Off Topic The Goodhand Arms

I'm with the animal rights people and disapprove of keeping animals imprisoned as pets. People should take them to some really lonely spot miles away where they can be set free and learn to fend for themselves.

 

In our garden, we have about 200' of hedging with umpteen blackbird and sparrow nests. We don't get other cats coming into the garden because my cat Big Steve beats 7 bells out of them if they come near his territory, let alone into it.
I feel no guilt for his occasional predation as there were 20 sparrows fighting over the bird bath whilst he just ignored them and surveyed his kingdom calmly from 20 feet away. The songbird population isn't harmed to any extent and from the numbers of residents and visitors, it's positively thriving. Rats and squirrels eat fledglings too, but they don't last long if they try it when Big Steve is on patrol.

Your point about what would happen if you were 6" tall is nonsense too, as any of the dogs that I've ever owned would also chew you up and crap you out, and nobody disputes whether dogs like people or not.

 

We have 8 cats, only about 4 of which ever show interest whatsoever in going outdoors. Those that do wear Freedom Fence collars which means that while they have free run of the garden, they don’t leave it. The only birds they ever kill are those that get trapped inside the duck pen, the door of which is left open during the day.

 

And probably die. Dogs aren’t wild....they have been bred to be human companions. It would be extremely stressful for them to be abandoned. Kinder to put them down. Cats would probably fare better...though most would die. The rest would destroy the wildlife...though releasing a few eagles might solve that.

 

My dogs think they are wild, but far from it.

So funny the other day that Prince (on the left in my avatar), was larging it to a German Shepherd on the walk - barking and acting all aggressive. The German Shepherd (on a lead) calmly walked up to him and stared. He then just did one loud bark in his face and Prince literally jumped into my arms lol.

Dogs are so domesticated I reckon they'd last 5 mins in the wild...though I suppose two Chihuahuas aren't necessarily a good example

 

I share my son’s dog. He doesn’t like rain or wind or cold....wouldn’t last a minute on some open moor. I asked him if he was offended by being forced to lie in front of a fire and eat regular meals...occasionally interrupted by a belly rub. He said, ‘No.’

 

That is why I am more of a dog person than a cat person...though I admit it is 45 years since I had a cat. Dogs are with you all the time and rely on you 100% to survive. Cats, on the other hand if you don't feed them can bugger off and get food outside the house. There are some exceptions though as Chilcs said that most his cats are with him most the time.

I don't dislike cats, just don't 'get' them. However, each to their own and ALL pets are important. If an animal gives the owner support and love, that is all we can ask for.

Saying that - if nextdoor's cat ****s one more time on my new artificial lawn in the front, I may not be responsible for my actions . It does it out of spite as it knows my dogs would 'have it' in the back

 

You spoil your son. Oh you mean the dog.

 

Would definitely dominate in the wild

 

Mrs No7 says I have two major faults. I don’t listen and something else.

 

Julie Andrews has officially stated:

That she will no longer endorse cheap lipstick, due to it crumbling easily and making her breath smell.

She explained,
“ The super color fragile lipstick gives me halitosis.”

 

Not tried it, but for Xmas last year my in-laws got me a book, The Cheesmongers Guide to the History of Britain. It sounds utterly tedious, but is a very surprisingly great read. I thoroughly recommend it!

 

That actually sounds a good book. I love my cheese!

 

So do I but I am not allowed to eat it and to make matters even worse I am now under strict medical orders not to drink any alcohol.

When he said it I tried to persuade my doctor that it was the alcohol I have been rubbing in my hands that is the problem not the alcohol I drink. Needless to say he would have none of it so every night I sit gazing at my shelf of malts thinking I will never be allowed to drink them I so occasionally unscrew a cap and sniff but that is all.

It is enough to make one weep.

 

British history and cheese all in one go. It's fabulous, and you can bore people with random cheese facts. Right up your street, Fats

 

A classic from the pen of the great Les Barker:

 

Who ever said giving up drinking ( alcohol ) was a ****ing liar .

 

Channel 4, Dispatches programme, 8pm tonight.
All about the levels of contamination in supermarket meats, in the USA.
From blurb I have read, there is a frighteningly high level of salmonella and e-coli across the whole spectrum of the meat, and they are still using a hormone growth drug that was outlawed here, and in the EU, 25 years ago.
Should be scarily revealing of what awaits us, if we import meat from there.

 

That’s tough Godders. I think I should do the decent think and remove those bottles of malt out of temptations way. Let me know when I can collect them.

You’re welcome.

 

Whisky and a stroking or spicy cheese is a good combination.