Fishy tales

Yes, you can of course guess where I've been today if you've followed this journal for any length of time.  Lymington was packed as it would be on a Bank Holiday, but lovely as always, full of activity.  Kids had cornered all the crabbing spaces in the Harbour, and with help from an 8 year old boy called Alex I finally understand what's involved.  You have a piece of fishing line with a weight attached to the bottom.  Then you have a small net of bait (Alex uses bacon) which you attach a few cms above the weight.  When you can see a crab has latched hold you raise the line and lower your net to drop the crab in it before it lets go and falls back in the water.  The crab then spends a couple of hours or so (Alex's gran said he had been at it since 9am - he was still there when I left, so it can be longer) in a bucket of tepid water while you try to find it some friends.  Or until the seafood inspector comes round and decides your crab is so big it's confiscated for use in a local restaurant.

No, I'm lying, I made that last bit up.  Of course they go back in the water.

Also interested to see that despite the Bank Holiday two Southampton fishing vessels had come into port by lunchtime, the Audacity and the Sam Dore/Tory (let's hope not).  I remembered that last name all the way home then forgot it as I walked through the front door.  Serve me right for going out without a pen.  There's a blip of the two crews comparing notes in Extras.

Oh, and in case you're food focused (who isn't?) lunch was a New Forest  mint choc chip icecream and a punnet of locally grown strawberries, the first of the season, bought on the quay.  Magnificent!

Have a good evening - and if you've been working today sorry I'm still crowing about being in holiday mode  xx