Benno joins the gang!

With Bev's funeral just three days away I jumped at the chance to join Ben for another session down at his syndicate venue. A 04.30 hrs rendezvous in the car park was arranged and I spent a very pleasant morning ( I packed up at 12.30 hrs because of Bruno) although I failed to put a fish on the bank today. I did lose two, both to hook pulls, due to the rapidly emerging weed growth within the pit and my insistence on using barbless hooks. However, Ben fared a little better, although also losing two fish, as he landed his first Tench over nine pounds. At 9 lbs 1 oz, he becomes the third "Wraftie" to achieve such a feat, joining my brother Simon and I. It was a stunning individual and I am rather pleased with the shots obtained.

I had to content myself playing around with the long lens, pointing it in the direction of a Common Tern which was patrolling the margins on the look out for snacks. So much more to see, via the binoculars, it was a very pleasant way to waste away a few hours whilst the clock ticks, relentlessly, towards Bev's final farewell. 

Despite the incredible support being provided by family, friends and neighbours I am not coping particularly well at present. I am dreading the service at the crematorium and just want Tuesday out of the way so I can press the "re-set button" and get my life back into some form of routine again?

Never in my wildest dreams!

Only to be expected, but life isn't much fun at present so when Benno asked if I fancied a session on the bank I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the prospect. He had been chatting with the owner of his syndicate fishery and had been given the OK for me to tag along on a "guest ticket". Benno has been absolutely smashing it up with some fantastic Tench, to 8lbs, falling to his rods.

Benno's current PB of 8 lbs exactly

One major problem was that I couldn't take Bruno with me, thus it seemed an idea doomed to fail. However, my neighbours Terry & Glynis offered a solution. They would happily look after Bruno, overnight, thus allowing me an early morning session with a pack up time around 14.00 hrs. Benno got the ticket sorted and we met in the car park just before 05.00 hrs this morning.  We were set up in a nice double swim and rods out within an hour, or so, and the waiting game began. The brisk westerly wind did nothing to assist our cause and we had niggling doubts about our baiting strategy due to the undertow created by the conditions.. I was absolutely gutted when I had an aborted take on my left-hand rod, just after 10.00 hrs, and was in the process of getting the rod back out when the right hander absolutely busted off. No mistake, this time around, and after a plodding battle, lasting several minutes, Benno was able to slip a net under my prize. What the f**k? It looked massive and was certainly the biggest Tench I'd landed since my time in the Tring Syndicate (1981 - 93). I got the rods back out whilst Benno took care of the fish. Once the rigs were back in position we were able to go through the ritual weighing and photo session. 

My new PB Tench  

What a fish it turned out to be. At a weight of 9 lbs 13 oz it is is a new PB for me and possibly the heaviest Tench captured, deliberately, at the venue, thus far in 2025. Well that was it for me and I packed up just after 12.30 hrs, grinning like an imbecile as I pushed the barrow back towards the van. Benno decided to move swims and I await news of what occurred after we parted company?

Simple distractions provide enjoyment

 Although Debbie and I have gotten the funeral arrangements well underway, there is so much other baggage which comes with the passing of a loved one. Slowly, but surely, each bridge is being crossed as and when is necessary and helpful advice is forthcoming whenever it is required. I'd be a fool and a liar if I said that I was dealing with the stresses involved, but the passing of time is certainly easing the numbness and shock. Thankfully, Bruno still requires attention and his daily exercise allows me to take a break from the harsh reality and simply find enjoyment from whatever natural history encounters come my way. Binoculars round my neck and the camera over my shoulder, I have been quite content to click away at whatever subjects deign to offer themselves as we cross paths. What follows is a sample of the type of images I've captured whilst walking around various local sites.

My first Brown Argus of 2025 seen down on Minster Marshes

Adult Cattle Egret, in breeding attire, near Harrison's Drove at Grove Ferry NR

Four-spotted Chaser at Worth RSPB Res.

One take away from these recent wanderings is a need for me to carry my macro kit more often. There have been some outstanding opportunities to capture images of many insect species which simply isn't possible with the 100 - 400 mm lens. I'll finish with an offering taken from the back door. The local Foxes are now very confiding with at least three individuals visiting the feeding bowl regularly. My flash photography still requires a bit of fine tuning but, given the situation right outside my study doorway, there should be plenty of scope for me to hone my technique as the summer advances.

Doorstep history experience

 I will start by saying a massive thank-you to everyone who's offered sympathy and support, via the comments facility, email and/or on cards posted through the letter box. I am truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of genuine emotion following Bev's passing. As an individual I am nowhere close to getting over the situation and remain in a state of numbness coupled with shock. However, given the amazing level of support being offered by family, friends and neighbours, I seem to be doing OK, at present?  I am particularly grateful to Craig S, my old birding buddie and the "Best Man" at our wedding, who has accompanied me on a couple of Bruno walks recently. Plenty for us to reminisce about, whilst we have been taking in the sights at Worth RSPB and Minster Marshes.

Yesterday Craig made mention of the air display scheduled for Ramsgate Harbour/Main Beach to coincide with the celebrations surrounding the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo - the Dunkirk evacuation of British and Allied troops in May 1940. No big deal, we did the Bruno walk before getting over to the cliff-top overlooking the main beach in plenty of time for the 12.45 hrs appearance of oldest, airworthy, Fairey Swordfish biplane, in the world. What a privilege, although we'd already seen it earlier in the day as it flew over the marshes en route to Manston.

A couple of Royal Navy helicopters then put in an appearance before a Mk I Spitfire arrived on the scene to entertain the gathered crowds. It put on a very good show, although the sun wasn't in a particularly helpful position for obtaining decent images from where we were standing. A most enjoyable distraction from the reality of my current situation was further enhanced when we called in at The Racing Greyhound, for a swift half, before getting back to sort out Bruno. 

The "Little Ships" departed the harbour at 06.00 hrs, this morning and are due to return around 16.00 hrs on Monday. I might make an effort to watch them return, dependant on circumstances at home and the weather?

One of the vessels involved in Operation Dynamo approaching Ramsgate Harbour
whilst the air display was happening.

RIP Bev

 At 11.40 hrs, this morning, Bev passed away, peacefully, in our bungalow. Her battle with cancer is now ended and I am forever grateful to the carers, nurses and Pilgrims Hospice staff who have ensured that the final part of her journey was as pain and stress free as was possible. 

Beverley Denise "Wraftie" 19.03.1958 - 13.05.2025
Sleep well beautiful.

With everything that now has to be dealt with my blogging will be erratic, to say the least, but I have every intention of getting back into the groove once this chapter has been concluded. As an individual I am extraordinarily fortunate to have such a strong family, added to a tight knit bunch of friends and neighbours, who will ensure that I am well supported during this painful time.

Keeping busy

Under the current circumstances I am fully aware that my daily routine will be firmly based in, and around, the bungalow. My Bruno time, as is my natural history fix, spent out in the garden. I'd already given up on worrying about the garden this year, yet thanks to Bev's daughter, Debbie, coming around to sit with her mum for a couple of hours, yesterday, I was able to grab the chance to take a drive across to the Elham Valley Garden Centre in order to purchase the plants required to ensure that the wall mounted and hanging baskets would be presentable? With time on my side, I can now start to think about getting the odd planter sorted out, thus giving me a distraction from the reality of everyday life. I do have one planter already well prepared, this being the one right outside my study doorway which contains those most important of plants, Nicotiana - Tobacco Plants, the Convolvulus Hawk-moth magnet during late-Summer/early-Autumn period.

A Convolvulus Hawk-moth feeding on Nicotiana last September

I did receive a nice phone call from Benno yesterday as he excitedly relayed the news of another PB Tench from the "un-named" syndicate venue. A subsequent exchange, later in the evening, has resulted in a nice twist. Because there is absolutely no way I'll be getting out with the fishing kit, it seemed only right that Benno uses my pair of Duncan Kay 1lbs 10oz t/c Carp rods for his Tench project, just as I had done on Wilstone back in the 1980's during my quest for a "double". I failed to achieve that particular target, but would love for Benno to experience the thrills of playing a fiesty Tench on exactly the same rods which have been part of my own speccy hunting journey since 1983!

7lbs 14oz - absolutely magnificent, but not on a Duncan Kay!

In times like these

Despite the cold statistic of my life's journey being into it's seventieth year, nothing has prepared me for the trauma involved in dealing with Bev's deteriorating health situation. I'm incredibly fortunate to have a solid family behind me, plus living within a superbly tight-knit neighbourhood., support is always very close to hand. To add to this, I am totally in awe of the care being provided by the NHS District Nurses and the Community Urgent Care Team, plus that of the Pilgrim's Hospice staff. Absolutely incredible level of service, on the end of a phone, no matter what time of day, or night!

Bruno's walks have had to be curtailed, as I need to be as close to hand as is possible, so his only exercise takes place in the back garden. Fortunately he's happy to chase and retrieve a ball for hours on end, then takes a break for a drink and a nap, thus allowing me to potter around the bungalow and garden. This past couple of days have been absolutely glorious and the camera kit/binos always close to hand. Common Buzzards are still moving over the Newlands Farm area, with a nice 2nd c/y Red Kite drifting east this morning. A couple of adult Mediterranean Gulls added to the fun and the garden moth trapping is finally showing signs of improvement. Nothing out of the ordinary, thus far, but numbers are certainly on the up.

With so much time to ponder over things I have been sorting through the ridiculous amount of fishing kit which shares my study area. One very positive aside from this exercise was an email exchange with Les Shaw (Classic Vintage Fishing Tackle)  enquiring about service and/or repairs to some of the ancient kit I still use. As is always the case, Les was completely honest with his reply and I was put in touch with Martin Stone who has agreed to service my pair of 1975 ABU Cardinal 66X's at a very competitive price. However, my 1980's Shimano Carbomatic GT4000 reel and original Steve Neville bite alarm did not come within Les's sphere of contacts and so will remain unusable unless someone else knows differently?

An original Steve Neville bite alarm circa 1993?

Pre bait-runners, this was Shimano's answer to the ABU Cardinal 55