Gypsies,Tramps and Thieves?


Two " rough looking" types were sat in a open top van at the end of the lane this morning.
I noticed them when I saw to the bachelor cockerels, so put Winnie on a lead and looking like a local just out for a dog walk. I wandered over  to check them out.
As I thought the men were Irish travellers  and the van was full of scrap metal.
" can I help you? " I asked
Both men chatted in that machine gun speed brogue which is almost impossible to understand but I more or less worked out that they were asking who owned a nearby field which was dotted with old farm equipment.
I remained vague, unhelpful and mistrusting,
And so the younger man started dolling out some charm by then asking me about my "beautiful British Bulldog" 
" What's his name" the man asked, not noticing a row of saggy tits inches from the ground
Winnie raised her head and blew him a few bulldog kisses.
"Roxy" I told him, still keeping up the hard pretence
" Is he friendly?" the man asked again
" No, he can be a bit aggressive" 
The men stayed in their van
Winnie yawned and let out a mini fart.

Eventually the men drive off, and I let them see that I was watching them go. I shall let the owner of the field know that his field was being "sussed".
An old farmer, I once knew very well, told me several stories  of the damage the rougher Travellers did to his farmland when they decided to relocate to one of his best pasture fields just a few years back.
Before they were finally evicted ( by semi force and the use of local farmer friends driving mechanical diggers) water ditches were damaged and filled with waste, hedges destroyed, and animals owned by another neighbour killed and stolen.

It is these guys that give honest travellers a bad name.



78 comments:

  1. trouble comes to the little village. :(

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  2. Oh dear, you may be straying into deep water John. Some politically correct idiots may accuse you of being racist towards the Irish.

    Very suspicious morning activity. I bet those fellows with their pretend Irish accents (hiding their English landed gentry accents) spend a lot of time cruising around looking for metal they can take to scrapyards. They will have caused a lot of hurt along the way.

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    1. And they would be wrong. The men just happened to be irish travellers......we get many in this area due to the connections with the A55 and Holyhead.k
      As for racism? Really? Do you really think I am?

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    2. Of course I don't think you are racist. In fact I know for sure that you are not. All I am saying is that some PC idiots seeing that reference to the nationality of the ne'er-do-wells and their "machine gun speed brogue" would conclude they had enough evidence to cry "Racist!"

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  3. Perhaps they're going to preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of doctor good.

    Roxy! As in Music?! Lol.

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    1. It was the first " hard" name i could think of

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  4. Anonymous10:50 am

    Am I dumb or something?

    So there are a couple of guys, complete with scrap metal, complimenting Winnie and asking "his" name. What's the problem?

    Sorry, John, I don't get it. And WHO, exactly, is giving gypsies a bad name other than those who are so very willing to always relate the anecdotal exception to the rule?

    U

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    1. I know many farmers landowners and animal keepers that have been on the recieving end of dishonest travelling men.
      So i know what I am writing about .
      The majority of travellers live honest lives like we all do, but there is a minority, that dont.
      I am writing about those today.
      Now, i am rather tired of your beligerent holy than thou attitude to things ursula.
      I am more that happy to debate things , and more than happy to be challenged, but do pick you battles....fighting everything and everypoint can be tiresome.

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    2. I can back John up completely here, these so called 'gypsies' trawl the main roads and lanes of this area regularly eyeing up the farm equipment that is frequently left lying fields and driveways. A couple of nights later you can come down to missing equipment, smashed locks on sheds and missing livestock.

      They always pick a topic of conversation to 'make friends' with you if they catch you watching them, and it's usually about your dog and if you have a breed that is saleable and good for breeding from they try to call them over to get a closer look.

      Winnie looking tough and farting no doubt scared them off ..... yeah right ;-)

      We all have to be aware of this is this part of rural Wales.

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    3. Anonymous6:01 pm

      Sue, I take your point. However, my point is that people are far too suspicious. Look at how John described these guys. Their accent he found difficult to make out is hardly something you can hold against anyone (try a call center in China). John even freely admits what he should be ashamed of, namely, that he "remained vague, unhelpful and mistrusting". WHAT? WHY?

      Fact is, and no matter what John or anyone else says, the level of suspicion directed at anyone outside the "norm" is shameful. And John et al, priding themselves on "tolerance" (for what exactly?), fall foul every single time.

      Anecdotal evidence is just that: Anecdotal.

      Anyway, never trust a man who tells you that their dog is vicious. It's cheap.

      U

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    4. Like i said ursula pick your fights and pick them with subjects you know about. Thank you sue!
      Xxx

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    5. Go away ursula...i dont want you here

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    6. Maybe ursula is related to petra. Could they be twins. Or perhaps one and the same

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    7. Anonymous9:44 pm

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  5. John did you get out of bed on the wrong side this morning or is this a racist rant ?

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    1. Not racist at all as my last line illustrates

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  6. Anonymous11:08 am

    Love your use of a still from 'Snatch' as a header.

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  7. I'm'a stay off the hard topics and wonder if Winnie's "mini fart" wasn't a bit "aggressive"?
    Dog farts tend to be, you know.

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  8. Watch your dogs...they seem to be stolen regularly, too....

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  9. I remember a troup of gypsies that passed through our *very small* Texas town when I was a child. I remember the adults being agitated & a little frightened. I just thought it sounded wonderfully romantic.

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    1. I know, thanks to the cinema, most of us see gypsies in a better light ... than reality.

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  10. Dear Winnie...so protective lol.

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  11. Whilst back in Shropshire one such 'gentleman' threatened to 'beat the fekkin shit out of me' if I continued to ask questions about his setting up home in a small field at the bottom of our garden. He was about four times my size, so I quit whilst still in one piece.

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  12. John, does the town have rules/ordinances or whatever about "camping" on the properties of others ? Everyone had better keep a close eye on their farm animals, I would worry about that ..
    I hate political correctness, sometimes as someone said, It Is What It Is ...

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  13. Knowing of your penchant for 'blowing' at inappropriate moments, are you really sure it was Winnie?

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  14. Just watched Snatch, whew!

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  15. This past Fall while i was out for a walk a pick up truck pulled over with two guys inside dressed to the hilt for hunting ... camoflage... bows and arrows... and asked if there was any hunting around there.. the area is literaly plastered with No Hunting signs.. i smiled at them sweetly and said No.....they drove off and i hope they saw me in there rear view mirror as i took a photo with my phone of their license plate............ Hugs! deb

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  16. Good lookin' out John. Unfortunately, you can't be too careful these days. And your right it does cause you to cast a wary eye on all, just because of a few misdeeds of others.

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  17. It is possible that their intentions were innocent but good to be on your guard. Be wary about letting Winnie out your sight - pedigree dogs can make a tidy sum.

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    1. Winnie is 9 years old!!!!!!

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    2. But what about the rest of the dogs? I would be extra-wary if I were you!

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  18. Was one of them Brad Pitt???

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  19. Bet you that farmer will be shit spraying that field tomorrow. ;)

    If he's a real Cymro he will be.

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    1. If the Red Faced Welsh Farmer was still alive, that is indeed something he would do

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    2. Failing that the next best thing is a 'Beware of the Bull' sign on the field gate.

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  20. Fairly new to your blog -- it was the photo of Daryl that caught my eye and brought me back, I'm not sure where you're located, but here where I'm located approaching the car was a very dangerous thing to do. Instead of the younger trying to charm you, the lot of them could have harmed you.

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  21. I had never heard of Irish travelers before I moved to England. It's a very interesting phenomenon! We have similar types in the states, of course, just not necessarily Irish. Anyway, glad you checked those guys out and let them know they were being noticed. I love the bit about Winnie basking in their admiration!

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  22. I'm with you, John. I don't think there is anything wrong in determining the intentions of those two men who were "casing the joint," either for the farm equipment or as a place to camp. When we lived out in the country and a quarter mile off the road, we had some guys drive back in to our place who claimed to be tree trimmers, but it was pretty obvious they were up to no good. It was actually kind of risky on their part because around here driving onto someone's property uninvited could result in one facing the business end of a gun. Unfortunately.

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  23. I've always been in the "... better safe than sorry " camp I think you did the right thing, sounds fishy to me! I would have told him Winnie's name was Killer.

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    1. I am in Jan B's camp. I had a Standard Poodle , he was surprisingly scary to a lot of people ... he was so sweet and friendly but very large. I did not tell everyone that he would show them where to find the money in my house .. before he would bite anyone. Better safe than sorry :)

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  24. I once tackled a couple of travellers who were removing lead from the roof of a derelict house near us. One was a complete charmer and the other one less so and he was the one with a crowbar. When I phoned the police to report the incident I got a huge telling off for going near them. This was in County Antrim. John, you are right the criminals don't represent the whole community and there are very many settled travellers living in our local town that live completely law-abiding lives.

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    1. Thanks nellie. Btw i love nellie as a name

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  25. When I was a Town Clerk, I and a few Cllrs were looking at a field for sale (with a view to turning it into allotments). We were threatened by a traveller who decided he owned it because he dumped the detritus from his tree cutting business there. I live in a place with several official travellers' sites around and unfortunately there are issues with violence and theft but, as you have found, it's difficultt to comment without seeming racist.

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  26. If it felt weird, it probably was. Best to trust your gut.

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  27. keep an eye on the dogs too John they could have been sussing you out for snatching them. Too much of this going on lately. Be safe and you did right by informing the owner of the land I would also inform the police to keep an eye out for them.

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  28. Anyone stopped where they don't need to be brings out the 'Stranger Danger' out in me.

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  29. "Anyone stopped where they don't need to be
    brings out the 'Stranger Danger' out in me."

    It is a little poem :) and perfect, you need to make a bumper sticker lol I agree totally with you too.

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  30. Kindly keep them down your way please.

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  31. It costs our local council tens of thousands of pounds to clear up the detrius left after there's been an encampment of travellers in the area. The beaches suffer badly and if you've ever come across dog turd while wandering along the beach, it's a thousand times worse when it's human excrement. Yes, it really is THAT bad.

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    1. My friend the farmer said that......buckets of human waste was left on his land

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  32. There are some who simulate into neighborhoods but hold onto their beliefs. So many, make a kip out of places they rent and it takes a formal eviction to get them out. Here in the states, travelers are mostly looking for a nixer so they stay under the radar. Watch out for the quoted just today "we can black top your driveway for $2,000.00 today." Run Forest far, far away😉 On TLC My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding has aired its hilarious and entertaining.

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  33. Kindly believe what you read here.

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  34. The village is lucky to have you and, especially, the ever-vigilant and menacing Winnie. I'll be that fart is still hanging over their heads.

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  35. Hi John, weird they thought Winnie was a boy. Any fool can work that out by actually looking. When we spoke to our friend who is a policeman, he said now we have our dog spayed, we should have this written on her dog tag, so opportunists would not try and take her as it is not profitable for them. This type of crime is on the rise. Being vigilant of this should warn them off.

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    1. He was looking down at her! Its a common mistake

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  36. Good lord this is very town and gown. There are crooks about and some are travellers, get over it. Speaking as someone who has been stabbed just going to work instinct beats racism if you have half a brain, and this blog has always been intelligent, well written and cheerful, even gay. Let's hear it for dogs that lend quiet support.

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  37. I have no idea what this means

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  38. I think ursula and petra are related.
    One can be vigilant and careful with out being racist. Be on gard. I still want your dog.

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    1. Anonymous10:18 pm

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  39. You're smart, John. I'll bet your instincts have rarely if ever failed you. I love the fact that you never really gave them any information.
    I guess it can by scary out there, even in sweet little Trelawynd.

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  40. Please be aware that (some) also steal dogs not necessarily for breeding but for baiting / dog fights.

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  41. When you feel and see a red flag, it probably is/was.
    It is that bad feeling in your tummy.
    Please be careful of the dogs.

    cheers, parsnip

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  42. What s an open top van? Like a pick up truck?

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  43. I learn something new here all the time!! Seriously, being alert and being visible is important anywhere. From what you are saying, it's not all of them you object to, just the ones who abuse others.

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  44. I think ursula and petra are related.
    One can be vigilant and careful with out being racist. Be on gard. I still want your dog.

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  45. Always go with your gut -it tells you something for a reason. We also are supposed to learn from experiences.
    If it walks like a duck n quacks like a duck, it's a duck. Stay vigilant x

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  46. There's nothing racist about trusting your instincts when you sniff trouble. If it looks like a duck and quacks, then you would probably be right in thinking it is a duck without being duckist.

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  47. Duckist... I love it

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I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes