In reply to Post #452
Hope everything gone right pete.
Plesed to read your stories.
Hope everything gone right pete.
Plesed to read your stories.
In reply to Post #463
i`ve just had a phone call of Pete,as he is now home from Hospital and is now on the road to recovery.He also passed on his Thanks to all his well wishers and hopes he may get back on the Forum in a couple of Days"Thats if the Boss Dot allows him"
i`ve just had a phone call of Pete,as he is now home from Hospital and is now on the road to recovery.He also passed on his Thanks to all his well wishers and hopes he may get back on the Forum in a couple of Days"Thats if the Boss Dot allows him"
In reply to Post #464
good to hear all went well with the opp, pete. Look forward to more reading when your back on line m8
good to hear all went well with the opp, pete. Look forward to more reading when your back on line m8
In reply to Post #465
hi taffi and everyone that has wished me well . i am now out although a little bruised and battered and i must say very tired i cant thank you all enough for your kind remarks and support and believe me the phone never stopped with texts the morning after the operation. i will endeavour to carry on my stories when i can so please bear with me god bless pete
hi taffi and everyone that has wished me well . i am now out although a little bruised and battered and i must say very tired i cant thank you all enough for your kind remarks and support and believe me the phone never stopped with texts the morning after the operation. i will endeavour to carry on my stories when i can so please bear with me god bless pete
In reply to Post #466
good to see you back at it and recovering. take it easy, fella. looking forward to the next instalments of tales of the young Shroppy Pete
good to see you back at it and recovering. take it easy, fella. looking forward to the next instalments of tales of the young Shroppy Pete
In reply to Post #467
thanks baitman
thanks baitman
In reply to Post #468
Glad everything went well Pete wish you speedy recovery matey 
Glad everything went well Pete wish you speedy recovery matey
In reply to Post #451
most of the residents that lived in the terraces in those days had birds either pigeon canary's buggies or the wild variety which was not frowned on so much or illegal as today, i got to know an old gentleman who lived not far from us he had an immense knowledge of the country side and took me under his wing, he would catch wild birds and breed with them, he would make this connection up using boiled linseed oil adding other things until it was a very sticky nature i would go with him up the fields where he would smear this paste onto thistle tops and such when the birds came to feed they would stick to the tops, job done he would place them in small gages then take them home where he would clean them up and put in a big aviary to breed with at a latter date. he had a great knowledge of birds and all nature most of the birds he breed where released back into the wilds but he would keep one or two. i think the Linnet was his favorite and would breed this bird with his Canaries it was called a mule and was breed for the lovely bird song it produced, well i got very interested in this and dad made me an aviary but i could not make this paste and the old gent would not tell me how of course it was bird lime a dying art but still known by some today. so i would catch them by using a trap it was easy using a call bird which i loaned i would catch dozens, but i could not take them home and put in an aviary i would lift them out very carefully and just look at them they were lovely the gold finch with his red head and black crown the bull finch with his red breast and black crown the linnet i would study them and let them go entering every bird in a small book, i would clime the trees to a buzzards nest and hold the young in my hand while its parents mewed above, i would seek the kestrels nest the sparrowhawks the owl and many more it was away of life my life with it is to this very day, i would spend hours in the woods in daylight and dark dad got me an old air rifle you would take a tube out of the end to put the pellet in break the gun then it was set to fire i got quite good with this old weapon and it would come every where with me i fixed a small bike light underneath the barrel and would be up the woods in the dark looking for roosting pheasants although the gun was not very powerful it was very accurate and accounted for a few birds with head shots which kept us in meat so we did not starve. i would love to sit in the woods at night and listen to the different sounds the dog fox or the screaming vixen calling her mate the owl. i learned to track the different animals especially in snow badger fox the stoat in his winter colour of white most beautiful , once while lying down out side a wood in broad daylight i had a family of weasels playing right next to me they took no notice it was a wonderful life to see the barn owl on dusk drift across them field looking for prey like a silent ghost this is how i entertaind myself alas today a lot of the habitats have gone and will never return, more to follow
most of the residents that lived in the terraces in those days had birds either pigeon canary's buggies or the wild variety which was not frowned on so much or illegal as today, i got to know an old gentleman who lived not far from us he had an immense knowledge of the country side and took me under his wing, he would catch wild birds and breed with them, he would make this connection up using boiled linseed oil adding other things until it was a very sticky nature i would go with him up the fields where he would smear this paste onto thistle tops and such when the birds came to feed they would stick to the tops, job done he would place them in small gages then take them home where he would clean them up and put in a big aviary to breed with at a latter date. he had a great knowledge of birds and all nature most of the birds he breed where released back into the wilds but he would keep one or two. i think the Linnet was his favorite and would breed this bird with his Canaries it was called a mule and was breed for the lovely bird song it produced, well i got very interested in this and dad made me an aviary but i could not make this paste and the old gent would not tell me how of course it was bird lime a dying art but still known by some today. so i would catch them by using a trap it was easy using a call bird which i loaned i would catch dozens, but i could not take them home and put in an aviary i would lift them out very carefully and just look at them they were lovely the gold finch with his red head and black crown the bull finch with his red breast and black crown the linnet i would study them and let them go entering every bird in a small book, i would clime the trees to a buzzards nest and hold the young in my hand while its parents mewed above, i would seek the kestrels nest the sparrowhawks the owl and many more it was away of life my life with it is to this very day, i would spend hours in the woods in daylight and dark dad got me an old air rifle you would take a tube out of the end to put the pellet in break the gun then it was set to fire i got quite good with this old weapon and it would come every where with me i fixed a small bike light underneath the barrel and would be up the woods in the dark looking for roosting pheasants although the gun was not very powerful it was very accurate and accounted for a few birds with head shots which kept us in meat so we did not starve. i would love to sit in the woods at night and listen to the different sounds the dog fox or the screaming vixen calling her mate the owl. i learned to track the different animals especially in snow badger fox the stoat in his winter colour of white most beautiful , once while lying down out side a wood in broad daylight i had a family of weasels playing right next to me they took no notice it was a wonderful life to see the barn owl on dusk drift across them field looking for prey like a silent ghost this is how i entertaind myself alas today a lot of the habitats have gone and will never return, more to follow
In reply to Post #451
most of the residents that lived in the terraces in those days had birds either pigeon canary's buggies or the wild variety which was not frowned on so much or illegal as today, i got to know an old gentleman who lived not far from us he had an immense knowledge of the country side and took me under his wing, he would catch wild birds and breed with them, he would make this connoction up using boiled linseed oil adding other things until it was a very sticky nature i would go with him up the fields where he would smear this paste onto thistle tops and such when the birds came to feed they would stick to the tops, job done he would place them in small gages then take them home where he would clean them up and put in a big aviary to breed with at a latter date. he had a great knowledge of birds and all nature most of the birds he breed where released back into the wilds but he would keep one or two. i think the Linnet was his favorite and would breed this bird with his Canaries it was called a mule and was breed for the lovely bird song it produced, well i got very interested in this and dad made me an aviary but i could not make this paste and the old gent would not tell me how of course it was bird lime a dying art but still known by some today. so i would catch them by using a trap it was easy using a call bird which i loaned i would catch dozens, but i could not take them home and put in an aviary, i would lift them out very carefully and just look at them they were lovely the gold finch with his red head and black crown the bull finch with his red breast and black crown the linnet i would study them and let them go entering every bird in a small book, i would clime the trees to a buzzards nest and hold the young in my hand while its parents mewed above, i would seek the kestrels nest the sparrowhawks the owl and many more it was away of life my life which it is to this very day, i would spend hours in the woods in daylight and dark dad got me an old air rifle you would take a tube out of the end to put the pellet in break the gun then it was set to fire i got quite good with this old weapon and it would come every where with me i fixed a small bike light underneath the barrel and would be up the woods in the dark looking for roosting pheasants although the gun was not very powerful it was very accurate and accounted for a few birds with head shots which kept us in meat so we did not starve. i would love to sit in the woods at night and listen to the different sounds the dog fox or the screaming vixen calling her mate the owl. i learned to track the different animals especially in snow badger fox the stoat in his winter colour of white most beautiful , once while lying down out side a wood in broad daylight i had a family of weasels playing right next to me they took no notice it was a wonderful life to see the barn owl on dusk drift across the fields looking for prey like a silent ghost this is how i entertained myself alas today a lot of the habitats have gone and will never return, more to follow
most of the residents that lived in the terraces in those days had birds either pigeon canary's buggies or the wild variety which was not frowned on so much or illegal as today, i got to know an old gentleman who lived not far from us he had an immense knowledge of the country side and took me under his wing, he would catch wild birds and breed with them, he would make this connoction up using boiled linseed oil adding other things until it was a very sticky nature i would go with him up the fields where he would smear this paste onto thistle tops and such when the birds came to feed they would stick to the tops, job done he would place them in small gages then take them home where he would clean them up and put in a big aviary to breed with at a latter date. he had a great knowledge of birds and all nature most of the birds he breed where released back into the wilds but he would keep one or two. i think the Linnet was his favorite and would breed this bird with his Canaries it was called a mule and was breed for the lovely bird song it produced, well i got very interested in this and dad made me an aviary but i could not make this paste and the old gent would not tell me how of course it was bird lime a dying art but still known by some today. so i would catch them by using a trap it was easy using a call bird which i loaned i would catch dozens, but i could not take them home and put in an aviary, i would lift them out very carefully and just look at them they were lovely the gold finch with his red head and black crown the bull finch with his red breast and black crown the linnet i would study them and let them go entering every bird in a small book, i would clime the trees to a buzzards nest and hold the young in my hand while its parents mewed above, i would seek the kestrels nest the sparrowhawks the owl and many more it was away of life my life which it is to this very day, i would spend hours in the woods in daylight and dark dad got me an old air rifle you would take a tube out of the end to put the pellet in break the gun then it was set to fire i got quite good with this old weapon and it would come every where with me i fixed a small bike light underneath the barrel and would be up the woods in the dark looking for roosting pheasants although the gun was not very powerful it was very accurate and accounted for a few birds with head shots which kept us in meat so we did not starve. i would love to sit in the woods at night and listen to the different sounds the dog fox or the screaming vixen calling her mate the owl. i learned to track the different animals especially in snow badger fox the stoat in his winter colour of white most beautiful , once while lying down out side a wood in broad daylight i had a family of weasels playing right next to me they took no notice it was a wonderful life to see the barn owl on dusk drift across the fields looking for prey like a silent ghost this is how i entertained myself alas today a lot of the habitats have gone and will never return, more to follow
In reply to Post #471
fantastic, mate. its like im there in the woods with you
fantastic, mate. its like im there in the woods with you
In reply to Post #471
ops its come up twice. I have a little time on my hands so i will carry on one thing i will say and i hope it does not bore you all. nature and fishing go hand in hand that i am convinced at one with nature. how many on here have sat by the side of a lake in the dead of night with no rods and have just listened to the sounds around you they tell you an awful lot the splash of a fish the call of the coot the fin above the surface a slight movement of water .these are things that have helped me through my life. But i don't want you to think i am trying to teach things you already know. collecting fruit was another task that we as youngsters had to help with. all the women would meet at the local hall and would prepare apples pears, any fruit they could get there hands on, and it would be put in big glass jars with sealed tops and kept to eat for another day they would also make jam by the jar full as food was scarce in the war years so nothing was wasted` i would be sent to the local the farm who had an orchard to pick the damsons and plums and would be paid about two pence for every pound picked you never had an option it was your part to play if lucky you would be given a bag full at the end of the day. i got to know the local mole catcher who in those days made a living by catching the little critters and sold their skins it was very interesting he took me with him and showed me how it was done finding their the run with a stick or pointed rod digging it out with his trowel or spade then putting a trap in he had a big line of traps and caught hundreds for the local farming community plus making money out of the skins. i managed to buy a few traps out of my pocket money and paper round and managed to make a few bob or pence i used to skin them out and nail the skins to a board then salt them till they cured and take them to the mole catcher and he would pay you. it was money every bit helped and i could buy a float or a few hooks for my fishing well im a bit tired more latter
ops its come up twice. I have a little time on my hands so i will carry on one thing i will say and i hope it does not bore you all. nature and fishing go hand in hand that i am convinced at one with nature. how many on here have sat by the side of a lake in the dead of night with no rods and have just listened to the sounds around you they tell you an awful lot the splash of a fish the call of the coot the fin above the surface a slight movement of water .these are things that have helped me through my life. But i don't want you to think i am trying to teach things you already know. collecting fruit was another task that we as youngsters had to help with. all the women would meet at the local hall and would prepare apples pears, any fruit they could get there hands on, and it would be put in big glass jars with sealed tops and kept to eat for another day they would also make jam by the jar full as food was scarce in the war years so nothing was wasted` i would be sent to the local the farm who had an orchard to pick the damsons and plums and would be paid about two pence for every pound picked you never had an option it was your part to play if lucky you would be given a bag full at the end of the day. i got to know the local mole catcher who in those days made a living by catching the little critters and sold their skins it was very interesting he took me with him and showed me how it was done finding their the run with a stick or pointed rod digging it out with his trowel or spade then putting a trap in he had a big line of traps and caught hundreds for the local farming community plus making money out of the skins. i managed to buy a few traps out of my pocket money and paper round and managed to make a few bob or pence i used to skin them out and nail the skins to a board then salt them till they cured and take them to the mole catcher and he would pay you. it was money every bit helped and i could buy a float or a few hooks for my fishing well im a bit tired more latter
In reply to Post #473
what did they do with the mole skins. maybe a bit small to sew up, and not much meat on one of them critters.
what did they do with the mole skins. maybe a bit small to sew up, and not much meat on one of them critters.
In reply to Post #474
hi mate they made real mole skin trousers in those days alas indian cotton now i think
hi mate they made real mole skin trousers in those days alas indian cotton now i think
In reply to Post #473
i was no angel and was always in trouble at school. we would go on cross country runs i would get lost not really i would be down by the river or in the woods get back late another hiding stick or slipper and it still sticks today with those with long memories, we had at school in those days some very strict teachers and would give you the cane for nearly anything. well this one teacher Evans was his name every one was frightened of him he was Always picking on me so i decided i would teach him a lesson one maybe i would regret. in those days i would go looking for snakes slow worms frogs anything to do with nature and so it was to be I found a good grassey arround five ft long old evans would sit at a desk in front of the class it had a lift up lid he would always have his cane on the top of the desk. so i crept in one morning and slipped the snake in his desk. well after assembly lessons started i was two seats from the front i could hardly keep a straight face i thought he would never open the bloody top but when he did it exploded there was an almighty shout over went the desk he put his hand in the snake actually bit him we all fell around laughing he was not a serious bite but it certainly frightened him he was red in the face have you ever been expelled from a church of England school i nearly did. i managed to catch the snake and take it out side and go before the head master his face was bloody red im sure he had been laughting as well i had two on each hand for that prank , but it still sticks in my memory and some times get a reminder of a dear freinds i went to school with
i was no angel and was always in trouble at school. we would go on cross country runs i would get lost not really i would be down by the river or in the woods get back late another hiding stick or slipper and it still sticks today with those with long memories, we had at school in those days some very strict teachers and would give you the cane for nearly anything. well this one teacher Evans was his name every one was frightened of him he was Always picking on me so i decided i would teach him a lesson one maybe i would regret. in those days i would go looking for snakes slow worms frogs anything to do with nature and so it was to be I found a good grassey arround five ft long old evans would sit at a desk in front of the class it had a lift up lid he would always have his cane on the top of the desk. so i crept in one morning and slipped the snake in his desk. well after assembly lessons started i was two seats from the front i could hardly keep a straight face i thought he would never open the bloody top but when he did it exploded there was an almighty shout over went the desk he put his hand in the snake actually bit him we all fell around laughing he was not a serious bite but it certainly frightened him he was red in the face have you ever been expelled from a church of England school i nearly did. i managed to catch the snake and take it out side and go before the head master his face was bloody red im sure he had been laughting as well i had two on each hand for that prank , but it still sticks in my memory and some times get a reminder of a dear freinds i went to school with
In reply to Post #476
i had a friend i went to school with, called Pete bowen. he wanted an owl as a pet . i knew where there was a nest in a hole in an old oak tree. it was a tawny owl, so up the tree we both got i wish we had not , he managed to get one of the young owls out a ball of fluff it did a bit of hissing and then from no where the adult attacked it caught pete right across the cheek with its talons what a mess we both fell out of the tree from about twenty ft up into a load of brambles i was scratched all over pete's face was covered in blood what a mess i was up and away as fast as my legs would go and the owl still was having a go all the way home which was only about half a mile. his grandad went mad and called the local nurse who cleaned him up some of the scratches were quite deep. i had to take his grandad back to the nest to put the chick back. i certainly did not go back up the tree i left that to his grandad but all ended well i never did that trick again, but we were kids thats what we did and i suppose she was protecting her young but i must admit i have never heard of that happening since. i used to find the door mouse nest in winter i have found them in all places even in old long tailed tits nests they were lovely little things i would take them out and tikle there bellys they would not even wake up sleep throught it all not many arround now its a real shame it just showes how our world is changing there was an abundane of all wild life althought the local game keepers killed a lot classing it as vermin but thats another story . packing now a bit tired
i had a friend i went to school with, called Pete bowen. he wanted an owl as a pet . i knew where there was a nest in a hole in an old oak tree. it was a tawny owl, so up the tree we both got i wish we had not , he managed to get one of the young owls out a ball of fluff it did a bit of hissing and then from no where the adult attacked it caught pete right across the cheek with its talons what a mess we both fell out of the tree from about twenty ft up into a load of brambles i was scratched all over pete's face was covered in blood what a mess i was up and away as fast as my legs would go and the owl still was having a go all the way home which was only about half a mile. his grandad went mad and called the local nurse who cleaned him up some of the scratches were quite deep. i had to take his grandad back to the nest to put the chick back. i certainly did not go back up the tree i left that to his grandad but all ended well i never did that trick again, but we were kids thats what we did and i suppose she was protecting her young but i must admit i have never heard of that happening since. i used to find the door mouse nest in winter i have found them in all places even in old long tailed tits nests they were lovely little things i would take them out and tikle there bellys they would not even wake up sleep throught it all not many arround now its a real shame it just showes how our world is changing there was an abundane of all wild life althought the local game keepers killed a lot classing it as vermin but thats another story . packing now a bit tired