Getting back in the groove - very slowly!

 I'd be a complete fool if I said anything other than the fact that my physical (& mental) wellbeing was still a cause for concern - on a personal level. Energy levels and lack of appetite might be a hangover from the bout of Covid I suffered prior to the Kefalonia holiday? My anxiety issues are far more complex and certainly have their origins firmly linked to Bev's passing. However, the clock isn't going to stop ticking , it's up to me, coupled with the support I receive, to negotiate a route through this part of my life's journey and, hopefully, emerge the other side an older and wiser guy because of the experience.

I'll start with today's news and work my way back to Bonfire Night. Bruno and I were on the way down to the RMC just prior to 05.45 hrs, two rods fishing before 06. 50 hrs. We had bee greeted by the first frost of the autumn and two Pike succumbed to my offerings. The first just a feisty jack of six, or seven, pounds. The second, however, was a rather battered looking individual tipping the scales at 12 lbs 14 oz, thus my second double of the campaign. Because it was in such a sorry state I didn't bother with any photos choosing, instead, to get it straight back into the water once unhooked.

From Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th I'd been up in the West Midlands stay with my great friends Carrie & Craig. The weather wasn't up to much and we were battered by Storm Claudia overnight on Friday. The break, however, was just what the doctor ordered and we spent our time chatting and laughing, simply enjoying eachothers company. Without consulting the local news sources, Craig suggested that we take a drive across to Wales on Saturday, just to get out of the house for a while. Great idea, or so it seemed at the time? The drive across to the border was fairly straight forward, although there were ominous signs of heavy rainfall provided by numeros roadside puddles and standing water in the adjacent fields. It wasn't, however, until we reached the border that the full extent of the havoc caused by Storm Claudia became apparent. Craig had actually commented on how little traffic was on the roads and now it was becoming clear as to why. 

Just a big puddle when compared to some of the flooded roads we encountered
during our tour.

Taken from the passenger seat in Craig's VW estate. Absolutely mind boggling
areas of agricultural land under water

As a proto-type engineer for Jaguar Land Rover, Craig had no intention of admitting failure and so we continued to negotiate our way across towards Aberystwyth to a spectacular group of reservoirs, in the hills overlooking Gigrin Farm. I did manage to grab a few images, thanks to Craig, although the weather/light conditions were less than favourable.

Although I've been very lax with my blogging since Emily and I attended the firework display in Broadstairs, the requirement to take Bruno out for daily exercise has meant that the camera has seen quite a bit of use whilst out wandering the tracks and footpaths of Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh NNR, Worth Marshes RSPB Res. plus the Little Stour Valley.

Finally, I'd like to end this offering by sharing a couple more images I obtained on the evening of the 5th November. If I don't share them they will get forgotten in an aging file within my cyber storage facility which would be a shame?

Under no circumstance can I claim any credit for the above images. I simply
copied the camera settings used by a Youtuber, based in Australia, job's a good'un!

A Guy Fawkes Pike

 It was a little before 04.30 hrs, this morning, that Bruno and I headed off down to the RMC for our first session in over two weeks. Thankfully, a Pike had read the same script as I had which resulted in my first "double" of the campaign. No monster but, at eleven pounds fourteen ounces, most welcome all the same.

I'd been hoping that the local college would hold a firework display, yet this was negated when a phone call from my  grand-daughter, Emily, asked if I would accompany her to Broadstairs for their event? A quick lesson, via Google, ensured that I took my camera gear in the hope of getting some images to accompany this post. Not an area of the photographic sphere that I have any inspirations to master, the images I managed tonight, were certainly an improvement on anything I've managed previously.

Already had a couple of Perch sessions whilst awaiting conditions on the RMC to improve. Sadly nothing to report, thus far, but am certainly hopeful of some action once the temps start to drop.

November surprise

 Apologies for the recent lack of up-dates, I've not been in a very good place; mentally, of late. Thanks to the input and efforts of so many friends, neighbours and family, things now appear to be on the mend. Bruno and I had a wander around The Little Stour Valley, this morning, and it turned out to be a very enjoyable outing. Blue skies had replaced the early morning wind and rain ensuring that the visibility was about as good as it gets. As we made our way along the regular route, it was obvious that Stonechats were present in decent numbers particularly atop, and around, the game cover which borders many of the fields within the area.

A few Linnets, Chaffinches, Reed Buntings along with the occasional Yellowhammer were also feeding around the game cover, so there was always something to point my binos towards as we slowly made our way around the circuit. Three distant egrets (Cattle ?) were watched flying westwards towards Grove Ferry before I discovered the bird of the morning. A smart male Dartford Warbler popped up, very briefly, on a sunflower allowing me to grab a token image of this addition to my 2025 year list.

Benno and I are Perch fishing down at Sandwich Coarse Fishery in the morning. Not too sure that it will be particularly serious but, instead, a social catch up.