...It's raining again.........

Sunday....fishing day.....first proper match of the year....and woke to torrential rain.

Woke at stupid o'clock (5.00) because I made the fatal mistake of going to bed early....I know I only sleep a maximum of 6 hours, usually 5, so why did I go to bed at 10.30? Picked up Shaun at 7.00, drove 18 miles to meet at McD's for breakfast (I'm going there far too often recently) and then another mile to the venue.

Still raining and the only shelter is under the eaves of the toilet block, so here's Roy "Greengrass" and Shaun preparing for the draw.

Match started at 9.30, due to finish at 2.30.

For the first 4 hours I was leading........then Roy caught a "big 'un"....so down to second.

Then Charlie, who hadn't had a bite all day, caught 2 decent fish.........so down to third.

3 minutes to go and a bite......good pull back by the fish....it's big.... playing it carefully........but laughing inside because Roy and Charlie are watching, knowing this is the match winner..................................2 foot from the bank..... a jump, a splash and it's gone......the price of being fish friendly and using barbless hooks. I saw it swim away, a couple of pounds ..easy. So... third, 8 oz behind the winner and 4oz behind second.

Still at least I got my stake money back....so not a bad day

The fishery has 5 cats and I met them all today...they visit, steal bait (and any other food if you're not careful), try to pinch fish as they're being landed (and sometimes succeeding) and sitting on laps.

The S&H and YH were here when I got home, invited for dinner again,....roast pork with all the trimmings...lovely!

Das vidanya moy padruga.