Belated update.

Thought it was maybe time to update this blog malarky.
Loads has happened since I last posted,the main one being my dear old Mum passing away back in April,it was all very peaceful and she didn't suffer,miss you not being here Mum.
On a brighter note,it's my beautiful Cath's 40th birthday bash today!lots of friends and family coming round ours later so everything is crossed that the weather behaves.
Finally sold the van after 6 years of adventures and thousands of pounds of repairs and running costs,have bought a VW Passat Estate as my new(ish)fishing wagon.
Only had 4 fishing trips this season so far, for obvious reasons, but all have ben successful with plenty of double figure barbel the best going 12.8, all from the Dove.
Off to France carping in a couple of weeks with an old mate from my advertising days,really looking forward to it,just got to remember how to do it!
That's about it for now dear reader(s).

Belated update.

Had my best ever barbel session a couple of weeks ago on the beautifu River Dove.Smashed my p.b. with a fantastc fish of 15.1, three other doubles to 11.7 and three scrappers around 5-6lb.
Had another tilt last week and had just the four with the best going 10.8.
What a fantastic river that Dove is!I've really fallen in love with it and am really looking forward to the autumn when I reckon it'll be in its' prime.
On the domestic front,my lovely Cath has been over in Spain for a few days with a couple of mates,so it's just been me,the boy,me mum(round the corner)and the mutts,been so quiet without her,but she's back tomorrow so the house will soon be resounding to her singing and laughter,can't wait.
Off down the Trent for a couple of days later this week with the boy to have another go at old whiskers

Happy days.

First week(or so)report.

Well the doc. gave me the green light so off I went to the Dove for a couple of nights.It really does blow me away that river,it runs through some of the most stuning scenery in the country,never has a river been more aptly named I reckon.
The fishing?Not so great, although I did manage an 11.2 barbel(my third biggest)and a beautiful brown troutabout 3lb,but in a way I wasn't really bothered it was just so good to be there in splendid isolation.
Next trip was a couple of nights on the Trent,not quite so picteresque but still great to be back.Just the solitary barbel again about 6ish a few decent chub and a nice roach.
So good to be out again.

I'm not gonna talk about the football........................

Mud,operations and decisions.

So,less than a week to go to the new season,chucking it down with rain,gear all ready and sorted only one spanner in the ointment:got to have little skin cancer thing removed on the 14th and wont know 'til then if the doc. will let me get all grubby and muddy on the bank or whether it's too much of a risk of infection.
Perfect timing.
Fingers crossed for a green light.

Mum all settled in a lovely care home just round the corner from us in Sheffield.
So life is gradually getting back to normal or as normal as it's ever been.
The ammers survived-just,six weeks to the start of the new fishing season and the World Cup on the horizon so life's on the up,'spose I'd better get a job.

Relocation relocation.

So here I am in deepest Naaaaaaaarfolk looking after my ailing old Mum.
Great place if you're over 75,I'm quite the dashing young blade around here.
Mum's really not great so I don't know how long I'll be here,I think the care-home beckons.............but I'll do the right thing by the old girl.

Tough times though.

Bleedin ell.

EVERY time I get time off of work we get more snow.
Less than 3 weeks to the end of the river season and I haven't been out for bleedin ages.
Half of me is thinking: "put the gear away 'til the summer"and the other half is thinking:"Weather might be better later in the week."

Football's on the up though,first back to back wins since the old King was on the throne aaaaaaaand 5 goals for and none against.Just the small matter of Man.U away tomorrow night to deal with now.

I used to love winter......................................