Roland

Well thanks for letting me know...

A plate, simply swivels. with a 2lb wieghted bar on the inner - in side the loft ont a slight latch - turns of to let you shut the traps. When a cat lands on it it drops like a ton of bricks onto a nice bath of water. This also mens the inside flap floies upwards to stop anything entering. I have Bob wires inside it to stop them coming out when I need it... also fixed with a simple latch.

Need a collectivgr affected conrns that will employ aay views across, or bring such to Joe Public. They have the means, and access to the 'Political Corridors'! Have Media attention.

Won't hurt them nonehem sitthe ggs as natural... will hold their flights too, which many feel is a bonus.

Well due to costs, it hs to be realistically a National company. One that - like Amtrax - is prosperous and viable with out our custom... that mans also cost effective belive it or not. I travelled 670 miles just a week or so back to aquire some young birds. I don't know what the cost was re Fuel, - nor care- But my mates Couriers buisness forks out on 6 vans £3000 ( whn fuel was 80 pence a throw - a week! Now he has calls and doubles up to make ends meet. Just carrying and returning pigeons aone would be ludicriss to tr, let alone do. Now that isobvious. Besides Tam, myshares would suffer lol ;D ;D

Well you just hit they nail on the head the. And the best condition of their lives. Doesn't hurt none for tem to see each other. If you have them up th road regular.

A realitic fact! Like most, never had no problems with them. I expect sometime the law of averages says I will, but until now like most it is always been hunka dorry using them.

Well won't be no 'Pigeon' reported / returned after Amtrax. All well and good the anti moaning brigade. Heard an seen it all before in very many walks of pigeondom. The simple realiy is that for a time - and it will be for only a shorttime - where transported will pass over the pigeon cargo. There won't ever be a 'Natioal' srvice again, and talk about Amtrax being dear... you ain't seen nothing yet. Won't ven get any birds reported soon, because fanciers wil be even more fed up will owners not wanting to pay £40 - £50 for a returned stray, especially y/b's, when one will simply buy more in cheaper, and unfortunately breed even more. Two thing escalate them, more infeior birds clogging up the church topsw, and more breeding so called studs coming out of the wood work... and you will have to pay the ext. More expense and time consuming eh! More packing up... oh the short sighted of some, and how easily they lead others to follo... to nowhere! We will rule the day when Amtrax -the last srious bastillian remaining - closes it'sdoors to us.

Ah .... a happy ending then. I might add that this was made possible by A. genuine error, Mick's great offer of course (well done, proud of yer) and the realistic understanding of Casbri and J. V., good too see commonsense prevail too. I went yesterday with Joyce to buy a car for her. We agreed a price, and left to collect the monies. Joyce mucked up with the cash in the wall, want why she couldn't get a grand or two out! Well we explained and shook hands on the deal. Joyce fetch money out this morning ... tonight just before we set off to get it, he texted us to say he had sold the car, and would we like another ...

Yes, one was a cock bird, the other a hen I think lol ;D ;D or was it a trnavestite :o :K) lol Just teasing.

Both welcome, tis the truth too!

IB Yes they do 'Mobb' hawks agreed, but that is all, the hawks / like Kites just tolerate them. Sparrow hawks have got shot of the crows near me, and are using their' old nest.

The rest is viable, but the ... Encourage crows if you can, they mob hawks and this gives other wild birds the signal that there's a hawk about. They take their cue from this, so will your pigeons. They will become streetwise and learn the best form of defence is to get in the air, above the hawk. A fallacy. The sparrow hawks 150 yrds from my loft has finished the crows off. Yes they did dive and bomb them etc. till hawk was hungry! Soon made short thrift of them. Leave a couple of pigeons in a glass fish tank works, but the best is a simple wire cage. A part in bottom covered with wire a gain. On top in the middle a simple wire neck going inwards - like a saupan - is by far the most effective and 100%. They can climb like parrots, so when first startled they try o fly out, but with wings out they can't of course. So the climb upwards on the side, even inwards to the middle, but never work out downwards and up again etc. Is a Download of the Owl C D. on here I believe... I know I put it into easy download mode for everyone to simplely copy ... if not I will put another one up ... or Tammy will send you one - mostly but of course can't speak for Tammy... Indeed he struggles to do so himself ... Come to think of it, even at all! ;D ;D

Time and hunger will work. Also make sure that cats are around the 'Vacinity' as if even over the hedge they won't come in of course.

Went to Swansea on the Sunday to pick up a pair of y/b's kindly bred for me by Bonzo. A round trip of 420 miles. He is a good fancier, and very knowlegdable, no two ways about that, and has the art of KISS down to a T. Keep it sweet and simple. His birds are very wel looked after and in good condition for sure. I handled some nice winning birds and fee he trend will continue. I Enjoy my time there with him and his father and learnt a bit into the bargain. Thanks much appreciated. Then the Saturday after a 224 mile round trip to pick up some y/b's from Tony W. Was surpised to see - it is the first time ever - a loft construction on the same principles as my own.Indeed very similar. Tony's knowleagde is also very intensive, and I was again impressed ... Only suprise is the amount of winners since he started a short time ago. I would wager that he will be up with the best in no time at all! Both at Club and section levels. Like me he also was very pro a distance flyer. I was made most welcome by Tony and his loverly wife and daughter. I am well pleased with the birds and hope to see them all again. Thanks the both of you Roland. .

No doubt then he price of wheat will go up again ... for some silly reason like 'Profits aren't as high on this corn we are FORCED to grow'! etc. etc. I't's called, Legal rip off from those unable to fight back! Or won't, but in reality often we can't do a jot...

Oh yes, absolutely brilliant. They trained them, took strays hither dither, Was the best transport and liberations ever possible, and the 'Pigeon Facterinty crapped on them big time... the masses led by the 'Haves' brigade who were then quickly exploited, and those promises quickly forgotten. The grass rootes needed the trains... BR said words as such 'After all we did for that fancy ... even designed and built special carriages etc. and they treated us like *7@'#'#oc Beeching, the struture was still well in place after his carving it up ... yes a slight inconvienence was to occur for some... but the system was still in tact and working. It was the FANCY that did he dirty. Shame on them and their short sightedness, and moreso those that never delivered after all the hopes raised after tickling the ear for own selfish ends...

http://mfile.akamai.com/12948/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2006/0728/9591734.300k.asx You might have to paste nto a word and then hold ctrl down and click it. Might not

Cats don't have a 'Lincense to Roam' and the owners are respondcible for their petd actions as we all are.

Plonker ... seems that you need to be noticed, OR did it hit a raw nerve there. No, never done anything like that, lost my last GREAT dog to cancer and was heart broken. Even cried... but you certainly missed out on any Milk - kindness or other wise. And as for telling me what to, or not to post, well get los ... though I respect your right to a view, and right to express it.

Am getting my posts knocked off Lennut Tar. Especially the jokes. Seems, that time permitting etc. a new topic page to cater for such is to be put up.

And on the the same theme like, say crushed house bricks, grit / minerals, are theey any good. I often wonder for example how a crop used grit to forcefully crush, say, a maple pea or tic bean. I have trouble biting one lol.

Did you ever wonder why almost all of us racing pigeon fanciers do not consider our "weekend warriors" to be pets much like our dogs? Is it not the very competitive among us who look down upon the pigeon lovers as mere "pigeon keepers", reserving for themselves more flattering descriptions?

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent, and roll me over for a belly rub. My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch- because your touch was now so infrequent - and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog" and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed your mind - that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?" Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself - a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty