Appropos of nothing in particular

[Michael Mcneil]

I watched two men remove two wooden "telegraph" poles this morning. They shackled them to an hoist on their lorry and they came out like splinters from a boil.

I was impressed with the clean edges at the bottoms of the poles and went to have a closer look.

Clearly stamped as if it were done yesterday were the codes for each one.

I asked them how old the posts were and they said about 20 or 30 years.

I was deeply impressed. What a shame they were now firewood. There was nothing wrong with the poles. The elecricity was now being sent underground and the pylons were surplus to requirements.

[biff]

They may not have gone for firewood. You can buy them. I bought some that were taken out from outside my house so no delivery charge. I paid =A310 each. As you say, they were still in excellent condition. I built a shed out of them so they will probably be of use for several more decades.

[Tim Mitchell]

In article , Michael Mcneil writes

They pressurise preservative into them for weeks. Wooden railway sleepers are the same. I dunno what the preservative is, but railway sleepers ooze tar continuously for years, so it's probably something really unhealthy.

[John Schmitt]

[telegraph poles]

It used to be creosote, so yes, really unhealthy. When I was hiking somewhere in the region of Settle, I saw the kit they used for pressure-treating wood. Hi-tech it was not.

As we have a nothing in particular thread, this morning I recieved an email about my cons and scams FAQ asking if there was a scam which was remunerative and carried little risk. I answered with one word; "politics". ;-)

John Schmitt

[Matt]

Not sure about the power ones but BT poles have the date pressed/carved into them - seen some recently that are early 1950's and still in perfect condition.

[Mary Fisher]

I'd say "the law".

Mary

[Mary Fisher]

That's abargain.

In the Chippenham B&Q (I was under pressure) I saw the tiniest shed imaginable for £99. It was one shed door wide and probably not much longer.

Mary

[Bob Mannix]

Surely the lottery? Poorer people *happily* pay more than they can afford so better off people enjoy improved sports and leisure facilities. With the law and politics, those paying are unhappy about it - here the payers are happy to be taxed - brilliant! The company running it has no risk, getting a guaranteed percentage - brilliant! (yes I do buy 2 lucky dips a week but that's all - you never know).

Bob Mannix

[Mary Fisher]

Well, the law profits from illegal acts.

Mary