Page 92 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK FOUR Volume 1 "Northcote 1984 to 1998"

At this point I must mention that I remember quite clearly receiving a message in my head
saying, something like 'leave it for today'.

In another story you will have read about my 'Easter experiences' and my re introduction
to Christian faith.

Sufficient to say that I did not pay heed to that message. All I could see in my thoughts
was that the horses would have no bedding for that night. I had to do something about it.

So I coupled the old Land Rover up to my even older single axle straw trailer and began
the journey.
Admittedly, due to the fact that the Land Rover had no road tax disc or current MOT
certificate and the trailer brake controls had been broken for several weeks I did decide to
take the more minor roads.

THE CONFRONTATION
Duly loaded with a full compliment of 10 large round bales of straw, I started my return
journey.
Just before approaching the turn off for the minor roads I had to make another decision.

Did I take the quieter roads that were very uneven and undulating and run the risk of
loosing a bale or two or did I take the smoother route along the main A16 trunk road.

The A16 won and there began the next problem. Just approaching Keal Hill
where the fens joined the Lincolnshire Wolds there are two lay- byes, as I approached the
first, a policeman suddenly appeared, as they do and waved me into the lay-by.

'Pull in here for a few moments please sir, ' he said. 'Just to let that long line of traffic
behind you get past.'
'Oh and while you are here we will just take a look at your vehicle.'
The tax disc, or rather lack of it was the first thing to be noticed. This prompted me to say,'
well you might as well know the truck has no current MOT either!'

Everything they checked on the vehicle worked perfectly.
The load was secure, but the trailer brake cable that was in two pieces was tied up with
string. This caused a raised eyebrow or two, but the fact that the land rover is a strange
beast and falls between two categories in the Department of Transport Construction and
Use regulations got me off that problem.
The horse centre name was plastered all over the doors of the truck cab and the officers
duly cautioned me that they would be reporting the fact that the vehicle had no tax disc or
MOT.

'BUT' after I had gone to great lengths to explain all the circumstances, they did say that if
I could buy the Tax disc within 12 hours they would not report that particular problem,
which would just leave the MOT.

With that I continued back to the centre where on unloading the trailer, the picture you now