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Another Bird in the Hand


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Just to make everyone aware, and who may be interested, my new book, Another Bird in the hand will be published later this year.  It is, at the moment, being proof read,edited and formatted, ready to go to the printer in the next few months

The book is a sequel to A Bird in the Hand, published in 2006, and it is once again published in quality hardback, silk paper and in full Black and white with a number of images.

It covers more escapades in the countryside, such as bird trapping, bird nesting as well as chapters on my early showing of birds in the 1960`s and my attempts and successes when breeding British finches and their hybrids, written in a way that could possibly assist any aspiring mule or hybrid breeder.  The book however is not a "how to"  It is a book to entertain, while jogging the memories of many older people who read it, and causing questions from the younger readers of, "did that really happen then"  It also highlights some interesting aspects of our past heritage and social history, for future generations and their people.  This book will cause tears and smiles, and to anyone who genuinely liked my first, you will definitely like this one. 

There has been some different writing styles and concepts used, and some new countryside characters added, as well as some of my old friends from the first book, A Bird in the hand..including Jimmy the Ragman, and Duke, my faithful canine companion.  There are tons of wildlife observations, showing that although I am predominantly a hunter, I am also a country person.

This will be a small print run, a lot smaller than I have done in the past.

I will keep everyone informed on how the book progresses and when it is available

Thanks

Bill 

 

 

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Just to make everyone aware, and who may be interested, my new book, Another Bird in the hand will be published later this year.  It is, at the moment, being proof read,edited and formatted, ready to

little bit about the book.. Another Bird in the Hand Tales of a country boy A long awaited sequel, to the first book A Bird in the Hand published in 2006, this new manuscript continues

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43 minutes ago, Bosun11 said:

Agree with Darbo, great news!

Really looking forward to this, loved the first book, nice one Bill ?

If the first one was up your street, you will love this one matie...

Hows you and your lass doing?

Long time since I seen yous

Bill

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40 minutes ago, Omanyra said:

If the first one was up your street, you will love this one matie...

Hows you and your lass doing?

Long time since I seen yous

Bill

All good here Bill, hope the same with you and yours mate?

Still parking for you at Anfield next time you need it and the kettle will be boiling at the new house, either on your way to, or back from the match. Be good to catch up... ?

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28 minutes ago, Bosun11 said:

All good here Bill, hope the same with you and yours mate?

Still parking for you at Anfield next time you need it and the kettle will be boiling at the new house, either on your way to, or back from the match. Be good to catch up... ?

Great stuff

It's just getting the bloody tickets ...but yes, if I get tickets the parking would be great 

Thanks 

Bill 

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38 minutes ago, WHWT said:

First one was a good read and jogged my mind on days out when i was a younging.

 

PUD

Cheers youngin 

This one will be even better with your old man in 

 

Bill 

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  • 3 weeks later...

 little bit about the book..

Another Bird in the Hand

Tales of a country boy

A long awaited sequel, to the first book A Bird in the Hand published in 2006, this new manuscript continues in the same vein as the first, documenting a young lads journey of growing up, of enjoyment, excitement and of learning, mentored by various colourful characters.

The author again takes the reader back in time, to mining areas of mid Northumberland during the 1960`s, and he invites your mind to join in with the experiences he so vividly writes of. 

From the introduction, the author allows you into what was his world, a halcyon time, where rush and push were not yet invented, and life drifted along at a leisurely pace.    Each chapter of this book is a window to the authors early life, a life that included bird nesting, potato picking, collecting brambles, hips and haws and where stories will unfold to mainly entertain and bring back memories, but, will also drip feed ideas, experiences and concepts that some people may find useful.

Chapter 1 tells of young Bill on a cold early morning outing with “Jimmy the Ragman”, on a quest to trap wild goldfinches.  Read of how this outing didn’t quite go to plan.

Chapter 2 documents another illicit tryst into the Northumberland countryside’s, this time alone, with the aim to catch wild redpolls.  Read of the trapping methods used and how Bill had a close call with the police, and feel the terror as he writes of an unwanted visit to his morning hiding place by an angry police dog.

Chapter 3 here you are invited to meet a few old friends, with Bill describing how these birdmen effected his early years.  This is an interesting and at times quite poignant chapter, with events ranging from humorous early encounters to sad endings, with lots of interesting stuff in-between.  There are tales of being part of early bird showing and of outings catching finches, including bullfinches

Chapter 4 a synopsis of a day out mooching in the local countryside, bird nesting, exploring and enjoying what young country lads did at that time.  You will read, and feel, the excitement, the passion and at times sadness, as Bill and his dog Duke search, finding solace in clandestine places.  Read of perils associated with climbing trees in search of bird’s eggs, and of things that you really don’t want to find.

Chapter 5 and this chapter tells of what can be come across, lurking in the bushes on a morning while out catching wild linnets.

Chapter 6 read how the author describes how when out on a very cold, damp and misty morning, he obtains a fantastic reward for his endeavours

Chapter 7 the first bird-show that anyone attends should stay with that person forever, this chapter documents exactly that, and how, apart from enjoying the event it changed the authors goals after see-ing his first hybrid birds.

Chapter 8 after his first show, and a promise is met, as Bill breeds his first mules

Chapter 9 after breeding mules, the author branches to producing his first hybrids.  Here he describes the successful methods used to breed various crosses, include an interesting and possibly useful section on how he used, and has used since, a method for producing bullfinch hybrids

Chapter 10 and Bill has his first encounter with the charm of the siskin.  From obtaining his first siskin, attempting to catch some wild birds and to breeding these lovely diminutive finches in captivity.  A useful and at times funny chapter.

Chapter 11 again it’s about the virtues of the common redpoll, and how Bill and his dad John, bred their first ever redpolls, from setbacks to success, from  breeding alongside budgerigars in an outdoor flight to the use of small indoor cages.

Another Bird in the Hand is a book to entertain, to have as a prized possession in the personal library of those not only interested in breeding or keeping British finches, but also those who are genuinely interested in the countryside, and of what country lads did not too long back in our social history.

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Well I never knew you were on this forum bill. I have a signed hardcover copy of your bird in the hand book. I'm about half way through the book, I'm in afgahnistan at the moment so it's home safe. A brilliant book and brilliant art work. I'll be on this lime a fly on crap soon as its released. I'd say its my most prized book of all my collection so far and I have a good few. Great to see you on the forum and keep them coming   I thoroughly enjoy reading them and the characters are like some of the old boys back home in th e Welsh Valleys. 

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On 12/06/2019 at 18:16, darrren said:

Well I never knew you were on this forum bill. I have a signed hardcover copy of your bird in the hand book. I'm about half way through the book, I'm in afgahnistan at the moment so it's home safe. A brilliant book and brilliant art work. I'll be on this lime a fly on crap soon as its released. I'd say its my most prized book of all my collection so far and I have a good few. Great to see you on the forum and keep them coming   I thoroughly enjoy reading them and the characters are like some of the old boys back home in th e Welsh Valleys. 

Cheers matie...and for the kind comments 

It's at the 3rd proof stage at the minute, and I'm hoping for it to be at the printers by the end of August 

If you like the first one.  You will love the second ..

Im doing the checking on the proofs, and I love it everytime I go through it for errors ..and I wrote the bloody thing ha ha ha 

Thanks again for the comments 

 

Bill 

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