Listen out for...

Melody Gardot

Update

Sorry

I can see there have been a number of followers looking in, and I apologise for having not a great deal to say recently.
Important things that I have touched upon going on at the moment that need my attention, and it may well be I will have nothing to add here until perhaps mid - February.
Certainly not been in the right frame of mind to go fishing, although I really do want to, I  keep finding excuses not to though.
Just need to give myself that extra push.
I can say, I still have my sense of humour, and am not letting the idiots get to me as they did in the past.
There are far more important things in life than swatting at the itching annoyances of midges in t'internet world.
I certainly have found that the BFW site isn't missed by me at all.
They banned me because I answered those that were looking for ways to get me to bite, by referring them to specific areas of the Barbel Society website and Blog, rather than answering myself.
BFW called it spamming, in my mind it was overcoming the inadequacy of the moderators on the site.
It has however helped me concentrate more on The Barbel Society facebook page, and Blog to get our message out to anglers. It's interesting to see just how many carp anglers are joining in and in fact joining us.

http://barbelsociety.blogspot.com/       

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_127485443977171&ap=1!/photo.php?fbid=482146144638&set=o.127485443977171

I'm glad to say, I spend far less time on this infernal machine, so there's no real excuse at all for not going fishing, is there?

Garden

For many of you I'm sure, this winter has so far done considerable damage to the plant life, itw ill be interesting to actually see what has survived come spring!
Something that hasn't survived is the pond, all of my rudd have died, and at least one frog didn't get out before the freeze.
Must look on the brightside though,I have a fgresh supply of dead bait!!
Thinking now of what to do with the pond, it's on the cards we will fill it in and create something else, but we've been recreating our garden every year since we came here, so it just another project.

The stream will be retained, improved and maintained to keep the bird life supplied with water, but I think almost certainly the Gunnera manicata will need replacing, we got caught out and didn't protect it before the ice set in.







I'll be back, but just to amuse you.

Getting old

Whether or not you are a country music fan, these are truly the words of a deep thinker, and a highly intelligent person. So simple, yet so profound!
Read the words of wisdom from the famous philosopher and iconic country and western singer songwriter, Willie Nelson.
On his 75th birthday only a man with such wisdom and maturity could be so concise and succinct in phrasing his feelings at this turning point in his life.

"I have outlived my pecker."

The Penis Poem

My nookie days are over, my pilot light is out.

What used to be my sex appeal is now my water spout.

Time was when, on its own accord, from my trousers it would spring

but now I've got a full time job to find the f***in' thing.

It used to be embarrassing, the way it would behave.

For every single morning it would stand and watch me shave.

Now as old age approaches it sure gives me the blues,

to see it hang its little head and watch me tie my shoes!

Essex boy done good!

Alastair Cook

Following in the footsteps of another great Essex cricketer/batsman, his mentor and batting coach, Graham Gooch.
Alastair Cook (born in Gloucester) has now gone into the history books for his feats in this Ashes series, not certain about other newspapers but the Guardian today had a full page write up about in him in the main paper on page 3

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/alastair-cook

I'll not go into the records or his importance to English cricket it's all there, even the alure of his long eye lashes!!!
Congratulations, young man destined to be one of the all time batting greats, if he isn't already.
Hopefully he wont let it go to his head and end up affected, like Pieterson has allowed his obvious skills to be.
It's all over but for the shouting, so congratulations to Team England, the promise has now been realised.

Rest in Peace

Gerry Rafferty

16th April 1947 - 4th January 2011

I first came upon Gerry Rafferty as part of Stealers Wheel in 1972 with Stuck in the middle with you, I still have the cassette tape version of the LP on which it features.
But, in the what were some of the best years of my life, his Baker Street became part of the celebration of the time for me the late 1970's and early 80's.
Working in Baker Street London, and soaking up the terrific atmosphere of the time,the  pubs and the area around with many long standing good friends. His record always brings back very happy and fond memories to me.

So in celebration of his life I'll put Stuck in the middle.... and  another favourite of mine on here. Rest in peace Gerry.







Oh alright and one more

Happy New Year

Mum

For those interested, I've just had the 'phone call from Mum, she has been advised by the hospital that the mastectomy operation is lined up for the 28th January.
She seems ok about it, but want's me to be there.
It'll be a busy month for us travel wise, and who knows what after?
Anyway it's her 88th next Monday, so a long weekend visit beforehand, weather permitting, will give us a chance to chat.


Snow

Had our third significant batch of snow for the winter this morning, replaced all that had thawed during the week, although we still have great mounds around of the grey stuff left by the plough and the helpful farmer.

I was going to get some maggots and drive down to the tidal Trent, but the thought of driving for an hour in the snow put me off.
My lob worms are dead!
Maybe Friday.

Cricket

Stayed up for the second night to listen to the cricket, bored by lunchtime, very slow.
I think if I had it on tele then I would stay up and watch it, but I'm not giving in to that bloke Murdoch.
Anyway woke again a 5am to listen to the latest, and heard we had let the Aussies of the hook, bad bowling at tail enders...... again!!

I heard Geoffreys summing up, he got it right.
Switched on just in time to hear Cooke & Pieterson moving the score along nicely, then they both had silly turns which had me swearing, well Peiterson did.
Cook obviously got away with it, but the otherbloke,well, will he ever learn that cricket is a team game?
I think we are still good enough to win, time for Collingwood to show his class, I think.

Nostalgia

I've been doing a bit of writing about my early life, not fishing but general.
I may put it on here, or give it up as a bad job.
So far I'm working on what I remember of my life before work took over.




Later 1972

 


Earlier 1957?