A lovely day all round: BL thank you again for sorting me out a booklet for my 66, nice to see you, Dave Burr, Wagtail, Mal (clutching his extra special rod) Bob (who took a liking to my titfer - praise indeed from a gent of such sartorial style), Andy Sliwa, Andy Batchelor, Richard C (and his delightful Hardly Special - have you seen his hands! How on earth does he make such tiny things - incredible) the erudite Sir Jeff and his lovely wife.
Sold some bits and bought an early Chapmans 550. Helped Garrett on his FA stand and amongst others met Leigh looking very smart in his uniform. All in all a delightful few hours spent in the company of like minded people. Well done again John Andrews yet another terrific VFTF.
"I can't wait to buy a bamboo pole and a filament of line and a tube of breadcrumbs. I want to participate in this practice which allows a man to be alone with himself in dignity and peace. It seems a very precious thing to me".
LL you just jogged my memory, I met Richard C, also Leigh looking magnificent in his uniform, my memory will probably be jogged again and I will remember some more meetings soon!
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall!
Confucius
Steve, I can pretty accurately estimate the time that photo was taken - I can see at least two items on your table which now reside in my study!
Good to meet everyone (in common with many others, please forgive the names I've forgotten) - Lucky (and Lady) Lucca, Wagtail, Lea Dweller, Michael, Leigh, Bob Brookes, Wal, Richard and Jeremy, Mal and his famous rod of course, Steve Wooley (I assume he's a member, he was wearing a badge!).
I bought nothing. Well, nothing much... Well... I did pick up a lovely cane landing net handle for a paltry sum. Bargain, I thought. Then Bob Brookes mentioned that Steve Wooley had a landing net head which would look a treat on the handle. That wasn't such a paltry sum. Neither was the Severndale on Steve's stand...
The freshly-restored Sealey was an absolute bargain, a case of floats from Steve, along with some scales and a number of other items, a Barbour waistcoat for £20, a big bag of books for £15 and so much more.
Last but not least, a butt extender from Wal, made by the great man himself.
The observance of the two minutes silence, the way it was observed was quite something.
Most precious, however, was the time with forum friends - old and new - every time I use a sliding tench float, land a monster fish or simply extend my butt, I shall think of Redditch
Last edited by DickBrowne on Wed Nov 16, 2016 7:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
A well tended garden is a sign of an un-committed angler
The Gudgeon Curmudgeon - Small Fish Specialist - I’d rather bleak than blank!
Yes, another excellent event and thanks again to John Andrews for a sterling job.
I was helping out on Steve Woolley's stall a bit 'incognito' as I'd lost my first TFF badge and carefully stored the replacement. Buggered if I can find it. But my mature students outfit was easily spotted by chums old and new and it was great to catch up even though I was feeling somewhat nauseous from blowing far more than my budget in the first ten minutes on an FJ Taylor Roach rod. Having tried it out this afternoon (it is a marvel) I have thankfully made a full recovery and am now back on solids.
A wonderful atmosphere as usual but I do miss the magnificent cased fish displays from the Fishermans Emporium which added that extra special ingredient which you would normally only find in old tackle shops and anglers pubs. It's a shame that the acts of some scoundrel last year has led to this absence but maybe in the future Mr Farey may be tempted to return. I hope so.
Looking forward to next May already.
Fishing is worth no more than its pleasure. Bernard Venables.
I have been comparing my new (old) rod holdall purchased from Lucky Luca at the w/e with the hi tech modern Korum holdall I recently sold (along with the modern rods/reels etc) and have to say I believe I have "progressed" to a much more user friendly piece of equipment. The Korum holdall was heavy (lots of pockets, padding, belts, buckles, zips, etc) big, cumbersome and awkward to use and made of slippery materials particularly the shoulder strap which had an annoying tendency to slip off the shoulder. It looked the business but in actual fact not nice to use. By comparison the new (old) holdall is light weight, has only two compartments so easy to find stuff, has a grippy webbing strap which does not slip, is smaller, neater and with a couple of light weight plastic tubes dropped in the main compartment offers all the rod protection required. Yes, gentlemen, this is progress!
"Oh for want of rod and line I'd fish this stream serene, sublime".
Jeremy Croxall wrote:I have been comparing my new (old) rod holdall purchased from Lucky Luca at the w/e with the hi tech modern Korum holdall I recently sold (along with the modern rods/reels etc) and have to say I believe I have "progressed" to a much more user friendly piece of equipment. The Korum holdall was heavy (lots of pockets, padding, belts, buckles, zips, etc) big, cumbersome and awkward to use and made of slippery materials particularly the shoulder strap which had an annoying tendency to slip off the shoulder. It looked the business but in actual fact not nice to use. By comparison the new (old) holdall is light weight, has only two compartments so easy to find stuff, has a grippy webbing strap which does not slip, is smaller, neater and with a couple of light weight plastic tubes dropped in the main compartment offers all the rod protection required. Yes, gentlemen, this is progress!
Glad to have been of service
Wasn't that supposed to be put away for Christmas though
I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete.
Steve, allow me to step in a defend Jeremy here if I may. As you are aware Steve, you're not John Lewis at Luca Towers, specificslly in your guarantee terms and conditions.
Christmas is more than a month away, which itself is more than a month longer than your guarantee.
Can you imagine Jeremy's distress? Just look at his sad eyes, reminiscient of a puppy who has just been told what "sterilisation" really means, as he unwraps his surprise gift on the big day only to find that it doesn't fit, or the colour clashes with his favourite Mk IV?
To deny him this reassurance, to force him through six weeks of anguish and torment? You sir are a beast, a monster of a man without mercy or compassion.
Surely we are, as anglers, afflicted enough without being subjected to this inhumane treatment. I think Mark should consider reviewing membership status for some. No. not me. Please?
JC - I've got your back, buddy.
A well tended garden is a sign of an un-committed angler
The Gudgeon Curmudgeon - Small Fish Specialist - I’d rather bleak than blank!
Richard, you have made some good and valid points (Did some one write that for you )
JC specifically asked for a Christmas Present, asked that his good lady could collect without him viewing, and even asked if we did a gift wrapping service
What happened after still leaves me close to tears. JC arrived Mr C-less! Insisted on a full and thorough inspection and rejected my very finest brown paper and sticky tape
That you would question my integrity Richard is astounding, particularly in what is a clear and obvious breach of contract.
Please expect to hear from my representatives
I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete.
yet another terrific VFTF.
)
