Tense is the word we’d use. Very similar to how we imagine it was in Europe in 1914 before the outbreak of World War I. And it’s a mango tree that’s causing all the angst.

We have possibly mentioned this in the past, however, Struggle Street boasts a particularly productive mango tree. And it looks as though this year, or to be precise next month’s crop will be bumper, providing the flying foxes don’t get there first.

Again, as we’ve previously noted, this correspondent has no great time for mangoes. We’ve always been happy to give away the ones the flying foxes don’t mutilate.

However, in more recent times a former lodger at Struggle Street (aka The Chosen One – TCO), has put in a claim to be the main beneficiary of our mango harvest. She mounted a reasonable case saying it was payment for all the cooking, washing, dog walking etc she performed during her internment at Struggle Street.

“You can afford to give me a couple of lousy mangoes for all I had to put up with,’’ was her argument and we tended to agree.

However, that was then. As mentioned a couple of weeks past, this correspondent has a new friend (aka The Happy Camper – THC). THC is also a mango devotee. And in recent weeks she has been eyeing off the bounty at Struggle Street, counting down the days until the fruit is ripened.

“Loooove mangoes,’’ she perhaps over-explained.

She added that we should look forward and not back when it comes to determining how and who to the mangoes are distributed.

This has caused considerable unease at Struggle Street with this correspondent caught right in the middle. It is in our nature to avoid conflict at all times, but we fear this situation will rapidly deteriorate unless we can employ some delicate skills of negotiation.

We have tried to come up with a solution to the problem, suggesting that there’s enough mangoes for all. Except for this correspondent, for we don’t particularly like them as we said previously.

But this proved unsuccessful, both parties saying that once the flying foxes have finished their demolition job there’s precious little left.

However, we may have worked out a solution. Peace in our time, as Neville Chamberlin said of the Munich Agreement back in 1938, although that didn’t work out too well.

We have to stop the flying foxes. It would possibly be easier to stop the tide from coming in at Old Bar Beach, but nevertheless, Struggle Street has to become a No Fly Zone to those Wingham marauders.

Just how we’re not sure although the nuclear option can’t be ruled out as a last resort. However, if readers can give us a few tips on a more eco-friendly way to keep them at bay, please let us know at this place of work.