Roland

Hi Mick, not having a stab at you, but when you say ... 'Now as for feathering my own nest, as you put it, let me assure you that when I attend meetings and vote on any matter, my first interest is what is best for the NFC, secondry to that is consideration for my section, NEVER do I consider what is best for Mick'. I believe that is fine for conscience, but not for the FANCIERS as a whole. First should be, I believe, what is best for ALL members as far as can be. Secondly, the Reputation, and then thewell being of the NFC. . then what ever is left pick the bones over. If members are not only getting a fair shake of the whip and more importantly being SEEN to, then that remedies a lot for starters. I quite believe you, and I mean thet 100% that you are 100% comitted to what you feel is best. That is great as far as you go... All power to your elbow. But regardless where your heart is, how intense and wholeheartedly fight for . What is best for the NFC, etc, the club will only ever be as good as the members... All members. Many, a vast majority fly the NFC and other National- supposedly - clubs for Section honours, and in the hope that when they DO get a good one, others note it. Unfortunately al to often - due to what the race libs dictate - the best bird is not the winner. There are countless references to this. So we can't control the wind ... But we can alter our sails! I remeber the wet letters soaked with tears from many that had jad it so good for so long that they believe it is an Inherited right! It's not, and many are the Lib points fairer and more practical EVERY season that aremasked over. THAT is where apathy sets in and the NFC like so many others fail us, and will eventually be no more. Still I've just got in from work and am tired and ... SO GOOD Night .wwwwwhhhhooooooosssshhhhh

I do Jimmy ... and a a great fancier,sadly no longer with us namely Bob Flemmings, was a passionate believer in Canker as a a hazard to say the least, to hawks. But we treat for thrush / canker regularly - well I don't, and ferals are carriers of canker, but they don't get caught often" Are they to street wise, or does percy know and leaves them be! Best thing for any loft is a couple of street wise Ferals. Enticed and made at home when chance occurs, treated like your own, and left with the birds. they see percy so much quicker and dart in to saftey, than ours seem to. But will post a full post from a great, well respected man of the highest reputation tomorrow on his views. In the mean time Bruno, Wales is at last making headway with the 4 in one!

Regardless where the comittess come from it is for owns ends and favours they do things. human natures is true but pour excuse. As a member every member has the same rights and priveledges as everyone else -where possible. But the powers to be seem to blantantly just ignore that! And feather their own nests. I nedn't bring up past, but I'll say that Tours is good for the Midland and most. Further West of course most suit more. But they do the same as the NRCC ( Est Coast club) and go as easterly as they can. Belgium was great, and didn't we see alot of other great flyers name up for a change. and the letters poured in still wet with tears in protest. who By! Yneed one ask! Foot and mouth showed there can be race points to give others a bite of the cherry on certain days. So let the others fly for JUST decent section results some weeks!

Hi Jimmy, will do by night fal - have to get ready for work - If one just asks a few grom Glamorgan their troubles are a lot lot less and far far better. bUT IT must BE IVOMEC POUR-ON.

That's why I posted it Bruno. It's not the Strong Rig etc. type of Ivermectin, And Of course the Hawk guys propoganda that. If you care to dab one drop of IVOMEC POUR-ON (nothing else will do) on to the flesh on the back of your pigeon's neck, That is why I posted the above Bruno. Can only do good.

Raptures don't chase Pigeons away. saw it tv that they just move a couple of hundred yards then return. The more the raptures are use the quicker they come back and less distance they go. Golly I have Hawks nest within 100 yards of me. and a Old biulding full of pigeons - a right pain - and they just circle above, unless ambushed of course, and they move not a jot. let alone clar them.

One thing for sure, the fair racing is and would undoubtedly be to head into the wind. Say North Westerly for North roaders. This liberating from the Eastern points by the East Coast Club, cost them dear. No channel racing has put a few quiddies back into their pockets, But they need to be carefull and try and please a few in the centre and even Western side. And if Channel racing is out. next season why not het a Boat and Head out to Sea! With GPS etc. there is nothing easier.

http://www.themodernapprentice.com/diseases.htm not any Ivermectin does the trick. And whilst I'll agree it isn't a deterrent it stops them coming back normaly. There are very many ways of stopping Hawks coming back... but that is one of the most pleasant as you don't have to do any more.

Like the odd time the Trailer needs fixing, the Baskets cleaning, etc. Same two or three have to do it, whilst many never even comment and some offer a lame excuse... a smal % have genuine reason, and then that seems like every time. Just look at the 'Clubs, training for instance, how many and how often does one start up offering everyones birds for .... to be trained etc. Before season wanes of it is finished most time. If charged by the bird, it is too much hassle and they all of a sudden club between them, if it;s £3 per basket then it's masive basket with two or three flyers birds in them. Most clubs can't or struggle to even get a Comittee, or a closk station. bet if we did it, I know which 3/4 would be skipping work, or what not to do it. It is a great Idea, but I doubt if ever it comes off... Been toyed with or semi tried ever since I remember, since the Rail Ways were plonked on and refused effectively to take any more birds....

Yep Best to Best means obviously then worst to worst.!

Well said Shadow... But we all live happy in my road, and no ones complins, most are getting electric fences, and My ladders ofen disappear and come back, in fact never know where half is, likewise them all. And they all enjoy them flying, ask on race days hows and what, with whys, and never have to worry is away for a day or two or 3/4 weeks holiday as there are well cared for. But yes I could wl be a bad nieghbour lol.

Great, just download and typr in. Can get 40 or no problem if one plays around with the formatt.

Well insists if the Finder insists.... Some will keep and release later, or arrange a lib up the road. Others will just do as you request. Must say I've never had a fancier demand I send for it. Had one *expletive removed* report one, got the notification on a Tuesday noon. had just been to Grantham too on training toss where it was. So went to pick it up Thursday sfter and they wouldn't let me have it, as it was on big youngsters and eggs, and they had had it over a year any way and it was their only fed winner...!. Then she told me (the wife) that hey had reported me for next getting there sooner! Dennis Reed did indeed confirm this a week later... but it wa chucked out of course and went no further.. Worst thing I did was let them keep it... but it had young so.... Any now like that and I take them any way. Likewise any one reports my y/b's a year after they are ost. I go and pick them up, or arrange with Amtrax.

Had a nieghbour, who has since left the area, who's small shack of a brick shed sagged bad. It held water. I politely mention it, that he need a new roof, was in August / September like. Well he was late twenties ans single, and I thought lazy git! 'No prob' sez he to me, 'Ihave it hand, as a mate was going to sort any time now'! Well that never happened, and as I had some great roofing - the best money could nick - left over Iafter building a new loft, I offered him it. 'Nah' sez he, 'Mate won't be long. Well February came and still same. I explained I was worried my birds coming home thirsty would visit that first then sit out ... like they will a fish pond. Said it would sonon be fixed .... well it was, I nipped over and pulled the lot down. New nieghbours are cool and have built it proper like. Use to have the lad, about 25 next door that thought it funny to Mow the lawn when I was waited for the birds. Never thought they wouldn't trap though ... But did think he was trying to extract the Michael... So one Sat I cut the Wire and threw it ... Nice lad ever since lol. When I kept goats the nieghbours had no prob ... But a couple of hundred yards up another road complained. So I had to get shot. I changed the Goat house into a loft. When a round the 'Complainers lot' and politely said 'Do us a favour matey, if you hear anyone complain ... of course I know you wouldn't, but if you hear oat, or any one that does, I won't let on you told... but I'll brick their windows regular, and you can bet your botom dollar their car never works etc.. But it's nice know you are OK about... but let me know.. And let them watch as I told all the adjacent nieghbours. Nah never heard a pip squeak ever about complaining. Always smile and put thumb up to them though whenever I saw them lol

Well Mick and Lowfieldlad can't argue with your last posts, spot on... Just like when you have weakened sections and hardly any one to race against in a 'Tokem National# that will be regarded as a joke and of little synifcience. If membership keeps falling and cost raised to implement them them one obviously will have to pay a lot more again to off sett the lost funds, resulting in even more leaving and funds raising again, all to fly against few and few fanciers. Me I'd rather be 50th in a proper National and 20th in the section against many and good flyers that 1st Section and 5th National with no one except ego trippers to fly against. For it will have lost any credabilty and true Flyers will have left... leaving just those happy to fly against.... Now that is a fact. So instad of say 'You Don't if you don't want to' I believe it would - and is - better to knock, critasise now and hopefully save a decline and put it back on the map . why even I might rejoin a couple of years down the line. For this is as of now my last season with them, the costs save will be better spent on the birds.

They have done a good job of sendng them many new flyers.

Could be that the Irish route would be far better. Inland to the West and fairest distance... just depends on wind on day which section... But the NFC should already have a North Road race programme set in place for next season. Never mind the con of wait and see etc. And a reduce fee too! They were and are a disgrace... Fanciers in the main just want to get a decent race and preferably a bit of distance under the birds wings, Likewise the youngsters, and if in the unlikely event Channel race is available next season then split the birds into two teams, and have North and South Roaders from under the same roof. And never mind about switching roads, it makes not a jot of difference. Birds have won so many times from North one week and south the next. Remember that RPRA meriteous award where the y/b only got place 2nd. Disgraceful...! Wins Club and Fed North Road, next Week Club and Fed South, then another win North, Place high next two weeks from North and then South,. So that is a lame crutch to say they can't. And the most of us aren't specialist flyers, or expecting to win he big one... dreams are nice... Likewise in the close season we dream and next year flies the wing and a prayer. Yes I too, like many more will, and have resigned to the fact that Channel and the NFC are only interested in certain area's and grabbing the money... £15 a win, better of playing bingo. So yes we are out next season. They are fast becoming a sad joke. Never mind about DAFRA! I bet they haven't particion, nor even wrote and put a case to them either. They even had the gall to vote in North Rd programme and behind the back shinangerings changed that. And if they were frightened to lose to the East Coast Club (

There seems confusion... many for and many against it happening as this reports of many also shows. Ignore Internet info on Red Planet image By Andrew Lightman/ Milford Daily News Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - Updated: 08:18 AM EST An e-mail alert circling the Internet reporting Mars will look as large as the full moon the night of Aug. 27 is cosmic spam. “It’s just, on a basic fourth-grade arithmetic level, it’s just impossible,” said a baffled Bruce Mattson, a science and technology specialist at the McAuliffe Challenger Center at Framingham State College. The moon is on average 238,000 miles from Earth; at its closest, Mars is tens of millions of miles away. The Internet e-mail causing such a ruckus states: “Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history.” So who am I to say ... Be nice, so will keep a eye out any way.

I bought 30 y/b's. before they had ranged they were hit by a Mid WeekFederation Race. One on the day back. fetched two reported, transferrred 2 and 3 worked back.... Hard, but that's life I guess. Will fetch a few back I suppose early next season when they are reported. Will put them in a Stock loft - to be made available, even if only to rear others eggs. I will have only 12 birds... A good friend to me gave me 6 off his best, and has promised me some for the stock loft. Why will I fetch them next season. Well to muck them up lol as it mucked me up. for they will have put them through the hop, and if passed the tests they will want to keep and try them proper in THEIR own names of course. Strange how many are reported in February / March like lol

Well have had two great mates and flyers that chose that same cause. Both though when one was a daughter, the other a grand daughter. Both helped and stayed around the lofys with their Tutors. Both felt it was a constant reminder. Oe has built a shrine like seat in front of the loft, and just kept her favourites. But I feel my mum would wish me to carry one enjoying and live me life and get the enjoyment. Not till after the grieving is over granted. Jim's wife - another fancier - wie often wanted Jim to pack up, but he couldn't. Whe she passed on he gave them up instantly... Time hurts as it heals, just hope you get the strength soon to carry on, and hopefully with the fond memories of your mum a part of your hobby. I wish you well.

Cost of wire 250 metres about 35 dollars Hyacinth or upto a third less... then again the more you buy the cost keeps coming down, here that is... Mine is three prong... because I got it from a Game Keeper. Travelers supply even cheaper lol. But it meands peace of mine. Them little 9 Volt Babies work a treat too... will shift a horse even pronto if it walks into it.

Electic fence pence a year to run... Cats / Dogs mobile back sides that need taending to, feeding and some one else if not put into a boarding home - great costs again - when away; besides other things. Same as Hawks, if disturbed you noy it is coming back for the birds... Have a wire mesh connected to the... Give it a warm welcome.

Mars will be as big as the moon, the red planet andis visible to the naked eye ... starts about now, some say August the 27th is best, other a tad later... but if any one can't get this slide show to open, just eamail and I'll forward the original.

Mars will be as big as the moon, the red planet andis visible to the naked eye ... starts about now, some say August the 27th is best, other a tad later... but

TheRedPlanet.pps If you ever missed a Eclipse... shame, if you missed Haley's Comets, shame on you, if you miss this.......... TheRedPlanet.pps