David Cropper

When I did deer management at Bovington and Lulworth ranges I used both a .243 Win and a 270 Win. Most forces people used a .308 Win, as you say it is 7.62mm, simply because you could use 7.62 for practice but load your own .308 to get the same point of impact, saved a fortune. We took about 100 beasts a year, sika and roe but mainly sika. We had at a conservative estimate 400 on 3,000 acres at Lulworth.

Mine were 9mm, 7.62mm, .30 Browning medium mg and 76mm cannon on Saladin armoured car.

Mark, I now have a massive complex, thank you for reminding me how inadequate I am.

I just need loads of cash then.

Next time you are over here Jon pop in for a wet or two. You would be very welcome, try some of the Brittany cider I drink.

Thank you Jon, much appreciated. She actually knows who you are as I read her all your all your comments! Keep them coming, they cheer everybody up.

Thank you for that Al, the amount of people who either call me Roy Cropper from Corrie or who think I made my name up to go with the grass gutting side of the business is unbelievable.

Thanks lads. The other driver was taken to Angouleme hospital so we don't know her condition. The stupid thing was that no one was breathalysed at the scene and my wife asked at our local hospital if they wanted a urine sample, maybe later they said. 5 hours later they released without a sample being taken, crazy. I got from my insurance agent a document that I had to sign as I am the owner, on paper, to attest to the fact that the driver was not under the influence of drink or drugs. I am hardly likely to say she was.

Got a call today whilst out stump grinding from my insurance agent telling me that my wife was in hospital after being in a car accident. The hospital wouldn't give her any details, you obviously think the worst. Luckily I was only 45 minutes away not like yesterday 1 and a half hours away. Got to the hospital in what I thought was a calm condition, must have looked a bit wild to the receptionist who immediately came round the desk to reassure me that my wife was ok. Went into the emergency ward to find out that she was ok but obviously shaken up. It turned out that she had pulled out from a side road with a stop sign there, waited the required 5 seconds (which is an unwritten law here, if the police see you not waiting it's a €90 fine) and turned left. At this point some woman in an old banger came hammering round the corner after entering the 70 kms speed restriction and went the wrong side of the road and demolished the front end of our car. It looked like a car bomb had gone off, totally written off. The air bags in ours failed to go off, the car stayed where it was but the other driver ended up piling into a ditch. My wife had to then run across to wrench open the driver's door to release the driver as she was unable to get out. By this time people working in the grain silo next to the junction and from a nearby house came over to help. What is so ironic is that the silo is a favourite place for the gendarmes to lurk with the speed camera as this stretch of road is well known for fast driving, today not one in sight. Upshot is that at the moment we have no witnesses, don't know the condition of the other car before the crash, according to my wife it was a bit of a heap, we are hoping that maybe the tyres are worn etc. Because my wife was entering a road then technically she is at fault, unless someone saw the other woman speeding. This is the second car in 18 months we have had written off. First time, she was parking the Kia Sportage up in town when out of the corner of her eye she spotted a dog running in, went for the brake but this car was an automatic, first she had had, pushed the accelerator instead. Bang, €11,200 worth of damage, written off. Only had it for 2 months. I bought it for her because she had a serious accident falling down stairs 10 months before breaking her back in 2 places. I keep reassuring her that they are only bits of metal and I am glad it was only the car and not her. To cap off her day, she had to come home in my van which is her worst nightmare, a bit like a dustbin, sweetie papers falling out every time the doors are open. I just picked every bit of clothing, kit, tools, water bottles, spare grinder teeth, flails etc and threw them in the back and coaxed her in. I bought the new one after the last prang, a Peugeot 3008, built like a Chieftain tank thank Christ which must have helped. Poor little sod is feeling very sad tonight , I keep saying that she could quite easily ended up dead , count your blessings.

This is what was said to try to shame Mr Lee. I still bear the mental scars. "Watch out Jayv39 when Stuart offers to help you out. He did the same for me a while ago. I ended up in a caravan wearing leather shorts and having to be "nice and friendly" to his customers and friends. I manages to escape leaving the shorts for the next poor sod he "helps". "

That's a bit rich Stuart after your antics. See my comment on the thread about the lad wanting info about moving to France. Pot kettle black methinks.

This man speaks a lot of sense, well put Gary.

Watched The Quiet Man only today. What a shame, very good actress.

Has anybody thought to ask Frank Bruno? He was always asking "Where's Arry?" after the fight ended.

Good luck Jay. Watch out for the fasteners on the backflap of the shorts, they do tend to fly open at the most inopportune moment. Maybe Stuart designed them that way.

Watch out Jayv39 when Stuart offers to help you out. He did the same for me a while ago. I ended up in a caravan wearing leather shorts and having to be "nice and friendly" to his customers and friends. I manages to escape leaving the shorts for the next poor sod he "helps".

You don't see what the problem is? Jesus wept! This piece of filth threatened someone's family, one of whom is a child. Sorry pal, I think you have missed the point.

Give it a go mate. I have known blokes over here working in the building trades who hardly spoke a word of French and got by. Their excuse is that they only work for English speakers. That in my opinion is totally wrong, shows no respect for the French. Brits are the worst in the world for objecting to foreigners who don't speak our lingo but forget all their prejudices when they get here. With Tree surgeons, most seem to get more than enough French clients when they get established and known. I agree with NFG that you will need to get professional help for paperwork, tax matters and registering to work and live here. Don't be put off. Almost all French people I know will help you even if don't speak French all that well, I know it's a cliché but they do appreciate it when you try. One of the best ways to learn is to get involved with the community be it via sport, hunting or fishing, just show some interest in what people do. hopefully Darren Shepherd of VTS or Ty Corrigan (Stuart Lee) will post something to help you or even suggest who may give you a bit of work as a taster. Both good lads who understand the system and won't belittle you. There are some good people out here who will help you if you ask. Good luck.

Reported all his rants earlier, just received notification from Facebook that his comments do NOT justify any action as they do not go against any guidelines, incredible! I have removed myself from Treebay.

Timbercutter, look on Treebay on Facebook and find the questioner's name Jay Nicholson then follow the tale. Sorry about the link.

http://https://www.facebook.com/groups/1438926289712224/?ref=bookmarks Sorry Timbercutter if this isn't the link. I ain't Bill Gates when it comes to this.

I seem to be obsessed with this blokes testicles, or more probably lack of. I have mulled over the problem and come up with what I consider the solution. I intend contacting Ronnie Pickering to tell him that the above mentioned Herbert reckons that Mr Pickering is a fat puff and he will be paying a visit to Mrs Pickering to sort her needs out. That, in my humble opinion, should solve that little problem.

Yes Ian, it is the lilac rant. Unbelievable. That's it for me with Treebay, enough is enough. I looked at the Questioner's profile and found that he has a beautiful wife and small child, maybe the abusive scrote has neither, probably still lives at home with Mother. I noticed also that the questioner has a couple of Ridgebacks, I know what I would be using them for and it doesn't concern lions. It would be testicle hunting.

My wife saw how upset I was and said the same as you to not bother with Treebay ,I am still seething. I agree about this site entirely, if anyone gets out of hand then the Mods rein them in as how it should be. Life's too bleeding short for this sort of crap.

I have just seen what can only be described as a poisonous rant on Treebay. Some poor sod asked a perfectly reasonable question about members identifying a tree. He is very polite and explains that he isn't a tree surgeon, just wants someone to tell him. The horrible replies he got back beggars belief. One scrote goes on to tell him to get off the site as it's not for him. He then rants on in several replies that he will pay the questioner's wife a visit, do things to his dead mother and finally lets him know that he has researched where this lad lives and mentions "Shame about your son." What sort of bloke is this? I can't stop thinking about all this, I find it too disturbing for a bloke to ask an innocent question then receive what can only be blatant threats to his family, surely there must be some recourse in law? I know what I would do if someone threatened my family, it would include sharp objects and testicles. If I thought he was too hard (which I seriously doubt in most bullies' cases) or as mad as a hatter, which is a possibility, then a mob handed approach would do the job. I just hope that someone looking on the site for info or for a tree surgeon sees this clown's rant and word gets around and he never works again. Most lads who replied gave sensible answers and quite a few were disgusted at what had been said. Banter is fine, as is the norm on this site, but what has gone on on Treebay just stuns me. And before someone thinks that I am a sensitive soul, which I ain't, and should live in the real world, which I do, this should not happen to anyone.