SNS

At last, we have a complete team. The weather forecast looks ideal. And breakfast is booked. I'm already looking forward to SABS write up, OJW's video footage and PC's photo of himself by the bag. And a record number of pigeons shot alongside the pheasants.......

Many thanks all - I've ordered a pedal lock that locks over all the pedals and seems to have decent reviews Ditchman- I fear you confuse me with someone that knows anything about cars ! I think I may get a tracker fitted too - I'm actually not leaving it for long, only over night on a couple of occasions and one of those is at a fairly remote shoot lodge, so is just my hotel in Wales to worry about. Fingers crossed if it does go, the thief is unable to cope with the position of the heated sports seats and momo steering wheel and gives up within 5 miles.

Just occurred to me I've a couple of back to back days coming up next month and so my beloved Defender will be staying away from home. Which means I probably ought to beef up its security. So, fellow Defender owners, what do you have / recommend please ?

Freaked my little boy out initially, but he was enthralled by the end ! Many thanks - Merry Christmas

Anyone want to treat themselves for Christmas to this ? Otherwise Mrs SNS is taking the 8th peg !

I'd have done the same. And did so yesterday when shooting with clients. As did most of the other guns as far as I could see. Which probably contributed greatly to our 1299 shot count, and to much laughter from our host, as clearly we missed most of them

Hopefully 8. Currently 6.....

Its true. I have sloe gin, damson gin, raspberry gin, Kings ginger and damson vodka. And a case of Chapel Down Brut (with a nod to the other thread about whether to have a nip whilst shooting or not).

Sounds more like Manic Monday to me, at least in those 10, 15 mins bursts. True dedication once again though - the rain looked appalling from my office window looking South of Brum - very well done Sir !

Amarone all the way. I shall be drinking that on Christmas Day

Dear All I have been tasked with organising a driven day for a team of guns formed from some of the PW illuminati. The team consists of some of the finest shots on PW. And me. However, whilst some of our team are undoubtedly accomplished shots as far as their prowess from a hide, they have never had a day shooting 'pretty birds'. My job is to rectify this. Whilst keeping their identities under my (medium sized) hat. For now. Our needs are simple. Ideally we would like to shoot within an hour or so of the Forest of Arden. But would travel further for some fabulous shooting. Or less expensive birds. A bag of around 100 each is nothing as far as some of the team are concerned when shooting pigeon. They would even neatly arrange them for the photo. But our budget for this driven day dictates we would probably need to shoot just that between us. Unless that Vegas win was particularly large. We have our own 4x4s (dare I say some of the best Defenders seen on here ?), our own vintage champagne and are capable of bringing our own sandwiches too so are not overly concerned with the provision of lunch or gun bus. Naturally if you are serving Chateau Petrus but charging just £25 a bird we probably will stop for lunch. Some of the team even have fabulous dogs that I suspect will form part of the day too. So the question is PW massive, can you help ? Do you run such a shoot that could accommodate us ? Do you know a friendly keeper that could do us a deal ?(We are reasonably flexible on dates, subject to flight lines on permissions of course). Notwithstanding the day job I'm hopeless at counting so we may not yet have a full team. In which case applications for the remaining space(s) may also be entertained in due course. PM me please if you have anything suitable. I'm shooting a 300 bird day tomorrow (report to follow) but will be back online by Sunday to reply. Many thanks in advance......

Quality cake ! Belated happy birthday to you - great work in Vegas by the sounds of things

Mightily impressive to get out in that weather - I've 2 new permissions but even the excitement of those couldn't persuade me out in the rain - I take my (not JDog sized) hat off to you both

Surely if he wasn't making any profit he would charge £10 including VAT as that is what it actually cost him - if he is VAT registered then he gets to recover the £1.67 VAT Screwfix charged him so only needs to charge £8.33 (plus VAT) so as to break even

At 5p a bag, the cupboard by our sink is worth about £3k currently I think However Mrs SNS tells me that Ocado will collect any plastic bags (not just theirs) and give us 5p per bag. Watch this space......

Wow. Just wow. Bought some last week on a quick trip to their place just outside Padstow ( where we had gone for some of Mr Stein's ubiquitous fish and chips) and have just opened the first bottle in order to toast a successful days simulated shooting - it's a truly amazing drop. It's without doubt the best 'champagne' I've drunk in many a year, and I'm fortunate enough to have worked my way through most of the grand marques, and many lesser known gems in that time. It's complementing my Hollands Steak & Kidney pudding ( I'm a Northerner through and through) rather splendidly and will easily pair with the bar of chocolate I'm trying to wrestle from the wife thereafter. Go buy some is my strong advice. But leave some for me as am planning on a large order on Monday !

Firstly, I have to say Steve is a quality stuffer. Hopefully I've spelt that right...... Secondly I should add that I gave him the 'honour' of shooting first in our team of three - and boy did he set the standard. He wasn't far from his much wanted 100 bird day on the first drive. There would have be no point to photos though as most of them were reduced to dust. I barracked him as much as I could but he only missed a couple. And so it continued all day really. I got very lucky with my shooting so did manage to connect with a few. I've never done a simulated day before and it was absolutely bloo** brilliant - I can only echo what steve says above. I would question its realism though to an actual driven day - I miss miles more on those ! I have never seen a 65 yard snipe nailed before ( he was too modest to mention his shot above I see), but the guy running the shoot insisted that is what Stevegy pulled off just after lunch with one of those 50mm jobs. He liked my Defender so much he left his fleece in the back. I'm thinking of auctioning it off for the PW charity - offers invited.....

Have a look at the money saving expert website - there is a tool on there that will show you where you will get the best rates etc

That's a fair old bend in the rod. Similar to the bend in the carp you must have managed in order to fit it in your net ! Well done sir. Though that one stevyg posted earlier in the summer looked bigger.......

Cowley Manor is a lovely spot with a great spa. And just down the road from Ian Coleys place

Hmmmm, tempting - I lived just outside Oldham in Saddleworth for many years. And played rugby for Oldham Where abouts in Manchester / Cheshire are you ?

You'd have to go some to miss as many as I have with it !

I think if you can be bothered to Google (I can't) the Govt has been setting out reconciliations for some years as regards its receipts (principally taxes) and its expenditure- so you can see where it goes As for your son paying for 'their' error I just don't see that. He's had more than he should have been paid. He needs to pay it back. On the assumption he gets a reasonable period to repay then that seems more than fair. The sooner people grasp that public money is not some bottomless pit the better

I've got one, 30 inch barrels, and can't shoot with it at all - drives me insane !