A chap in blue overalls unexpectedly knocked on my front door this afternoon and when I asked what he wanted he replied, in a broad Devon brogue, "I've been told to come and look at your bush, maid." I couldn't help myself on this day of weirdness and I burst out laughing, to which he replied with a totally blank visage, "What's funny, maid?" I have to be honest and admit it took me a fair moment to compose myself and show him the overgrown conifer in the back garden! Over a