Mind & Body

Out for a Small River wander. Lots of walking about, lots of (the lost art of) looking, bit of climbing and some jumping about for good measure. Same as most of my summer fishing since I was a kid.

But it's really hard now; still feeling the effects of the last chemo and still doing radiotherapy every day (only 3 more to go) - the mind is willing but the body is really starting to fail now!


Six barbel found the net, to a rather nice 7lb 12oz (R) - great fun spotting them in the clear water and convincing them to take a bait. But I think bait 'n' wait is going to have to take over for a bit...

This round of treatment finishes on Tuesday (can't wait), it takes about 8-12 weeks to recover fully from it - so perhaps a late summer tench or carp to nurse me back to health...

I don't want to wish the summer away - but - roll on pike time!

Bit Of Rain

Radiotherapy session number 20 of 30 in the bag - and they are really starting to hurt now. The beard and hair were getting very ratty - so they've had to go. And chemotherapy round two starts today... I needed to load up on painkillers and hit the riverbank...

A bit of rain - dirty water and loads of crap washing through. So I thought I'd sit it out in a couple of swims, bit of bait 'n' wait. Great just to watch the rod nearly getting ripped into the river - as 10 barbel found a bait. Season total: 100 Small River barbel!

Treasure Hunting

There is one summer fishing session I think I enjoy more than any other - when me and James hit the Fens in the boat, our annual trip searching for gold. A maze of clear water, a boat full of bread and no particular plan! I think I'll just let the photos do the talking...









We've got the boat down to an artform, minimum of gear packed away, bait, motor... And in the excitement of setting off I aways forget to take a photo. Here's an after photo, after thought!

Lucky Seven

My 10th radiotheraphy treatment (not fun) followed by my 6th Small River barbel session this season (much more fun). And I began my quest for a small river seven pounder... Got one... 7lb 10oz...


Great stuff. A total of 13 barbel landed, also including fish of 6lb 1oz (above) and 5lb 0oz (below) - getting bigger - where were they hiding? The quest for an eight pounder starts here...


Edit: And I popped down to use up the rest of the bait the next afternoon. Back on splasher patrol - seven barbel added, the biggest about 3¾lb. Season total: 90 Small River barbel.

Clouded Vision?

I was charging about like a nutter photographing Clouded Yellow butterflies - a beautiful summer visitor. Lots of blurry yellow blobs and a couple of decent shots - including the light coloured one above. Did I happen to photograph a very rare Pale Clouded Yellow?

I was on well known butterfly hotspot; Hutchinson's Bank in Croydon - and it's got form for them - one was confirmed there in 1976! It's probably not, but I've sent the photos over to those in the know and I'm waiting to hear back! Normal one below for comparison.

Dinosaur Tour

I popped up to see the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. Neglected, ignored and in disrepair* - and I love them! It was the first dinosaur park in the world - featuring the first life-size dinosaur models. Can you imagine being a kid in 1854 going to see them? Wikipedia.

*The dinosaurs were restored in 2002 but the park is in disrepair.