As I write, the compilation of the October issue of Shooting Gazette is almost complete.

Will Garfit's copy came in later than usual thanks the the sporting holiday that formed the inspiration for his article. Gundog Update has been tucked into bed and last minute checks have been made to Contents.

Designer Neil Syer continues to bemoan the greed of Premiership footballers, I dare not ask Alex Flint what he's doing, such is his fixed expression as he faces the computer screen, editorial assistant Alex Terry casts a final eye over Letters and the odd cough from editor Will Hetherington lets us know he is still in the office, awaiting work from the other side of the wall. I sit bolt straight, thinking about my first beating day in mid October, a trip back home to see the Bluebirds this Saturday and Update which should cross my desk any moment now.

Stamford is pretty quiet but apparently things got a little warm in the high street the other day when a stolen van was pursued by the local law enforcement. Fortunately they caught the rascal.

We're all happy that the shooting season is now getting into full swing and early reports suggest that those who have been out already have enjoyed some excellent sport. Personally, I can't wait to get out for the first day, hopefully I won't have forgotten everything I learned from last season, but even if I don't hit anything all season, it's the taking part that counts, right?

The partridge season may only be a few days old and sound of shotguns has indeed been ringing out on grouse moors since the middle of August, but all in the Shooting Gazette office is quiet-ish. Preparations for the October issue have gathered pace now that we have said goodbye to the last summer month, but there is no calling, shouting and hand waving like the markets of London, Portobello or Square Mile.

Staff writer Alex Flint only breaks from his unrelenting editing of his piece on Birmingham’s Wesley Richards to check his finger nails are still intact, such is the battering of his keyboard on a daily basis, while Neil Syer, our designer, is hunched over his computer screen checking that the finer details of Shooting Types are where they should be. Next door, editor Will Hetherington mulls over the proofs and fields calls from Mr X and Mrs Y from ABC, and may very well call me at any moment to ask about facts or spellings.

Outside it is bright, but the sun is struggling to penetrate the thin rain clouds that have been hanging over Stamford since mid morning. We have been treated to a symphony of chain saws as our neighbour trims his hedge with an army of landscape gardeners, but it’s getting tiresome. Elsewhere, the town plays host to the Burghley Horse Trials this weekend, so we have had a procession motor vehicles of all shapes and widths, some carrying horses, some not, passing along the road in front of our headquarters today. I am glad that I will be away this weekend, traffic jams are not my favourite thing.

Across the hallway, Sporting Gun’s Steve Moore whistles the signature tune from Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat as he potters about in the kitchen with sugar and instant coffee, while Robin Scott shakes the building’s roof with a sneeze or two. No Alex Terry today to keep us in line, not that we require it, such is the need to get the magazine off and done, there is but one week to go….must get on.

As I write the British Olympic Team has won another clutch of medals at the Beijing Olympics. There will probably be some more in the bag by the time I have finished.

It was a shame about the shooting team not getting any medals, but they tried their best and that's all you can do. Roll on London 2012 and hopefully we can use our home advantage to get us a couple of golds. If only our shooting team was allowed to train in this country...

The success of the British team has been unparralled and unexpected but the British public's response has been slightly more predictable, ranging from calls for Rebecca Adlington to be made a Dame to callers to radio shows airing their disgust at people making such a hoo-ha of Britain actually winning something for a change. They obviously don't follow cricket, football or rugby!

There was also the claim that clay shooting is the preserve of independent school pupils, but let's not get started on that one.

We now have a golden opportunity to get our children away from the TV screen and out trying all of the sports they have seen us competing in this summer. You can see the irony there, but any government minister looking for a way to get the kids up and out and burning all that energy need look no further than Beijing as their inspiration.

Well done Team GB - keep it up!