HOPEFULLY this week will prove more relaxing than the one just gone when a planned countrywide tour went awry.

First up on Monday was a failed visit to the Royal Welsh Show: after a two-hour traffic jam in the rain, that idea was abandoned.

But I realised I could not get out of the queue as I was going to see my daughter in Dorset, so I had to go via Builth Wells to avoid the flooded areas of Gloucestershire.

Fortunately once I had made a right turn into Builth Wells with the sodden show on my right all traffic disappeared and I was able to retire for a peaceful lunch in a local pub.

I enjoy travelling the country because after 30 years in farming I reckon to have a reasonable understanding of the industry. However, it is becoming more difficult to see what is happening because of the overgrown hedgerows which are becoming a disgrace in what used to be a green and pleasant land.

Perhaps they should consider nominating ragwort was our national flower because it truly represents the general scruffiness and untidiness of the modern countryside, especially in England.

It was just as wet in Dorset as it was here. Many grass crops remained unharvested and only a growers had started harvesting oilseed rape.

With fine weather forecast this week any fan of combine harvesters should have a field day.

Royal Welsh parking fiasco: heads should roll

Travelling back up the M5 you could only sympathise with all those people who had suffered so much from the flooded Rivers Severn and Avon.

I wonder just how much effort has been spent on maintaining these rivers in recent years. In the old days of the National River Authority river management was a high priority to maintain a decent channel and thus a decent rate of flow.

Unfortunately the Environment Agency now seems to give a higher priority to preserving habitats for wading birds.

I have little doubt that heads should roll at the Agency - just as much as those who were responsible for car parking at the Royal Welsh Show.

But it was also a time when I was able to listen on the car radio to the last rites of Shambo.

After the first court case, which the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) lost, a spokesperson remarked: “We are disappointed with the judgement. Our aim and responsibility continues to be the protection of public and animal health.”

It makes you wonder just how much of a threat Shambo was to public and animal and animal health, but WAG was prepared to deploy Draconian measures to bring about his destruction.

But there does not seem to be the same desire for action in the control of badgers. Perhaps WAG should issue a statement as to why it was prepared to sanction such violent sanctions for poor Shambo, but is happy to ignore all those infected badgers?

After Shambo perhaps we should say “Aprés le Shambo, la Shambles”.