lxtav

Wife has an Irish Cob that is likely to be joined by another one as it's getting old and is all but retired. She did do some things with it but not much and my 4 year old, although he loves the horse and wants to ride it all the time, appears to be more intrested in tractors and planes.

I have a vested intrest in this and am going to have to work an extra 8 years which I am not happy about as when I took the job I accepted all the restrictions placed on me as I knew I would be getting a good pension as a rewards for this. However the one thing that is really annoying me is the lies and spin that the government has been putting on everything to justify their arguments and just ignoring all the other research and ideas as stupid and they know everything. For example The Gov has stated that police and public sector pensions need reform as they were outdated - The police pensions were reformed in 2006 making them less generous and on track to be cost neutral to the tax payer in about 15-20 years time (same as firefighters). The Gov said public sector pension are unaffordable - The percentage of the countryies GDP that public sector pensions use up is due to drop over the coming years despite the pensions bill going up so how are they unaffordable as they will be paying less in real terms not more. The Gov picked and choose what bits of the public sector pensions to talk about when asked to justify their argument they were unaffordable using the lump sums from the police pensions where 13% is paid in by employees but the contribution rates of some civil servants at 1.5- 3.5%. You cannot pick and choose bits from schemes that are totally different and then use them as a evidence to justify an argument. It is like taking the price of a Mini and the fuel consuption of a Ferrari to justify an argument that all cars are cheap and very inefficent to justify an argument to raise petrol prices to tackle global warming. This was all done in an effort to black list anyone who gets or is going to get a public sector pension with everyone else as greedy and out of touch with the facts of the current financial situation(did the same with NHS reform saying the critics didn't care about patients and were basically heartless). Instead of thinking about the public sector pensions being two generous maybe it's the other way round and its the private sector pensions that are the problem being too low as the pension pots have been getting raided by the gov and the companies for their own ends over the years. I generally don't trust a word a politician says but especially not this lot who appear to me to be totally out of touch with reality and of the mindset that we know whats best for you lower classes so don't moan and do as you are told. You have them being told that it is impossible for the police (In England and Wales as the Scottish Gov actually likes the police) to take 20% cuts and not cut frontline policing or have an increse in the crime rate. Despite the Gov saying they were all talking rubbish you now have crime down south increasing and frontline policing being cut (but it is the fault of the Chief Constables not the Gov apparently) where as in Scotland where the cuts have been less crime is falling and there are more cops than before. The NHS is another example as Doctors, nurses and basically everyone bar the MP's state the health reforms are a bad idea and will all but destroy the NHS and again no your talking rubbish we know best. I tended to broadly agree when this lot were voted in (or not) that we had to cut back and that everyone had to do their bit but I don't agree with the hatchet job on the economy and pig headedness to listen to reason about possible problems that their ideas may bring.

Seems that when the bales are stacked they leave them alone. Have the bale sitting on its on and its bye bye. Also they now seem more intrested in the barley fields getting cut. Also forgot you could use a ladder trap.

Michael Connarty is my local MP and I will not post any comments I have regarding him as I would like to stay a member on this forum but lets say I never voted for him. Just to top it his ex labour companion in the ward next door is Eric Joyce (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2133369/Eric-Joyce-gives-astonishing-interview-MP-youll-read.html and astonishingly he is still an MP) so we have a great crop to choose from here.

Depends on what is in your contract terms and conditions and what the calls are. If it is the odd call now and then asking an odd question or if you wanted to do some last minute overtime you would not have a leg to stand on. However if it is several calls every day asking lots of questions then that would be a different matter and verging on harrasment.

My father and I both have small holdings and they are just under 1 mile apart with several other holdings between us. He has just baled Haylage and when I visit there it's like a scene from the birds with the last time I was there must have been about 60-70 crows on the power lines. The problem is the crows are pecking holes in the bale wrap and another neighbour had to re wrap 350 bales due to this. I know that I can shoot the crows at my fathers as they are damaging the bales but the question is can I shoot them on my ground as well. I have no haylage bales (we use the hay we make for the horse instead) at my holding and all the crows do is throw the horse dung about in the field (which is very annoying when trying to pick it up) looking for insects to eat. Does the general licence only cover the location where the damage is being caused or can I shoot them in my field as well as I know they are causing the damage at another location nearby. Unfortunately the crows being so clever they are nesting in a National Trust for Scotland estate that does not allow shooting so the numbers are growing rapidly and the fields around are not big enough to use a shotgun in due to proximity of roads and the other holdings so it can only be done slowly with an airgun.

Well done to him knew it had to happen sometime. If he has been learning over the past four major finals maybe this time he will learn to do it in three sets not five.

My thoughts exactly. It looks like they have bought the old plans for the Isuzu when it got it's facelift as even the interior was virtually exact but my concern was it may look like the isuzu but does it have the build quality of the isuzu and only time will tell. As you say the chinese are very good at copying other cars but were not all that good at building them. Remember being told years ago that the chinese were very good at 30yrd architecture i.e looks well built and impressive from 30yrds away but come closer and you can see how poor the quality really is. The chinese do seem to be getting better at building things for the western markets and it will be intresting to see what the Steed is like in two or three years time and if it can take the punishment that most of the current Pick ups take just now.

Seen one recently and appeared to be the same as my 2006 isuzu rodeo with just a different badge on it. If it is the same will be a great motor.

Job done. Just needed a ramp and a big power bar with a stocky mechanic hanging off the end of it.

Had a call about 10 years ago at the station when I was working nightshift from a householder who wanted us to go up to the field behind his house and tell the farmer to stop combining the barley as it was 2am. It was a very wet year and all the farmers were out all night just to get it in as it was better to get it in and pay to dry it than let it rot in the field. Politely told them no as it was only for one night of the year and they went off on one demanding to speak to the Sgt who incidently told them the same thing i.e don't by a house next to a field and complain about the noise of the combine. Funny never got another call from them. Think "Townie" is a rather generic term as you get people in towns who are as rural as they come but just happen to live in a town and people in the country who have no idea what goes on there. I grew up on our own and uncles smallholdings with my uncle keeping pigs and we had sheep although my dad did have a full time job and it was more of a hobby but I loved it. Still do as you get to play with some great big toys when cutting the fields. I get really wound up at anyone who lives in a town or in the country who things milk and bacon comes from a supermarket and have no idea how it got there. Also can't stand to see good arable ground wasted by being built on or as has happened just down the road from me where the new folk planted thousands of trees on an 8 acre field and don't cut the grass leading to thousands of thisltes and ragwort (not good in the hay field) popping up.

Nope stopped before we got anywhere near that point and made sure the sockets (were 8 flats) were a perfect fit. Would appear that the bolts are not only rusted in but also stuck in with loctite just to add to the problems.

I've got a 2006 Isuzu Rodeo and the front discs are totally shot. It's only done 41,000 miles but most of the time its pulling a loaded 3 ton trailer or the horse box so the front discs get hammered and covered in everything as most of the time it is pulling through the mud out a field. Nice easy job to do changed many sets of front discs over the years and my uncle is a mechanic to trade so no probs there. Or so we thought. Got the callipers off on the drivers side and freed a stuck bolt that was stopping the callipers moving properly when the brakes were applied. One of the discs disintegrated with the lining coming off and spliting in two so thought good job i'm changing the pads and discs also think there is a stuck piston on the passenger side but again no big problem to sort. But it did pass it's MOT recently so thay can't be that bad. Next job get the two bolts out that hold the caliper bracket to the hub off and thats where the problems started. Wouldn't shift with a ring spanner, not a problem expected it to be rusted in a bit so give it a squirt of WD40 and wait a bit for it to do its thing. Still wouldn't budge. Next came a bit of pole to extend the spanner not a jot of movement and was going to break the spanner. More WD40 and an air powered impact wrench and still nothing. After about half a tin of WD40 and 3 days of trying to shift them we have given up as the only option left is to heat them up and we have run out of Oxy-Acetalyne. Hopefully Plan B will work as we have a garage just up the road that sorts cars and Lorrys and the boy that owns it is friends with my uncle and related to my mother. Just dropped it off and they are going to have a go at it this afternoon and good luck to them. As my uncle pointed out we would end up either rounding the nuts or shearing them off which would start a whole new world of problems so let them deal with it as they have bigger and more powerful impact wrenches for using on the lorries. Just got to see how long it takes and wait for the enevitable big bill to come in when it's done.

Another member of the shift who is under 25 wondering how we coped with just 3 TV channels and not the 900 odd on sky we have now as he grew up with Sky. Also suddenly realising that your old enough to be the father of the 20 year old that has just joined your shift.

Would not say if they were right or wrong as i wasnt there or in possession of the intelligence regarding the car and occupants. Its very easy to lay blame when sitting at home having time to go over what had happened when you only know bits and pieces of what happened. Totally different when confronted with a situation and possibly have intelligence stating they were armed and ready to fire and you have a split second to make a decision. We should see what comes out of the inquiry before nailing anyone to the wall.

Not buying a much bigger gun cabinet. Other than that dont have any regrets so far.

I have a small folding dog cage and mat we bought recently but it is just too small for the dog. It has never been used and is in its box. It is 41cm high x 56 cm wide, 33cm deep. Looking for £30 posted.

Had them fly down the Firth of Forth past my parents house a few years ago when they were dong a flypast at a local event and I have just read they are doing the same again this year. It was a Lancaster, Spitfire and a Hurricane that time and was the best sound ever. As we are under the flightpath for Edinburgh Airport we used to get Concorde flying over now and then. What a noise that made but it was a great sight and one that I will sadly miss. Just sorry my plane daft 4 year old won't see it fly over although he has seen and been on it in the museum.

The painting as requested. Most of the pictures in our house are horse related and this does look good in the living room.

Its got a double trigger and can not wait to try it.

Was at Blair Horse Trials at the weekend and there was one stand with guns on it. Was banned from buying anything by my wife as I had just bought a Stoeger X20 Supressor for the rabbits in the field. However saw a Baikal SxS for £50 and started dropping subtle hints about it. Wife then agreed to let me have a look at it and after a bit of a look she agreed that as it was only £50 I was allowed to buy it as she would be able to use it on the couple of of times she comes to the clay ground with me as it is a lot lighter than my O/U. Its a bit rough with a small chip out of the top of the stock but the bores are in great shape and it is very tight on the face and was only £50. Also got a pal with a farm out in Argyll that has said next time you come down bring the gun. Good excuse for having a knockabout gun for a bit of rough shooting in the woods while there. However it did cost me a £135 painting for the livingroom that I have to admit is very nice. I thought its not bad for £50. What fills the rest of the cabinet (forgive the rubbish picture). Just need to get a Semi to complete the collection I think.

Our first dog was a collie/lab cross from a rescue centre and he was brilliant and every body that met him loved him. Our current dog although not from a rescue centre was from a neighbour who due to health problems had to cut back on his shooting and was looking for a home for a 18 month old Jack Russel. As they knew whe had just had our last dog put down as it had suffered what appeared to be a stroke it was offered to us first. One of the best decisions we have ever made. Say what you like about terriers being yappy and nippy she is absolutly brilliant around kids and you what not believe what she puts up with. So would I get a dog from a rescue centre, Yes I Would.

Anyone going to the Blair Castle Horse Trials this weekend. My wife and her TREC buddies (very simply Orienteering on horseback and obstacles to show how much control you have over the horse) are doing a couple of displays there and I've been dragged along to help set up. You can't miss us as we will have Blue TREC SCOTLAND T-shirts on. I'll be the one looking fed up probably as I try and sneek off to the two stands with anything to do with shooting. If your passing come over and have a look and say hello.

If he gets extradited or not is immaterial at the moment as he has skipped bail and should be treated the same as any other person who does that. If you are innocent and are on bail while awaiting trial you do what the bail conditions say if you don't you have broken UK law and should be dealt with as such. In my opinion that should take precedence over the extradition. He is just using this situation as a grandstand for him to preach his ideas (I'm not swayed either way as to him being right or wrong). As far as I am concerned he has broken UK law by breaching his bail and should be arrested and tried for that and take the consequences of his actions. What will we have next everyone accused of a crime either here or abroad making their way to the nearest embassy to seek asylum to avoid justice.

Its very sad and i hope i am never in that position. However i can also see where the judge is coming from about setting a dangerous precedent if he had allowed the case. It was a definate no win situation for everyone.