Well we reached Shooter's club Broomhill Clay shooting grounds owned by the old and venerable bespoke gun makers, "Atkins,Grant and Lang".Unfortunately, as it was a Sunday,visiting their gunshop was ruled out.
Though the meteorological predictions were expecting a clement weather,we were apprehensive given the experience of the vagaries of English weather,especially due to the recent (very)cold wave.However, it was Mr MoA who played truant,instead of the Sun, due to workload (the nature of which was greatly contested
).The morning remained surprisingly sunny and dry,though it was still icy.The result was, we were confused for a few seconds if we strayed into a carnival. A lot of people-kids,grand mothers,families,soloists etc, all were merrily blazing away at clays.Most touching of it all was the pair of wife and husband-the lady in a wheelchair armed with a Beretta and her husband pushing the wheel chair from station to station with his gun slung over shoulders. If only the anti-gun nitwits were to witness the joyous atmosphere,they just may understand that the gun owners are after all not blood thirsty murderers. 
Before, we go further, I must tell you a few words about Senor NagaRifle.Apart from a very witty sense of humour,he has the uncanny ability to change his visage from utterly bewitching to very intimidating to absolutely menacing.
You will find out as we go along.Well, not to waste any more time,Shooter started to assemble his Browning 525 and the Classic Doubles O/Us and Hamiclar got his Beretta 682.
Along with the guns, the large hearted Shooter brought me a brace of pheasants that he shot from the shoot the day before.How very generous of him!
Then,quickly we were on our way to the clay stands.
While we were on our way,Naga spotted the GoCarting track and was quick to observe that he never shot "Go-Skeet".He wanted me to get on a cart quick so that he could start "Go-Skeet" shooting. I agreed provided that he wears the hearing protectors over his eyes.
Shooter blasting away:
NagaRifle trying Shotgun
As I missed a few,Shooter wanted me to mount and shoot after I see the clay,a la Churchill's instinctive style of shooting, instead of shooting pre-mounted .It was VERY pleasing to see the clays bursting into smithereens!I did not bust all of them,but it did improve my score and taught a few lessons. One thing must be said here.Shooter's enthusiasm for shooting is like a mountain spring,fresh,clear and unsurpassable.It is infectious.
Our fingers were freezing in the cold wind,but we valiantly kept hurling lead at the clays.Finally, once it was done,time for a hot cup of tea to bring back some sensation to our numb hands.Here,Naga put his Hindi to good use,screaming "Oi,chai lao".
Then,before we left for lunch, we checked out Hamiclar's Weihrauch HW-80 customised by Steve Pope.It is a gorgeous-gorgeous thing.You will be proud to have one in your possession and I think you will never ever wish to let something like that to go out of your hands.
Shooter tries the HW-80
Ze Group Photo.You can see Naga pull another trick here.He turns into Dr Evil!
We chose an ancient looking country pub to break bread together."The Packhorse" dates back to the 1600s or so we were told by the mistress of the said ale house. However, the steaks turned out to be disastrous-stringy,chewy and as ancient as the place itself-obviously not from very happy beasts.But, we being of Bulldog like tenacious disposition ,left nothing to waste.Hunger motivated us hugely of course. The chips did compensate to an extent though. After a couple of hours of nattering about guns,ways and means of making IFG better,collective cursing,bitching and bemoaning the state of affairs re guns in the motherland,it was time to move.With vows to meet again and often,we shook hands and parted ways.It was a fantastic day for all of us.Though we met Naga for the first time,it was as if we knew him for a long time.
Special thanks must be said to Shooter for arranging the shoot at his club and the brace of pheasants
. Mr MoA,there is no excuse for next time,please. 
Best-
Vikram
