Miserableolgit

Been there, done that thanks 🤔

My thoughts as well, it’s something I will be querying with our vet Monday. I also understand that there is hearsay evidence of some canines reacting poorly to L4.

No resolutions but if I had to make one it would be to buy another 25" SxS sidelock.

Without getting into a debate about who does or does not get their working dogs vaccinated and why as in 60+ years of multi working dog ownership I've more than likely heard and read all the pro's and cons before. For those that do get their dogs jabbed have you heard anything about the Lepto 2 vaccine being discontinued so the only choice now will be Lepto 4.

I'm pleased that you have changed your mind. Onwards and upwards. Illegitimi non carborundum.

All the best for 2025 Simon and thanks for all the videos! Steve

I no longer subscribe to any shooting magazines but took out a sub to Scribehound last year, but some of the content on there is loosing my interest.

Happy Christmas! Here's to a happy, and above all healthy New Year!

I never had a Mk1 escort but drove them occasionally, I was never tempted to buy one. I wouldn't mind another Mk1 Granada...

Absolutely.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv381edvg9o "Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham and former Green Party MP Caroline Lucas have quit as president and vice-president of the RSPCA after a campaign group alleged animal cruelty at some of the charity's approved list of abattoirs. Animal Rising released footage from facilities as part of its investigation into the RSPCA's "Assured Scheme" which certifies farms, food producers and food retailers that meet its specific animal welfare standards. In response, the RSPCA said it takes allegations of poor animal welfare "incredibly seriously". The charity said it was "simply not true" that it had not taken urgent action, adding unannounced visits had been significantly increased, and use of bodyworn cameras and CCTV was also being explored. In its most recent investigation, Animal Rising singled out four abattoirs where it said "experts found systemic animal cruelty". It said its investigators had found that "in one slaughterhouse 85% of pigs were stunned incorrectly, leaving animals conscious during slaughter, and in another 96% of cows were prodded with an electric goad, a practice banned by the RSPCA, and 46% of cows showed clear signs of panic or escape behaviours. "There was also frequent verbal and physical abuse from workers, and animals watching in terror and panic as other animals were killed or stunned in front of them." In a statement posted on Animal Rising's website, Packham said he was prioritising his "love for animals above all else" and was stepping down immediately, following the "irrefutable evidence of abuse uncovered". He accused the RSPCA of making "no meaningful change" after "years of raising concerns about salmon farming and tirelessly pushing for reform within the Assured Schemes". "I believe the charity has lost sight of its mandate to protect all animals from cruelty and suffering," he added. In a separate statement, Lucas said: "The recent horrific revelations of abuse at RSPCA-approved slaughterhouses, filmed undercover by Animal Rising, were the final straw for me. "The systemic cruelty exposed was unbearable to witness. "While the RSPCA's response was to suspend the implicated facilities and launch yet another investigation, they failed to confront the deeper flaws of the scheme itself. "This approach not only fails to uphold their own standards but also risks misleading the public and legitimising cruelty." In a statement, the RSPCA said: "We agree with Chris and Caroline on so many issues and have achieved so much together for animals but we differ on how best to address the incredibly complex and difficult issue of farmed animal welfare. "We have discussed our work to drive up farmed animal welfare standards openly at length with them on many occasions and it is simply not true that we have not taken urgent action. "We took allegations of poor welfare incredibly seriously, launching an independent review of 200 farms which concluded that it was 'operating effectively' to improve animal welfare. "We are taking strong steps to improve oversight of welfare, implementing the recommendations in full including significantly increasing unannounced visits, and exploring technology such as bodyworn cameras and CCTV, supported by £2m of investment."

I used to buy a lot from the USA, customs charges if items were sent via US mail and turned over to UK post. were applied randomly. Nowadays electronic scanning means that goods over a modest value have charges applied as a matter of course. Much depends on what the sender states the items are and the right code is entered on the declaration docs. However the authorities do have a handle on current item values, and of course have internet access to research them too. For high value items I reckon on paying charges at least 1/4 of the total of the declared / actual value of the shipment. Another anachronism of Parcelforce is the fact that your items are valued for customs charges centrally then forwarded to your regional depot. They will then send you a letter detailing the charges, you then pay these online (or at your regional depot) after which they will release the item for delivery to you.

Bit blowy here in S. Norfolk this evening but it's subsiding now. Nothing to write home about here really. Rain most of the day though, our land was already a tad wet. I remember walking the woods after the storm in October '87 looking for damage to the pens, checking wires, traps etc and finding disoriented birds all over the shop. I remember my old chap opening the back door back door the winter of 63/62 to find a solid wall of snow from top to bottom which continued along the porch, around the corner and out the back. The shovels etc were in the shed which was cut off so tools were borrowed from somewhere or other.

Good luck MM!

Cracking shooting.