Marland wrote:

Harry Bloomfield wrote:
A Neighbour has had carpet fitters in. Keeping in mind it is a through
road with regular traffic, said fitters have laid a PVC sheet across
the entire width of the street, on which to drag out the large carpet
roll, with no regards for any traffic which might need to use the road.
The use of the road has continued for the past four hours, often
blocking the road completely as they unroll carpet length out across
the road and is still proceeding.

The whole operation seems very amateur. Sensible would have been for
them to unroll and cut to size, back at base - or am I missing
something?


For a moment I thought you were going to ask about getting a large carpet
fitted.


I wonder if this is a common practice amongst the trade and is almost a
statement of belonging to that profession in a similar vein to electricians
never sweep up any wire strippings etc.
One carpet fitter blocked the lane to our allotments back in the Spring
while doing the cottage on the corner of it but he was happy to move it to
let thus pass, the muddy wheel barrow loaded with dung may have influenced
his cooperation.

To be honest base would be many miles away and in the old building I doubt
a decent fitter would rely on measurements possibly taken by others or even
themselves on the old place which has many nooks and crannies.
Now I fully appreciate roads and the traffic they carry varies and in many
situations blocking for a even shortime could be seen as irresponsible but
before cars and other vehicles took over over the streets due to social
changes many streets and roads were more for the benefit of the people
that lived on them rather than thoroughfares for everybody to pass quickly
along anonymously .
Your neighbour seems to be getting some benefit of using theroad they live
on to get a job done no doubt with some objections by other users, once
upon a time when most people knew each along a road they would have been a
bit patient.
I notice it when occasionally visit an old school chum who is a farmer , as
boys when our dads moved cattle along or across the road those delayed
would as likely get out of the car or wind the window down for a chat.
Now when he does it he just gets glared at by people who have no connection
to the land apart from its a nice view to have even if it is a 1 hour 45
mile each way to work.

GH
Round here, one quite frequently has to wait for a flock of sheep to go
from place to place. While I know relatively few of the farmers to chat
to, I have always taken it as a valuable chance for quiet contemplation,
even (or especially) when on a work trip. Suffering no delusion that
roads are either paid for or primarily belong to car drivers helps.


--

Roger Hayter