David A Broad
A personal story
More than 40 years, told day by day
Our usual Cambridge trip to meet up with Di’s parents before visiting local farms to talk about shooting and crop protection and then a Bedford cinema trip to see On Deadly Ground a Seigel/Cane film which was far too violent and crude for our taste
After a good night’s sleep, we found the day mild again but wet and rainy to start with. This did not put me or Sam off of embarking on our morning training run and I took him straight to the gravel pits to do some waterwork. I am still struggling to get his first entry right without delay or deviation, but he did a lot of good work afterwards including one at distance.
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After catching up with outstanding office jobs, and with Debbie at home ill, I called Jim and then attended a CFSA meeting about their Sutton shoot on the Ouse Washes for winter fowling.
I sat next to John Humphreys, long-time fowler, author and columnist in The Shooting Times
It was back to work in my office this morning as I went through all my outstanding jobs to see what needed to be done. Diana was out putting cards into the local shop windows advertising for a handyman and, once I had separated these jobs out from my list, my life activities seemed possible after all! I was out with Sam this morning, first doing the customary water work and then some quartering around the gravel pits.
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After an unfortunate start to the day for Sam, off for Norfolk gun-dog training with Jim where my dog did quite well and then a fine meal with Jim and July Bird before home to Paxton to watch Chelsea’s F.A. Cup quarter final football match and then to read my comprehensive new book on the German Short-haired Pointer breed called Der Deutsch Kurzhaar
I found out this morning why Sam was unsettled in the night. He had a tummy upset and had messed his kennel and run, poor thing, which he knew was wrong but I had not let him out! I slept well and enjoyed the rest. Quickly ready and then a breakfast of cereal before packing up ready to go.
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Out early to arrive in Norfolk in time for The Wroxham Boat Auction, which was a disappointment.
Later to Carrow Road to see Norwich City whose injuries led to them losing against QPR 3-4. Sam did not settle as easily as usual in his Norfolk kennel and whined a bit.
I had stayed at home, tired, last night and so was pledged to get up early and make the trip to Norfolk after breakfast. I used the time before the meal to clear up my office and plan the things that I needed to take so that I was ready to leave directly afterwards.
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Pigeon Shooting with Nigel and then travelling to see the Crufts Gun Dog show and meeting up with GSP friends and colleagues.
News of a second mortar attack by the I.R.A. on Heathrow Airport and this just before the Queen's aircraft was due to land there.
Nigel had told me that he could not manage the pigeon shooting yesterday and so we arranged to go early this morning together. I collected him at 6.00am and, after we dropped off some things at Cambridge Street and his Volvo at Cambridge Street Motors for service, we took off up the A1 and arrived well before 7.00am.
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Dog Training on a bright and sunny day and Kennel cleaning before collecting fencing materials and my repaired lawn mower from Ibbetts.
I drove over to Molesworth in the afternoon and ran Sam over quite a lot of the upland fields and then taking Diana to Peterborough where we saw and enjoyed the film "Pelican Brief" together.
It was a bright and sunny day and, after taking Sam out for his normal run and water retrieve, I used the good weather to first brush out and then disinfect his kennel. I ended up by putting one of his new blankets inside to see how he got on with it.
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