Ferrets settling in

When i picked up the ferrets yesterday, Dan explained that they are still young enough that they're not biting. Within a week or two, he said, they would get a bit more inquisitive and start to nip at fingers etc - so it's important to keep handling them regularly and when they nip, let them know that's not the way to behave.

Within minutes of getting them home, daughter Vicky and her boyfriend Alex were giving the ferrets all the handling they could want - Vicky even offered one her cracker. The ferret didn't want the biscuit, but it did like licking off the butter!





A few more photos on my flickr photostream »

New ferrets!

Here's Dan, with the four young jills (or 'bitches' as they call them in Cornwall) that he located for me. Dan is a keeper in Cornwall, and very kindly collected them from a keeper friend in St Ives, then brought them up to his father's near Hungerford, where I picked them up today.

The colours are lovely: one silver, one very dark, and two dark with creamy paws and bibs. Update shortly...

Salter speaks up for anglers

When I see a politician I generally cross my fingers and start muttering. Like pet rabbits, they may look cuddly but you never know when they'll bite you.

Despite my natural suspicion, I have to admit I'm warming to Labour 'spokesman for angling' Martin Salter. Anyone who gets his press office to put out a photo like the one above can't be all bad.

And now he has put out this press release (below) speaking up for anglers in a silly row with a bunch of politically correct numpties on Bewdley Town Council. Good on him!

Talking sense on knives

With all the media hysteria about knives and knife crime, it was good to hear explorer John Blashford-Snell talking some good old-fashioned common sense on BBC Radio 4 this lunchtime. The programme was 'Broadcasting House', and you should be able to download the episode here »

Or listen to the relevant clip here:

Dear editor...

I love hearing from readers. Even the criticisms are useful, because it keeps us on our toes and helps us to make the magazine better.

Sometimes, though, you get a letter that makes you wonder... Take this one, for instance, which looks more like a blackmail note than a letter. It's typed in 36pt, the modern equivalent of the notorious 'green ink' letters we used to get years ago.

To cap it all, this chap clearly hasn't even read the article (he's wrong on 3 out of 3 points!). I guess he just thinks he's the only person in the world qualified to keep ferrets. Well matey, if you're that good, write your own articles - then stand back and enjoy the whingeing letters that roll in!

End of the road for Charlie's landy

Ouch! This old Series 3 Land Rover belonged to Sporting Shooter contributor Charlie Jacoby and a couple of friends. They kept it at Inverness near the airport - a brilliant scheme that allowed them to nip up on the plane and head off for a weekend's fishing, shooting, etc, and then be back for work on Monday morning. Here's a picture of it parked beside the lodge at Gaick, while Charlie was off stalking.



Sadly the landy broke down the other day and, while the driver waited for the AA to arrive, the red car pictured below slammed into the back of it - pushing it along the road until the wing caught in the crash barrier, causing terminal damage to both vehicles.


Fortunately no-one was seriously hurt, and Charlie's keeping his fingers crossed that the insurance will cough up enough to replace the landy.

Roe deer badge mystery

A reader has sent me this photo of a small bronze-coloured badge, showing a roebuck head and leaves. He has been trying to find out more about it - where it might have come from, what it means. Any ideas? Drop me an email and I'll pass it on to him.