Friday 29th May
I’m not usually a sports fan, but this morning I stop and watch a news item about cricket. The reporter seems to discussing the arrangements for a future cricket match. I don’t understand the rules of cricket, and don’t understand what it is about an ongoing game that keeps spectators glued to their seats for day after day. But this report on a forthcoming game is yet another baby step towards the New Normality. It seems that the venue under consideration is perfect because Players can stay inside an on-site hotel. That doesn’t bode well for the windows.
I remove another two full bags of rubbish from Croft Hill this morning, but I am relieved that, despite the shouting heard from a youthful gathering on the Hill yesterday evening, no more waste has been deposited.
I spend just a couple of hours at work, dedicated to familiarising myself with “The Noise App”, a smart phone tool that can be used to record noise, and upload the recordings directly to a participating Local Authority for assessment. We are trialling this for a few weeks. There is the potential for this to reduce the number of house visits made to witness alleged nuisances while social distancing restrictions still apply, although we will initially be using it to triage complaints, a sort of high-tech diary that demonstrates whether a problem is as bad as alleged. After perusing a lot of instructions and procedures, I register as complainant, record some bird song (I am again working in the garden), and upload the recording. I log on to the office software to listen to it, but it has not appeared. I receive a personal e-mail advising that I have am not approved by the Local Authority, and must contact them, which means, in this case, me contacting me. I decide to sort this out next week.
I have a brief phone conversation with a colleague, who has been consulted about a socially distanced “drive-through” music concert. The idea is that a band/DJ performs on stage, as is traditional, but concert goers listen to the performance through their car sound systems, via Bluetooth or similar. On-stage speakers are for the benefit of the performers only, and will be relatively quiet. The venue will need to be a large car park, and a local park-and-ride site has been suggested. I agree with my colleague that his decision to tell the organiser that the event is unlikely to affect local residents in our area, and we would not objection to any future licence application is appropriate. However, I point out, the reason that the event won’t affect “our” residents is that the venue is actually just outside of our patch. He has “approved” a concert which will take place in a neighbouring Authority, who will be responsible for issuing the licence. He leaves the call to go and have an urgent conversation with the organiser.
I get a call from a householder who has allegedly been playing loud music to a few of his neighbours during lockdown, and who has received a warning letter from me. He is not particularly cross, but just wants to know who has complained, because he has asked all of his neighbours, and all denied contacting the us. I am familiar with this particular estate, and am not surprised at the silence. I am unable to enlighten him, but gently probe him about his music. He reassures me that his music does not cause a problem. He has a couple of garden speakers, but he has checked, and his music is never audible from more than two or three doors away. I suggest that his garden fence would be a more appropriate benchmark.
A brief visit to Andree to deliver shopping. We discuss whether she will feel comfortable to start joining us for Sunday Roast, which, prior to lockdown, was a weekly appointment involving a glass or two of red. We can certainly safely host a Sunday Roast in the garden, weather permitting. The problem is transport. I would need to collect Andree. I have a large vehicle, and maybe if she sits on a back seat, we might be 2m apart. As driver, I would hopefully be facing away from her. I leave the decision to her discretion. I think that many of us will be monitoring for any repercussions from the latest relaxation of lockdown before confidently moving forward.
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
