Old Boggy

I trust that you don’t buy your whelks from a Mohel. I understand that they can be decidedly chewy😂

It would be interesting to see some of those, especially if they published the prices. I seem to recall seeing an advert for a Webley 700 at the time for about £110 but cannot remember when that was (guessing 60s). Way out of my reach I know that. OB

Many thanks for correcting my wrong assumption. That`s something that I`ve learnt. I therefore owe the trade advertiser an apology. Regards, OB

Maybe I`m wrong, but hardly a sleeper if it has no colour case hardening whatsoever ! Perhaps they were sold like that from new, but I somehow doubt it. I`m sure Gunman will be able to advise on that. OB

I must echo LB & Good shot`s comments that it`s best to try before you buy. I bought a pair of 8x30 Jenoptik Jena binoculars at a game fair over 30 years ago which I was able to try and they served me well but have now been reserved as the `spare` set as the rubber eye thingies rotted (probably my abuse over the years). Since then, I have had a pair of Hawke Vantage which I bought untried after having read all good reviews. I then tried a pair of 10x42 Bushnell H20s which seemed to suit me better than the Hawke ones and I find them really good. I am sure, as has been said, that different makes suit different people so it`s definitely best to try perhaps several different types/makes before buying. OB

I would go with wisdom’s answer as it’s not a familiar light so perhaps now seen on those electric cars. OB

I must say that since I have had my hearing aids which are similar to those for sale, my life has changed dramatically. Technology has come a long way since the NHS battery jobbies. There is so much adjustment for differing situations to cut out background noise, pairing with your phone so that phone calls are heard through your hearing aids if required, etc etc. Some even can counteract tinnitus. A very good buy for someone that’s for sure. OB

Have they not been programmed to suit your own hearing loss? Having said that, presumably, there is no reason why they cannot be reprogrammed for someone else by Boots or another audiologist. Good value if they can.

Good morning John, Never seen ticks on pigeons before so that it a first. No doubt someone will be along with an answer. Well done for administering its last rights and to put it out of its misery. However, whilst I agree that it was pretty hot yesterday, I made up my mind to go out for a couple of hours alongside a small shave of trees that I know would offer good shade and with a very light ENE breeze forecast, might even be bearable. I have shot this particular spot over the last couple of weeks, before and after the wheat was disced, with small bags of pigeons for my few hours out. I knew that I might get a shot or two of pigeons coming into the shade of the trees, so gave it a go. Just 5 minutes from home so there was nothing to lose. No decoys or gadgetry, just hide, seat, gun & cartridges. As it turned out yesterday, being on the marsh there was a good breeze coming from right to left which made my two hours much more comfortable than could be imagined in the searing heat out in the sun. I took a freezer bag with those frozen ice thingies just in case I did get a pigeon or two to keep them cool. I ended my very short session of two hours with just 7 pigeon, but a most enjoyable and comfortable time it was. Sorry to slightly derail your initial thread. OB

The photos don’t show how well padded and protective the Napier gunslip really is. They are really great and that’s a good price for such a quality item. Someone will get a real bargain there. OB

Yep, certainly seems to be OK now, so well done Andy👍

Yes, OF they were the common green crabs. In my younger fishing days (probably 50 odd years ago) we used to find the `peelers` (green crabs that had shed their shells) under the rocks where they hid whilst they were most vulnerable with their soft shells to any predator. This was the best bait at the time (and probably still is) for thornback rays, bass and any of the smaller shark family found in our waters, namely spurdog, bull huss and dogfish etc. Happy days OB

I always do pickled shallots for Christmas and soak them in water over night, but have not used salt, so will try that this time. Thanks. OB

What Kevin (Shambam1962) omitted to say was that he very kindly sent me three laminated crook heads that he had cut out for me to have a go at finishing. All with full instructions how to do so. What a thoughtful guy. Thanks again Kevin. OB

The sticks and the pens all look really great. I like the way the pens are displayed. I think that I recognise a couple of those stick collars. Many thanks for sharing. OB

I must admit to having picked Gunman`s brains recently and received a prompt and detailed reply to my query, for which I would like to thank him again. It`s such a privilege to receive advice from someone who clearly has practical knowledge of all things shotgun related and is more than willing to pass on details of his experience. OB

Sent you a PM Dave, but not sure whether it`ll get through.

Very nice, well done.

Would you like me to explain all the technical jargon? Well, I haven’t a clue either😂

Totally agree. Before I sold my last 20 bore, I only used RC Sipe 28 gram 6s on the pigeons and they certainly did the business as long as I did my bit.

We did all have a great time, then went on to play `Ducks & Drakes` on the shore. Of course, GreatGrandad won, not because I`m any better at it, but that I was choosing the flattest stones that skimmed more. It`s not worth getting old if you can`t get crafty

Our son and daughter-in-law were looking after their Grandsons for the weekend so decided to come our way yesterday for the lads to go crabbing on our local pier. Armed with a baited drop net they were soon hauling up two or three at a time which, bearing in mind the net had hardly touched the bottom, than it was halfway up again, as is the impatience of youngsters, there must have been plenty of crabs about. It was great to see many Dads, Grandads & in My case GreatGrandad along the pier watching their youngsters excitement as another net of crabs was hauled over the side of the railings and gingerly put in their buckets full of sea water. What a pleasant and cheap way of spending a couple of hours out in the fresh air for kids to enjoy such simple pleasures well away from their modern gadgetry which seem to dominate their lives these days, if allowed to ! After a while, along came a guy in a Hi-Viz jacket, looked in our lads bucket and asked "How many have you got?" "Hundreds" was the youngest one`s reply. A slight exaggeration as I think at that time there were probably around twenty, but you couldn`t knock the lads enthusiasm. "You know that you`re only allowed 5 at any one time in a bucket, haven`t you read the notice?" barked the `Official` Now, I was totally unaware that there is a Crustacean section of the UCHR which dictates that only 5 crabs are allowed to live in harmony in any one bucket. All was revealed when said `Official` turned away and boldly emblazoned on his back for all to see were the words `CRABBING MARSHAL` What an absolute Jobsworth. Someone on the council certainly had a sense of humour when they came up with that little gem of a title. It`s certainly not a job or position that I would want or wish to aspire to. At the end of our session all crabs were carefully returned back into the sea at the waters edge, much to the delight of the lads watching them crawl back into the water and to safety. It was a lovely few hours out in the fresh air and not something the lads get to do very often in deepest Buckinghamshire. No crabs were harmed in the typing of this post. Thanks for reading. OB

Nice report of your few hours out and a good result. Thanks for sharing.

Another good option to try. I do like black bean sauce. Thanks again for all your suggestions.

That sounds like a plan. I will try that once our salad days are over. Many thanks old`un