Roland

Not really, but a country Yokel lol I like the old ways and make me own Jams / Pies, bread etc. etc. Favourite dish Apple and BLack Berry. Now, for instance I make a Hedgerow Jam. (Beside many more, like Rhubarb and Ginger, Plum and Orange etc. etc. Is very popular. Has everything in it from Apples, elderberries, Mountain rowan, Hips etc. etc. I don't like jam much, never eat it, especially now I suffer from Diabetes of course. Give loads away. NOW John I strain that through a sieve. I have a fair bit over which I can water and remake for Bottled drinks. Great stuff and flavour of course. Put into cubes or even plastic Cream tubs I can save it for the pigeons drinkers. Has every goodness you can think of .. Carrot Juice to is very good. Costs nowt, but does the birds wonder. The big 'C' vitamin is brilliant defence against colds etc. etc.

The moon, half, is out and showing nicely in the West this morning. A beautiful silvery. Nice skies too, think I will be off to the country side soon.

Ventilation: This is an extremely critical area. A pigeon's lungs are connected to air sacs which go throughout their body and even into their bones. Anything a pigeon breathes will greatly affect it. If your loft is full of dust, ammonia fumes from wet droppings, etc. you can expect your performance to decrease. Ideally, air should enter from the floor and exit at the top. You do not want a breeze blowing through the loft at the other extreme. One way to greatly help you in the area of ventilation - especially as you try to balance it with temperature control is to not OVERCROWD your birds. You can keep a much tighter loft and thus control your temperature if you don't have a ton of pigeons.

Yes those who didn't / wouldn't submit / should be deemed not interested and as such wouldn't be interested in the results, so nuts to them, I agree in that case 'Don't bother to send them a copy'. Maybe more work though for Ian in as much as sending 100 results out instead of just one post ... Then one may still argue though 'In the interest of the fancy at large ......' etc.

How true. Indeed draught will cause ailments. Many - indeed some on here - will tell you that a draught , say from a knot hole where they perch doesn't cause 'One Eye Cold' it does and will. A cold draught will also attack good health. Like it will and does us.

One that doesn't rot in the rain / snow. Any old plastic / metal, especially aluminium would do. Wood well treated. Jimmy White always said - one of many, lol -- that the best thing for pigeons was free. Air. Would add 'As long as it is dry! Damp is the biggest hindrance to pigeons. Put a Salt Cellar in over night every so often. Then a couple of days later if it runs free then you know it is good.

One that doesn't rot in the rain / snow. Any old plastic / metal, especially aluminium would do. Wood well treated.

Well A. agree to just an extent regards those not submitting. But B. I submitted. so I put my 8oence worth in. Also am interested Why I never have it and also what not to do so I don't. So I believe, for submitting, and taking an interest, I am entitled to see the results. P.s if not, then many would join those that didn't bother in future.

Chris, Chimneys need a 'Over Cover' a little way over the actual chimney. Not imperative of course but helps to A. stop the snow / rain etc. falling down. B, it heightens the draw factor if needed. Good luck.

Air needs to circulate. Not go in at the bottom and out the back at the top. Yes it works to a point. Ideally it should enter say at the bottom HIT the other side and then drawn through the top. Circulate. So chimneys are ideal. O.K. once a loft is built, alterations and being bothered for that little extra is seldom done I guess.

Chimneys have proved very good and effective in Chicken and pig mass housing. Draws the smell away to. Plus CIRCULATES THE AIR CONSTANTLY. I had a false roof over a wired to. Wired around between the wire top and false roof. No matter how or when there was, or not, wind the fresh air circulation a treat. Was one draw back, and that I have to have the lofts under trees. Hence lovely and warm and dry... then climate change and a damp atmosphere quickly came in and knocked the pigeons taking the edge of them. Now I have a brick and tiled. Can't have the recommended opening at bottom of each tile due to same problem. So I have in each compartment a 22 inch by 9 inch traps. Able to have it completely closed if wanted. Have two Brick air vents in each compartment for constant air, low down. Can shut the loft down then nigh complete. BUT I have an aviary on the outside all the way across. Each compartment is divided by wire mesh. The floor is wire too, as is the roof of the aviary. I have pull away draws underneath for easy cleaning, as the birds nigh live out in the aviary now, - Usually till October I have open loft where the birds come and go as they desire. I find that they will sit out all weathers of course, but sometime - for whatever reasons, they will all go inside. Cold weather, over night I close everything down once they have all gone in. Race days means that they go through two openings to time in. So inside the loft I have clip on shelves with the E.T. Placed underneath. In reality I suppose I could have the E.T. placed under the aviary opening as they are locked in if shut. But, personally not bothered as it only takes a few seconds to trap, and when visitors are invited etc. there can be no argy - bargy as to their' legality. Can't do with any hasle ... Mind no one cares UNLESS they think I beat them lol. Just food for thoughts that may be of an interest.

Lol.

Always nice to see, read about others, especially the past. Will say that much has been brought to the fore here and shows what keens interests still prevail. You know, oft, them little snip bits, what they said and believed, traits and their' ways are as true today as they was then. Of course not all, but what an interesting gleaning one can have eh! It is what makes this sport (So - called) tick.

"I love eBay! Just sold my homing pigeons for the 8th time!"

My answer phone used to say 'I'm having too much fun at the moment to come to the phone right now! Leave a message, and if polite I'll invite you next time. It now says "I am not available right now, but Thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the Beep. If I do not return your call, You are one of the changes." *********************************************** Man comes home, finds his wife with his friend in bed. He shoots his friend and kills him. Wife says "If you behave like this, you will lose ALL your friends!" *********************************************** A small Boy wrote to Santa Claus," send me a brother." Santa wrote back, "SEND ME YOUR MOTHER.." *********************************************** What is the definition of Mistress? Someone between the Mister and Mattress. *********************************************** Husband asks, "Do you know the meaning of WIFE??* "Without Information Fighting Everytime" Wife replies, "No, It means, "With Idiot For Ever" !"* *********************************************** A woman asks man who is traveling with six children, "Are all these kids yours?"* The man replies, "No, I work in a condom factory and these are customer complaints". *********************************************** A young boy asks his Dad, "What is the difference between confident and confidential?"* Dad says, "You are my son, I'm confident about that. Your friend over there, is also my son, that's confidential." *********************************************** Nominated as the best short joke this year... A three-year-old boy was examining his testicles while taking a bath. Mom" he asked, "are these my brains?" "Not yet," she replied.

Teacher asked the kids in her 3rd grade class: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Little Johnny said: "I wanna be a billionaire & go to the most expensive clubs. I wanna find me the finest *expletive removed*, give her a Ferrari worth over a million bucks, an apartment in Monte Carlo, a mansion on the beach, a jet to travel throughout Europe, and an Infinite Visa Card, while banging her three times a day". The teacher, shocked, and not knowing what to do with this horrible response from little Johnny, decides not to acknowledge what he said and simply tried to continue with the lesson . . . . "And how about you, Sarah?" "I thought I wanted to be a nurse. But, f#@k that. I want to be Johnny's *expletive removed*." ------------------------------------ Mark was passing by the bar on the way home from work when he sees his good friend Tom gulping down one shot after another. Fearing the worst, Mark charged into the bar and confronted Tom. “Tom what’s going on?†Mark asked. “It’s my wife Beckie,†Tom replied. “She ran off with my best friend!†“Hey wait a second! Said Mark “Aren’t I your best friend?†“Not any more,†Tom said with a happy smile. “He is!†------------------------------------------- Night Encounter You appeared from nowhere and shamelessly, without any reservations, you laid on my naked body … you sensed my indifference, so you applied your hungry mouth to me without any guilt or humiliation and you drove me near crazy while you drained me. Finally, I drifted off to sleep. Today when I awoke, you were gone, I searched for you but to no avail, only the sheets bore witness to last night's events. My body still bears faint marks of your enthusiastic ravishing, making it all the more difficult to forget you. Tonight, I will remain awake, waiting for you ... ........... ....... ... Mosquito, spray at the ready! ----------------------------------------- Environment Scotland has issued a travel warning due to an unexpected snowfall and bad road conditions in our area. They suggest that anyone traveling in the current icy conditions should ensure they have the following with them: Shovel Blankets or sleeping bag Extra clothing including hat and gloves 24 hours worth of food De-Icer Rock Salt Flashlight with spare batteries Road Flares or Reflective Triangles Full gas Can First Aid Kit Booster cables I looked like a fricking idiot on the bus this morning. --------------------------------------------------------------------  The day after a man lost his wife in a scuba diving accident, he was greeted by two grim-faced policemen at his door. "We're sorry to call on you at this hour, Mr. Wilkens , but we have some information about your wife." "Well, tell me!" the man said. The policeman said, "We have some bad news, some good news and some really great news. Which do you want to hear first?" Fearing the worse, Mr. Wilkens said , give me the bad news first." So the cop said , " I'm sorry to tell you sir , but this morning we found your wife's body in the bay". "Oh my god!" said Mr. Wilkens, overcome by emotion. Then, remembering what the policeman had said, he asked, "what's the good news?" "Well," said the policeman. "When we pulled her up she had two five pound lobsters and a dozen good size Dungeoness crabs on her." "If that's the good news than what's the great news?"Mr. Wilkens demanded. The policeman said, "We're going to pull her up again tomorrow morning."

Food for thought A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago but I don’t know where I am." The woman below replied, "You're in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude." "You must be in Information Technology," said the balloonist. "I am," replied the woman, "how did you know?" "Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is probably technically correct, but I've no idea what to make of your information and the fact is, I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help at all. If anything, you've delayed my trip." The woman below responded, "You must be in Management." "I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?" "Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you’re going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise, which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my f**king fault."

Seems reasonable ... him chasing the cat over the roof tops would certainly cheer up my day lol

These are extracts from actual letters to the council. 1. It's the dogs mess that I find hard to swallow. 2. I want some repairs done to my cooker as it has backfired and burnt my knob off. 3. I wish to complain that my father twisted his ankle very badly when he put his foot in the hole in his back passage. 4. Their 18 year old son is continually banging his balls against my fence. 5. I wish to report that tiles are missing from the outside toilet roof. I think it was bad wind the other day that blew them off. 6. My lavatory seat is cracked, where do I stand? 7. I am writing on behalf of my sink, which is coming away from the wall. 8. Will you please send someone to mend the garden path. My wife tripped and fell on it yesterday and now she is pregnant. 9. I request permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen. 10. 50% of the walls are damp, 50% have crumbling plaster, and 50% are just plain filthy. 11. The next door neighbour has got this huge tool that vibrates the whole house and I just can't take it anymore. 12. The toilet is blocked and we cannot bath the children until it is cleared. 13. Will you please send a man to look at my water, it is a funny colour and not fit to drink. 14. Our lavatory seat is broken in half and now is in three pieces. 15. I want to complain about the farmer across the road. Every morning at 6am his cock wakes me up and it's now getting too much for me. 16. The man next door has a large erection in the back garden, which is unsightly and dangerous. 17. Our kitchen floor is damp. We have two children and would like a third, so please send someone round to do something about it. 18. I am a single woman living in a downstairs flat and would you please do something about the noise made by the man on top of me every night. 19. Please send a man with the right tool to finish the job and satisfy my wife.. 20. I have had the clerk of works down on the floor six times but I still have no satisfaction.

Will say though it is persistent. Patrols by side of the roof top houses constantly.

I sure Ian there are some on here that could help lol :emoticon-0140-rofl: ... Mention no name

http://www.homingpigeons.co.uk/pigeonyears12.htm Is no Seven. Golly gosh some great fanciers and feat put up by these chappies eh! Turning now from the showpen to the extreme distance Palamos (Spain) to central Ayrshire 1,010 miles. My old academy science teacher Mr W. G. Davidson set the trend of 1,000 miles tests in these parts when his Grizzle hen named Faith held the Scottish record for a time when she homed in eight days to Stevenson.   Henry Mair was three times successful recording an arrival from Palamos although he did not damage Faith's record Henry took 3rd position into Scotland in on of these attempts.   In the summer of 1976 the new Scottish 1,000 mile club convoyed by the British Barcelona Club raced from Palamos were 71 members sent 138 pigeons which were released on 25th June. Two pigeons made race time A. Stewart of Carnoustie won on a 236 velocity, followed by A & A Taylor of Dundee on 155 velocity. Thirty three birds were recorded after the close of the race and the first Ayrshire bird was a Red Chequer Cock named "Ligit" bred and raced by R & H Kennedy of Irvine to be 5th, H Mair was next in at 23rd with W. G. Davidson 33rd.   When it comes to extreme distance there is only one Champion, this is a Red Chequer Cock named "The Conqueror" bred and raced by Alan Raeside of Irvine. The Conqueror covered the 1,009 miles to Clark Drive in just over TWO days flying to return on amazing 687 velocity which represents 24 m.p.h. and is the current record holder, something which will be very difficult to emulate, if ever. Alan also had a grandson of his epic winner recorded from Palamos, true marathons of the sky.    The craze for this type of event soon passed. The late Colonel Osman editor of the Racing Pigeon once wrote "Distance kills and the more distance the more it kills".   In this section of our heritage the emphasis is on the County of Ayrshire. I have purposely expressed County because while some now race with neighbouring Federations many originally were members of Ayrshire Federation and it would be remiss of me to pass them by without a mention. Lets begin with the first ever race the Scottish National Committee organised from Dublin in 1894 where 92 birds were entered, this event was won by G & H Hamilton of Govan. The first Ayrshire pigeon was clocked by Mr T. Begg of West Kilbride, however he was disqualified for wiring to his club secretary instead of the National secretary Mr J. H. Johnstone, but for this he would have finished 15th Open on a 1000 velocity. In the National second year W. S. Andrews of Monkton struck gold winning the Thurles race on the Irish route on a 1049 velocity and 116 birds took part. This victory must have given the county fanciers a surge of encouragement. Well if it was encouragement they needed W. S. Andrews repeated the dose when he was 2nd Open in the Skibbereen National of 1902 this time 270 entries faced the starter. As mentioned in an earlier chapter the craze for longer races became more adventurous and the Scottish fancy turned to the English route. By 1905 the S.N.F.C. had ventured as far as Guernsey and in the 1906 National from the same race-point Muir Bros. of Newmilns were 3rd Open in a stiff race with a 837 velocity. One year on the same Muir Bros. hit the jackpot when their Blue Pied Hen called "Lady Mary" was 1st Open on a 762 velocity. In his writings for The Racing Pigeon secretary Will Anderson under the pen name "Westward Ho" helped to enroll more fanciers to join these channel races. By 1910 the S.N.F.C. had ventured into the very heartland of France and staged their first Rennes race. One year later Dalry fancier J. Henderson was 2nd Open on a 697 velocity beaten by two yards per minute.  Then came the big one which I elaborated on in the chapter headed "Rennes on the Shift" which is worth repeating i.e. Rennes 1912, 1st Open Tom Paton of Galston, 2nd Open going to the New Cumnock partnership of Nicol & Crawford, yes 500 miles on the day in just three attempts. The 1914-18 war then intervened and it was 1920 before channel racing returned to something nearing normality.  It was 1923 before the next Ayrshire names appeared in the top frame. H. Kennedy & Son of Annick Lodge timed their Blue Cock "Lodge Star" to be 2nd Open on a 1478 velocity with Tom Paton the 1912 winner third with his hen "Orchard Queen.". The race was won by White & Dickson of Paisley ten yards ahead of Lodge Star with a Grizzle Cock and Tom Paton was third.

True, but unlike many places they don't have tiring pigeons then having to cross a cold channel / water or such. Of course time and location and climate will play it's part on the day. Would I have a go? A. nigh certainty. Would agree whole heartedly that many Scottish fancier could and would do it.

lol

How troo Dave, we don't want poster sulking now do we lol :emoticon-0136-giggle: Gosh papers would soon be wet and soggy lol.