In 1996 I had been in need of new detecting clothing. The ones I had were vilified by my wife as what a tramp would wear and if I don't smarten up I have to live in the shed at the bottom of the garden. I must be honest when I say this, the clothes were from the 1970's and a bit old fashioned but they had served me well for many years. A little smaller through shrinkage in out atrocious wet weather, maybe a hole that had been patched up a time or two, but on the whole nothing that would or should put anyone off coming close to me. I would have regular baths and occasional showers in case my colleagues thought it was my personal hygiene and not my clothes.
Well, you know how it is, a field full of cattle and it just happened that the signal was to be under what they did not want themselves.
Some were not too bad, being down for a time but still soft beneath that hard surface.
Anyway, I was dragged down to the nearest shop in town that sells overtrousers and coats and not forget boots. Now there is a tale to tell.
I spotted the shoes, quite high at the back and very well made, just the job for driving the spade into the ground I thought,and the price was right, not too dear , made in China I think.
The laces were of good quality and held the shoes to the feet a treat.
The following day I went to the nearest farm where I new I only had sheep do deal with, these cattle have the habit of sneaking up at the back while you are bending down to retrieve that grotty coin and the only inkling you have that they are there is when they lick the back of you head with that rasping tongue.
The day went well, I arrived without any hassle from cattle, the sheep beat a hasty retreat to clear the field for me.
I set the discrimination to about three to start with. I got about 10 yards into the field from the gate,
I always do this so that I don't pick up trash which inevitably gathers where there is an entrance to the field.
Now here is where the fun starts, I got the first blip and then another and dug down to see what I had located , not a bean, not anything, I went to the second blip, not a bean, not anything.
This continued for quite some time, I got just an idea that the detector was packing up so I went back to the car and went home.
My wife was a little perturbed at seeing me come back to her so soon. I took the footwear in as I always do when I get home ready for a clean up, I am not allowed on the new carpet any more with muddy shoes.
Now being a good wife she took them outside and put the hose on them, they came up like new, a little soggy inside but they will dry out she said. When I told her why I was home earlier,that I thought my detector was going on the blink with signals at every step forward she came up with the suggestion that I use rubber boots next time.
I agreed to do this, I always like to please her for letting me go to play with my detector. When I asked her why rubber boots she said "Didn't you read the notice when you bought the shoes", I said that I had not noticed anything other than the price. She said "The notice said that the shoes had metal toecaps"
Life isn't fair at times, I saved heaps in knowing that my detector was doing the job it was designed for.
Oh well ! Back to the drawing board
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