Recharging The Batteries

This is not a moan, but it's a bit shite at the moment. The fishing, that is.

I really can't complain, because the weather has been dry and gloriously sunny ( although often very cold ) for probably a couple of months and I've been out in it most of the time.

The never ending northerly wind has ruined two months of mullet fishing and I'm also blaming it for my total failure to catch even one tench on the TBS. So, at the moment I'm having a ( very short ) break from fishing and getting ready for the new season, which is three days away.

Plans have been made for a recce trip to the Fens this weekend, followed by a session on the river Yare next Wednesday and then four or five days back on the Fens, in search of some big rudd and anything else that comes along.

Me and Bully have also pencilled in a few days on the Trent in July too. Can't wait for that.

Lots of other stuff including a Dutch or French trip in September. The ferry is booked, I just need to decide which way to point the camper.

Last Sunday there was an Earth Festival in the town and for the first time this year it really felt like a proper summer's day.

Loads of people milling about, food stalls, all types of stands selling various stuff, music ( no dreaded "singer-songwriter" with acoustic guitar thank feck ).

Highlight was the Manningtree drummers. About eight blokes dressed in rainbow colours banging the shit out of various drums in a random, haphazard fashion. Utterly tuneless and quite mesmerising.

Two pints of Mosaic pale ale drank outside, followed by a fantastic Italian meal finished the day off perfectly.

Old Blighty can be magnificent sometimes.