From small beginnings

One of tomorrow's big girls

Perfection in miniature

paul4

Senior moment?

Was off out to do a repair on a door for a customer yesterday afternoon. Loaded the van and set off.

I was driving through town round the one-way system, turned right at a traffic signal and there was a crashing noise, didn't sound like a car crash, nor was it on or involving my van. I drove away and then had a vision that when I was loading my tools into the van a neighbour came across and asked me something, and that I put a tool box on the roof of the van whilst I opened the rear door. This was a small box which holds all of my very small tools, (miniature screwdrivers, screwdriver bits, scalpels, tweezers, punches and stuff like that). Yes, it was this that crashed on the road.

I pulled over and locked my van, and then ran back 150 yards to see all these tools strewn across the road. Obviously cars had run over them, but I just reckoned to pick them up and the cars would have to go around me or wait - one blasted me on his horn but I "waved" to him . There was lost of people around as it was just before 5pm and there is a railway station there, but fortunately a young girl helped me (bless her) and we picked them up, although the box was smashed.

I've just sorted them and only three were damaged, can't see I'm missing any, time will tell.

paul4

I call it a result

Complained to Tiscali that my monthly broadband fee had gone up from around £13 to around £15, with no prior notification.

I consider it a result that they lowered the price to around £10 on an 18 month contract, with the first 3 months free :-)

Thank you Tiscali

You couldn't make it up

My Mother-in-Law, she's 90 years old, and it started a fair while back in the local A&E.

Previously "they said" options were open heart surgery; insert balloon to open valve; replace valve - but open heart not at her age. Balloon was via groin and we believe they inferred the valve replacement was the same.

She was in "local hospital" for 11 weeks then "they said" transfer to "a London hospital" Saturday and have balloon procedure Mon or Tues

Sun - "they said" need to do a "somethingortheothercardiogram via tube down throat procedure" followed by the "balloon procedure" next day

Mon - They did "somethingortheothercardiogram via tube down throat procedure" but said she had a chest infection so would need a "lung function" (presumably Spirometry) test the next day.
"they said" she would have the valve replacement the following week and would be in hospital for another week after that

Tues - Did not have a "lung function" test. Consultant chatted to her, knowing she was very distressed, and said she was not fit enough for the valve replacement and that he might do the "balloon procedure" the next day if he could fit her in.

Wed - It was explained that the "balloon procedure" would be done that afternoon, that there was a risk of temporary blackout, death, stroke, heart attack, and that she would likely be able to go home Friday. It was also explained that the replacement valve procedure could be necessary after a period of monitoring at the "local hospital". It was also explained (for the first time) that this valve replacement procedure was via keyhole incision, but that the heart would be stopped for a few hours and that a lung would need to be collapsed.
She did have the balloon procedure at 5pm

Thurs - "they said" there had been a problem during the procedure and she now has a "gash" on her arm, and that she would not be going home until Mon/Tues.
"they said" (for the first time) that the balloon does not stay in, it's just part of the procedure.

Fri - "they said" she would not be going home until Tues.
"they said" she might go home today
"they said" due to her age they might get an ambulance to take her home
"they siad (to her)" that the valve replacement was a necessity later (few months) and that there was a risk of
death, stroke, heart attack. Guess what she thought (again) about that?


Rearrange the following words into a well known phrase or saying :

elbow they arse their know dont from their

I have to say that each individual did their job very well, and we thank everyone for that. It's just collectively it was very frustrating. Hopefully my wife can now get the first decent('ish) night's sleep since early June.

paul4

"Banker" swim

Now there's this "banker" swim. From either bank it's ugly, well worn, in fact not a pleasure. If it's likely to get a fish from this swim, or choose scores of other swims and enjoy the scenery, what would you do?

Me? I have no interest in the "banker" and even though I've been through a lean period for fish, I don't want to get in there. Even though recently some pals whom had had fish have offered to vacate for me to get a fish I said no.

Maybe it's because I realise that these days catching is not the number one reason for fishing? well no, I've always thought that. Catching is great but again, it's that bonus I talked about.

Funny also, walking along yesterday someone remarked that there was a guy called Jack Hargreaves that was impersonating me on the TV :-)

paul4

A bonus

I've always said, and I don't know if it was a phrase I coined or one I read, but never mind ..............

What've I always said? errrrrrrrr ............oh yes, "catching fish is a bonus to a good day out"

Well, never more true than yesterday. In the company of good friends MickyH, TonyL and then later PeteW I had one of the most enjoyable days fishing for many a while. Not to say I don't enjoy all of my fishing trips, and with whomever I choose to go, this day was a cracker. We all caught (except Pete, but to be fair he only came for a short while later in the day) but I reckon we spent more time talking than actually fishing, not disrupting anyone (apart maybe from the wildlife, where Micky's voice is quite loud, caused by many years of trying to be heard above airplanes he used to mend). Decided to finish early, even though the last hour or so is often the most productive, so we could go for a meal in a local pub and have a nice chat. I didn't eat but two pints of (very) weak shandy (what a waste of a decent pint) is NOT the best thing when followed by a 70 mile journey :-(

paul4

Anodised at last

Talking of centrepins, and of Fred Crouch centrepins, I'm glad to report at long last that all new Fred Crouch Jet Aerials, and Truepin Trotters, are now supplied with an anodised finish - replacing the painted, lacquered, and powder coated previous models. It's taken a few years to get it sorted, but sorted it is.

paul4

Back to form

Friday, the sun was beating down as I walked the river bank, talking to a couple of anglers for a while, nice to make the acquaintance again of Rory, for whom I arranged the sale of a Fred Crouch Truepin Trotter earlier in the season - he loves the reel. Talking also for a long while to Diana, a Swan Rescuer, time usefully spent to put my point of view and ensure anglers are seen as caring. So that's two or three hours killed and I sat under the shade of my brolly to await the evening, and surely but sureley a barbel would grace my net. Not so, I was plagued with weed which kept catching my line and causing me grief, at one point I had to retrieve both rods and cut the resultant tangle free, but I lost not a smidge or tackle, unlike some who left trailing line and weights in a nearby tree. Why do they not sort this and get it back, leaving the tree to look like a tree, and not like a clothes line devoid of clothing but festooned with all manner of hanging detritus. Had another angler not been in said swim I'd have spent a few minutes and easily removed it all, but by the time he'd gone it was near to midnight.

Anyway, the night sky was as clear as I've seen for a long while. I wish I knew more about the stars, as surely I could have identified more than the plough. I've been there before, with sky-watchers book in hand, only to find that the damn things have moved.

paul4

........ but then work stopped everything

Since then I was going to rest a bit, with only two days work scheduled and a bit more fishing - yeah right. I got involved in another job and had eight straight eleven hour days. Wow, this semi-retirement sure whacks you out.

paul4

Fishes at last

Last Friday I had a barbel, not huge but at 9-06 very welcome. Followed by another three, it was a red letter day in the context of my dismal season. Very happy that it was old and tried and trusted methods, tackle and bait.

paul4