Introduction - Phil from Blueskylofts

I suddenly realised that I hadn't really introduced myself to the members - so here goes.

My name is Phil, I am 62 years old, but about 35 in the head. I am very forward thinking and like to keep up with modern techniques. Unlike some older people - I do not live in the past, at least not yet! lol.

I am a Jewellery Maker and Designer, working in Gold and Silver. I am semi retired now after having a life saving Liver Transplant a few years ago, then having a couple of problems with 'The Old Ticker'. As long as I keep taking the pills, I am OK. I still make one-off pieces of jewellery and have a website at www.philongold.net - I do a few private commissions for those that want a very special piece of jewellery for themselves or a loved one.

I first started racing pigeons when I was 14 years old, then gave up the birds when I got more interested in women and sport, first cycle racing then Motorbike Road racing. I restarted racing pigeons around 16 years ago and did very well, winning more than my share of races, topping the Fed's Championship with young birds and in general, doing quite well.

Then I became very ill - for a long time, nobody knew what was wrong with me, I used to just fall down, my legs were like tree trunks and I blew up like a Michelin man. Then I was diagnosed with liver failure - nothing to do with alcohol, but maybe something to do with diabetes, we will never know. Anyway - I was fortunate, I got a new liver just in time. I only had 8 days to live, but they got me one in 3 days and the operation went ahead. It takes about four years to get over a Liver Transplant and I was just getting back to something like normal, when my heart started playing up.

But let us not dwell on that too long - as I said - as long as I keep taking the meds, I will be OK, and it's better than being dead!

In February of this year, my wife and I decided that we would like to start with pigeons again. I have been quite fortunate in being able to buy some really amazing birds to start my new family with. I prefer racing medium to long distance races but I appreciate, in the early years, I may have to be happy winning some short-ish distance races as I won't have any birds knowledgeable or mature enough to do the longer distances.

I am going to spend this year, 2016, breeding myself a good number of birds to make 3 separate families, then in 2017 I will have enough stock birds or breeding pairs to breed myself some youngsters which I can fly during the young bird season. I will test them and see what happens. I appreciate that birds that are going to fly longer distances may be later to mature and must remember this when it comes to selecting what I am going to keep at the end of the 2017 season.

Well, peeps, I hope this gives you a bit background and what my plans are for the next few years, and I look forward to contributing more to this forum.

Yours in Sport
Phil (blueskylofts)

great to see a man so up-beat ...we should all live everyday to the full as we just don't know whats around the corner and what problems others have ,respect for being so honest phil ...enjoy yer pigeons and good luck for the future

One if the best introductions we have had on here .well done to you

thanks for the intro phil/bluesky, it was very informative......glad you decided to re start with pigeons again, and look forward to hearing how you do racing, and your input to the site.

peel bros wrote:

One if the best introductions we have had on here .well done to you

Very true Ray with all Phil's misfortune etc with his health as such & to still feel like a 35 year old the man has a real positive outlook on life one would say. Unfortunately being a man with a stick now here I'm a man in negative mode, as I feel like 105 on a good day I'm sadly.

i`m not far behind you knackered, i was diagnosed with COPD 2 years ago and given a lung age of 100 years......so that means my lungs are 102 now.......

David wrote:

i`m not far behind you knackered, i was diagnosed with COPD 2 years ago and given a lung age of 100 years......so that means my lungs are 102 now.......

Life is such a joy if you win the health lottery etc. If thou you just happen to miss out sadly through mis-adventure, life then can be utter sh*te I've found David.

very true knackered, but just like phil has shown us, we have to carry on and be positive eh....im too busy to be ill

David wrote:

very true knackered, but just like phil has shown us, we have to carry on and be positive eh....im too busy to be ill  

Of course your right David & Phil should be held up as a shining beacon of hope I suspect. I know for a fact if I can get my socks on first thing in the morning, without calling for help what happens for the rest of the day is all on the bonus side etc.

Knackered wrote:

David wrote:

very true knackered, but just like phil has shown us, we have to carry on and be positive eh....im too busy to be ill  

Of course your right David & Phil should be held up as a shining beacon of hope I suspect. I know for a fact if I can get my socks on first thing in the morning, without calling for help what happens for the rest of the day is all on the bonus side etc.

Phil that's a great introduction and I wish you all the best for the future with your health and the pigeons and fingers crossed see you on the front of the magazines for winning a national

All the best Phil

Don Webb wrote:

Phil that's a great introduction and I wish you all the best for the future with your health and the pigeons and fingers crossed see you on the front of the magazines for winning a national

All the best Phil

Hi Don - Thanks for your wishes. I intend to live every day to it's Fullest. After all, how many of us know how long we have to live!

One's health, is probably the most important thing we possess - We would do well to bear that in mind when we are swigging that extra pint or lighting up yet another 'killer fag'!

I am not preaching - everybody has the right to do what they want with their bodies - but what we do to our bodies might be doing it harm.

And even if we are living a 'Good' life, trying to be good to our bodies and to those around us - we can still get "Splashed by a car" or killed by some idiot driving like crazy.

Crumbs - all that sounds a bit Heavy Man - but, all I am saying is - try to be good to yourself and to others.

Everyone - Keep well
Phil

blueskylofts wrote:

Don Webb wrote:

Phil that's a great introduction and I wish you all the best for the future with your health and the pigeons and fingers crossed see you on the front of the magazines for winning a national

All the best Phil

Hi Don  -  Thanks for your wishes.  I intend to live every day to it's Fullest.  After all, how many of us know how long we have to live!

One's health, is probably the most important thing we possess - We would do well to bear that in mind when we are swigging that extra pint or lighting up yet another 'killer fag'!

I am not preaching - everybody has the right to do what they want with their bodies - but what we do to our bodies might be doing it harm.  

And even if we are living a 'Good' life, trying to be good to our bodies and to those around us - we can still get "Splashed by a car" or killed by some idiot driving like crazy.

Crumbs - all that sounds a bit Heavy Man - but, all I am saying is - try to be good to yourself and to others.

Everyone - Keep well
Phil

Preachers are banned here Phil & don't worry about the heavy scenario most of us here get the picture .

phil live every day as if its your last because one day it will be

shippy wrote:

phil live every day as if its your last because one day it will be

voice of doom shippy.........you've just spoilt my day.

Or the first day of the rest of your life

shippy wrote:

phil live every day as if its your last because one day it will be

any chance Shippy of changing your pseudonym etc to Mr Doom & Gloom     just to brighting the site here on a daily basis .

was it spike milligan had wrote on his head stone "I told you I was ill", I think he had been telling everyone for a bout 30 years.........

David wrote:

was it spike milligan had wrote on his head stone "I told you I was ill", I think he had been telling everyone for a bout 30 years.........

Now I understand all David Shippy is a close relation of Spike's by birth I suspect     & has the plot next door to him, for when the big day arrives etc .

peel bros wrote:

Or the first day of the rest of your life

Gotcha Ray    . Oh the joy of sitting down at the local coffee club etc with all the departed frustrated pigeon flyers from the past there, as such .  

I got up this morning at 4.45 to sort some ybs out and if this is the start of nice weather I will be doing it everyday to let my hens out .maybe not as early as that but not far away..This is what gives you the buzz when racing and getting the rewards at the end of the week

4.45 is the middle of the night ray........only time I`ve ever been up at that time is for a p*ss..........

David wrote:

4.45 is the middle of the night ray........only time I`ve ever been up at that time is for a p*ss..........

I know your problem David it's a man thing . One hopes your able to have time to find the light switch there etc .

its just a half asleep stumble on auto pilot knackered, even lost my balance once or twice and ended up in a heap on the floor........

David wrote:

its just a half asleep stumble on auto pilot knackered, even lost my balance once or twice and ended up in a heap on the floor........

watch your post/mail their David I will send you a torch.