David Halliday explained:" If I want to post something on, say, street closures in Grove Park on, say, the Ealing forum then I can, but readers of that forum are quite entitled to ask me the question I posed; why? "They might well ask it to themselves, before passing on. Given that you were likely to generate few if any replies at all. They would probably assume you'd made a mistake, and leave it at that,Whereas before your intervention, Vanessa Smith's posthad already generated *eight replies" - which wereit needed which it most decidedly isn't - would be *justification enough*. Presumably because it concerned more universal themes - rich vs poor if you like - unlike street closure in Grove Park.It might surprise you to learn that I take a rather more nuanced view on the question. Basically the problem is that while Dookey may be asset rich in terms of owning land and listed buildings worth £500 mill, he's quite possiblycash poor; having insufficient income to maintain them all to the standards required. As with businesses no generation wants to be the one who starts selling off land, as that's how the rot sets in. Paintings and the like may be different.Basically the way these ancient lines keep going is by not giving their own relatives anything including their own brothers and sisters but keeping it all to themselves. And/or marrying American heiressesSo outsiders stand no chance.Quite how Syon Park would look if it was sold to a Russian Oligarch, a Saudi Sheik or a Chinese billionaireis maybe another matter. All I know is that Dookey, up until recently at least still kept cows grazing under the trees in the pasture between the House and the London Road. You can keep your theme parks - now that's what I call entertainment ! michael adams...
Michael Adams ● 1843d