywhere near livestock or farms during the outbreak, which will last in the order of 3/6 months.

Do not believe reports that it will be all over in a few weeks as those of us who worked in farming areas (all right, it was Chesham/Amersham/Missenden areas) found out. The restrictions made life very difficult then and with the current trend to the ‘just in time’ system, time is the one thing they don’t have.

I know it’s not funny, but I really couldn’t help laughing when I heard on the news that 300 head of sheep had been bought from England and moved to Northern Ireland. I week later they could only find 90 and had no idea where the 210 had gone - ‘they must have just wondered off’ the owner was reported to have said.

I really not quite sure what to make of the various things that are happening. As you all know, there should be a County Council election at the beginning of May, the Prime Minister is thought to be thinking that would be a good day to hold a general election and for some reason, I think a member of the Town Council will also be replaced. Don’t ask me why, but the signs are all there and still no one has asked me to stand. Never mind!

Just as I predicted, the foot and mouth problem continues. I really can’t understand why I appear to be the only one who believed me!

In the similar vain, why is it that it takes the Independent Councillor (Tony MacLaughlin) to voice the obvious again. As he says, what is the point of building houses without providing employment. Building houses on prime commercial land near the motorway only ensures that the journey down the M1 and round the M25 will get worse.
The Chairman of the Berkhamsted Chamber of Commerce recently said that employers in the town cannot get the staff, yet at the same time, commuters are complaining about the journey to work - in London.

Have I got this right?
If you leave dead animals just lying around, the birds & foxes etc. will spread foot & mouth.
If you bury infected animals, foot & mouth could get into the water table.
If you burn them, foot & mouth might be carried in the smoke.
The rendering plants cannot cope with the numbers.

Not to worry, everything is under control!

Answers on a post card to.........................

Regular readers will know that I did warn you all at the very start, but as I said last week - nobody ever believes me.