Looks like a White Xmas

[dextrous63]

Wow, Cass.  Even more of an amazing new world you've moved to.  Maybe not as wild as Billericay (from where my best man was born and bred).

My sum total knowledge of bears' behaviour comes from watching Yogi Bear and Grizzly Adams many years ago. 

[Cassandra]

Hi Alex, Yes Joe's wonderful. We share a love for animal life and the natural state. He uses 'Redd' to hoik logs around and they have formed a good friendship. 'Albert' is very fond of him too and he's an excellent judge of character. Sad that he was virtually in hiding, having lived wild in the wood as a hidden recluse until my predecessor here also formed a friendship with him, sadly not long before he died. Equally that relationship never matured into a open recognition of his fears and lack of security.

I was delighted to grant an evergreen open lease for him ad his 'reigns and successors in title' at $2 a year rent! He's now a true friend and I enjoy his company and latent wisdom. He's so detached from my late world that I sometimes have to pinch myself as I look around his hand built cabin in between moves at Chess! I'd never have believed any of this just a few years back. We swap tales, his about hunting and survival, mine about the Old Bailey and The Strand!

We went to a Charity fancy dress together in September, him in his full Indian Chief finery, me in my Court room charadery. We just looked at each other and burst out laughing! He presented me with a handmade 'Beaverskin' gillet (very like Clint Eastwood wore in the Dollar movies from the 60's) for my birthday. It's the most valued thing I've been given in years, a treasured result of 100's of his hours. I'm honoured to have him as a friend.

Happy Xmas we've got a party here tonight when I officially present the next Mrs Rumpole to the world ...

[Cassandra]

Wow, Cass.  Even more of an amazing new world you've moved to.  Maybe not as wild as Billericay (from where my best man was born and bred).

My sum total knowledge of bears' behaviour comes from watching Yogi Bear and Grizzly Adams many years ago.

Hi Dex,

I loved Billericay, I lived in Stock, way back when I was a junior barrister, nearly broke myself with a big mortgage, but it was a lovely place to have, great memories from '69, even if I sometimes had to burn candles and shiver ...

Yes my knowledge of Bears was very similar to yours, I'm glad we've got at least one, they're a beautiful creature to look at, such sleek and shiny coats of thick black fur. Joe says thare are many more around, but they stay hidden. He said that many times when I went up to his by horseback they would have eyed me from afar and remained concealed in their hides. Quite a thing to think on!

Black bears are much smaller than their grizzly cousins and whilst omnivores, love berries in particular and other natural veg, my wood is very rich with. There are Deer too, which the poachers are some ties successful in killing but Joe tells me we are a bit overrun with them, so he sometimes shoots the elder animals to ensure the herds can survive. He drops the carcasses to areas where the Bears are prevalent and watches them feast, especially as they near their short hibernation seasons about now.

[muddy]

I have to say I am frightened of bears they are terrifying creatures.
But I hate to see them ill  treated and imprisoned as they are in many parts of the world .
Trapped in tiny cages for years and having their bile extracted .
I wish they were all free like the one you describe .

[dextrous63]

They do look quite magnificent creatures.

No idea what the time is over there Cass, but it's approaching bedtime for me.

Have a lovely get together tonight, and I wish you all health and happiness for tomorrow.🎅🥳

[Alex]

Happy Xmas we've got a party here tonight when I officially present the next Mrs Rumpole to the world ...

So pleased for you Cass and may you have many happy years ahead with your lady.  One thing for sure, she'll be used to the snow !   

[Cassandra]

I have to say I am frightened of bears they are terrifying creatures.
But I hate to see them ill  treated and imprisoned as they are in many parts of the world .
Trapped in tiny cages for years and having their bile extracted .
I wish they were all free like the one you describe .

I'm very much with you Muddy, I had a terryfing experience with a Giant Grizzly 45 years ago in Alaska; trapping 5 of us in a thankfully sturdy log cabin, during a snow 'whiteout' storm that lasted three days! It became so angry that it was pounding the filling out from inbetween the logged walls and tried repeatedly to get on the roof, a much weaker structure to penetrate. We fired a shotgun in the air when it backed off but to no lasting avail. We had no radio contact during this time. Eventually we could get a message to the local Sheriff. He arrived in his Station wagon with horns sounding and lights flashing. The Bear stood up, it was probably 8 feet tall on it's hind legs and roared at him. Carbine in hand he rushed at it with an aerosol siren that was deafening. It turned like a naughty dog, tail between his legs and ran off!

"That scatter gun of yours would only irritate him" he told us, the fur is so dense you need at least a .303 magnum to be sure.

Adding as he left - "Shucks folks, don't fear, he was only showing off". Apparently 'he' was well known locally  weighing over 800lbs! When we mentioned the attempted roof gain he said in a matter of fact voice, "grizzlies can't climb, their claws is too straight." None of us felt re-assured!

Ever since I've feared them. When I'm out on my own I always take my .375 Magnum revolver with me, which Joe advises me is devastating at 50 yards! But could I shoot a Bear, I doubt it. Anyway hereways we only get the 'smaller' (500lb), 6 feet long black bears. Attacks on humans are very rare, with none ever recored in our County and when they do occur, usually involve dogs baiting them. The dog returns to it's master with an angered bruin close behind! Time to run, but apparently the Spray is more than enough, the range is over 40ft and has a devasting effect on their refractory system, which is about 2,500 times stronger than ours. The siren I'm told (which I witnessed all those years ago) also works as it deafens them. I'd rather avoid the chance of finding out, especially if the wind was in the wrong direction!

[dextrous63]

I think I'd rather make a tactical retreat..

[Cassandra]

I think I'd rather make a tactical retreat..

  Superb bit of kit!

[Michael Rolls]

lovely tales, Cassandra

[muddy]

I'm very much with you Muddy, I had a terryfing experience with a Giant Grizzly 45 years ago in Alaska; trapping 5 of us in a thankfully sturdy log cabin, during a snow 'whiteout' storm that lasted three days! It became so angry that it was pounding the filling out from inbetween the logged walls and tried repeatedly to get on the roof, a much weaker structure to penetrate. We fired a shotgun in the air when it backed off but to no lasting avail. We had no radio contact during this time. Eventually we could get a message to the local Sheriff. He arrived in his Station wagon with horns sounding and lights flashing. The Bear stood up, it was probably 8 feet tall on it's hind legs and roared at him. Carbine in hand he rushed at it with an aerosol siren that was deafening. It turned like a naughty dog, tail between his legs and ran off!

"That scatter gun of yours would only irritate him" he told us, the fur is so dense you need at least a .303 magnum to be sure.

Adding as he left - "Shucks folks, don't fear, he was only showing off". Apparently 'he' was well known locally  weighing over 800lbs! When we mentioned the attempted roof gain he said in a matter of fact voice, "grizzlies can't climb, their claws is too straight." None of us felt re-assured!

Ever since I've feared them. When I'm out on my own I always take my .375 Magnum revolver with me, which Joe advises me is devastating at 50 yards! But could I shoot a Bear, I doubt it. Anyway hereways we only get the 'smaller' (500lb), 6 feet long black bears. Attacks on humans are very rare, with none ever recored in our County and when they do occur, usually involve dogs baiting them. The dog returns to it's master with an angered bruin close behind! Time to run, but apparently the Spray is more than enough, the range is over 40ft and has a devasting effect on their refractory system, which is about 2,500 times stronger than ours. The siren I'm told (which I witnessed all those years ago) also works as it deafens them. I'd rather avoid the chance of finding out, especially if the wind was in the wrong direction!

OMG ! 
This is the stuff of nightmares ! 

[Cassandra]

OMG !
This is the stuff of nightmares !

Funny to say I still have dreams to this day about it, but not nightmares thankfully. I do remember being secretly frightened though. The Bear's sheer bulk was amazing and I recall seeing his shiny claws under door! I'd joined a friend who had been bought up (orphan) by a wonderful family 40 miles from Fairbanks and I joined him on a 'summer' holiday after both of us completed University together. We were 5 pretty level headed youngsters who figured after a while he couldn't break in. However the sheer weight of his bulk sometimes became concerning. We'd prepared a very unwelcoming series of defences though. One of the two girls was a 'major' in Chemistry and her best  concoction, which we ignited from inside gave off a revolting stench! The Bear wailed upon setting off one of these 'stink bombs' and it gave us many hours of relief. However odour dispursed he was soon back and we had run out of ammunition with no more chemical constituents to construct more. So she made up firecrackers and flash sticks. 'Gloria'  was her name and she was gorgeous. My dreams are therfore mainly related to her! Our heroine's resolve and confidence throughout really helped though. Comest the hour, comest the woman!