Walter swanston

Racial abuse is not a matter for humour or "lightening up"

Maybe I am missing something here but do you think house insurance would pay out on a gadjet that suddenly becomes defective

As has already been said the ringer and the club master base station are on loan.I have used the annual activation code every year for about six years without difficulty.If Unikon want me to fill in some form prior to phoning them for activation I can do that no problem. As far as the insurance goes my club does not have the money for that and I am slightly puzzled as to why a club should be asked for money to insure property which is on permanent loan from Unikon.As far as going back to rubbers and mechanical clocks is concerned, well despite all the threats and complaints, folks that aint gonny happen.

I am not in a position to make any comment on this prior to the AGM Michael but it quite simply comes down to basic democracy I really hope that the fanciers who have strong opinions on the matter turn up to cast their vote

My ambition in the world of pigeon racing is to get up on a summer morning about 6.a.m to drink some coffee out on my lawn and watch about 40 birds exercising around my loft.I like to take my young birds about 30 miles and rush back home to hopefully see them in.I like to go to the club on a Friday night and see my pigeons marked through and listen to the banter of the expert fanciers.Like everyone else I would like to win an important race but to be perfectly honest I consider it an honour and a privilege to be involved in the world of pigeon racing and I intend to keep doos as lomg as my health holds up.I suppose these are modest ambitions compared to some but it is a life that suits me.

Looks good obviously no herons up there

The general trend of a whole heap of SHU experiment and research some years ago was based on the capture and re-location of sparrow hawks.Politicians from the Scottish Government and avian and wild life experts and specialists were heavily involved.Quite a lot of cash was expended in the research.Guess what! The whole deal went out the window and the scheme was quietly dropped.Could it be because of the entrenched opposition from other and more powerful lobbies.Maybe some members on this site will recollect that particular fiasco.

I have had trouble with hawks for twenty years here in Moffat.There ai`nt enough space on this site to relate the measures I have taken against them ALL UNSUCCESSFUL.There is only one answer keep your birds in until March 2012.Unsatisfactory I know but it keeps your birds alive

Am I missing something here.Are you advising me to get a few rollers and canaries and take pictures of the hawk eating them

I thought,perhaps optimistically, I would try open hole this winter.Cocks and hens on alternate days for baths bit of exercise etc.All went well until today two successive sparrowhawk attacks on the hens this morning fortunately no damage done I was able to chase the hawk away so I guess it is back to confinement in the loft till March 2012.

After reading an article in this week`s Racing Pigeon (page 48) I am beginning to doubt the value or advantage of separating the cocks and hens during the winter.I wonder what the opinion of experienced fanciers on this site might be.

The Solway will come to any such meeting

The Solway Federation race programme will be decided on 20th. November at the AGM in Lockerbie town hall (very handy for Hoddom members) I would hope for a large turnout as there could be a vote to stick to the same programme for 3 years,I know of two proposed race programmes maybe three.As far as the finances of the federaion are concerned it should be remembered that apart from the members` fees the birdage is the only income the federation has and out of that income it has to pays all expenses, keeping the transporter on the road, diesel etc.The birdage is set by the management committee ( I do not intend to publicise it on a public site).In a successful year any money left over is transferred into a fund for the payment of long term projects.

Lanarkshire is none of my business but I have personal experience in how hard it is to control a noisy and rowdy meeting, by all accounts you have done well John congratulations

Tube

I was at a SHU Council meeting yesterday and the matter of Unikon batteries was raised.Dougie Bauld said (as I remember it) get the units to him and he will advise you to send them in a jiffy bag to Deister in Spalding who will replace the batteries.Not sure of the price.I think maybe the offer to send the stuff to him was during the racing season.Any way he should certainly advise

I put out a newsletter to all our fed members recently Steven I was pressed for space but I had intended to ask the members at the Agm about the question of some co-operation with South Lanarkshire or Cumbria and I am quite happy to meet with anyone to improve racing in the Solway as lomg as i can take advisors with me to such a meeting and as long as I can be assured of the backing of the majority I know it might seem a bit airy fairy to you but I am convinced that larger organisations and amalgamations are the way forward.

Way to go Michael

Race programme decisions looming again Steven. I completely agree with you we must decide on a settled programme.It is surely not beyond the wit of the Solway Fed AGM to sort this out,the feeling seems to be that the idea of a second meeting in February was not an unqualified success and we should go back to deciding the race prgramme in November but to get back to the thread I would be keen to meet with the representatives of South Lanarkshire and/or Cumbria.

Yes we need to talk, federation to federation and all that entails but it is off to a very poor start if before any talking is done we are informed about people having their own agenda and living in a bubble.What kind of insulting nonsense is that for anyone who has the future of pigeon racing at heart

Good enough idea Gareth a lot of merit in promotional officers but enormous care would be rquired in their selection as they would inevitable be seen as the public face of pigeon racing in Scotland.Probably we would be better with a complete ousider for such a position.By the way should the SHU not be playing a more pro active part in all this