peter pandy

40-50 years ago I visited Cockburnspath and asked a pigeon fancier if he could direct us to the Scottish National winner's loft and he replied "It would be easier to visit a non National winner's loft as almost all the club members had accomplished that feat". It brought home the fact that location is everything in this great sport of ours. We ended up visiting no one due to it being obviously to easy over there.

Will miss you old friend, RIP Jimmy.

DILLIGENCE !! Thats a good one, so as no one has responded to the original question I will kick this one off. To my knowledge you cannot tell if your bird has good or bad bacteria in abundance without sending to a laboratary swabs taken from Throat, base of Crop and rectum for culture testing. A lack of Bacteria can be instigated by all Antibiotics and believe it or not Garlic as it cannot differentiate between good or bad so destroys both being antibacterial but I am sure you knew that. To maintain good bacteria Prebiotics followed by Probiotics should follow all medicated treatments to replenish what is lost.

Thats a very good question and anticipate a myrade of answers !.

Before I forget. A friend of mine was following the Central Fed transporter down the road last week-end and told me their was black exhaust fumes enveloping the vehicle for many a mile untill he was able to overtake it and that is what the birds are being transported in. What an advert for Scotlands premier club. They would be better buying the South Lanarkshire Fed transporter and renting another Geraldy transporter when required.

Hi Derek, I think we can assume we can start with a couple from the soon to be defunct Midland Fed ie; Messrs Garvin & McKee. Still trying to figure out how they were contracted by the SNFC to ferry in but then again the losses sustained by disastrous race controlling amongst other decisions made, will perhaps help with the balance sheet.

John, As you are President of the largest Fed in Scotland you will surely agree that many of your actions are debated by your Committee and perhaps with a different result. I know you are suscepticle to listen to advice however Phil's strings are being pulled due to his lack of experience.

I have to admit I was surprised to learn that Phil was President with his lack of pedigree in Management however I can see where he would make a grand figurehead with the right people at his back for guidance which is obviously not happening. This was obvious when the past Secretary took over the chair at the AGM instead of his Vice Pres.

Thats a cracker John !. You know how to avoid buying a round with that question. However its my opinion he is being stitched up from the inside and I agree it is time the Management Committee was proposed from the body of members attending the AGM instead of the hidden agenda of Federations being represented. We only have to look no further than Derek Hay who was voted on at the AGM then was asked to vacate his position at the first Committee meeting.

Would you be so kind and empty yir PM box.

Sitting in the loft admiring my team and thinking I have Franks funeral to-day and looked at the time 12.40 and it was being held at 13.00 so it was a quick change of clothes and headed down to the crematoria. Half way there I noticed I did not have my lugs in but not to worry as I will sit next to a speaker. On arrival I had to park about 100 yards up the road as the car park was full and I thought it would be for the prior to Franks. There were quite a few folk outside the entrance and an old Morris Minor 1000 station wagon parked on its doorstep with a coffin inside it. My first reaction was someone was doing this funeral on the cheap and mentioned it to an empty hearse driver who said it was Frank. I could only have a silent laugh to myself and tried to manouver myself into the waiting room as it was crying from the clouds to no avail as it was packed to the rafters. When we were ushered into the service area it was standing room only such was Frank's popularity and his coffin was carried in by his family escorted by two Argyll flag bearers and a piper from the veterans association. The Minister said a few words and we sang "Abide With Me" followed by a eulogy by his two friends from the Argyll's which had us laughing. The ceremony ended with "A Day Thou Gavest" and over 150 of Frank's friends in attendance made their departures. DOOMAN Ahead of me lies an empty road, Free from pain and suffering, A road of adventure, Off endless possibilities. Ahead of me lies an empty road, A road of eternity to travel, And yet still return to you. Ahead of me lies an open road, Where many have travelled before me, The Baillie's, Docherty's and Sinclair, To name but a few. Ahead of me lies an open road, Now its time for me to travel, As I press the accelerator I salute you all, A husband, Dad, Brother, Grandad, Father-in-law, Brother-in-law. And the greatest friends a man can ever have. Ahead of me lies an open road, A road I must travel. Frank Baillie 10th April 1955 - 22nd August 2014.

Driver B is an LGV owner operator. They transport a friend’s new boat from the manufacturer to a holiday home on the coast. They do this as a favour and don’t charge a fee. They don’t need Driver CPC to do this because they’re using the vehicle for the non-commercial carriage of goods. They would need to satisfy any enforcement staff that their journey was non-commercial if they were stopped. I would assume this includes the transportation of pigeons.

The late Andy Durning instructed me when race controlling that never liberate Y/B if the wind is above 20mph and 30mph for O/B.

I vaguely remember Bilco writing in one of the weeklies about Ant Powder and its main ingredient PERMETHRIN which also comes in a cream for scabies and human crab infestation obtainable from Boots and any reliable chemist. One bit of warning is that it is deadly in powder or cream form to cats and birds.

I suppose the losses were not compiled due to the heavy RAIN & HAILSTONE showers between Consett and Central Scotland something the race controllers could not control.

Perhaps we should all go back to feeding beans as I know the bean farmer always retains so much of his crop for sowing the following year so its definately G.M. FREE. Regarding maples I would assume all arable farmers would do likewise. Their could be a possibility in a wet harvest the grain has to go through driers to bring the moisture content down and diesel has been used instead of propane gas. Perhaps one of our farming friends on basics could enlighten us.

I am devastated at your news. My sincere condolence at you and your families loss. Peter Mackintosh.

Sorry to report that nothing can be done for our ailment with their being no test to prove or disprove sufferers. I think mine started in 1981 when commissioning high pressure steam pipes and the noise was so loud I was physically vibrating. However a German Doctor reported that his findings showed that users of Quinine were susceptable to tinnitus and as I in the past manufactured pure Quinine thought I might be able to apply for work related injury "wishful thinking" So if you have been bevying on Gin and Tonics that could be the source if you were drinking the gin and a quinine tablet without the tonic water LOL. P.S. We just have to suffer the ringing and I have an aid for each lug and learning to lip read.

Much of what Owen posted I agree with however we are not always in a position where we can avoid situating our loft except next to or under trees, nor facing South to get the benefit from the sun which is the reason I purchased ATX heaters after talking and reading the brochure with the sales rep at Blackpool in 2005. Now what was explained to me was that their function which radiates rather than direct heat works on the same principal as the sun where you can obtain a sun tan on a ski slope in the middle of winter, removing humidity works on the same principle which is why the controls are set for different functions and will switch off when the setting you require has been obtained. Prices are different compared to size, requirment and start about £150. My 2 are 36 x 12ins and cover a 20 x 8ft loft. The costs to run are dependant on the setting you wish however I worked it out at £1 per day. It would appear that all the top continental fliers have them fitted but lets face it you still need quality pigeons to win races. I will conclude by giving an instance of thought so make your own mind up.. When I went to work for C.J.Williams his lofts were fitted with central heating which I was told not to use as it was electric and cost a fortune to run, their were also 12 portable humidifiers in one of the sheds for the same reason. It was only after a couple of weeks I noticed most mornings we had misty weather quite regular and on others thick fog which I found was low cloud with our situation 1,000 feet up in the Cotswolds. Their was a large diesel generator for the likelyhood of power cuts and whoever had installed it had fitted manual switches so electricity could be diverted to any individual building on the estate and that solved the problem of costs. When I switched it over to the lofts only we run the central heating at 65 F and the humidifiers took that much water out the air I had to empty them daily. As for the birds they went from not having won a race for 20 years to hardly being out the frame. As for my own birds I dont have the quality I used to have but feel I am getting the best out of them possible. P.S. I am not an agent for ATX.

Simply YES.. ATX Heaters control not only heat but humidity with seperate controls for both. I have used them for years and find they are inexspensive to operate and marvellous in the winter. My preferred setting is 14 centigrade and 70% humidity during the racing season and zero in the winter. The heat from the panels is radiated and covers the entire section even standing 10 ft from the panel yet you canot be burned from the panel itself. They operate a stand at Blackpool and are most helpful with different types including double sided which can be screwed onto a dividing section.

My sincerest condolences John to you and your family. Peter Mackintosh

The "Quarry" pigeons were named so by the late Mike Winters when he resided in Boness. His first big winner scored well in Rennes back in the sixties and was named "The Quarry Man" followed by others which scored well.

Frank, You will remember we first met due to the disaster when the North West transporter caught fire and we had the inevitable task of puting birds out of their misery which were beyond help and we have remained friends ever since. Sharing the bus on our pilgramage to Blackpool this year will remain with me along with all the other times we met up over the years. It saddened me then when you informed me of your illness and I prayed that you would have many a year left alas him upstairs has called but he has given us your friends time to reflect on what you have given us, I and many others have looked upon you as not only a friend with compassion and integrity but what we should wish to be. Till we meet again. Peter Mackintosh

Hoping to resume training next Monday and see how they go from there. I certainly wont be racing unles I get the all clear from the vet as I dont wish to pass my problem onto anyone else. Confirmation that all is well.

I see where you are coming from Tony BUT by approaching Belgica De Weerd and following their advice regarding treatment for YB sickness with the course laid down of 5 days THEN sending a sample of droppings plus crop swab they will advise if a secondary infection is present and the treatment required. Surely it is better to get professional advice from the start where the vet knows what you have been treating with and can discount certain aspects if secondary infection is found. I am now on day 3 of the course prescribed and the sickness has stopped with the droppings firming up nicely and the youngsters looking lively again.