Roland

No, start looking at 700 miles into Scotland on the day. I have the Scottish Bible ''' Scotland's own' and will have to get it down and dusted over the week end I guess.

How CAN I become a Monk eh? in the next 25 second preferable lol ;D ;D

I.e. the £121 for any and every race EXCEPT the distance races, regardless how few they send, or at all. Never had a prob with that, as I want and would wish to pay my fair share... but then to have it suggested we pay even more for a far less than the norm is , well a blumming cheek! Tis why many clubs folded when the so called 'Sprint and midweek races took hold, purely for the more able to wi a 'Bit' and what not! Time was, like I say, when 12 pairs was a big team. And let's not forget losses were far fewer each and every year because 90% of ALL lofts when the distance, indeed every race, and the quality of the birds were then as such that some 'poor' birds were weeded out and obviously then NOT bred from. Mark my words, most, if not all good strains were / are - regardless whether later used for 'Sprint / Middle distance, founded on 'Distance stock.

Trainers have to be rubbered, and cost the same. Point making is that the so - called distance flyer not only pays the same as any one else. The pay the normal fee, then Extra for the priveledge of sending to the distances, whereas the norm may well only send to English races, perhaps Frazerbough! So we already pay over the odds for our puesuit of our sport.

100% correct.... Chrissyboy say...'Sholud they charge more per bird for these races and less for the Inland races(these appear to be the races that make a profit) .The little numbers that attend these extreme distance races probable would pay more to have this race? THEY more than pay the extra. Where you been?! 30p inland £3 Thurso and more for Lerwick. Then the other bloody cheek. We pay £121 all in... and a extra couple of quid just for the Distance races! I shalln't next season and that's a fact... 23 in club say... 8 of us refuse to pay and send with another club in same Fed, same Lib point. Now the other 15 or so will have to make up the £1000 odd quiddies themselves. They send 20 or as many as they like to the inland races for no cost after paid dues! We send the odd races to prepare and get milage under the birds wings... This year I have only sent 4 birds in the club and thay cost me £3 or more each! Likewise a few others. Now in the other club I also paid full membership fee. I have sent 10 and 12, 22 x 30p! I can live with that, and oh yes the £3 or so for the Thurso race. Glad you brought it up Chrissyboy. I am through sponsoring the sprints etc. Thanks.

True Phil... the other catoragry is ' ...No good at the short - middle, they have to prove themselves at the distance... sometimes this pays off... other times Mr Basket does his Job. But any and every GREAT strain needs the 'Distance birds to set them up I believe.

Ted, Linseed oils are best. I have mine out in the rain at the moment. Gives them a good clean, and allows them to dry back into original shape. - Also scotches any untowards that they might be carrying.

Out every day. Even tossed all weathers, Mist / low fog included. They soon rise above it. BUT if tossed in rain, it does seem to take the edge of them if raced on the following Saturday.

Yes Whilst I agree with quite a lot of the above, one should I feel, compare with other hobbies / pastimes etc. Fella next door goes fishing, just on Sunday's now... spends nearly £100 (sometimes more)for feed / ground baits, other baits etc. and the cost, like ours of course is soaring. Then of course they are forever saving and buying to try and improve. Some go 2/3 times a week! Now like us at the grass roots that is a no go. Like ours also the plebes are playing second fiddle to the 'Haves'. But unlike us they are not, I repeat not, putting their money into the more and better positioned coffers. Further, and unlike us, have a chance of a big catch every time the right 'Peg' number is drawn out. Yes photography was way beyond the plebes reach - indeed the Camera Club use to do car boot and Market sales to off shoot costs. I don't know, but feel that with Mod technology cost may well have come down... Just what does it cost to take your two sons to a game... without the 'Bribe' for the missis to go shopping!? Air sports are colossal! Even 'Banger' racing, let alone Scrambling etc. need sponsors to have a chance to be successful. Then we come to the cost of the loss of our 'Distance' birds! I lost 10 of my race team. 5 2yo's left that were with their’ youngsters, and 6 yearlings left! Am I sad, of course I am peeved. Do I regret sending... No! because I I know I would / will do exactly the same 2 years or so down the road, and that is part and partial of the game. These were new blood I was trying, and am nigh wiped out in one race! Many will no doubt work their way back. A. they aren't incest bred so that augers well. They were lightly tossed till 2, and then coming well from the three tosses this season. I put them in a couple of races as 'Trainers' at 100 and 200 miles respectively. I don't bother to time in from that distance, better off in bed having a lie in if finished work late.. They would unhesitatingly have made in any normal conditions. Many good birds as you say haven't! But I, like them have, a few left to breed from. Indeed I have at the moment 6 pairs of stock... first lot ever. The losses with mean a few Late - breds, lightly toss this season. A couple of 100 - 150 milers next race season. Then in two years time I will have a good team again. Will be a better flyer next year, more careful to choose their’ races to fly in due to numbers, and not conditions. Have away a Hen that has won the Scottish averages on her own three times, Flew Thurso AND WON WHEN 7 months old and won the Averages that year beating loft mates. Yes peeved sure, but she'll be back, put to stock, likewise the Pau Cock bird... Others will have open loft as long as possible till next season. (Well they all will have that). Yes this is really what the Distance is all about... other wise I'd fly a Kite and save a lot of money with a few fancy strains to look at! Sure as hell won't be putting my hard earnt money into the coffers of the more and better positioned. JMO

Many modern researchers are interested in ordinary daily life of the Viking age people. The Vikings themselves did not leave written material for the after world, only some short inscriptions on the run stones. Archaeological remains are the best source for them, who are interesting in Vikings` every day life. Excavations in old viking villages, towns or trading places have revealed some information about their ordinary life. During the Viking period the majority of the Scandinavian population were peasants. Farming and cattle breeding were supplemented by hunting, fishing and trading. The Vikings were very skilled in shipbuilding technology and they were able to sail further and faster than their contemporaries. However, only a part of the Vikings left their homes and sailed to distant countries. These travellers were not only warriors but also settlers, skilled tradesmen and craftsmen. The Viking traders often bought spices, silk, jewellery, silver, potter and glass. They also bought and sold slaves. Customs and clothing..... http://www.finland.com/viking_myth.htm A large museum exhibit in St. Paul, Minnesota (settled by many Norwegians, descendants of the Vikings), which displayed examples of Viking life and Viking history. While the Vikings have a reputation as seafarers and plunderers, that was only a small portion of their lives and population. Most Vikings lived in mud-and-wattle houses or stone houses, raised animals, farmed, fished, and engaged in a variety of crafts. Interestingly, Vikings were extremely skilled goldsmiths, and made many necklaces, bangles, bracelets, and other ornamentation and devices. More broadly, there were skilled in all forms of metalsmithing, and made fine tools as well as weapons. Not well known is that Vikings also traveled extensively over land, trekking all over Europe and well into western Asia. They were traders, not looters; and their home lives were greatly enhanced by a huge variety of trade goods they brought back from their wanderings. Vikings were not all ruthless barbarians. They had a well-developed religion, laws, governments, social codes, and community lives. If fact, much of their raiding was against people whom they considered barbarians or at least inferiors, who had less need than they for the goods they stole. But keep in mind, raiding and plundering were only a very small part of the Viking life. Mainly they were farmers, craftsmen, fishermen, and traders. Interestingly enough, in British history, there is only one recorded killing by a Viking. His name was Stephen who caught his wife in bed with another man and in the ensuring fight the man lost hi life. Stephen was executed. Most Vikings actually died from a ‘Head Swelling’ disease they caught over here that caused their head to grow vastly and stifled their brain etc. Indeed the Vikings were encouraged to come over here for the tradesmen skills. Interestingly also given their’ terrain they lived in it was remarkable that they actually built such great ships and Sailed! In fact they never wore Horns etc. nor were they the murdering marauding, raping invaders. This was the more the product of a great writer Sir Walter Scot, actually a Scotsman, that wrote under 5 psuedo names. Just thought you might be interested….

Nah Wake! Nah get off the Carousel!!!

You are driving at a constant speed. On your left is a sheer drop. On your right is a fire engine travelling at the same speed as you. In front of you is a galloping pig the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it. Behind you is a helicopter flying at ground level and also travelling at the same speed as you. What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation? .............. Get off the road you drunken fool.

It's like the one about the number of digits on two hands. We all know that the answer is 10 however if you start counting backwards from ten, ie starting from left left hand side we have 10,9,8,7,6 plus the five on the other hand equals 11 !

Calling all smart pigeon flyers here on the Forum here is your chance to prove just how smart you are or arn’t as the case may be. 3 MEN GO INTO A HOTEL. THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK SAID THE ROOM IS £30, SO EACH MAN PAID £10 AND WENT TO THE ROOM. A WHILE LATER THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK REALIZED THE ROOM WAS ONLY £25, SO HE SENT THE BELLBOY TO THE 3 GUYS' ROOM WITH $5. ON THE WAY, THE BELLBOY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPLIT £5 EVENLY BETWEEN 3 MEN, SO HE GAVE EACH MAN A £1 COIN AND KEPT THE OTHER £2 FOR HIMSELF. THIS MEANT THAT THE 3 MEN EACH PAID £9 FOR THE ROOM WHICH IS A TOTAL OF £27, ADD THE £2 THAT THE BELLBOY KEPT AND THAT EQUALS £29. ................SO WHERE IS THE OTHER Leave your thoughts on this subject mine was £1 What tha :-/ I know Vallance it is years old... first time I heard it, it old ladies and theirwas tele...

Gosh Keeping one is an Ordeal lol. More bottle than me and that's a fact. Daren't try it! Knowing my luck I would get a couple of extra bints... Ooooohhhhhh let's get back down the loft quick, before I have pulpitation on the heart and panick attacks lol ;D

So so sorry to see that you have to make this decision. Obviously we know it 'Has to be' or you wouldn't be making it. Get well Rockin! health is everything, without health 'Nothing is everything'. Wish you all the best, and hope you get another 'Hobby' that gives you great enjoyment.

Yeah you know I am... but I am bored with waiting for the birds as the race is over. Having the kitchen done and the whole house done up means the only seat left in the house is at this computer lol where I patiently wait for Joyce to bring me sandwiches and cuppa teas... Yes I still hope to get the birds back... I am short of 80% of my race team. I have just 2 old birds and a few yearlings left at the moment... They are well bred birds though and I have every confidence when the weather settles they will work their' way back. Mostly 2yo's so this will certainly stand them in good stead for next year.

An old man always had his dog chained up, and one day he decided to take the dog out hunting with him. Since the dog has been chained up for so long it ran for a chance at freedom. The man ran after the dog hoping to catch it. The dog ran over a cliff. The man said, "Dog gone it." At a fabric store, a pretty girl spots a nice material for a dress and asks the male clerk: How much does it costs? “Only one kiss per yard,” replied the male clerk with a smirk. “That’s fine,” said the girl. I’ll take ten yards.” With expectation and anticipation written all over his face, the clerk quickly measured out the cloth, wrapped it up, and then teasingly held it out. The girl took the bag and pointed to the old man standing beside her, and smiled, “Grandpa will pay the bill.” A good samaritan was walking home late one night when he came upon this drunk on the sidewalk. Wanting to help, he asked the drunk "do you live here?" "Yep". "Would you like me to help you upstairs?" "Yep". When they got up on the second floor, the good person asked "Is this your floor?" "Yep". Then the good samaritan got to thinking that maybe he didn't want to face the man's irate and tired wife because she may think he was the one who got the man drunk. So, he opened the first door he came to and shoved him through it then went back downstairs. However, when he went back outside, there was another drunk. So he asked that drunk "Do you live here?" "Yep". "Would you like me to help you upstairs?" "Yep". So he did and put him in the same door with the first drunk. Then went back downstairs. Where, to his surprise, there was another drunk. So he started over to him. But before he got to him, the drunk staggered over to a policeman and cried "Please officer, protect me from this man. He's been doing nothing all night long but taking me upstairs and throwing me down the elevator shaft!" A very well dressed and dignified lawyer called a plumber to fix his flooded bathroom. When the plumber arrived, he was carrying an extra set of overalls and took off his cap with the words “Blue Collar Man” on the brim. The dapper, impeccably groomed and expensively dressed lawyer smirked in a condescending way and said: "Interesting cap! And do you usually need a change of OVERALLS?" The plumber just smiled. When he was done the plumber gave him the bill, and told him he had to get some more equipment from his truck. He explained that he needed a new assistant because of all the work and was short-handed. He asked the lawyer if he knew of any friends who might want the job. The lawyer raised his eyebrows and pointed at his suit, his shoes and his office: "Now, do I LOOK like someone who would have a plumber for a friend?" "You're right. A high class white-collar guy like you would never know plumbers." said the plumber apologetically. "Exactly! After all, I have high standards!" sneered the upper-crust lawyer, as he checked his shoes to make sure the shine was still perfect and carefully tightened the knot of his tie. When the plumber returned, he entered the lawyer's office and there in the garbage can were the lawyer's brand new mirror-polished £700 Brooks Brothers capote business shoes, with the black silk socks rolled up and tucked neatly inside. On the floor was the hand-tailored £2,000 Armani pinstriped business suit the lawyer had been wearing, with attached paisley suspenders, as well as the natty Hermes silk tie and the matching pocket square, monogrammed gold cufflinks, starched white shirt, silver tiepin and Rolex. His law degree and briefcase were also piled up next to them. The plumber went in and first there was the lawyer in overalls, lying under the sink with his bare feet sticking out. The plumber tapped on the soles of the lawyer's feet. The lawyer looked out, with the “Blue Collar Man” cap on top of his hundred-dollar haircut and sweat streaming down his face. He pointed at the bill and said, "You found your assistant". Two vampire bats wake up in the middle of the night, thirsty for blood. One says, "Let's fly out of the cave and get some blood." "We're new here," says the second one. "It's dark out, and we don't know where to look. We'd better wait until the other bats go with us." The first bat replies, "Who needs them? I can find some blood somewhere." He flies out of the cave. When he returns, he is covered with blood. The second bat says excitedly, "Where did you get the blood?" The first bat takes his buddy to the mouth of the cave. Pointing into the night, he asks, "See that black building over there?" "Yes," the other bat answers. "Well," says the first bat, "I didn't."

True M8 ... the Lib / Controllers should have used their magic wand... Golly how else do they expect to look after you. There are still only three in our Fed! But I CHOSE to send knowing full well what the wesather was going to be like! My fault, I wanted them to have a stiff hard distance race to sort out what is what! Guess they certainly got that! Am 10 brilliant bred birds down! Mine, like everyone elses' fault who sent, no two ways about that! Golly they wouldn't have been up till next week! Or brought back Friday! Isn't Hindsight a brilliant thing eh! :

Here we go again!

Here are 12 of the finest double-entendres that were aired on TV & Radio 1. Pat Glenn, weightlifting commentator "And this is Gregoriava from Bulgaria . I saw her snatch this morning and it was amazing!" 2. New Zealand Rugby Commentator - "Andrew Mehrtens loves it when Daryl Gibson comes inside him. " 3. Ted Walsh - Horse Racing Commentator - "This is really a lovely horse. I once rode her mother." 4. Harry Carpenter at the Oxford-Cambridge boat race 1977 - " Ah, isn't that nice. The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the Cox of the Oxford crew." 5. US PGA Commentator - "One of the reasons Arnie (Arnold Palmer) is playing so well is that, before each tee shot, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them .... Oh my god!! What have I just said??" 6. Carenza Lewis about finding food in the Middle Ages on 'Time Team Live' said: "You'd eat beaver if you could get it." 7. A female news anchor who, the day after it was supposed to have snowed and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked, " So Bob, where's that eight inches you promised me last night?" Not only did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too, because they were laughing so hard! 8. Steve Ryder covering the US Masters - "Ballesteros felt much better today after a 69 yesterday." 9. Clair Frisby talking about a jumbo hot dog on Look North said: "There's nothing like a big hot sausage inside you on a cold night like this." 10. Mike Hallett discussing missed snooker shots on Sky Sports: "Stephen Hendry jumps on Steve Davis's misses every chance he gets." 11. Michael Buerk on watching Phillipa Forrester cuddle up to a male astronomer for warmth during BBC1's UK eclipse coverage remarked: "They seem cold out there, they're rubbing each other and he's only come in his shorts." 12. Ken Brown commentating on golfer Nick Faldo and his caddie Fanny Sunneson lining-up shots at the Scottish Open: "Some weeks Nick likes to use Fanny, other weeks he prefers to do it by himself."

First picture from NASA of water on Mars, amazing and outstanding!! http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0504/WaterOnMars2_gcc.jpg

Well y/b's regularly cross the channel. had y/b's clock in near 500 miles in a special one off. In Canada as I have posted preciously 400 miles back to back, or three weeks on the trot! 'Prince' Jackson had great sucess with yearlings doing the 1000 miles! Chappie in Ireland his the big distance races with yearlings! But who am I or they to advise you?

Our fed is 72 hours, so race finishes at 10 55 in the morning. Should they have been released!? For and againsts I guess... As I said the birds should ave gone up Tuesday for a Friday lib... Wed meant no rest day. I don't really believe that even 5% didn't know what the weather forecast was, so down to the fanciers, simple as that. I could have waied and sent NRCC, but chose that Thurso! Who do I blame, if any blame is to be laid at any feet! Why me of course! Wise after the fact diesn't apply here either because we ALL knew the forecast.