danccooke

as per my post without diff locks i would have been bogged yesterday. both my old Pajero and my current L200 have diff locks as standard

I stopped a the side of a road yesterday so I could go wandering in the field. As I pulled onto the verge I knew I was going to have fun getting back off, or out as the case may be. I drive a 59 plate L200 which is brand new I traded my old Mitsi Pajero earlier this year (which was very capable off road) As I got out i went almost up to my knees in thick heavy mud which was over the side steps on the truck (axle deep). Sod it i thought shoot first deal with car later. On return I decided to go straight for 4x4 Locked Centre Diff. This threw lots of mud up and I lurched forward then stopped, mud flailing everywhere, I decided backwards. No same situation. Time for Low Ratio and Rear Diff locked too. managed to reverse fair enough back to get one wheel on the tarmac, then it dragged out like a dream. Damn I miss the BFG's I had on the Pajero. I am currently running Duellers (dualers? ) I couldn't warrant replacing 5 brand new tyres when i picked her up but you wait, if i do actually get bogged at anypoint the mrs holiday can screw off, tyres it will be. all in all though happy that it handled the situation even with crappy tyres.

I can't understand people not having sympathy, if it is a road you don't expect 5ft of water. I know of a bridge simmilar to what you are talking about near some of my family in Millhill area of London. We very nearly did a simmilar thing when i was a nipper in the old Agro. however the car infront alerted is to the problem. We would never have known we were all driving at about 15mph as the rain was so heavy and this poor fella just dissapeared infront of us, the gradient on the dip was pretty steep and even at 15mph he was caught off gaurd and sunk his BMW. Off road then tough lucksky, on road i'd have a chat with the council. take the american approach and sue for mental anguish and the fact you are now scared to drive when it is raining

If I were allowed to shoot things that weren't on my list I'd get hundreds of Phesants and Mallard. But......not on the list so I just watch them by. Same with the Deer and Fox. my list is Pigeon, Corvids, Magpie, Rabbit. If your name aint on the list your not coming down. ( I must enquire about squirrel) I won't have time for a proper set up tonight but I might still go for a wander along the hedgerow as it gets dusky.

I am useless at working out how many acres I have, I have two farms (one owner two locations) that I shoot over. He has lots more so I am behaving myself and trying to impress to get some action on some of those too.

Yesterday I think was my best set up for ages. Hide was to my own standards pretty spot on (no wind helped with that) pattern looked good (to me, but i am not a pigeon) and the all was good. except the lack of pigeons. It is the most annoying thing on earth to site there and watch the flock come back straight over you and onto the field you can't shoot. In future i must must must remember to flag and banger the other fields.

sometimes I long for a Tazer in here though. damn i wish i was in the field again today.

I do agree with the "my time". Normally I am the same however today it was so slow I got a little bored and being sat facing a telephone mast the gimp within decided I would check how fast my connection was ( I can't help it) The guys in the office all think i want to live in the field, and now you lot think i want to live in the office. I'll find my happy medium one day

hmm flagging off other fields, Doh! I should have done that today. Nice bag mate. Vastly better tha mine was.

Found a flaw with the Ibone too, It doesn't like gloves at all. Wifey called me and i had to take my gloves off to answer it, but a good excuse or ignoring it though

just sorting out dinner now. Roast Tatties and Carrots. Cauli and Broc Cheese. Pigeon crown with streaky bacon roast in port. hmmm where's the port I need to warm up too.

With the advent of more and more 3G phones and people being able to connect anywhere I think we should have more live updates from the field. Today freezing my nuts off (I know dress properly) I had the chance to get out into the fields. Sadly the shooting wasn't blistering action so i thought i'd see if i could keep any of you amused and maybe rub it in if you were at work Should more of us do this. Live action.... Live questions and advice. Or am i just a gimp who really can't get out of the office even when i am in the field?

Sod it light is going. Time to pack up four hours five woodie one crow. Not the best score ever but a day off spent well me thinks. And something for the pot.

Yesterday bloody hundreds and no time. Today all on the field I can't shoot. Too close to road and houses

Smoke time

This is slow three more woodies and a laughable miss

Add one crow

Yep eyes up and down from sky to phone like a loon

Sat in the hide 4 shots. 2 down. Not much moving and cold toes. ******!

Fair point, but i still think things will be better having somoene who shoots and hunts in power, Along with someone we as a country vote for not someone who has just inherited power.

Happily let them continue as long as they are not trying to muscle in on my fields I am happy, I have few enough fields and pigeons at the moment.

I can't wait for the Tories to get in, reppeal the Fox hunting Ban and let the Beaurocrats and Anti's and anyone else spend all thier time and money fighting them again and leave us to what we have always done.

loads round here, not a fodder i am keen on though, mind i suppose it is worth trying again. There are a few things I hate but try everynow and then just to make sure.

i'd have deglazed with home brew Cider but I like the idea. so many pigeons to try in so many ways

Ok I am not professing to this being perfect but we enjoyed it, Ingredients: Pigeon Breast off the bone Diced quite small (used three pigeons/6 breasts) Packet of Bacon (smoked if you like) Some Black Pudding, 1 Red Onion 1 Packet of Chestnut Mushrooms. 2 cloves of Garlic. 2 Table spoons of Crème Fraiche pint of stock (I used lamb, but chicken would do) thickening agent (I just used flour) Filo Pastry sheets. Method (in my madness) Take a pie dish and line with Filo pastry and put in a pre heated oven till it is crispy (if you have pastry beads, pasta or whatever to hold its shape while cooking ok but I didn't bother) While the pastry is cooking in the pie dish, heat a couple of spoons of olive oil in a frying pan till hot, chuck in the onion and start to cook, try not to make it go brown. (5 mins ish) Throw in the chopped up mushrooms (chopped quite finely) leave to cook down a bit (another 5 mins or so) thrown in the bacon Diced up. keep tossing it all about in a Chef like manner for about 5 mins (check the pastry) add a little more oil if needed (I added a little bit of toasted sesame seed oil, it goes really nice with the mushrooms) crumble up the black pudding and put into the frying pan. carry on being a ***** again for about 5 mins. The mushrooms should be cooking down nicely now and everything starting to look a little cooked. Throw in the diced pigeon you don't want to overcook the pigeon at this point so again about, yes you've guessed it about 5 mins) add the stock let it simmer add the crème fraiche and thicken as required to a sort of stroganoff consistency. Check to see if it needs seasoning, the black pud and bacon might be salty enough but... each to their own) take out the pastry from the oven, hopefully it isn't ******. Pour the contents of frying pan into the pastry casing, (this is where you realise the frying pan is much larger than the pastry case you've made) then cover with more filo pastry, brush with an egg stab a couple of holes in the top, chuck in the oven until the pastry is golden crispy. serve with seasonal veg.