G'day All,
I went out after foxes and hares on a farm down the road last week. The township in which I have lived for 37 years is in two parts with open paddocks and plantations separating the north part from the south. Because there is access through the bush from many directions there has been some serious theft at times as thieving beggars can come in quickly and get out a number of ways. Consequently the local community Facebook page posts warnings about suspect vehicles and people. On the evening I went out my wife informed me that a suspect maroon ute with a white rear canopy and no plates had been seen that day.
I stopped in the gateway to a paddock well short of the south part of the township and got dressed for stalking: camo jacket, balaclava with ear plugs in and slung my torch and thermal spotter around my neck. It was about 7:40PM. I was about to reach for my .222 Rem rifle when I noticed a vehicle coming out of a dead-end gravel road about 150 yards to the south. When the driver saw the internal lights of my gold Subaru Impreza he drove up and parked behind my car and called out. I gestured and told him "Wait!" while I obviously pulled out my ear plugs then looked at him. He ordered "WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE?" My cheerful response was "Mind you own business!"* He escalated the intensity of his behaviour and I just kept responding in a calm cheerful voice "Mind you own business!" His mate sat silently in the ute. After several 'go rounds' he muttered "There's some s**t going down." At that I said cheerfully "Oh, you mean the maroon ute with the white canopy and no number plates?" as I stood dressed in hunting gear next to my gold Impreza. I think my knowing about the suspect ute threw him off balance a bit. After a bit he thought I might be called 'Jim'. [I don't know if I have ever met him; it's unlikely.] He tried to question me a few more times, but gave up. As he pulled away he yelled "You need to check your attitude mate!"
Obviously the fool was colour blind and can't tell one car from another. I don't know who the moron is, but I now know roughly where he lives - he told me - and what he drives. I suspect he's a new chum to the district who thinks he can throw his weight around, but I'm damned if any new-comer bully-boy is going to order me around.
I followed up the next day by having a chat with the local copper to let him know what happened and also get on the record before the moron could try feeding the coppers some rubbish story. The copper just about peed himself laughing at the thought of a self-appointed pair of vigilantes being stupid enough to challenge an unknown bloke [who happened to have a rifle] in the dark along a back country road with acres of farm land and plantations around and the nearest occupied house being about 800 yards away. He could not believe the idiots could be so stupid.
Jim
* I worked for 40 years with very violent people and always make a habit of speaking cheerfully to people who are in a temper. It effectively punishes their unacceptable behaviour and confuses them.