Maggie's Farm

As a amateur photographer, for many years I subscribed to what I've always thought was the finest magazine on the subject. "Amateur Photographer" was published in England and printed the photos and published the stories and musings of people around the world. But most of the photographers were from Britain.
About six or seven years ago, many of the stories written by people in England and Scotland began to include references to replacing equipment stolen from the user. What surprised me was that in many cases the equipment was stolen from the photographer while he was using it, with threats of violence. As the years passed the stories painted a picture of a increasingly more dangerous environment for someone in a picturesque but remote area or catching the early morning light on a street or beach in possession of expensive equipment.
But what really shocked me was when a British man commented that he couldn't even tote a cricket bat to protect his property as HE would be charged with a crime.

My "Masterpiece Theater" vision of England told quite a hit.