Brimmer 220 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 After the poor performance from the young dogs last week, (I say poor, but its only the faults that make me say poor.) I found all three dogs looking at me from the back of the truck at 6 am when the old feller picked me up. He said he was just going to bring one dog and work it properly as we are going out on Sunday as well, but he could not help himself as usual. "What are you going to do with all the dogs?" I asked him as i got in the truck, "going to keep two on the leads and work one at once." Here we go again. I dont mind there being all the dogs there to be honest, its good to have the back up when one dog is tired, but the old feller cannot keep hold of them when rabbits are bolting, swaps them round after a few minutes without them getting into the swing of things and generally leaves me doing everything, cause he's got his hands full. Just the simple things like somebody locating a ferret with the knocker box, whilst the other digs makes things so much easier. Doing it on your own you have to wipe your wet mucky hands off everytime you try to pinpoint the ferret. Or trying to take a photo is propper hard work cause you are carrying everything, legging rabbits, picking up ferrets and the spade, whilst the old one stands there barking orders and stating the obvious 10 seconds later! Daft old c##t! Anyway, new day. Had to stride out a bit today, up the top end of our land to find much, the old one struggles walking up that far, and i struggle walking back if we have had a good day. Slow start just getting the odd run and mark on the moorland edge, so decided to drop down onto the grass, and started getting into them. The old feller stuck to his word and did work one dog at once for most of the morning, this saw the faults work out a bit better, with a few half retreives from Jed and a bit more hunting from Robbie which made me have a little more faith in the animals. The old dog did well as well when let off, as the day drew on the old chap just let the young dogs loose together to do the business, this is when everything gets caught and the ground gets covered in no time at all! Here's a mark on what we call the giants wall, its made up of huge gritstone lumps, open in the middle, only way to get anything out is the ferret! This is something the dogs have done since year dot, one stays on top of the wall, covering the bolt whilst the other gets amongst the action at ground level. Then they swap over! Put the ferret in, and this is what i was faced with! Couldnt get away though, so at arms length i pulled it out! Forgot to say, took out three ablino ferrets today, two hobs and one jill. Spike which is a hob from 2006, and my most trusted worker, it was his first day out this year, Billy Bobs Brother, another hob from 2007, a great grafter, a little small, but punches above his weight and my biggest jill from 2008, not named yet. (Names come over time when they somehow get one, usually from some trait or disfigurement!) But also a faultless day from her and all of the red eyed crew! Broken through on a shallow dig to Spike and BB's brother. It does not stop them on the job they are doing! The dogs got some hard running on the slopes and balderstrewn ground! Then had the joyfull task of setting off back with around the 30 mark on my shoulder! Been a while since i carried this many back from out there, carried 40 in my early 20's, but i'm a little older and fatter now! Had the odd stop and dig on the way back, how come your last dig is always the worst! Huge boulders to go at to get Spike back! Finally got back after carrying 38 rabbits off the hill on one shoulder! Thank god! Out tmoz with the new toy, will keep you posted! Quote Link to post
Guest lavyheed Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 30 on one shoulder! Feck me mate you will have arms on you like popeye,just remember to swap arms next time A nice size bag.The thread's a good read and the first picture's a cracker Good luck for tomorrow. Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Well done mate, 38, and nice to hear your training the old boy to do new tricks, and you dont look that much fatter than last year Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted November 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Missed this shot! Quote Link to post
para1 11 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Well done mate, 38, and nice to hear your training the old boy to do new tricks, and you dont look that much fatter than last year Ha Ha can't believe you carried 38 guts down that hill. Good pics good story and well done. Quote Link to post
Hob&Jill 258 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Do you know where you got that spade from mate? looks ideal. Nice land youve got to work. atb, hj Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted November 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Spade is a customised Spear and Jackson! Just cut it down and tweaked it this year! Its getting a plastic handle soon though, dont think the ash handle will last with me! Quote Link to post
andy s410c 61 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Nice to see you happy again B Nice to see Spike is still nailing them...remember this one Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted November 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Is that the hole where i walked off and left him through gabbing too much? Spike is evil, in a good way! Quote Link to post
Hob&Jill 258 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Ah I might have to have a go at that with the spade as I like my bulldog but find when you get past 3 foot it can be abit hard getting the loose soil out. Ive thought about doing it before but assumed it would make the metal weak or something. atb,, HJ Quote Link to post
Brimmer 220 Posted November 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Ah I might have to have a go at that with the spade as I like my bulldog but find when you get past 3 foot it can be abit hard getting the loose soil out. Ive thought about doing it before but assumed it would make the metal weak or something. atb,, HJ Taking out the loose is all down to the width of the spade head and the angle of it. The standard Spear and Jackoff was too keen, meaning you could not drive it down into the dig. Got the spade on the cooker at gas mark 9 for 20 mins with the blowlamp helping out, then hit it with the maul. This split the spade's paddle, but got a mate to weld it up. Seems like it's strong enough on the boulders! Its allways a trade off between strength and lightness, and the depth you dig. Getting close, but not just there yet! Quote Link to post
Moe 108 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Ah I might have to have a go at that with the spade as I like my bulldog but find when you get past 3 foot it can be abit hard getting the loose soil out. Ive thought about doing it before but assumed it would make the metal weak or something. atb,, HJ use a grinder if youre going to try it as burning gear takes the temper out of the steel hope the helps moe Quote Link to post
Moe 108 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 first class report and pics good bag well done Quote Link to post
foxboydead 0 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Very good catch good write up Quote Link to post
John-B 4 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Nice one brimmer, sound's exactly like one of mine and Col's outings even down to getting the rabbits out of the walls and the last dig always being a pain, all you need is a wallace and gromit curse of the were rabit van like mine Quote Link to post
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