Bad Day

Well today was not a good day in my book. I was stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour to start off with this did not put me in a good mood.

Then my car got broken into by some Bastard that smashed my drivers side window spreading glass all over the car and on the road and they nicked my Tom Tom Sat Nav which has been my saviour many a time. I would like to get hold of the little shit that did this and make them lick all the glass up then watch them swallow it. Yes I am Pissed off. Do these people realise that some of us have worked hard to afford some items and they just come along and invade your space and steal your property.

The Police don't seem interested in what has happened, all you get is a crime number. No wonder they think they can go around and do such damage and muck peoples lives up. Well I for one am sick of it and if anybody knows who did this to me I would be greatfull for any information, as these theives need to be taught a lesson.

The Oval

Yesterday I was invited to join my Father at the Oval, to watch Surrey v Yorkshire in the Pro40 Over League. This was only the second time I have ever been to watch a cricket match and I must admit it was a good laugh.

After the recent events of international cricket I hadn't expected to see many people there especially as it was a county game but the count on the day was over 5,000 so I don't think the recent scandal has done anything to put people off watching cricket.

We were welcomed with a warm smile from the steward, who new my father and some of his cronies, (they tend to frequent the place on a regular basis) and went to chose our seats, it was then down to the serious business as to what drinks to get from the bar that was right behind us. This then lead on to some dubious betting taking place as to how many runs Surrey would score with some 10% error margin that was introduced, however this margin seemed to keep changing. I'm not sure if it was the calculations or the beer having an affect on the calculations but it never seemed to be quite the same.

The match was a great display of cricket with Surrey scoring 277 for 4 off the 40 overs. As more beer and wine was drunk and produced from various containers, as well as from the bar. Along with smoked salmon parcels and prawns in a special sauce. Yorkshire took there place at the batting, and more betting went on this time to see how many overs they would last for. Within minutes the first three wickets fell until finally Yorkshire's 40 overs were bowled and left the visitors trailing with 202 for 9 a full 75 runs behind.

All in all it was a great day out and although I felt shattered by the time I got home I thoroughly enjoyed the days entertainment and not just from the cricket field.

Those Fish Just Don't Want to Bite

Well another day spent with rod in hand and nothing to show for it after loosing one of my flies to the green trees behind me and fishing with no hook on the end of my line for about five minutes I suddenly realised I wouldn't catch much if I didn't have a hook on the end, however I was not the only one in trouble today, I spoke to one chap at the lake and he had been there since 8:30 this morning and had only seen three fish caught all day long, a number of reasons were coming to light the main one seemed to be the lack of clarity in the water this is caused by the heat we have been getting which turns the water a greenish colour and as one chap pointed out if we can't see the fish how the hell are they supposed to see the flies. I suppose he had a point or is this just a standard excuse for a days fishing without catching anything.
Anyway I went to the fishing shop and have now got all my flies named for me with the expert help of Peter who I would like to thank he has also suggested that I try one of the other lakes that also has a stream running by the side of it where it is reported most of today's fish were being caught, although when I went to have a look at it, there were many fishermen I didn't see much action in the way of Trout jumping out of the lake shouting catch me catch me, or even throwing themselves onto the riverbank in pure desperation. Maybe today was one of those days where they just were not interested and fancied just swimming about in the cool water sticking one fin in the air to all the fishermen.

Aqua aerobics

Well your not going to believe this but yesterday I had my first Aqua aerobics lesson at "The Club" had a swim first then the lesson, there were three old dears, myself and this other young lady. I must admit I felt like I was back at school not because of the instructor but the three old dears kept tuning round and showing us how it should be done, after the lesson had another swim then the spa bath and finally a quick spell in the steam room, it was a laugh though and I have even booked to go and do it again next week.

Today I have taken it easy as my muscles in my legs and arms are aching so I have just pottered around the house cleaning up and sorted some eBay bits out, went to the pub this evening but just as I got there everybody left so just had a pint and came home again.

Fly Fishing (Not J R Hartley I'm afraid)

With an early start this morning under a wonderful cloudless sky I entered upon the secret world of Fly Fishing. I meet my instructor for the Day at his hidden location behind the Drummond Arms in Albury to be greeted by a very nice gentleman called Peter, after the normal introductions he asked me what equipment I had to which I looked very blank and stated that I was it upon which as if by magic he produced a rod and reel already made up and beckoned me to follow.

After a short drive we ended up in a car park surrounded by water on both sides he proceed to demonstrate the art of casting and then handed me the rod and said go on have a go, with my first pull of the line out of the water I felt the line come tight crack over the top of my head only as I cast forward to see a tangled mess land back into the water, oops not a very good start, however after a bit of a chat and a few more goes I was casting in a straight line to about twenty foot, as the lesson proceeded I was brining the line in and casting a full thirty foot dead straight with only the one tangled line throughout the entire lesson, which I was very pleased with, not like the last time I went fishing with Kev up in Scotland where I managed to tangle his line almost every time I cast. In fact my instructor seemed very pleased with my progress and we even decided it was time he tried to put a few fly's on the end of the line. (I must admit I didn't understand why we hadn't caught anything until this point) I had got so carried away with the casting I had forgotten that you need a hook to catch the fish with. Unfortunately the lesson was almost over at this point so I only had a couple of goes and then it was back to the car and back to the hidden shop.

Once back at the shop he proceeded to kit me out with all the normal equipment like a Rod and Real, floating line and leader, he also decided that I would need a landing net which I doubted I would need, but he felt confident enough in me although it could just have been a sales technique, and also a very nasty piece of equipment made from metal that would put a severe dent in my head let alone a Trout's head if I was to be hit with it, he finally came to chose a selection of fly's at this point I lost the plot completely the counter in this shop is about twelve foot long and full to the brim with different types of fly's from Buzzer Red's to Zug Bugs and Damsel Marabou Black to Nite-Site Lumi Zonker's (you get the picture) I had to take the plunge and choose which ones I needed however rescue was at hand I noticed through the corner of my eye that he had a complete set on the side of his counter already in a box stating favorite fly's for Albury Fisheries, well I thought I can't go wrong with that (Hmmmm) Until I got home and suddenly realised I need to know what each fly is called so onto the internet I trawl and look at picture after picture of different fly's most of which look the same apart from tiny differences that only the trout seem to recognise so I guess it will be back to the shop this afternoon for an explanation of each fly.

Anyhow I get all this equipment back home thinking I will set it up and then head back to the waters for some practice and hopefully catch something, one problem I know need to get a rod license before I can do anything else, and guess what the post office is shut until two so that is why I'm sitting here writing up today's events and not out practicing my casting and catching loads of trout.

Clay Shooting

Today I went Clay shooting with Lee and some of his work friends, John and Andy I didn't shoot very well today and I think Lee even beat me, but we had a good laugh and necked a few pints of cider at the Six Bells in Newdigate afterwards where we were able to have a full debrief on a shot by shot basis not forgetting how Andys shoulder felt, mind you I know it will be worst in the morning, John already had a nice red mark coming up on his shoulder. On the way back I had my first taste of the Fish and Chips from the van that stops every Saturday between 6:30 and 7:30 in the village. I have heard that Westcott is not allowed to have a fish and chip shop for some reason weather that is true or not I don't know but what I do know was this was one of the best fish and chips I have ever tasted and will certainly be going back for more.

Get This

Hi I hope to keep you all informed as to my progress via this blog site as long as I can get the hang of posting onto it.

I should be able to post photos and progress but will just have to wait and see what happens I will try it for a few days before I leave to see if it works and would appreciate your comments.

This is where I am travelling to.