A happy New Year to all in the United Kingdom. I write this in the rather dead period after all the frenetic action of the Christmas festivities. It was an unusual Christmas for us in that our house was upside down thanks to renovations which have continued almost without a break since we moved in here in July. However, the end is in sight and soon I will be back in my office and will be able to put my books and other pigeon matters where I can find them.
It almost seemed like home in that Victoria experienced the coldest Christmas Day on record with the temperature failing to get above 14ûC. It snowed on the alpine ski resorts and even over in Berwick where my son lives they had a white Christmas thanks to a hail storm which left them in a temporary white world.
As you know, our breeding season is exactly the other way around from yours, with a start being made in June and July. This year my season started late owing to my house move and problems with getting planning permission so I hoped for a couple of quick, productive rounds. The reality has been far removed from expectation as I have experienced one of my worst ever breeding seasons. The Show Racers have been reasonable but with several clear nests, dead in shell and other problems. The Dragoons however have been awful and even at this late stage I have produced few in numbers. Birds I particularly wanted have died after weaning and all in all it has been a disappointing time.
I have now treated against salmonella and also against canker as in some cases the birds seem to have suffered a form of wet canker which seems prevalent out here in this country. Time has also been very much against me owing to renovations and had I been able to spend more time in the lofts I may have noticed some of the problems earlier to take remedial action. All in all it has not been an enjoyable programme.
If I had to come up with the perfect shop window for the keeping of fancy pigeons, I could do no better than to offer Blackpool show which is attended by over thirty thousand pigeon fanciers, pigeon competitors and above all, pigeon lovers. Many of those racing enthusiasts will have a soft spot for other breeds so at last have the opportunity of seeing many breeds and meeting up with many fancy pigeon enthusiasts.
Andy Lowe and others did a great service to the sport by getting the Show of the Year committee at Blackpool to agree to have fancy pigeons on show there. This could have been done only by good argument and persuasion, but done on a most receptive committee led by Brian Mead and the General Manager of the RPRA, Peter Bryant. I was very excited when I heard of the coup and wished that I might have been able to get to the show this year to see it all happening. However, for the same sort of reasons which kept me from coming over for the German shows, I couldn't make Blackpool. House renovations and other commitments made it almost impossible so I have had to put a trip off for a while.
