Another day

Fishing

Had a few hours until dusk last night at the pond where reports of perch and roach over 3lb are said to exist.

Nobody at the fishery, so I settled in a spot that looked as though it had been fished earlier.
I did this in the hope of having small fish in front of me attracted by the bait, some of which, pellets, was still on the bankside having not been got to by the mallards.

My decision was to go for perch, as there was substantial small fish activity in front of me, but no sign of panic leaps away from marauders. There wasn't to be for the whole two hours either.
The first hour I fished with a big lob worm and plenty of chopped worm
and maggots bait droppered around the swim.
The swim was about 10 -12 feet in width with reed and dead grass type vegetation stretching out eitherside to around two rod lengths, depth around 7 feet.

Not a touch on the worm, so I switched to a big prawn and within seconds I got a take from  a stubborn bottom hugging fish, felt pretty good too. So, all sorts of things came to mind  including, getting the camera ready and scales etc etc.

I eventually got it to the surface and it was a really dark mirror carp,a good mid- double
and thought I've got the beating of this, but after one pass with the landing net and another short struggle my line parted at the shot!!
Serves me right, bullying a fish, taking it for granted that it was mine. Counting chickens ....

Fished on with prawn and landed a few more peas in a pod mirrors, it must have been their mum I lost.They were about the 4/5 lb mark.
Anyway glad to be out, and I'll be back to have another go at catching mum whilst perch hunting!


Series
 A while ago I ran a series of one subject "jokes" another set has come to me, so here goes for the next few entries. Probably old but new to me.

Duz tha speak Yorkshire ? (one)


A Yorkshire man takes his cat to the vet.
Yorkshire man: "Ayup, lad, I need to talk to thee about me cat."
Vet: "Is it a tom?"
Yorkshire man: "Nay, I've browt it with us."


A Yorkshire man's dog dies and as it was a favourite pet he decides to have a gold statue made by a jeweller to remember the dog by.
Yorkshire man: "Can tha mek us a gold statue of yon dog?"
Jeweller: "Do you want it 18 carat?"
Yorkshire man: "No I want it chewin' a bone yer daft bugger

Stressed?

Barbel Society News

Press release 28th March 2011

The Barbel Society is delighted to announce today a programme of collaborative research with Bournemouth University.
Describing the work, Pete Reading, Barbel Society Research and Conservation Officer, said
“This project is a major development in our barbel-related research, and represents an exciting opportunity to ensure our research and conservation measures are based on contemporary and objective scientific knowledge. We are delighted to be able to work with the University in providing the opportunity to increase our knowledge about such an iconic species”.

The work will initially focus on deriving an increased understanding on the growth and recruitment of barbel in rivers and lakes in the UK, the importance of growth and recruitment in providing sustainable angling opportunities, and developing a knowledge baseline on the ecology of barbel from across their range to identify potential threats and opportunities to the sustainability of their populations.
Work will include age and growth analysis of scale collections and review of scientific literature.
Dr. Rob Britton, project manager at Bournemouth University, commented

"In completing this work, we aim to provide constructive and objective information on barbel ecology that will help the Barbel Society identify their research and conservation priorities in years to come”.
Contacts: Pete Reading pete.reading@lineone.net

Dr Rob Britton: rbritton@bournemouth.ac.uk

Exmouth Update

Alex wins

Presentation night was the night we were waiting for... Alex collected the prize we were hoping he hadn't been beaten on the last day. Alex took out the 10kg line class section winning a Shimano T-Curve rod and a Tyrnos 16 with some tackle and lures and 1000m of 10kg line and some vouchers.
What a fantastic prize to add to his growing collection.

Big thanks to all my crew AIBT..Cliff and Baz thank you very much and GAMEX a big thanks to My uncle Simmo and Alex my main man..

Jeff (Dad)

Celebration

This week.

This week on the 24th I celebrated my 62nd birthday, and exactly 10 years away from paid employment.

We went for a nice meal at a country house hotel the other side of Lincoln to us.
To ensure we took complete advantage of the celebration, we had an overnighter.
Our chosen venue was  http://www.branstonhall.com/ , it's set up in 80 odd acres of parkland, so location wise it was very good and the grounds are excellent. All within spitting distance  of central Lincoln.

The only problem was that you couldn't get a decent beer, they only do that smooth stuff,so I resorted to Guinness.

Our evening meal, whilst on paper looking pretty good, really didn't live up to expectations, it was alright, but we've had better in similar style hotels. Staff were good and attentive though.
I suppose having eaten in some of the best restaurants in London, and around the country, we know that to get excellent food it costs just a bit more.
It's just that when you eat out, and you know you could have done a better job yourself, it's just a bit disappointing.
Breakfast was just about alright, but as much as I like Lincolnshire sausages, they are just a bit too herby for breakfast.

Holiday

My birthday tiger

Having been in India last year at this time, tiger spotting and celebrating my birthday with the close up sight of a tiger, it was spoken about with fond memories of that trip and our South African train trip for Paulines birthday the year before.




The Train



The ol'girl's 60 this October, and we can't make up our minds what to do, or where to go. It's also our 38th wedding anniversary
I keep thinking of Canada, and maybe some fishing. Pauline likes the idea of a river trip through Europe to Moscow, but it may be that the US, up and around Boston, will win the day, we shall see.

My Car :Skoda Octavia 1.9tdi

Having had this car since almost new, I have to say that I have sung nothing but it's praises since.
MPG still good, despite just hitting 120000 on the clock. A 175 mile trip from Romford to home gave me 60. 4mpg, so that's A12,M25,M11,A14, A1 and A46. Top speed within speed limits.
Driving a good bit faster where able, on the same route will get me 46mpg.
Bought in the first instance for fitting in all my fishing gear,shifts a bit up the box too when I feel like gunning it.
Would recommend a Skoda to anybody wanting a good alround vehicle

Wahooooooooo!!

Meanwhile in Exmouth Western Australia

From a proud Mum


Hello I thought you might all like to see these photos...
Alex( My great Nephew) and Jeff (his Dad) are in GAMEX at the moment which is our big game fishing event.
Today Alex caught a 13kg wahoo which was caught on 10kg line.
This is a pending state record for juniors and small fry.
We have to wait for results from the game fishing association to verify that all the line and leaders are the right lengths and stuff and then he will be on the records page.
All very exciting stuff!!
So fingers crossed in the next couple of weeks we will get all the results and have a nice certificate to show you all .
Enjoy ..xxx
Love to you all..

The Nelsons 
http://www.egfc.com.au/about/







Here's one he caught earlier!



Dad

Life!

Old Friends

Another get together with the old boy workmates from the late 60's, last Friday, this time to celebrate my birthday to come.
I found us a pub just off Cornhill in the City called the Jamaican Wine House, none of us could remember if we had been there before, but I suppose we could be forgiven for that, bearing in mind we are 40 years plus later!!
Anyway, I arrived at 11:30, after over compensating for roadworks on the way to Romford station,so I was early.

No harm in that, so I settled into my first pint of Bishops Finger in this Shepherd Neame pub.
As it turned out, this proved to be a very popular drinking house with the locals, so was heaving  all afternoon, certainly until we left at 7:30 having decided we had probably had enough.
Food wasn't bad either, usual pub grub, but we ate in the basement bar at about 3o'clock, rather than amongst the elbows in the bar.
Another great fun filled reminiscing 7 hour(ish) chat over beer, and then too many bottles of red.
I nearly overslept the Romford stop, awaking just in time for the first time on a Liverpool Street train .......stopping all stations!!

Can't remember walking home from the bus, but  I do remember needing to get up for an Alka Seltza at about 3am for a pillow thumping head.

How many times do I tell myself beer and wine shouldn't be mixed??

Pie & mash

I was recently reminded that whilst I was on one of my sorties down to Harold Hill, I found that F Cooke's had opened up a pie, mash and eel shop.

This brought back more memories of my enjoyable years working in Baker Street for the Abbey National and the things we used to do of a lunchtime.
Well, apart from sitting outside the pub for a couple of hours in George Street watching the Marks & Spencer office ladies on their way to the staff canteen,sorry restaurant.

Anyway, I digress on occasions we used to drive out to Chapel Market via a Youngs pub, one of my co workers was an "invalid" and he parked his car just around the corner from the office, there was always a surveyors company car in the car park around the back too. So always a good size group.

After having a pint or two of Young's Special, we would retreat to the Manzes pie & mash shop in the market. Most of us had a couple of pies and the wodge of spud(eyes & all) with lashings of the green liquor, and plenty of proper vinegar.

Some of the gents had eels. I'm not a fan of jellied or stewed eels, so I had the pies.
My taste in eels goes no further than the smoked variety, delicious by the way, if you've never tried them.
So back to 'arold 'ill and the pie and mash. It didn't seem to be as good, but perhaps that was the lack of a pint of Special, and the great company!

For those whingeingYorkshiremen,(yes I know you read this) this is proper food and beer, it certainly beats batter pudding and gravy, and Tetley bitter served like an icecream in a cone!!


PADDY DIED
His will provided £40,000 for an elaborate funeral.
 As the last guests departed the affair, his wife Colleen turned to her oldest and dearest friend.
 "Ah well, to be sure Paddy would be pleased," she said.
"To be sure you're right," replied Mary, who lowered her voice and leaned in close.
"So go on, how much did this really cost?"
"All of it," said Colleen. "Forty thousand."
 "Aw No!" Mary exclaimed. "I mean, it was very grand, but £40,000?!!!"
 Colleen answered, "The funeral was £6,500, I donated £500 to church. The whiskey, wine and snacks were another £500.
 The rest went for the Memorial Stone."
Mary computed quickly. "For the love of God Colleen, £32,500 for a Memorial Stone? How big is it?"

Tried and tested

Cooking

I don't think I've let on, that for my sins I do all the cooking in our house, out of choice as well, because I enjoy it.
As long as somebody else does the prepping and the washing up !!

I have let on that we have been disappointed with local curry houses since moving up,well apart from the Taal which closed down.

Well I've started cooking my own and if I say so myself, it's better than the Taal's, so for those of you who fancy a dabble, here's the recipe for

Lamb Pathia

Ingredients:


 800g kneck of lamb fillet

300ml water or stock

1 medium onion finely chopped

1inch piece of  ginger 

2 cloves of garlic

200g butter, gee or groundnut oil

2 teaspoons turmeric powder

4 teaspoons of curry powder (make your own)

1 teaspoon chilli powder (or more)

2 teaspoons garam masala (make your own)

1 teaspoon whole toasting seeds (black onion, coriander,fennel, cumin,cardoman)

100ml tamarind extract (or use block tamarind as directed)

1 tin tomatoes

2 tablespoons tomato puree


 Serves 4

Heat a large pan or wok on a high heat. Once it is hot add the whole seeds and toast them until they sizzle and crackle. Now add the oil and then add the chopped onions and reduce the heat to low.
You can add 1 or 2 whole star anise which help bring out the sweetness of the onions and give a subtle aniseed flavour, remove them once the onions are cooked.
Cook the onions gently and slowly until they turn a golden brown colour.
Make a paste of the ginger, garlic, curry and chilli powder, turmeric , with a little water, add to saucepan and stir in well and fry for a couple of minutes.
Now add your lamb stir in well.
Add the tamarind
Mix chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, together in a jug with the water or stock and pour into the saucepan and mix in well.
Turn up the heat until the sauce begins to simmer and leave to simmer for an hour or so. Stir occasionally.
Finally sprinkle in the garam masala and stir in well for the final 2 minutes of cooking.

Try it, and let me know what you think, it works well with chicken too, but it doesn't need an hour 20 minutes will be fine

That's it!

Fishing
The season
That's the river season over, and I have to say i'm glad it's over with, because this last season it's been too easy for me to make an excuse to not make the hours car journey to the river.
Couldn't even be bothered to fill in a journal, so what I've reported on here, is about it.
From memory only 1 barbel.
I've four trips to take up next river season, which again were too easy to stall in my frame of mind.
The Kennet with Martin James, the Severn with Steve Pope and two on the Hampshire Avon with a couple of guys off Fishing Magic. All four charity auction bids that I won.
Hopefully if nothing occurs that needs my urgent attention, I shall be taking advantage of the stillwaters in the close. Finishing off the winter with an attempt at the good roach and perch said to exist in a nearby pair of ponds.Then tench hunting.

Final fling
I decided that a final fling on the Trent was needed.
At 6pm last night as we moved into darkness, there was already a thick frost on the motor. So my trip to the middle, became a trip to the tidal. Don't know why the frost should have changed my plan, even though the pond was frozen over.

I should have gone to the middle,because I hit the tidal at what appeared to be a low tide. If it was the runoff, it didn't run off much, and stayed level for the whole 5 hours!

Not a touch.

Reviews

I've been reading quite a bit, and buying music for the first time for a while,here are just the first impression of my current interest.

We bought this cd off the back of two very good previous albums.
I regret to say after first listen, there is not one track that catches my ear. The earlier albums certainly did that at first listen.
It's in the car, if something grows on me, I will comment further.





Dave Stueart From Minnows to Marlin

If you have the chance to get along to the launch of Dave's book, it may be your only opportunity to get a copy of this fine tome. I'm only up to Chapter 20, so half way through. It really is a good read. A man after my own heart!

Saturday 16th April 2011

The Lands End  -  Lands End Lane  -  Twyford  -  Reading  -  RG10 0UE


 

Oh well!

Mum


The visit to the Oncologist  took place yesterday to talk about radio therapy.
We got some unexpected news.
We were told originally that the cancer would not kill my mum, that it was not an invasive type.
She, not wanting to to be messed around anymore,went for the drugs option. This option after 6 months appeared to be working, but by 12 months it had stopped working,and as a result my mum made the decision to have her right breast removed.
The operation that was carried out at the end of January, also involved the removal of the lymph glands under the right arm.
The oncologist  advised that the cancer after the tests of the removed tissues, was in fact vigorous.
There is a chance that the removal has cleared up the problem,but there was equally a chance it hadn't, and that the cancer may have moved elsewhere or, may show again the area already affected and "cleared"

My mum had already decided she didn't want to go through the radio therapy treatment, and all that involved. The specialist advised that if she did there was a chance it wouldn't prove to be a benefit,and the treatment would only be into the operation area anyway. She is too old at 88 for chemotherapy.
Her mind was made up even more as a result of this latest report

So now we just  hope that it was all removed, before it had a chance to move around her body.
Another type of drug prescribed and now .......we just have to wait, and wonder what may have happened if she had the mastectomy a year ago..



Fishing


None planned !
6 days of the river season left.

Fishing again......again!!

Roach


Had a another session roach fishing the lake, they didn't want to know today, not a knock!
4 hours into a cold north easterly got the better of me in the end........getting a wimp in my old age.


Talking of old age


Jacob,  age 92, and Henrietta, age 89, are excited about their decision to get  married.
They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding and on the way  they pass a chemist. Jacob suggests they go  in.
Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"
The pharmacist answers "Yes".
Jacob: "We're about to get  married. Do you sell heart medication?"
Pharmacist: "Of course we do."
Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"
Pharmacist: "All kinds."
Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis?"
Pharmacist:  "Definitely."
Jacob:" Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundices?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety..... the works!"
Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, antidotes for Parkinson's Disease?" Pharmacist: "Absolutely."
Jacob:" You sell wheelchairs and  walkers?"
Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes. Why do you ask? Is there something
I can help you with?"


 Jacob  says to the pharmacist:
"We'd  like to nominate your store as our Bridal Gift  Shop."

Fishing again!!

Stillwater




Had an afternoon at the fishery, didn't find any of the big  perch, found a good net of roach, but not the bigguns, so maybe back tomorrow, if I can get away with it, with a different strategy!

Quite cold out this evening, maybe a frost?

Fishing

Tidal Trent

had a 4 hour session today on the tidal.The river was on the top of the boulder bank and there wasn't a great deal of run off.

My first river gudgeon for many years was all I had to show for the trip out.
Tomorrow a lake and  an attempt to get a decent roach and maybe a perch too!


Do what you want to do!

I was reminded of this Thin Lizzie track the other day and it brought back some memories of raucous times.
It about sums up a philosophy of life which has served me well over the years.


The words

There are people that will investigate you
They'll insinuate, intimidate and complicate you
Don't ever wait or hesitate to state the fate that awaits those who
Try to shake or take you

Don't let them break you

People that despise you will analyse then criticise you
They'll scandalise and tell lies until they realize
You are someone they should have apologised to
Don't let these people compromise you

Be wise too

Hey you you're not their puppet on a string
You can do everything
It's true if you really want to
You can do anything you want

Just like I do



So I thought I would put it on here.





Bahrain Grande Prix

Back on!