Uilleachan

For that budget look at the seiko automatic (mechanical) range. £250 will get a decent watch.

^^^ That. Vehicle and all running costs, phone (get a separate phone for work) commercial 3rd party insurance, personal accident insurance, your pension, accounts etc. The norm we used was 150% on top of what was paid in wages, Self employed and no premises you could possibly go half of that say 75% for overhead, so £20 per hour plus £15, would give you an hourly rate of £35. A good accountant would be able to let you know, once you're up and running, fairly quickly, if you were too low. The thing to keep in mind regarding an hourly rate is, everything you do and every expense incurred has to be paid out of that rate. Taking calls after hours, time taken ordering/fetching materials, not getting paid etc.

Sounds like you'd have met him, sometimes in uniform sometimes not, but he'd have been one of your occasional bigwigs. I worked for an Egyptian Company and for us, me in particular, getting a harbour pass to travel off shore, by boat or chppoer, always came down to cash as our company were always trying to cut corners, unless the captain was able to intervene on our behalf there's be a few quid involved. The captain had his price too and for us that meant giving him lifts in the company pickup, to and fro his base round the corner from us to either Hurghada or Ras Gharib, that little service certainly greased the wheels for us. He was quite a card and pals with our top company guy on the ground, so I'd see quite a bit of him when he was around, perhaps he was keeping an eye on me. I put his hitchhiking down to a combination of his keeping on top of his own charges by them never knowing when he'd appear, and perhaps a little personal security, by maintaining a completely random travel and vehicle occupancy schedule. Checking the diary it was the end of March through to the first week of April when I was last there, 23-24LE to the £1. Costs are up, but the exchange rate more than makes up for it. Imports were expensive, so it's fortunate I quite like Egyptian Stella

The most highly valued commodity in Egypt at the moment is the humble tourist, quite scarce and sought after, the country depends on tourism and everyone, government opposition locals et al are keen to look after what remains of this sector, which has been decimated of late. Was back in Egypt a couple of months back, in Alex, exchange rate was fantastic best I've ever seen it, and whilst prices are up it's still cheaper than it was in my time. The risk of islamist terrorist attack is statistically minuscule much much more likely to be killed on the road or choke on a fish bone. Hurghada isn't my favourite place, too touristy but more local than Sharm. However if a body was looking to travel to Sharm, the Hurghada to Alexandria Egypt air flight (2 or 3 a day) stops off in Sharm and takes 20mins, there's a ferry too but the flight is easier. Getting to Sharm and back is easy from Hurghada. silver pigeon69, did you ever come across Captain Nihad? Harbour Police boss for Ras Gharab - Harghada - Sharm, and that part of the Gulf of Suez. I had a few years in that part of the world, working for a diving company (commercial) in related work on the adjacent, to Sharm, oil business. Loved it and the people, I even miss it from time to time.

No complaint from me. Pay chump change, get a chump

The only hardline remainders are the Libdems, and they haven't shown face. Labour are courting the collapsed kipper vote and are backing a Tory-esque style brexit (as things seem at the moment) sans customs union & single market. The Nats have arrived at a compromise position and are now favouring remaining in the customs union & single market, which has wide support in Scotland and quite a bit of UK cross party support, despite the writ of the various whips. It's never a good position entering any negotiation having badmouthed the other party, if I was May I'd be reigning in those loose ministerial lips. Successful negotiation is a compromise that suits all parties, where each party win enough concession to make those they lose ground on acceptable, or sellable, to their support. The "go whistle" quip, whilst a fairly regular negotiation starting position and whilst such euphemism may appeal to many in the gallery, can easily be misinterpreted as being offensive by people for whom English is a 2nd language. It would have been better to say, for example, something like: "thats not a position we can support"

The Union that binds us is political, aka the treaty of union 1707, much as people like to claim; there never was an actual "union" of the crowns. Queen Elizabeth II, of England Wales and Northern Ireland, is actually Queen Elizabeth I of Scotland, although only the most ardent of scots separatists would insist on rebranding her thus up here. That said there was a campaign of vandalising post boxes up here in the 50's, as many people objected to the QER II legend north of the border. Your: as in "your" actual collective, tense.

Yeah, it's only the names that are similar and thats where the similarity ends; Abbot - Abacus. Arithmetic certainly ain't her strong point

... and we know where we are from May Jonson & Co? You're having a laugh

The UK, as a political entity, is a union of two kingdoms a principality and a region. Scotland isn't a region in the same way England isn't. So, in that regard if an Englishman declares himself to be English, I really don't have a problem with it as for me, and the UN, if he was born and bred there that would be an accurate description of nationality. It's the same for the scots and to a lesser degree (because both are really a part of England, won by the sword) Wales & NI. You call Murray a traitor, for taking part in a legal and democratic referendum, yet he didn't plant a bomb under your car or shoot your squaddies. As I mention above, Scotland and England are equal partners in a political union, if one side or the other decides to leave then that is simply the way it is. There's nothing treacherous about that.

Aya #4 28" 1/4 n' 1/2, or 1/4 n' 3/4 circa £400 + or - £200/£100 depending on condition.

It's because Barnier want's to hear the differing views on brexit, from the welsh scots and english opposition, and the n irish if they ever get their acts together and reconvene. Not particularly interested in what Corby has to say for himself, or the welsh executive. Sturgeon met him this morning, so it'll be interesting to hear what she has to say about her meeting. There'll likely be more clarity from her, on the mindset of Barnier himself and therefore that of the EU position, than we've had thus far from the UK government, which to date has amounted to "they can go whistle".

Britain is an island, so all of us who hail from her green and fertile shores are british by dint of geography, regardless of internal nationality and internal constitutional politics. I'm Scottish to the core but there's no escaping that Scotland is a part of the island of Britain, even for a separatist. That said, some of my northern irish colleagues don't like being referred to as irish, but there again thats that there geography for you. No point getting tied up in knots over it. Murray should have retired, losing 13 out of the 15 last games straight, tells he wasn't right.

Highlandladdie, many thanks for that. Your recent experience sounds encouraging. I'm normally a 12, but found the size 11 balmoral with a single insole to be perfect. Next time I'm down the road I think I may just have a look at a new pair, as you say; deals to be had

Go try the different brands and models and go for fit. Above all, hold the manufacturers to their guarantees. Wore wellies at the sharp end of the perpetual west coast deluge for 20+ years, day in day out and was never that fussed about brand. I would never have considered walking more than a mile in wellies if I had the choice. Best thing about wellies was getting them off, at the end of the day. Around 8 years back I bought a pair of hunter balmoral "seconds" from John Norris for £70, based on nothing more than fit, I couldn't believe how they fitted, I was only trying them to humour the sales guy, that and I suppose I was a little curious to checkout the wellie revolution that seemed to be passing me by. Used them on the hill extensively on the shorter 5 or 6 mile rounds where I'd normally be boot n' gaiter shawn. Nowhere near as good as walking boots, but way better than the wellies I grew up with. I've read many negative reviews and heard from people who've had poor experience with hunters of late, the balmoral in particular, have to say that hasn't been my experience; having had a good 7 years service out of what were essentially flawed seconds. Mine are now a little past it, as of the end of last season they pass a little water from a small split or thorn tear on the lower right ankle, but only if I'm standing in 6"+ of standing/running water for any time. Now they've officially been replaced with a pair of Aigle. I'm still using the old balmorals though, all be it relegated to emergency car wellies and despite the negative consensus I'm tempted to check out another pair as, for my feet, the Aigle don't feel as all terrain capable, I fooled myself in the shop that they would be. The Aigle are more comfortable on flat and flatfish ground, on account of the higher heel, I could stand in them all week, but on steep ground off the beaten path my foot has a tendency to "fall off" the heel and roll in the boot, so not so good on the hill for my feet.

^ That and over production.

I'm not too fussed what sinn fein demand, however there's been £500m in public money lost, out of a £750m budget and someone has to account for it, the scheme was administrated by Fosters department and therefore, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to be in office during an inquiry, should there be a resumption of the devolved parliament. I don't have a political axe to grind other than getting to the bottom of what went wrong. Sweeping it under the carpet won't get rid of the whiff of impropriety and in that context, the DUP don't have their troubles to seek.

Well, I'm not a ex miner Labour or Tory voter, whilst the Wilson government closed a few pits and reduced the 1966-1970 mining effort by 40%, those made unemployed all found alternative employment relatively quickly, a readjustment of the industry to suit demand and profitability. Thatcher's government on the other hand, with the help of spivs n' carpet bagging asset strippers (aka MacGregor), put 80% of the mining effort on the brew, squandering the north sea windfall on paying for the increase in the welfare bill, whilst decimating entire mining communities throughout the land, hence why people in those communities won't forget. Rewriting history to reshape how the Tory heritage narrative is viewed in the modern UK, is a nonsense. They can print it in the Mail, they can print it on ConservativeHome, it doesn't make it so.... It was what it was and no amount of spin will change it. Labour have the same problem with the Iraq war, irrespective of how Corbyn voted on it back in the day. It was what it was. Anyway, there should be no additional funding to NI without a resumption of the Stormont Government, Foster should stand aside until it's established what happened to the misspent £500m Cash for Ash debacle; in a properly convened public inquiry. Where impropriety is unearthed the appropriate charges should follow.

WD is great for a wipe over on the outside of an action as a temporary measure, say; getting back to the car with a wet gun ahead of a few hours drive, but it evaporates away quite quickly, and so of limited use for protecting bluing etc. as it would need to be applied every couple of days at room temperature and even cooler conditions. It also works as a cleaner of waxes and greases, so not a good idea on mechanical parts as it'll thin out and remove heavier oil and grease, fine if the plan is to remove old soot contaminated oil and grease from the action, but not a good idea if it isn't. So, provided one is aware of the limitations of WD40, it still has valid gun care uses. 3:1 is fine too, but again it evaporates over time, all be it over the course of a few months, as do all lubricating oils of a similar viscosity and why the general advice is to give the bluing a wipe over every couple of months when sat unused in the cabinet. For cleaning I'm doing as the OP is, but perhaps not so attentive. After every use, regardless of number of shots, it's a squirt and a pul through with a bore snake, after 8 slabs or so I spend a bit of time doing as he describes. I'm using legia at the moment, christmas present and when it's done I'll go back to 3:1 or basic gun oil.

Most regular walking boots would do the job well, with or without a goretex liner. Modern walking boots don't really need breaking in provided you get a good fit. Drive or walk in them all day. It doesn't sound like there's much walking to be done so perhaps a light fabric goretex lined boot would do it, but don't discount leather if looking at fabric boots as some are quite expensive and not as good as some of their lower cost leather counterparts.

Lowa Tibet's would facilitate that right enough

^^ Me too There's two schools of thought round here, some go with long boots like "meindl doure extreme 12 inch" whilst others go with the ankle boot n' gaiters combo, both give great ankle support and will do the job very well, but for me it's the ankle boot n' gaiters combo as I believe that's the more versatile combination and I look less like a sister chasing good old boy I'm a fan of Meindl boots it must be said, but always best to go and try the various brands in person for best fit. Gaiters. Not all gaiters will cut the mustard for a formal occasion like being invited on a walked up day at the grouse, most are the wrong colour, most are synthetic material (that make an annoying noise as you walk) and many may be too short. I'm not a formal occasion kind of guy but I'd make the effort if invited. Personally I'd go with long breeks ankle boots and green ventile gaiters, ventile material is great in a gaiter. But for a breeches (+4s') guy, the main problem is length, the gaiter should fasten above the cuff of the breeches leg and many off the shelf garments may prove a poor fit. There are several outlets doing ventile gaiters but few will do them bespoke, Hilltrek over in Aboyne will, very helpful people (My only connection to them was buying a ventile field jacket and ventile shirt from them), and you never know off the shelf may be fine: http://www.hilltrek.co.uk/acatalog/Ventile-Gaiters.html I'd go with single ventile and if need be I'd pay a wee bit extra for made to measure if I needed the length.

Too hot here today and yesterday, but rain forecast for tomorrow, and Sunday the more the better

I've just finished 4 slabs of those and they certainly didn't disappoint. Fibre, so croft compatible too.

I don't have any moderated shotguns, in .410 the quietest round I've found would be Lyalvale Super Game 2.5" 1/4 oz load. They whiz along at 1250fps and in #7 they pattern well, even out of a 3" chamber. Fibre too so Hushy compatible and I'd imagine even quieter, through the same, than I'm hearing out of my unmoderated .410s'. Thats what I use if I need to be quiet. The Fourlong goes off like a cannon by comparison.