We agreed earlier in the week we would go out all day yesterday, for a walk and to see the sights.
But the weather forecast was rain and hailstones. Which takes the pleasure out of walking.
Jimmy was up early, I awoke at about eleven (we are so incompatible). At about midday it dawned on me that the day was beautifully sunny and clear if not especially warm. He had thought I was not well and loath to wake me. By then it was too late to consider going out for the day. It didn't rain at all.
Which segues nicely into the issue of hosepipe bans. When I posted last week I thought that I would attract comments from people saying that I was selfish. I have been round the blogosphere and the wider internet and found that I am far from alone in my anger at the ban. I have been amused by suggestions of organising a protest in your garden, which the police will have to disperse by water cannon. And I have read that using buckets is wasteful because of the spillage between tap and garden.
I now understand that the water companies are able to ban the use of hosepipes specifically for watering the garden or washing the car but for no other reason, and have no other powers other than reducing water pressure.
This is under a 1991 law brought in after the 1989 privatisation. It is a Tory Law.
Now, I have no moral problem in opposing in Bad Tory Laws, although I feel a bit embarrassed sloganising with "Repeal the Evil Tory Law". But I do have moral qualms about my role in society, although I am a mass of contradictions. I believe that our lifestyles damage the environment and I consciously minimise car use, yet I delight in cheap flights. I believe in conserving energy in the home but a casual overnight inspection of Gert Cottage would reveal appliances left on standby and chargers plugged in without gadget attached.
I only actually acquired a hosepipe last year. In previous years I was happy to use watering cans, but my illness, coupled with the tremendous work Jimmy has put into making the garden look good, made me want a hosepipe. And whilst I have no intention of using a hosepipe to make a point, I reserve the right to use it when weather conditions dictate. I would urge other people in similar circumstances to me to do likewise. Especially I would encourage the elderly to do so. I suspect that they are most likely to be compliant without sanctions.
I doubt that Thames Water will ever discover my occasional, weather-driven usage. If they do, they will first contact me by letter, then in a personal visit, and finally in extremis prosecute me. If I do receive a letter I will go public. Very public.
My legal defence will be that I'm hosing down my patio (my garden is effectively a patio with borders) and filling my swimming pool. They may point out that I don't have a swimming pool, to which I will point to my bucket and say that, land values being what they are round here, that's as valuable as any swimming pool in the Sticks. And point out that they are being discriminatory in what they define as a swimming pool. I shall also borrow children (or maybe a dog, but that's going too far) and hose them down, a perfectly legal - and fun - activity, if pointless.
I will demand a refund on my water services, and suggest I will sue for breach of contract. I will even agree to having a meter fitted to demonstrate that my water usage is less then equivalent houses with more occupants, a dishwasher and a power shower.
Morally, I don't have a problem. All the water that will be pumped into my garden, free of detergent, will eventually enter the rain cycle again. When it rains heavily, I see a river flowing from my house, down my path, down the communal private drive, down the road and onto the South Circular, and eventually down to Clapham.
I know that the water companies have a problem with leakage and to fix it will cost billions. Until they can demonstrate that they have been fixing the problem they should desist from paying dividends to shareholders.
I repeat I do not believe in profligacy and empty gestures, such as the scandal that Adrian brought to our attention. But I do believe that when the law is an ass we have a moral duty to ignore it. I believe in the rule of law and I believe that the law enforcers should be held accountable via the democratic structures and processes. There are no direct means to hold Thames Water (or other water companies) accountable and therefore I do not believe they should have powers to prosecute.
We got the warning in 1976, yet the Eighties saw a deliberate under-resourcing of public services by the Conservative government until Water was nearly given away to the merchant bankers in the city of London and Frankfurt. It's a typical action of Capitalism, to target the individual, especially the vulnerable individual but give a free pass to business and the wealthy.
