Rethinking the Grey Man

[MaryN]

I agree with the postings here. Being a natural maverick myself, I find it difficult to go along with the crowd when all instincts are saying "Run like hell, this isn't safe!" I too "adopted" a few vulnerable neighbours and provided spare eggs and offers to get what was needed. I live in a fen village where there are now a lot of incomers, and so far all they have done is moan about, well.... everything. It's difficult to shrug and sympathise that it is hard times for everyone, but I do get the feeling that a lot of the incomers would be the first ones to break ranks if things get really tough. People are already feeling the pinch - I think this is true of most places to some degree, but in rural areas where work is harder to find then people turn to their wits to bring in the money. We currently have a spate of dog-napping going on, and it is purely for money because pups are desirable assets. Not nice. Tempers are getting shorter.