Now that 2012 and the Airgun Shooting website is really up and running, I thought I'd bring you right up to date with what's been going on around the Airgun World and Air Gunner office, which in a word, amounts to 'loads'.

First, there are times when I think I may have overreached myself a tad, as projects, write-ups, test sessions and what I believed at the time were bright ideas, become part of my monthly 'to do' list. Doing stuff, however enjoyable, always takes far more time than you think, especially when the results of what you're doing have to fit within an extremely demanding publishing schedule. You can bet, as soon as the clock starts ticking, something crops up to steal precious time. Usually it's the weather, especially at this time of year, but all sorts of hassles and hang-ups can conspire to push any article right to the wire, and occasionally beyond it. When we're so close to deadline that we can't give a subject the treatment it merits, we either call it off until the following month, or we'll do an overview one month, followed by the full report as soon as it's available.

Some features are just too big to be contained in a single article, so we'll publish a two-parter, or even a series. Others warrant a future re-visit, and yet more come under the 'long term test' remit. For instance, I've been using the new Nite-Site night vision outfit, lately, and I was due to publish the full test in the February issue of Airgun World. This involved extensive testing over the Christmas/New Year period, which I was really looking forward to in an 'escape the relatives and enforced Yuletide jollity' sort of way. Sadly, horizontal rain and howling wind, together imparting the effect of being shot at with a machine gun loaded with icicles, drove me back indoors. Even the rats in the chicken farm seemed reluctant to feed, and my plans were wrecked.

Air Gunner editor, Matt Clark, headed for Scotland with the new Weihrauch HW101 single shot to do a bit of rifle testing, among other things, and it seemed unfair to me that, hundreds of miles north, he had better weather than I did. Matt hit all of his deadlines, and I failed miserably. On the plus side, the features that didn't make it in full in this month's mag' will have two issues and more space dedicated to them as two-parters. I also have more time to explore the capabilities and possibilities of whatever it is I'm writing about.

So, with every downside there's a side going in the opposite direction, and generally I'm the most positive chap on the planet. Right now, I've got the new Theoben sidelever rifle by my side, ready to take to the test range, and I've booked three ratting sessions with the Nite-Site for this week alone. Then there's a bit of development work with the full-control sporter I've been banging on about forever. I'll have two prototype rifles to test for their manufacturers, as part of my field tester duties, and I should be leaving tomorrow for Las Vegas and the incredible S.H.O.T. Show - but I'm not. I'm sending our technical editor, Phill Price, instead, while I restore sanity to our deadlines and seethe with jealousy at the wonders I'll be missing. Phill's going to make the S.H.O.T. Show video that has become so popular on this site, and I know he'll fly the airgunning flag like the trooper he is.

Oh well, I'd better get back to it or those schedules will bite me in the time-frame once again. See you soon for another blog, and don't forget to keep your views, opinions and suggestions coming. They're your mags and this is your site, so let's keep building it until we get it just the way we want it.

All the best.

Terry