That's it then!

Final fling

Did the last 92 mile round trip for the season to the upper Witham, unless we get some good rain it's unlikely that I shall visit until autumn sometime.
The stretch is not particularly deep, it is weedy, and apart from a  few good bends it is mainly suffering the featureless affects of flood management.

Rather devoid of birdlife generally, as most of the stretch backs on to gardens, so not that many, apart from garden birds, to be seen.

The occasional slightly different water bird, like the dabchick and today a lone tufty in the company of mallard.

So this year saw my first sessions on the river for chub and I was lucky enough to see that they grow over the 5lb mark, being the captor of a 5:3!
Next year with luck if conditions are right I shall spend a bit more time looking for a 6lb fish.
today they weren't having it.

The Season

Not a great deal to look back on really, apart from my first Thames barbel, two of just over 5lb and 7lb, from Marlow weir.
Really didn't do enough fishing, but I shall be working on improving on that in the coming weeks on some new, to me, stillwaters, the Geronde in May, the Wye in July.
There will also be some early trips to the Trent and a new tidal stretch to fish from the new season.
Hopefully a few guest,offered but not taken up yet, river trips over to the North West

Rest in peace

John Searl 1949-2013

John Searl - Artist

Fishing?

Nah!

Last Friday I said I'll leave the fishing to those who work in the week, today I say sod the workers,
 I'm too old to fish in this stuff.


More bad news

We learned this weekend from my youngest brother Pete, that his partner Dawn has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is receiving chemotherapy.
Hopes are high, but this is one of the hidden cancers often undetected before it moves on, and Dawn's has!
Get well soon Dawn
Most of my investments are in cancer research, something we must all give consideration to if we are to beat the cruelist of illnesses which will affect some of us at sometime.

 Pick up a daffodil today

Update

All in one


No, I've not acquired a onesie I'll just keep this to the point.

No doubt you heard the saying about drinking out of wet glasses, well since coming back from the beer festival, I've had an almighty head cold/ manflu.
Not the snotty nose version, but the sinusy blocked up version, hardly able to breath through my nose and ended blowing a blood vessel trying to clear the passages!!
With a tickley cough to keep me awake most of the night, and most of the day too, I was not inclined to move away from the scotch and Lemsip cure. I say cure, it wasn't, but I felt better.
Somebody once said, that for a cold dosing yourself for a week is about as good as seven days without.
So despite picking myself up some maggots during last week, with all good intentions, the urge to rove the rivers has somewhat diminished.
Today is a better day, but we've had quite fog/sea fret up here so I didn't fancy the trip down Newark way for the Middle Trent or Upper Witham, or even up to the Idle, where I'm getting some good reports.
So maybe tomorrow, although a blood test for my diabetes may get in the way of that.
I don't know what to do, go for chub and roach, or barbel and chub.. the choices we have to make!
We shall see.

My cousin Joyce is recovering nicely but slowly in hospital.

Great tit's have claimed our nestbox again.

 Have I told you about my holidays/breaks?
Norfolk, Hereford, France, Scotland, the Oyster Festival in Whitstable, Finland and Russia all booked for this year ...so far! Still have August, September and November to do something
The Boss has just had her pension confirmed from early May, so more dosh for holidays.
My AiM shares have had a bit of a setback, but with 8 holdings, most of which are awaiting news, I have a bit of good cover with my spread.

RIP Dale Robertson

Fond memories of  Jim Hardy, a  hero to me in the black and white television era from about the age of  8.
!





I make it a policy not to comment on football, too many nutters out there, but Sir Alec...tut tut!!

The fog is descending again, the local rabbit and pheasant population are in the garden, time for tea.