Walter swanston

Old people sit and watch the hands on the clock going round waiting till evening so that they can switch the heating on for an hour or two at low.Our revered prime minister is worth around 30 million pounds and is busily cutting benefits to the old and poor.

In previous posts on this site I have explained the necessity of keeping racing pigeons in the loft during the winter months.Having read of other fanciers who exercise their birds throughout the winter and feeling envious of these members I thought I would give it a try and on Monday liberated the hens for a couple of hours successfully.In a burst of enthusiasm I thought this is going to be OK and liberated my cocks this morning, ten minutes later I had a phone call from my friend and mentor Yeboah who informed me that my pigeons were being chased all over Moffat by a hen peregrine falcon, fortunately I got them all back and into the loft but it was a narrow escape and taught me once again the lesson keep them in until March.The peregrines are absolutely starving at this time of the year.

Muhammad Ali is without doubt the greatest and most admirable man of my lifetime and I wish him a very happy 70th birthday

I would need a hatchet to clean the perches and boxes this morning

I have been recommended a device however I am not sure if I should put the details on an open forum??

Well I got all the right credentials served in the British Army and got a campaign medal to show for it but I aint British I`m a Scotsman born and bred and always have been.Next year i will be 80 years of age if I make it and it is my fondest ambition to live to see my country independent.

I have two Geordie nephews who aint to happy with Westminster and would be very envious if Scotland achieved it independence

Sorry to hear that George you better start making your arrangements cause its gonna happen my friend

Noone likes to be patronised by Westminster ,Eton snobs that`s why George

Get Cameron,Clegg, Moore and Milliband up here more often, every visit means more power to the SNP

Michael Currie is expecting to get home from hospital today

I started this thread and I do not want to go on about it, but surely we must agree that it is time for pigeon racing to enter the 21st. century and use all possible aids to our sport there can be no doubt that a modern GPS device is more reliable than sticking a pin on a map I have been told of a fancier who used such a device and found that his loft position was 500 yards out.

I am going to buy a G.P.S. unit for my fed and loan it out to clubs as required and of course I will follow the presribed procedure in its use.Could you advise on which device to buy?

Good idea except that google earth has just told me that they do not have imagery for our region

For the information of Scottish members I have just had word back from the SHU they seem to have accepted my GPS loft measurement

I received the loft position for a new member today by the use of a GPS handheld device and I have passed the information onto Linda Brooks at the SHU to see if it is acceptable.I know the SHU are in the process of preparing a form to be used by the fanciers operating these devices.They are priced on the internet at around £100.I suggest they are infinitly preferable and more accurate than sticking holes in ordnance survey maps.By the way this procedure has been passed by the SHU council

Michael is still feeling a bit rough after his operation which was not keyhole and will have to take it easy for some time.Still in hospital as of this morning

Could be a dodge to avoid our AGM today but I do`nt think so.Yes Stephen it was very sudden as far as I know

Just had a text from Michael he is recovering well but undestandably in a bit of pain hopefully home soon.

I feel your absolutely correct sir when you say that an organisation is only as good as its management.I am president of our federation and secretary of our club and I hold these positions because I was asked to do so.I started this thread because I sometimes feel at a loss when dealing with experienced and successful pigeon men.I keep and race pigeons because I like the whole business and the day to day activities required around a loft.However I can identify good fanciers who could be an asset to our management.An no I will not name names

All right sounds intrigueing >I ask Budgie

Here is a new topic for you!! Is there anyone on this site who has an opinion on why it is so difficult, in fact almost impossible to find experienced pigeon fanciers who are willing to take any part in the organisation and day to day running of pigeon clubs or federations.I have been told that taking on a prominent post in a pigeon organisation is like walking into a gas chamber and locking the door behind you-----------------this from a prominent national flyer

Lang hae they passed as men o`letters here, Dounhadding the Doric and keepin`t the daiks, Drivelling and drunting,wi`money a dachtie sneer, But soon we`ll end the hail eggtaggie,fegs, The auld volcanoes rummle `neath their feet, And a` their shoddy lifes `ll soon be drush, Danders o` Hell they feel the unwelcome heat, The deitet craturs and theit sauls are slush For we hae faith min Scotland`s hidden poo`ers, The presents their`s but a` the past and future `s oors Hugh McDiarmid A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW Y6EAR TO EVERYONE IN 2012 SCOTLAND WILL BE FREE

Any Scottish Federation including my own that makes a democratic decision to race up through Cumbria should be well aware of the potentially fatal risks to our birds,and I know that there are pergrine falcons everywhere but Cumbria is something else----------------we have all seen it down here