Gas tanks axed 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
My grandfather has always considered himself an outdoorsman. After reading a website I gave him a link to, he decided that he wanted to try a spot of tomahawk-throwing.
It's not all that difficult to do - stand around 7 paces from your target, throw with not too much vigour, and with a little practice you can easily lay your axe into any likely object. It's quite impressive to watch. My grandfather brought his small wood-axe round on a regular visit, which he had been using to practice with in the absence of a real tomahawk, to show me his newly trained skill.
In my back garden is a large, old-fashioned gas tank that is filled up once every 6 months by the gas company. Deciding this was a perfect object to use to prop up a piece of oak as his intended target, he did so, stepped 7 paces back, took aim, and threw.
He wasn't far off target, I'll give him that - a few short inches above the board. I was suddenly reminded of the Darwin's great works as the axe head hit a valve on the top of the tank, knocking it off, and causing an instant hissing sound.
The gas company was promptly called and the problem sorted. The gas was almost completely wasted, meaning my grandfather was £100 out of pocket and had a severely bruised ego. He's not all to blame mind - I should have seen the obvious evolutionary possibility as soon as he saw the tank. I have not touched axes since. Submitted on 03/23/2003
Submitted by:
Michael Connor
Reference:
June 2002
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