‘And Another Thing...’ It’s The Highway, Man by

Vince Nolan

Let me explain the title. We recently received a carefully worded written invitation from the Council to cut our hedge, or else. Apparently it was causing an obstruction to the Highway. You judge. We were unclear what it obstructed. Chateau Nolan is in a cul-de-sac and the pavement shown here curves around to our garage and nowhere else. I suspect our new neighbour made a complaint as the hedge borders her drive. Whilst the matter was already being dealt with, this stirred the true Scorpio in me which is a revenge based philosophy played out over time. We never forget.

Of course if birds are nesting in a hedge it cannot be cut. So I sent the Council the above picture as proof. You will have course spotted that this is a North American Bald Eagle but I argued convincingly, I thought, that he was probably over here on his holidays. I also suggested to the powers that be that we did not live on a Highway. Well, if I did their local jobsworth informed us that: “A Highway is an area of land which the public at large have the absolute right to use to Pass and Repass without let or hindrance.” Silly me, not to have known that. One only hopes that our new neighbour does not make any noise above permitted levels, taxes and insures her car and puts the right litter in the right bins. She has opened Pandora’s Box. To keep the peace (for now) you can see that

I just enrolled on a topiary course. Certainly a cutting hedge technology.

For those of you who read this stuff regularly (you really do need to get out more), you may remember that I mentioned the fantasy alleged car chase through New York “endured” by Harry and Meghan. I have now read that he has apparently engaged divorce lawyers as all may not be well in their idyllic and self-made fantasy world. I have no legal expertise but it seems to me that if one goes up against a US citizen, in the US, who also happens to be a wealthy TV star, one is going to lose badly. In related matters, did you hear about the new ceremony the Guards perform at Buckingham Palace when Harry is in town? It’s called, “The Changing of the Locks.”

Staying with how the other half lives, I visited Cirencester recently with the Current Mrs Nolan. I know, life is one big adventure. We walked through the Bathurst Estate up towards the local polo field. There was a polo match taking place and there must have been 100+ horses present and plenty of well-heeled individuals who were all outshone when one of their number landed in a private helicopter leaving his pilot waiting all day to fly him home after the last Chukka. Tally Ho chaps!

Now I wish to engage you in our latest