The Wrong Line Of Approach.

 Wednesday 13th August 2025.

I got back from my excursion with Mr Booth just in time for lunch, and just as Nigel returned to work after his appointment. I was in two minds to let him tip the load as I could see him stood with Eric and Steve. Knowing what Nigel's like felt under pressure reversing the load in to the shed with him watching. But then I thought he would also have plenty to say if I just left him to do it. Every load I'd done that morning went okay for me, so I just thought to take my time and do it as I had been doing and it would hopefully be fine. The only thing was Mr Booth had taken up some of the ground I really needed for a straight forward reverse. It was definitely awkward but as I swung in to get a good line with the shed door I positioned the tractor a couple of yards further to my right than usual. This gave me the room to swing the front end of the tractor to the left in order to straighten the trailer as it went through the shed door. I took my time and actually managed to get backed up in one go without having to shunt, reposition or hit anything, I was pleased with myself. 

But when I got out to hand over to Nigel he said, "I thought I was going to have to cancel my Christmas holidays."

He had obviously been chirping away to the others as I was reversing in as I could tell Ernest knew what he meant, but I wasn't sure, although I could tell he was being sarcastic about something. 

"What are you going on about now?"

"The way you backed that in I thought I was going to be here until Christmas before you got here!"

"Ha ha, you're such a funny man." I told him.

I'm going to get my lunch before I crack a rib from laughing!"

I wasn't amused but wasn't going to show it to him.

After lunch and before setting off with the baler, I took the lunch bag out for Nigel to take to the field for himself, dad and Mr Booth who was still riding the combine with dad - poor dad! I'm surprised he hadn't wrestle it off dad by this point to be honest. Anyway I gave the bag to Eric as Nigel hadn't returned at this point. I said that when they gave Nigel the bag they, Eric and Steve, had to go to mum at the house as their lunch was there. This is how it worked, although I hardly ever saw this as I wasn't there. I am always in the field at lunch time. 

Then just as I was leaving Nigel came back with his first load and as usual he was driving like his head was on fire. I stood back and waited in doorway of the shed as I wanted to avoid the dust that he kicked up. Then when I saw him position himself as we had been doing before Mr Booth dumped his car, I was curious to see how well he got backed in from that angle. Also I was going to do like him and stand there looking for something to go wrong which didn't take long because he was at the completely wrong angle right from the start, he wasn't taking account of the car being parked there which didn't allow for him to straighten the trailer up to get it through the shed door as he needed to.. 

I shouted to him, "We need it in this shed, not that one". Meaning he was heading for the shed next door.

"Piss of!" I could just hear his reply above the sound of the tractor.

With lots of revs and dramatic amounts of steering wheel action he lined up again in exactly the same position as the first time. I was loving this as in my mind I'd already done a better job than him as I did it first time. What's more I knew he would know this and it would be bothering him as everything seems to be a competition when it comes to me. I'm not sure why.

The next excuse after he failed for the second time was that the car was in the way. The true is he wasn't taking his time or thinking it through.

"You're rushing it to much, take your time and think about it. You need to start a bit more to the right". He ignored my advice.

Then apparently the person who built the shed was a muppet for not making the doors wide enough! I didn't bother to tell him that they were plenty wide enough for me.

At this point Eric showed him what I had told him just a minute ago. He didn't seem to be capable of figuring out that if it didn't work the first time it wasn't going to work two more times either. I still can't figure out what he was thinking. 

After the shed excuse, Steve, who never says much got in on the act and asked, "Would you like us to move the shed over a bit for you?!" Nigel just gave him a death stare.

Eventually, after doing as Eric told him, he did make it in to the shed and in the right position. 

But then Eric, after a wink at me and Steve shouted, "What have you brought this in here for?"

Nigel looked at him with confusion written across his face and said, "What?"

'This sheds for Wheat." Shouted Eric.

"It is Wheat." Replied Nigel still looking confused.

Then Eric creased us up big time, "Oh, sorry, I thought you were full of bull shit excuses!"

Well it was so funny me and Steve couldn't help but spontaneously burst out laughing. Not just from surprise and what he said, but the look on Nigel's face and the way he reacted. He slammed the back window shut that hard it's a wonder it didn't break the glass. He tipped his load and apparently never spoke to either of them again all day. Thankfully I didn't see him again, I guess I would have got the same treatment though.