The water seemed to have taken on a dark grey, almost black hue with no sign of piscine presence whatsoever. When it is this cold sometimes even Fatty must draw stumps and admit defeat but lo in yonder swim a flash of silver. Dropping to one knee, the size 14 hook was baited with two red grubs, and float under-armed into the run, holding back whilst a peppering of a dozen or so grubs were bounced off the float top, then release to swim the stream.
With careful guiding the float made it to the flash zone 'pleasing in its appearance, even more so in its disappearance!'
A quick turn of the wrist resulted in a heavy cork screwing resistance on the line:
Fatty proving to be not a complete dolt.
Further swimming of the stream here proved to be fruitless. So with pie finished and slurping tea slurped, time to return to warmer climes....home
Warming in the car took some time but a call into the finest purveyor of bacon rolls with brown sauce near Winchester soon had Fatty feeling alright with the world. Even Matron
seemed pleasantly surprised at such an early return of her spouse as there were many chores that she could palm off! 
Not all bad as a early morning Grayling really does induce a warm glow of satisfaction for the rest of the day
As ever,.......
Moley
