Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[smashedagain]

Saw a jay yesterday, only the second I've ever seen in this area. It caused much consternation to my passenger as I 1st braked heavilly to make sure I'd identified the bird in the bushes at the roadside correctly, then turned and raced back to see if I could get a pic - they're beautiful birds with a strident voice - much like the passenger after my sudden (to her) plunge into bird-spotter geekdom.

Very thin "I took some girl down a country lane" brag

[RED-DOG]

He once killed a hare in a pea field. the hare couldn't get going and he just ran it down.

He never ever caught another, but he never stopped trying.

Thats what I find so interesting about it, the bird flew quite low and billie had a head start, she didnt bother with birds upto that day (then again this may have just been due to her age) but after she chases every bird she sees, normally from a long way away and they see her coming.

Dog behaviour is instinct driven, it's the basis of all training.

These instincs, guarding - hunting etc often lie dormant, just below the surface, smouldering like a tiny ember. Offer a little encouragement, throw a stick for a retriever puppy for instance,  and its like blowing on that ember. First, it starts to glow, then suddenly it bursts into a flame that is almost impossible to extinguish.

This is great for behaviour you want to encourage, but tantamount to a death sentence if it gets out of hand.

Fighting, worrying sheep, biting children, etc, all caused out of control or un-channelled instinct.

Instinct in dogs is a hugely powerful force. It's a curse or a boon, depending on how quickly you recognise it and how well you use it.


 

[RED-DOG]

Saw a jay yesterday, only the second I've ever seen in this area. It caused much consternation to my passenger as I 1st braked heavilly to make sure I'd identified the bird in the bushes at the roadside correctly, then turned and raced back to see if I could get a pic - they're beautiful birds with a strident voice - much like the passenger after my sudden (to her) plunge into bird-spotter geekdom.

We have a scarcity of jays here Rod, I've had fleeting glimpses of a couple over the years but that's all.

I'd love to get a pic of one.

[sovietsong]

He once killed a hare in a pea field. the hare couldn't get going and he just ran it down.

He never ever caught another, but he never stopped trying.

Thats what I find so interesting about it, the bird flew quite low and billie had a head start, she didnt bother with birds upto that day (then again this may have just been due to her age) but after she chases every bird she sees, normally from a long way away and they see her coming.

Dog behaviour is instinct driven, it's the basis of all training.

These instincs, guarding - hunting etc often lie dormant, just below the surface, smouldering like a tiny ember. Offer a little encouragement, throw a stick for a retriever puppy for instance,  and its like blowing on that ember. First, it starts to glow, then suddenly it bursts into a flame that is almost impossible to extinguish.

This is great for behaviour you want to encourage, but tantamount to a death sentence if it gets out of hand.

Fighting, worrying sheep, biting children, etc, all caused out of control or un-channelled instinct.

Instinct in dogs is a hugely powerful force. It's a curse or a boon, depending on how quickly you recognise it and how well you use it.


 

We were so lucky with Billie, I'm sure I did plenty of things wrong but she is great with kids & other dogs, she often chases squirrels and birds but never bothers with any other animals, steers well clear of sheep & cows etc.  She is around 4 years old now and is well balanced. 

I took the advice you gave and we benefited greatly from it.  Also when she was a pup and becoming difficult Matt helped me no end which I'm truly grateful.  Can't imagine life without her now and have learnt so much.

[RED-DOG]

I RED-DOG, being of sound mind and bacon, do solemnly swear, that I will go on a diet, and stay on it until I am under 13st.

[RED-DOG]

Soon.

[bobAlike]

He once killed a hare in a pea field. the hare couldn't get going and he just ran it down.

He never ever caught another, but he never stopped trying.

Thats what I find so interesting about it, the bird flew quite low and billie had a head start, she didnt bother with birds upto that day (then again this may have just been due to her age) but after she chases every bird she sees, normally from a long way away and they see her coming.

Dog behaviour is instinct driven, it's the basis of all training.

These instincs, guarding - hunting etc often lie dormant, just below the surface, smouldering like a tiny ember. Offer a little encouragement, throw a stick for a retriever puppy for instance,  and its like blowing on that ember. First, it starts to glow, then suddenly it bursts into a flame that is almost impossible to extinguish.

This is great for behaviour you want to encourage, but tantamount to a death sentence if it gets out of hand.

Fighting, worrying sheep, biting children, etc, all caused out of control or un-channelled instinct.

Instinct in dogs is a hugely powerful force. It's a curse or a boon, depending on how quickly you recognise it and how well you use it.


 

This has brought some happy childhood memories flooding back.
About 30 years ago my dad had a couple of dogs which he used for shooting, one a black lab called Tag and the other a german pointer called Baron. Tag's party piece was plucking pheasants out of the air as they were trying to take flight. For a big old dog he had an amazing strike rate. Trouble was he'd get to them before we could shoot them.lol

Baron was a beautiful grey/brown with white flecks who loved to chase deer. Obv this wasn't encouraged but on occasion there was just no stopping him. We assumed he only ever caught one as when he returned he was a bit boody around the mouth.

Baron was also a boody night time howler who gave me the biggest scare of my life. One night in mid Wales in the family static caravan I was about 8 years old and we were all sitting down watching an old black and white werewolf horror film. I didn't like it but I front of my dad I didn't want to show I was scared so I sat silently all the way thought it. Anyway, off to bed we all go and I have the kitchen table come bed to sleep on. Halfway through the night Baron decided to sit next to me and start bloody howling. How I didn't actually shit myself I'll never no.

The good old days.

[RED-DOG]

He once killed a hare in a pea field. the hare couldn't get going and he just ran it down.

He never ever caught another, but he never stopped trying.

Thats what I find so interesting about it, the bird flew quite low and billie had a head start, she didnt bother with birds upto that day (then again this may have just been due to her age) but after she chases every bird she sees, normally from a long way away and they see her coming.

Dog behaviour is instinct driven, it's the basis of all training.

These instincs, guarding - hunting etc often lie dormant, just below the surface, smouldering like a tiny ember. Offer a little encouragement, throw a stick for a retriever puppy for instance,  and its like blowing on that ember. First, it starts to glow, then suddenly it bursts into a flame that is almost impossible to extinguish.

This is great for behaviour you want to encourage, but tantamount to a death sentence if it gets out of hand.

Fighting, worrying sheep, biting children, etc, all caused out of control or un-channelled instinct.

Instinct in dogs is a hugely powerful force. It's a curse or a boon, depending on how quickly you recognise it and how well you use it.


 

This has brought some happy childhood memories flooding back.
About 30 years ago my dad had a couple of dogs which he used for shooting, one a black lab called Tag and the other a german pointer called Baron. Tag's party piece was plucking pheasants out of the air as they were trying to take flight. For a big old dog he had an amazing strike rate. Trouble was he'd get to them before we could shoot them.lol

Baron was a beautiful grey/brown with white flecks who loved to chase deer. Obv this wasn't encouraged but on occasion there was just no stopping him. We assumed he only ever caught one as when he returned he was a bit boody around the mouth.

Baron was also a boody night time howler who gave me the biggest scare of my life. One night in mid Wales in the family static caravan I was about 8 years old and we were all sitting down watching an old black and white werewolf horror film. I didn't like it but I front of my dad I didn't want to show I was scared so I sat silently all the way thought it. Anyway, off to bed we all go and I have the kitchen table come bed to sleep on. Halfway through the night Baron decided to sit next to me and start bloody howling. How I didn't actually shit myself I'll never no.

The good old days.

Haha. I love these little stories. I suppose it's because I was brought up listening to the men chatting around the campfire.

The werewolf sound effects would have triggered the howling.

Police sirens always set Kizzy off. (Good job I'm law abiding).

[RED-DOG]

In a similar vein, walking this has just been added to my bucket list.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15482233

In my youth, when I was vaguely fit, I walked most of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path with 3 friends. We were all 16. Some great scenery, but I have to say the walking was rather monotonous; it was mostly flat on top of cliffs, but every so often there would be a stream/river valley to descend into, then climb out the other side. Not sure I'd want to do the whole coast, to be honest.

Was the first time I'd bought beer in a pub. First time I had bitter as well - one night we went to the pub, but I'd stopped at a phone box (remember them) to ring my parents. When I got to the pub the other three were sitting at a table, looking downhearted, nursing a coke each. I studiously ignored them, and in an effort to appear more mature I asked for a pint of bitter rather than lager. Think the landlord knew exactly what was what, but I got served. Early fist-pump moment in my life .

Drank bitter or real beer ever since. Mostly.

This is another example of a great little story. Nothing earth-shattering happens, but it's an interesting tale.

More like these please.

[Rod Paradise]

Saw a jay yesterday, only the second I've ever seen in this area. It caused much consternation to my passenger as I 1st braked heavilly to make sure I'd identified the bird in the bushes at the roadside correctly, then turned and raced back to see if I could get a pic - they're beautiful birds with a strident voice - much like the passenger after my sudden (to her) plunge into bird-spotter geekdom.

Very thin "I took some girl down a country lane" brag

Very thin - but it was a main road & just a 'friend'.

[Junior Senior]

We get quite a few Jays on the golf course. Mainly a woodland bird and prettiest member of the Corvid family. Mean bastards though, don't be fooled! They'd take. Blue tit chick from a nest soon as look at it.

[RED-DOG]

ZX spectrum turns 30.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17776666





My dad and I managed to get out hands on one of these babies. We spend countless hours painstakingly typing in programmes from computer magazines, only to find they wouldn't run because we, or the magazine publisher had made a typo or omitted a comma. We spent even more time looking for those typos than we did typing.  

Sometimes we did manage to get programmes typed in aright, only have them corrupted if someone was stupid enough to switch the kettle on. or, horror of horrors, lose them altogether if the generator conked.

To save a programme, you had to connect a cassette recorder and transfer everything to tape. Half an hour of da da de de da da to store enough information to make a little matchstick man walk across the screen.

It was so thrilling.

Happy days.

[Woodsey]

^ First big purchase I ever made was one of those as a kid. I remember working my bollocks off at my parents restaurant to save up the £130 required  

Jetpac, ahhh those were the days.

[RED-DOG]

^ First big purchase I ever made was one of those as a kid. I remember working my bollocks off at my parents restaurant to save up the £130 required  

Jetpac, ahhh those were the days.

Bloody Hell Woodsey. I didn't know you were that old.

16 kB RAM. Heady stuff.

[Woodsey]

^ First big purchase I ever made was one of those as a kid. I remember working my bollocks off at my parents restaurant to save up the £130 required  

Jetpac, ahhh those were the days.

Bloody Hell Woodsey. I didn't know you were that old.

16 kB RAM. Heady stuff.

I reckon I would have been around 13 or 14 when I got it, I'm 41 now