The game keeper and I

Message

HisNibbs · #1 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:40 pm

This is a little therapy session.

I have lived in my house for 22 years now and it is lovely spot. Despite being a very beautiful location we have our problems. All the local villagers have been up in arms about the travellers and I do get angry about the amount of fly tipping and littering. Still the travellers I've had contact with have been different but ok. The RAF were another issue a few years ago but I think my wife managed to pursuade them that they should be doing their low level sorties elsewhere. However today was yet another in the saga of me and the game keeper.

The previous incarnate was an okay guy. He took the kids down to show them the rearing pens and when his mob shot too close to the house and we had shot or the odd bird or two fall into the garden, he' try to make amends with a dressed brace. I'm a veggie but my wife was happy.

We know the local landowner whose mother runs an art gallery and was impressed when a close friend came to visit who was one of the curators of the Tate. We have received various invites to gallery openings etc. We also know the local estate manager who we have met many times when walking the tracks that lead off from our drive. Everything as it should be, we treat them with respect and they reciprocate.

My first meeting with this guy, the new game keeper was not nice and was about about 10 years ago. I have tried talking to him but he has the demenour of a bully boy and seems determined to try to intimidate me. He has even had a go at my wife (good luck mate) and even my kids. He has threatened to staple my dog to the back door etc.

He has written to the farm manager in the attempt to block us from the land, but in response she has written to us asking us to keep the dog under control, to not walk over the fields and headlands but to continue to enjoy walking on the tracks.

There have been several occasions when our paths have crossed over the years. He seems to think that he owns the place and that his dogs can porpoise through the crops and run amuck etc. but that I'm not allowed to witness the fact.

It was a lovely day today so this morning I thought I'd head down that way, I saw he was down there so thought I'll avoid confrontation etc. and went for a walk along the road. This afternoon no one was down there so I went down the track. When I was at the bottom I heard his 4 wheel drive racing along. I have on the last couple of occasions decided it best to ignore him. So I did. He pulled up and swore at me. I had no FKin right to be there I was not Fking welcome etc. He'd get a court order bla bal bla. I had to put up with a stream of verbal abuse for the bulk of my walk. When I returned to the exit of the track he had held the gate open while I exited so I couldn't help myself and said thank you.... He then started again and said don't you dare set foot on the land again. So I got a little angry and turned around and went back down the track about 50 yards. He then called up for re enforcements. I decided that I should just do what I had intended and ignore him and if he wasn't there, I'd be going home.

I had to have a ten minute Tai Chi session jut to get rid of the "energy" I might have used more productively....

D-Rider · #2 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:06 pm

So ... if you are on reasonable terms with this chaps boss, why not "have a word".
If he's being an @rse to you then he's probably being the same to everyone else and probably not the sort that the employer wants around giving the place a bad name. You'd be doing everyone a favour.

HisNibbs · #3 Post by **HisNibbs** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:14 pm

The estate manager is not really his boss. They are a shooting club who now lease the shooting rights from the estate. We have advised the estate manage of the 'problem' so has he. Thats why we have had two or thre letters over the last 10 years or so confirming that we are welcome to enjoy walking on the estate provided etc. I've heard rumors that the shoot will be closing down next year.

I don't want to keep going back to them with our petty sqabbles. I'm just venting.

#4 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:25 pm

Take a copy of the letter, a nail and a hammer.. next time nail it to his forehead.

Vent away!

He's probably doing the same on the NFU website

D-Rider · #5 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:43 pm

Kwackerz wrote: Vent away!

Take Hanna - apparently she's very good at that too ....... paaaarp

Willopotomas · #6 Post by **Willopotomas** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:26 pm

Blimey mate. You've shown more reserve than most would. Certainly myself. If I feel I'm being wronged in anyway, I'll take it on and sort it out.

Your kindness, manners and general demeanour are probably the reasons why this bloke is so pissed off. Sounds to me like he's trying to get a rise out of you, and it's not working. Keep up the good work.

BikerGran · #7 Post by **BikerGran** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:52 pm

He wouldn't treat me like that twice and get away with it!

If you feel you need to treat him with sweet reason, why not tell him (sweetly) that you will call the police - threatening you and your dog comes under the heading of 'anti-social behaviour'. Bullies only bully people when they know they can get away with it and your reasonableness (is that a word?) is what encourages him in that belief.

blinkey501 · #8 Post by **blinkey501** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:00 pm

BikerGran wrote:He wouldn't treat me like that twice and get away with it!

If you feel you need to treat him with sweet reason, why not tell him (sweetly) that you will call the police - threatening you and your dog comes under the heading of 'anti-social behaviour'. Bullies only bully people when they know they can get away with it and your reasonableness (is that a word?) is what encourages him in that belief.

Too right bobbi but i think keith is incredibly tolerant of what seems to be a complete Tw*t.
I know that it is'nt us who is there and you probably are after a quiet life....But
If you are in the right beyond any doubt i would call the police has you don't have to stand this sort of behavour keith.

fatboy · #9 Post by **fatboy** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:24 pm

There is no doubt that this guy is an abusive asshole, his behaviour is on the far far side of acceptable, threats to you, your family and your dog, all amounts to a likely breach of the peace, the threats on thier own flout the law...
Voice recorder and camera ( maybe best hidden ),spyware is not expensive.
The more this guy gets away with it,the more it feeds his twisted bitter personality
Wish you the best of luck with nailing this nasty ASBO git

Im sure I would not have your patience levels,well done there mate

Aladinsaneuk · #10 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:36 pm

Write to the boss expressing your concerns that this individual would appear to have anger management issues an that if you see such behaviour again you will write to the chief constable expressing concern that such an individual with obvious anger management issues has a shot gun licence

End of problem on e way or the other

fatboy · #11 Post by **fatboy** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:41 pm

If you can 'capture' this tosser making threats and present this to the law, then bye bye shotgun license

randomsquid · #12 Post by **randomsquid** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:51 pm

Be really nice to him. It'll really piss him off.

D-Rider · #13 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:58 pm

When will we be having another forum meet at HisNibbs Towers?

Forum Ramble (prior to the rideout) sounds like fun

That said, the days when I would willingly camp in sub-zero conditions have probably passed so this may be a longer-term suggestion.

flatlander · #14 Post by **flatlander** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 8:19 pm

What is he actually meant to do ? Whatever it is say its control the pests buy lots of them and let them loose. Or even better persuade the travellers to go pitch up on the land he manages

HisNibbs · #15 Post by **HisNibbs** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 11:58 pm

As I said I have tried engaging him in dialog but the fact that there is no reasoning winds me up so I have decided to ignore him. It seems the best way as I don't want to end up in court for what you or I might take as a reasonable response. I have taken my camera down there once or twice and have pictures of his dogs out of control etc. But I don't always do that and on this occasion I wasn't prepared. It’s his word against mine as to what went on etc. and I'd rather not test the patience of the estate manager again.

I will however continue to access the land and ignore him and have a little extra focus during my daily workouts..... I did wonder what his call for re enforcements would bring, maybe someone sensible who I could talk to.

Oh and Bobbie I have a lot of experience of bullies. I'd rather they have a go at me than someone else and I am waiting for him to over commit. I was always the smallest boy in my year at school and kind of viewed myself as a bully trap; word did eventually get round...... These days it is all a little more serious and I don't think it wise that I react physically.

Randomsquid is on my wavelength on this one (Heaven forbid...)

Maybe I'll start blowing him kisses and saying ooh you are awfull but so so butch.....

I am thinking of a letter to the police and certainly will follow up on that if I can capture evidence. Next time I'll try and remember to take my camera or phone to take a video or sound recording. It would be good to get a restraining order or something similar.

Thanks for the input, it is helpful to put it out there and discuss rather than bottling it up.