David.W

I'm so glad everything went well for you both, I hope it's the start of a very long and happy time for you both

It's been a lovely day here (just north of the Forth bridge'Edinburgh'). there was a dusting on the high peaks but thats all, bit chilly though, I even had to put a jersey on

I have been using Lexar 40x cards (got 5 of them) and they are fast and have been fine. I also have a 2gb, Dane-Elec, seems to be as good, 7dayshop do them at a good price.

Elton, you took the words off my fingers... get rid of the suits that cause the problems, they think they know everything about everything but don't and cost a fortune, bring back Matron that looks like Hattie Jacques and most of the problems will go.

.... but it's all soooooo true, you're a brave man Newt and we applaud you

Nice one Shaun, I think all the fish around the coast should worry...

The one thing you haven't told us is the lenth of the lens you are using. If it's a standard or wide then even wide open you will struggle to throw the background but anything over 180mm and you will notice it going. If you get up to 300mm it will be much better

Diesel now 91.9... Toerag... where are you???????

Great news mate

I've been told that the D200 is much better than the D70, I have a D70 which is getting a bit old and I am looking at the D200 to replace it. The build quality is much better, it's faster with the focus and all at not a bad price.

I think it could be that so many cars are now diesel and the government have seen that as they get better fuel economy then put the price up, making even more money

WOW... what a beast!!! Makes you wonder just what does live on this planet with us.

Nice one Elton, I thought it reminder me of something

I love shooting sport but have nothing like those. I used to cover ice hockey (the Fife Flyers) in the old days of film, now it's more football I do. You can't beat sitting at a football match in the middle of december, no light, sleet falling sideways and all the action at the other end from you... these are the days you wonder about your sanity

Why do you think I don't put anything up... don't want to get shown up

Now thats nice but not much use for the sort of stuff I do. Jon, you;re right with the amount we carry, all my kit is worth around £30,000, one of my lenses is £4,000 on it's own. That is a nice pice of kit you just got, I know what you mean about finding the money to pay for it, I've just done my tax for the year and it looks like I might be able to get a new camera... as long as it's a disposable one

I have a Uni-Loc, got it years ago and cost me (with a ball and socket head) around £180, guess thats a bit more than you want to spend... not even got a bubble.

No idea about petrol but diesel is costing me 90.9, I have a feeling we are getting done as diesel was always cheeper than petrol

I know that around Aberdeen (I think it's Grampian FS) painted their cabs white a few years ago, there was a big thing about it on the news. All of the ones found here (Fife) are red. I'm part of International Fire and Rescue Assocciation and we will take any colour, infact, we will take anything...if it will help save lives.

I was up at the silly time, doing my tax, I've lost a month and a half of receipts. woke thismorning to a call out, big gas leak, and now trying to work out which way is up.

Thanks Matt, I hope I will get up on Sat, as I said, will have to see whats happening later.

Jason, thanks for that, Matt, that would be great if it's ok with you. At the moment Saturday is good for me too, but won't know for sure till later in the week... looks like another fishing trip

Well done mate, looks like a visit is due soon, if you leave some Can you tell me where I pick up a permit, I think it was Matt that got me mine last year.

For me, I just want to be able to go out and have a good time, catch a few fish, keep a few and watch as the ones I don't want swim free. Bag limits could be a good idea but only if they are upheld, not just by the honest, there are a couple of places near me and they hold small bass, some of the locals go and kill everything they catch and sell them. This needs stopped but I can't see it. Elton, I see your point, this is where a sensible limit would be needed, if at all.

Up at 4.45am, loaded the car and set off. After a longish drive where there were two R.T.C's where one closed the road and had to detour, I got there at 7.55 and met up with the rest of the guys. Off we went and started to set up the rods, on the way out we saw a lovely sun rise which I got one pic of before my camera batteries died (just put in fresh ones, I though I picked up charged but no, they were flat). Got to the first place, it took about an hour and 20 mins in the boat and was just south of the Isle of Arran. We started, not much happened, think a couple came up (not for me though), we moved about quite a bit, picking up fish but most of us were shown up by one of the guys 7 year old sons, he just kept catching I ended up with 3 pollock, biggest was about 3lb and a coalie of about 2lb, it was good to see them swim away too, straight down. Not a lot of fish but a good day out. Most of the fish came on jellies but a few were on fresh rag on a lead head. It was just good to get out, that was my first day off this year so it made it even better, Oh well, back to doing my tax return... Weather was bright with a light wind and a swell of about 3 feet.