Keeping myself occupied

In addition to my hobbies of photography, fishing, bird watching, walking etc. I like to make things, I like the principles of recyling and try to learn new skills. I consider myself quite fortunate, in so far as, I am quite good with my hands, a gift that I had passed on to me from my mother and father who between them could make or repair just about anything. For those that are interested I have put a few pictures on here to show the sort of things that I have made recently.

The first picture is of a couple of "monkey fist" knots, they were originally intended to weight the end of a rope to aid throwing it ashore. The coloured rope I found on the beach, I cleaned it and taught myself how to tie the knot. I have seen them used as paper weights and door stops. I just like them.

The second picture is a table mat, the rope is window sash cord that I had left over from the second monkey fist. The key rings and fobs I made from bits of odd leather and nylon cord.

On the right are some friendship bracelets that I made, I have made hundreds, in every colour of the spectrum. Once I had made a selection of colours I needed a way to show them off to their best advantage so I made a small version of a wire coat hanger on which to display them.

Adding some light on the subject

I just thought that this may be useful to any caravaners who have experienced a similar problem.

For several months now the 12V hob/worktop light in the truck has not worked, so whilst out and about we have looked in many caravan dealers and accessory shops in an attempt to buy a 12V 23" flourescent tube. We have often asked for help, we have been told many times, that it is not a standard size, and that we would probably need to get one from Germany as no UK manufacturers fit a 12V tube of this size. Today we went to a caravan accessory shop in Portmadog to be told a similar tale. Whilst carrying our old tube as a pattern, I looked at the rating that is printed on the glass and I noticed that there was no mention of voltage. I said to Pat, "I wonder if the voltage does not matter then" I decided to have a look in a domestic electrical suppliers outlet called CEF, I explained at the counter the background and questioned the voltage. The man said "You are right, tubes have no voltage rating and one used for a mains supply will work on 12V too". So I paid the man £3.91 and returned to the truck to test it out. Bingo, it lit up and worked just fine.

Taking it easy

Hi,for the last week we have been taking things easy, making the most of the warm autumn days. From Tuesday to Sunday last week the truck did not turn a wheel, we found more than enough to keep us occupied right where we are. I have fished every day at some point and some days have been more successful than others, still nothing that you could class as "pan size" though. I hooked one fish that I found very difficult to remove the hook from so now I have taken to removing the barbs from the hooks, as a result, I have lost a few fish. I don't mind though, it is better than doing damage from which the fish may never recover.

Sunday morning we were on the road early, to Portmadog. We went to the car boot sale and picked up a few bits and pieces. I bought an old silver dinning fork, I had an idea for making a towel hook with it. I bought a new fly reel with three spools and Pat picked up some bits for Christmas presents. Minutes after our return to the camp site, our friends Sandy and Maureen came, it was good to see them. Pat cooked a really tasty chicken dinner (as she always does) which everyone seemed to enjoy. We chatted and laughed, put the world to rights and all too quickly it was time for them to leave. Monday we had a long walk, down to the sea and along the beach, we collected some drift wood and watched the sea birds. The great thing about the coast at this time of year is that it is so quiet, we did not see a living sole other than a man in a fishing boat far from the shore.

It is early here, about 0800 hours and I have just watched a buzzard fly up the river skimming the water and dodging the over hanging tree branches, not twenty feet away from the truck. I have never viewed a buzzard from above before, what a good start to the day.

I am sensing that Pat is getting itchy feet again, so I wouldn't be surprised if we are on the move before much longer, personally I could stay here indefinitely. Be good, be happy. See you soon.

Thorn on the cobs

Well, here we are again, back in Llanystumdwy. We arrived here yesterday at about 1600 hours after a steady journey from the midlands. I am surprised at the amount of people that are still on holiday or it could be, like us, they are retired. I had to check out the river soon after arrival and during an hour and a half hours fishing ,caught a dozen or so fish, all trout and salmon parr, all too small for the table. It doesn't matter though, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and went to bed quite content.

Today began with a little rain, but it slowly got better and warmer so I had to give the river another bashing. Seven fish, including what must be the record for the smallest trout ever caught on the fly. What a little cutie it was, less than 2 inches from tip to tail, perfectly marked and released unharmed. I wish that I had photographed it just to show how small it really was. Early in the afternoon we went for a little walk, the intention was to collect some damsons if there were any still about. Sadly not, but we did come across a field full of "corn on the cob" or maize. I just had to have a couple, so with Pat reluctantly keeping watch I straddled the barbed wire fence with pen knife at the ready. I selected two beauties and was trying to find a pocket large enough in which to hide them when Pat warned me of an approaching car. In my haste to get back over the fence I caught the barbed wire right in my wedding tackle. Pat asked "Did you manage to get any?" "Yes" I replied "And a thorn on the cobs" She of course was highly amused and I bet she has a smile on her face when we eat it. Tarra for now. Bond............Vagabond.

Don't ask!

Where did the summer go? Don't ask, I can be of no help there. All that I can say is that we have had the most fantastic time. We have not been to many new places, but we have met loads more people and the quality of life keeps getting better. I am afraid that there is far too much to try and tell, it would take me weeks to put it all in writing and whilst I do enjoy writing I am afraid that I just don't have the time at the moment.

At present we are in Staffordshire but only for another 24 hours then it is "on the trail" once more. I have to keep this session short, but I will try to put in an appearance a little more frequently than I have done of late. So take care everyone, see you soon.

Another fishy tale

I think today we will be moving on, the weather is not good and Pat is getting bored, there is no-one to talk to, the shops are ten miles away and I have been fishing every day. Paradise for many a bloke.

Having said that, I think that this weekend will see the campsite overrun with children and holiday makers. Wednesday I walked the river bank for about a mile, checking out where the big fish might be, I found many a likely looking spot but saw only mullet and lots of them. I fished a spot where the Dwyfach and Dwyfor join for a couple of hours but apart from a couple of kingfishers I had no entertainment. On my return to the campsite I went to fish the pool at the top of the field and the action was none stop. I caught ten fish in just over an hour, at last I seemed to be getting it together.

Needless to say, I went to bed feeling very pleased with myself. Thursday, I went out to the same spot at the same time with exactly the same set up and caught one fish in about two hours. So how does that work? I tried different flies and techniques, the fish were rising continually but the word was clearly out that Taylor the trout basher was about. So it seems to me that I still have a great deal to learn about trout and this fly fishing game. Perhaps I am in need of a mentor, someone who knows my frustrations and pleasure. When I go out on these little forays I would love to take my proper camera with me, I do see some great potential shots but it is my luck that I would take an untimely swim and ruin my pride and joy.

Salmon parr or trout?

Sunday we both felt the need for a change of scenery, we had been static for a week, so we left and stopped a little further along the coast when we found this little spot. No pay and display here I might add. This is only about 5 miles down the coast from where we had been and I wonder why we have never found it before.

We continued on to Llanystumdwy and I could not wait to get out the fly rod once again. Monday however, the weather was far from ideal and the fish were not very active, except for one. It was a large trout of about 10 inches in length and it jumped a good 18 inches into the air then landed with a loud splash, I tried for an hour or so to catch it but I never saw it again. Tuesday I fared a little better with two more trout on the score card, (now running at eleven) but it has to be said that I did have to work hard and had some help.

Meg has been getting increasingly lazy of late and so I took her along with me. At first she wandered around the bank and adjacent field looking for food but when she found none she decided to have a look at what the river had to offer. She reminded me of a Grizzly bear, patrolling up and down in the water and staring into the depths. Every now and again she would try and bat something with a paw and then push her nose two inches under water, but she was not doing any better than I was. A couple of times she got my line tangled around her feet and stumbled about a little and at one point, whilst rolling in the grass, she fell into the river, head first and upside down. When she stood up, she looked at me as if I had pushed her. That was it, she went a lay twenty feet away and turned her back on me. She thinks that we are married.

I continued to fish trying different tactics and different spots and was finally rewarded with a fish, about half an hour later a second fish. I tried to determine whether these fish were indeed Trout or Salmon parr, I have researched this on the Internet and the two are very similar. I have several photographs and I have to say that at least some of the fish I have caught are Salmon parr. Either way they are lovely little fish and I have been very careful not to harm any, having said that, if I catch any Trout the size of a dinner plate they may well get a free tin foil shroud. So, have a look at the next photograph, I would be interested to hear opinions, expert or otherwise. So be careful and fly fishing tips welcome.