chrisjpainter

Are there lots of woodpeckers in the vicinity? You might find it worthwhile to get a metal panel around the hole, similar to this one. It stops woodpeckers enlarging the hole and then stealing the chicks out of it...

Looks good! Next step size it up and make an owl box!

Not watched much football from La Liga, Ligue 1 or Serie A then, have you? If you think we're bad, try watching a few league matches from Spain or France!

The one I couldn't fathom was taking Saka off for Stirling. Saka was the brightest spark by far; the one player who'd constantly turned the French defence. Whereas Stirling came on and barely did anything except overhit a couple of crosses. He only landed in Qatar yesterday after what must have been a few unpleasant days back home. There's no way his head was clear enough to play in a cauldron of a World Cup Quarter. Baffling

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As above. In great condition and a perfect feeder/light carp, or specialist reel. Manufacturer's features blurb: ATD Drag Tough Digigear DS4 Body & Rotor Air Rotor Crosswrap Infinite Anti-Reverse £40+ postage UNLESS someone wants to swap for the exact same reel, but in 5000 size? then we could do a deal!

Berkley X9 Braid 40lb in dark green. This is brand new. I'd been saving it to go on a new baitcaster, but in the end I've gone back to my ready-spooled fixed spool reel for my new pike setup. Very decent braid and a full, untouched 300m £25 plus postage

Perhaps, but when Kiwi Brendan McCullum walked into the dressing room as coach of England's test team, he put together a plan to completely dismantle New Zealand in our series this summer, including specific plans for specific batters, based on weaknesses he'd seen in players when they were his teammates! I can't imagine a coach selection panel for Australia rugby looking at Jones' CV and thinking 'ah yeah, he failed to win against us when he coached the English, that's the man for us!' Surely a coach would want to retain his credibility, regardless of the club or country. A world class coach would do the best he can regardless of the team, or he ain't going to be world class for long.

I don't think they had any choice. Plus what's the sense in waiting? If they left it until after the new year, it's not long before the Six Nations is upon us at the beginning of February. One month isn't long to sack someone, find the right replacement and then have him settle in to his role and for the players to understand a new coach's strategies before the first game on the 4th of February. If it were done, better it done quickly. He's gone already. Meet the new boss...same as the old boss. Gatland's replaced him!

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Which limbs are you needing? I'm sure I could find some off some waif or stray. child or adult sized?

Is there any chance this fight was booked purely so Fury could show off in front of Usyk?

This is frankly a bit depressing. It's pitiful how big the gap in class is. Fury's just too good in every area. 😴

It's happening tonight. I thought I couldn't care less about this fight. Then I saw this. How tacky can boxing get? Good grief. Stoppage or points win for Fury. Another loss but another paycheque for Chisora. And an all round pointless evening. Or is it going to be a classic?

Outside the jokes section, @loriusgarrulusactually talks sense This is the best idea. I've got some of @mel b's wife's kit leatherwork and it's top notch

No one did inter-band wars like Fleetwood Mac. A sad day indeed. Time to fire up rumours. Another classic album sadly written before I was even born!

Lucky dip chutneys. you do a big batch of sausage rolls and then fill them with lots of interesting chutneys - including apple sauce of you're that way inclined - and then mix 'em up. You're never quite sure what the next one will taste like, but assuming you match the flavours well, they'll all be tasty.

13 Fishing Inception Baitcaster LHW This has come from a Daiwa Prorex AGS, but I'm returning to fixed spool reels so this is surplus to requirements. Never been used in salt water and works faultlessly. For an extra £10 I'll fill it with 58lb J-braid. Left hand wind and Gear Ratio 6.6:1 £50ono, plus postage if needed

Well, I've got Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come stuck in my head because you mentioned 'been a long time' so that's not new. We're still arguing over Brexit, so that's not changed. But I've lost count of our Prime Minister changes, so...we're probably right back where we all were three years ago. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

First picture mate It does indeed.

What are you using? A computer with windows 10/11? Mac? mobile phone?

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This could be part of a growing trend. In the last few years, some swallows have jacked in this whole migration business in favour of toughing out our milder winters over having to crossing the Sahara. Twice. The Sahara's been expanding for years now. This puts pressure on the swallows' migration and in particular stop-off watering holes. these are scarcer and less likely to give all the need to cross the bigger expanse. Instead, we're seeing more birds just migrating to our coastlines and feeding off coastal invertebrates, or staying in small colonies near water where insects may still be around. The pay off is IF they can survive, they're here earlier and make more use of the breeding season as well as not have to worry about the availability of water or the dangers of a full migration. One cold snap could be disastrous, but the more winters they survive doing that the more hardened they become. So watch this space...

@pokey I'm Just a teensy bit South East of Dorchester, if that helps? A place called Broadmayne

As above. The best chub rod I've owned. It's in great condition and comes in its original case. One top section's a 1.25lb TC specialist tip, the other's a quiver with both 2oz and 3oz tips. Great for chub, tench and bream as well as silvers. I would keep it, but 12ft's just a bit long for my needs now. Recommended line 4-8lb £45ono pick up only - unless you can arrange delivery for a 6ft tube, in which case postage is extra