Another Mr X has forwarded the photograph below which shows an interesting variation in the specification for laying of apparatus. He rightly does point out that the photo was not taken in this region although how close to Wimbeldon and the Wombles it is, I don't know!

Who ever laid this duct may have believed that this type of installation ensured that its location was clear to any future workers - Maybe they don't trust the new Records Code of Practice?

Out and about last Summer (unfortunately not in a Daytona yellow Capri!)I found myself in a car park in the Region, although I am saying where (yet)! As a courteous driver (well I do follow the Mad Max school of driving!) I always try to obey road signs and markings. However in this instance I felt that I really should ignore the road marking and take the long way around to exit the car park rather then exit this World!

9 January 2003

Whilst visited America this April it seems that it is very much business as usual after the events of 11 September 2001. However the one thing I did notice since my visit in June 2001 was that just about everything and everyone sported a stars and stripes flag. So much so that one wonders if Bin Laden has shares in a flag company somewhere. On houses, office blocks, shops, trains, buses, cars, T shirts - the list goes on! I did think I had seen just about every possibility when sat waiting at some road works in Colorado I saw what the photographs below show.

Is this something we will see in the UK? I just wonder if the new Code of Practice for Signing and Guarding should now be amended?

26 May 2002

Nobody can say the New Roads and Street Works Act is a barrel of laughs. You certainly don't see comedians making it top of their list of merriment and mirth inducing subjects in their acts.

Occasionally though something comes along which just might bring a smile to the faces of those of us involved in the working of the Act. I am therefore very grateful to the anonymous 'X' who emailed me the photo below. Much as we may curse the Act on occasions, it shows just what could happen if we didn't have it.

Apparently the electricity utility in a Polish town wanted to put up a new overhead cable. The highway authority wanted to build a new road. Somehow the plans just didn't get co-ordinated, resulting in the situation shown in the photograph. It has apparently been like this for over a year awaiting the two bodies to resolve the situation.

Well if they do have their version of the Act it doesn't appear to be working!

Anyone fancy a secondment to Poland?