Fisherman Mike

That Sir, is photography of the highest order !

More fortuitous than convenient actually...she just happened to be canvassing in the village and didn't single me out individually. Thanks for you interest nonetheless.

I was watching the dreadful events on the TV from Nepal when the door bell rang.... It was the local UKIP candidate and a couple of her oppos canvassing for votes... Her; "Hello Im.........local UKIP candidate....our policies are immigration blah blah blah...... illegal immigrants....blah blah blah...Europe...blah blah blah....." Me; "Sorry let me stop you there ...just step in side a second and have a look at these pictures....you want a cessation to foreign aid do you not".... Her; "well er yes...er no... er well...er blah blah blah...." Me; "If I were you I would get down the job centre and start looking for a proper job."

Yes Me...and several. one which sticks in my mind was a horse he rode for Toby Balding in the early stages of his career. He was booting it, pushing it, whipping it as soon as they started.. cant remember what it was called but it was out with the washing three out and managed to get up and win by a head.. Brilliant ride. I cant speak highly enough of the man. We eulogise about the likes of Grace, Bradman, Ruth, Mathews, Moore, Best, Nicklaus, Laver, Ali, Liston, Fangio, Moss etc...all great sportsmen from another era, but here's one form ours, right at the very top of the tree.. I feel privileged to have seen him ride may times and it will be great if I have Grand Children, to be able to tell them I saw the great Sir Anthony McCoy riding in the flesh. We wont see his like in our life time

Got it in one...its a media set up... it will probably go the full distance, both knocked down twice, 1/2 a point in it at the end, loser demanding a rematch... Cant believe people are so gullible. It will be staged like one of those 70,s wrestling matches from the Town Hall, Bolton.

Terrible situation..

Lets be honest would you really expect her to know anything about pigeon and other game shooting, I'm sure Mrs SACKS like most politicians, have more serious issues to worry about other than the weekend pastime of a absolute minority. What do you know about regional politics. ? You might have got a better response if you actually got her name right which is a little disappointing given you live in the same rural location.

I know it sounds strange but the woodland would be within the jurisdiction of a Local Planning Authority and you may in fact need Planning Permission. My first port of call therefore would be the Local Authority. They would normally request impact studies from an environmental specialist in line with the recommendations of one of the bodies you mentioned in your post.

Best PM since Churchill...could do with someone of her stature, determination and grit now. Even Nige is a big admirer.. I think she was used as a scapegoat by the militants when she died, just to try and deflect attention from the mess the Labour Party had got us into. Wasn't afraid to make tough decisions and stand by the outcome good or bad Plus she did something the English football team could never do... wupped the Argies and sent them back to Buenos Aries with their tales between there legs.

Show me someone who wouldn't do the same given the opportunity and I will send you a pound of rocking horse ****

I agree its a global humanitarian problem not a national political one...

It bore an incredible resemblance to No. 10 Downing street...

Yes that always amused me too...had the pleasure of conversing with Wedgie once in a hotel in Bath..he was an extremely articulate and intelligent orator..I think he would of made a very good PM of any denomination. Sadly apart from the late John Smith and perhaps Will Hague we have had no real Statesmen in politics for many years. All of the current crop are an insipid lot.

Quite...I'm sure KW and the other Kippers are pretty thick skinned...im here representing the minority being bullied, too shy or feeble to stand up to the nasty boys in the playground....Shouldnt worry about Timotei he's from Somerset...Strong in arm and thick in head...Us Cotswold boys have to put them in place now and again for stealing our sheep....you wouldnt believe what they do to them !

Cider intoxication? Mods please don't lock the thread down because Timotei has called me a total ****....I don't want to press charges and forgive him his deficiencies...He's from Somerset

Yeah....don't turn up !

I'm saddened by it to be honest. I grew up in the remote Cotswolds in the 60's surrounded by towering Elm trees that I will never see again in my lifetime. Each tree was a haven for such a diverse and spectacular range of fauna. To think that we might lose another bastion of the woodland similarly is very disturbing. Horse chestnut trees are at risk too it seems. Surely if we can put a man on the moon we can find some scientific way of dealing these diseases a fatal blow.

That's the fantastic news we were all hoping for Terry...I'm sure you know your wife has been in our thoughts the last few Months. That's made my week. (Nay Year)

Now your talking !

OK sorry I will re phrase that .... at the Farming Industries door step...however many Farmers continued using them even after it was found that they were harmful I'm afraid.

Ha ! exposed for the contradictory and hypocritical bigot you are ..... game set and match to me I'm afraid...take it like a man.... at least I could respect you for it.

Im afraid I must admit I cant trump you on that one KW...your the King. Just watching your Idol getting demolished by a second rate journo on BBC WEST......Looks like a dead man walking.

Mackerel sushi straight from sea to gob in under a minute is very nice ...squeeze of lime juice and splash of soy... very nice. Used to always sushi the first catch of the day.

Stock dove populations dived big time in the 60’s & 70’s this decline was put firmly at the Farmers door because it coincided with the widespread use of organochloride in pesticides like DDT and also similar in seed dressings. The recovery has been strong since the product has been banned but it can take years for the effects of such organic compounds to leave the body. Some people who ingested cereals or foodstuffs contaminated with OG’s in the 70’s still show high residual levels now. It’s not just the Stock Dove which suffered either, Corn buntings, Grey partridge, Corncrakes, Finches even the humble Sparrow all were exposed to various degrees. The simple method of identification is to look for the white neck ring, if its got one it will be a wood pigeon (unless it’s a young woody) The flight too is quite distinctive. If you shoot regularly you will soon be able to tell the difference between the flight of a Dove and that of a Wood Pigeon. Rock Doves are generally found only in cliff side coastal areas and are getting increasingly scarce.

Excellent photo..thanks for sharing.... Aren't birds just great...if they ever banned shooting and fishing I would still be twitcher. Might be disappointed for a while but not for long