Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[RED-DOG]

is the coffin carried on a flatbed as well as the flowers? this is a big eastern european thing which I've seen many times but never in this country

Sometimes, but not on this occasion.

[tikay]

Thanks for sharing those 'photos Tom.

Did you (the men) all "sit up" all night, outside?

[RED-DOG]

Thanks for sharing those 'photos Tom.

Did you (the men) all "sit up" all night, outside?

Yes, mostly. The men sit up outside by the fire, and the women sit up indoors. If someone feels the need to get their head down for an hour or so that's OK, so long as there are others sitting up.

[RED-DOG]

I saw this ginormous moth (about 3in accross) on the window sill this morning. I don't know where he came from, but it looks like he had a long rough flight.

I wonder what his story is, did he manage to do what he set out to do, or was he an "also ran"?



 

[RED-DOG]

 



I suppose the conclusion to Thin Lizzie’s story is a bit of an anticlimax, but I’ll tell it anyway. I introduced her to you not because her story is spectacular, but so that you could learn a little about these fascinating creatures. I worked her often, and I learned a lot.

The purpose of using a ferret is to cause rabbits to bolt. No matter where the ferret enters the warren, the rabbit will be able to leave by a different route, a purpose built “Bolt hole”. The trick is in keeping secret the fact that the ferret has an accomplice (Me) above ground.

If the rabbit suspects danger above ground, he won’t bolt. Instead he will push his head into a corner, presenting his hindquarters to the ferret. Then he will stay put and take his chances, meaning you will have to do a whole lot of digging to retrieve the rabbit and your ferret.

Conclusion? Don’t let the rabbit know you are there. Stay downwind, don’t smoke, don’t make a noise.

Take your time setting the nets; make sure you find all the bolt holes. There is always one that is very well hidden, and you can guarantee that is the one the rabbits will use if you miss it.

A good dog is invaluable in helping to find hidden escape routes, but don’t let your sniffy snorty dog push it’s head down the hole. (Once he knows the score, a clever dog will mark the bolt holes without making a sound, like a pointer marking a hidden bird. As an incentive, I always used to make sure both dog and ferret got a share of anything we caught. Fair’s fair.

After netting all the holes I could find and introducing the ferret, I would carefully put my head close to one of the holes so that I could listen to what was happening below. The dog would station himself near another, ready to pounce. Sometimes I had to draw my head away quickly to avoid the emerging rabbit as it came out at full speed.

(I remember once an old hare that used to sit in a field next to a wood. We slipped the dogs on him many a time but he easily made it to a gap in the hedge and away through the undergrowth before they could bend him. Frustrated, one of “Big” Sid Taylor’s boys hid behind the hedge and told someone else to slip the dog. As the hare came hurtling through the gap, he put his foot out to block its path. The hare hit him just above the ankle and broke his leg in two places)


One day, I was ferreting a warren in the overgrown and disused garden of a derelict country house. I had set all the nets, introduced the ferret, and taken up my “ear to the hole” position. I didn’t hear a thing, but without warning, a very large rat came out of the hole, pushed through the net, and skipped across my head. By the time I realised what had happened and started to jump and flap about in shock, the rat was long gone.

I had heard of rats (especially expectant mother rats) taking over old rabbit warrens before but this was the first time I’d seen it.

A few moments later, Thin Lizzie came to the surface. I have never seen a ferret so angry. She was like a wild thing, hackles up, fizzing, hissing and spitting her rage. I didn’t even dare to pick her up until she had calmed down.

It took a while, but eventually she went back into cuddly toy mode and I picked her up to examine her. Except for a tiny gash on her cheek, no more than a scratch really, she seemed fine. We went home and I fed her and put her to bed. The next morning, she was dead.

Of course it’s impossible to say for sure, but I have no doubt that her death was a direct consequence of her encounter with the rat. They carry so many diseases.


As it turned out, my next ferret was also destined to be “Killed in action” although this time, the cause of his demise was slightly easier to diagnose. 

[ShatnerPants]

As it turned out, my next ferret was also destined to be “Killed in action” although this time, the cause of his demise was slightly easier to diagnose. 

The Dick Francis of the ferret world.

Every chapter ends with a page turner.

Brilliiant stuff.

[tikay]

As it turned out, my next ferret was also destined to be “Killed in action” although this time, the cause of his demise was slightly easier to diagnose. 

The Dick Francis of the ferret world.

Every chapter ends with a page turner.
Brilliiant stuff.

Every chapter ends with the untimely exit of some creature we've just started to love!

Another great story, Tom.

[boldie]

Yet another top post Mr Red.

[rex008]

(I remember once an old hare that used to sit in a field next to a wood. We slipped the dogs on him many a time but he easily made it to a gap in the hedge and away through the undergrowth before they could bend him. Frustrated, one of “Big” Sid Taylor’s boys hid behind the hedge and told someone else to slip the dog. As the hare came hurtling through the gap, he put his foot out to block its path. The hare hit him just above the ankle and broke his leg in two places)

Blimey. Was it wearing a helmet or something? You would have thought hares were relatively "squishy".

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Helllp!!

Mother-in-law and sisters-in-law (Patty and Selma) + assorted children over for a visit. Must escape...

[kinboshi]

Can't help with that, but I didn't realise that you and Michael Phelps had so much in common...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7562840.stm

[ShatnerPants]

Can't help with that, but I didn't realise that you and Michael Phelps had so much in common...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7562840.stm

Tut, he'll get spots

[RED-DOG]

Can't help with that, but I didn't realise that you and Michael Phelps had so much in common...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7562840.stm

Pfft! Lightweight.

[RED-DOG]

Don't forget peeps. If your mother-in-law is visiting today, you are welcome to join me at DTD for the £100 freezeout.

[Kev B]

Have just invited my in laws over for tea. See you later.