smufter

Not been posting much lately, basically because I haven't been able to get out what with one thing and another. But the best bit of kit I've bought is my Trakker Tempest 100T brolly. It's absolutely fantastic. I already had the standard Tempest V2, which was good, but I sometimes clouted my head getting out in a hurry. Don't get me wrong, it didn't hurt at all, it was just annoying. Before the 100T came out, I was thinking of getting a couple of vents put into the V2 to give me a little extra ventilation on hot days. I'd looked into the cost of getting these fitted by "Army Andy" who is renowned for doing this sort of mod, and it was going to cost me just over £120.00 to get done. Bearing in mind the new 100T had two vents as standard, AND gave you the extra headroom, it was a no brainer really. I sold the V2 and adding not much more than the vents were going to cost me managed to get the 100T. It's superb. Goes up in an instant, and has masses of room, not only in height, but in depth and width too. I generally fish days, with the odd overnight thrown in, and go to France every year for a week. I could seriously live in this for the week in France, plenty of room for my needs (I tend to fish fairly light unlike friends of mine who's bivvies are more akin to Cape Canaveral on launch day)... it suits me just fine. On calm days/nights I don't even have to peg it down. Steady as a rock. I'd recommend one of these to anyone looking for a decent sized alternative to a full blown bivvy.

For a few years my pb stood at 37lbs. That was caught on an 11' 2.25lb Chub "Smallwater" rod. Not once did I think that the rod was going to give up the fight.

Did a 24 hour on a "specimen" lake down in Hampshire one night. Never visited there before, took the missus with me as there was a small wooden lodge that she could sleep in. About 11pm we heard these noises coming from the bushes behind the lodge, and heavy breathing. Frightened the blooming life out of us. It was deathly quiet but could keep hearing these footsteps. Finally plucked up the courage to go take a looksee. It was a sheep that had got out of the field and was trying to get to the lodge for something to eat.

This is what cost us a few fish a couple of years ago, including one of the bigger residents. blooming awful. A top of the range aeration system was installed shortly after. One of the first signs that the fish are in trouble is them lethargically swimming around gasping for air. Very sad to see

Love this.....absolutely mental. 😁

I fish running rigs all the time. These are what I use in conjunction with tubing. They are perfect. http://www.korda.co.uk/fishingtackle/rig-bitz/run-rig-rubber/ Also remove the swivels from my leads, replace them with a small multi clip https://www.banktackle.co.uk/multi-clips-1190-p.asp Multi clip through one of these (it's a bit fiddly) and you're good to go https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Running-Rig-Ring-Easy-Run-Rings-Carp-Pike-Fishing-Terminal-Tackle-3-Colours-JG/371242369889?hash=item566fc50361:g:yx0AAOSw1ZBUw6N3

Just don't expect him to get a pint in......🙄🙄😉

Not brilliant but we've catered for it....😉

As an "ex" landscape gardener maybe you could answer a question for me mate. As far as the "top tier" I'm planning to put in, which will be two sleepers high. I don't really want to go to the expense and work of putting concrete posts in again, so was planning on drilling through them and fixing them in place with 3 12mm rebars going straight through each and going about 24" into the ground. They won't be under too much pressure by the way. Do you reckon this would work?

Not my capture, but out of the lake I am visiting in France next year (for the 6th time). 37lb, hopefully hit 40 when I'm over there, but it's absolutely pristine. Look at those barbles.

Never had any luck with pepperami. Luncheonmeat though. That's another story. Or Bacon Grill.

Backfilling behind the retaining wall tomorrow to help level that soil on the top tier a bit. Will then run a two sleeper high smaller wall all the way along the back about 3 feet out from the fence to give me a raised bed which will help hide up the gravel boards. Also planning another two sleeper high retaining wall around the "third" tier, (the one with the large rocks at the front), to stop earth falling onto the steps and to allow us to raise and level that bed too. Seems like a lot of sleepers, but it's the only effective way that we can deal with a garden with such a severe slope to it. The "rusty maze" wall art you can see will be mounted on the bigger retaining wall once the wood has been stained. There's not a lot we can do about the scruffy lawn this year, going to attack that in the autumn so that it should be good for next Summer. Just concentrating on the main parts at the moment, the lawn can wait a bit.

The one up your chuffbox is a right gas mate. You'll be ripping them off for England. Embarrassing or what 😚

Have you had the C4 film crew up your chuffer or tinky winky yet Geezer??? That's a sure sign of getting old. And Asda for your varifocals mate. Take it from me. Brilliant service and prices.

Finally managed to get the new retaining wall finished this week. Hard work!! Looking a bit of a mess again at the moment, but apparently it's supposed to get worse before it gets better!!! Got to level the soil in the top tier by backfilling behind the wall this coming week, and also going to put a smaller retaining wall around the tier on the right behind the boulders. Should be fun. And a lot more light getting on the garden now that the big tree has been taken down. New shed on order to replace the monstrosity you can see. Going to look a lot better when that's in place!