Have been appointed the executor of an estate and am in the process of applying for probate. The will is fairly straight forward with just two named beneficiaries, so once all the assets have been identified, it shouldn't take too long to wrap up. However, one fly in the ointment turned up ranting and swearing to the point that the police were called. The two main points of contention were: The Black Sheep had not been notified of the funeral. Nothing was bequeathed to the B.S. (the will specifically stated that he was to receive nothing). His parting shot as he was escorted off the premises was that he would seek to contest the will. I suspect the deceased had anticipated this as a statement from her GP is included declaring that, in his opinion, there was no evidence of mental impairment. As there has been no contact between the B.S. and the deceased for over twenty-five years (not even a Christmas or birthday card), I don't see there is any grounds to contest the will. That said, I have come across a few (questionable) solicitors advertising a 'no win, no fee' service: I suspect the indemnity fee would be quite steep if they decided to take on a case. Aside from having to challenge a caveat if one is lodged before probate is granted, what are the prospects of any legal proceedings holding up probate ?

I can only tell you all about my experience with Carpetright and you can reach your own conclusions. When I moved, the carpets needed replacing so I ordered a carpet from the samples in a Carpet right store on one of their 'crazy prices' promotions. The house was empty when it was fitted. When I saw it I know that it was not the carpet that I saw in the store and went straight in to tell them. The sample was no longer available and it had been discontinued. My complaint has been going on for over a year now. I ordered a plain beige carpet and have one that is beige with lots of dark brown splodges. Dark threads are continuing to come through as it wears. It looks permanently dirty. Carpetright do not care about customer satisfaction and seem to get a buzz out of making customers upset and frustrated. They sent an 'expert' who was employed by the carpet manufacturer who decided that there was no fault with the carpet, ignoring my complaint that it was not the one I ordered. Eventually the head of complaints a Mr Renouf listened to this aspect. After some deliberation, he simply said that it was the carpet named on the invoice and showed me a photo of a 'sample board.' I did not choose from this board. More peculiarly he maintains that the colours in the carpet are due to variations in the colours of the sheep! I put it to him that is he chose a beige wool mix suit from a shop from a swatch, then returned the suit because it had dark threads randomly in the fabric, he would not be satisfied with this response! I have not received a response from him. Apparently I do not have a case because I cannot prove that this was not the carpet I chose. Of course I can't. They destroyed the evidence. On one of these forums I read a similar story of a customer going into Carpetright and the manager shouted across to him ' you DID get the carpet you ordered.' . ..before he had even raised the subject. It seems I am not alone. I tried to take the case through my credit card protection. I was told that I had no evidence so they could not progress my complaint. I have put it to them that the invoice says 'beige' not 'beige with dark brown/ black speckles.' I have not had a response. So I am just very unlucky that a few black sheep were in the flock used for my carpet!

here we are at ten fifteen you may think me a creep but as I sit here at my desk I write random verse on sheep

I live in a rented house in rural Scotland and my girlfriend lives in a rented house just short of a mile away. She has an eight acre field attached to her house in which she keeps her horses. When I mentioned in passing that lamb was my favourite meat, I playfully suggested keeping a few sheep and, although she is a vegetarian, said she thought it would be a good idea. She has worked with horses for almost 40 years and says that they are good companions and one of her horses particularly likes having sheep around. There are sheep and cattle in nearby but not adjacent fields and poultry in a run in the same field. The question is, what are the laws and regulations about keeping livestock for one's own consumption? I know that EU rules have nailed down virtually all traditional farming methods.