Steve Pope Barbel Fishing

 

Well it has been ages since the last update, I have excuses though, It’s taken me far longer to adjust to life back in the UK than I ever imagined and my head is still down under.

I thought I had the timetable well worked out, winter was just about to kick in over in Oz and I was looking forward to more sunshine back here on the Welsh border, It must have been wishful thinking!

I know we needed the rain but it would be nice if it stopped just once or twice.

Anyway, I arrived back at Heathrow at the end of May and was taken in a rather nice car back to my daughter’s house in St. Albans.

This five star treatment was all part of the deal from Etihad courtesy of my daughter who flew back with us bringing Henry along to meet the rest of the family. I have to say it was the best flight I have ever had and it made the twenty four hour journey a fantastic experience that simply flew by. It’s easy to see why the jetset have no problem travelling all over the world.

It will probably be my one and only experience of flying in style and I’m more than grateful to have experienced it.

We celebrated Henry’s very first birthday and then set off back to the cottage to see if it had survived the winter while I was away!

 

 

 

Back home the garden had become a bit of a jungle even though I had made arrangements for the gardener to call in regularly. To be fair he had kept the grass under control but the constant deluge had meant the cottage style borders had run amoke!

I only had time for one night at home and it was off to the caravan to rest up over night before setting off for Hinckley and the weekends Barbel Show. I use my base in Worcester more and more as a stopover to break up the long journeys that my fishing life entails.

The AGM went off smoothly on the Saturday which was fine by me because I have to admit that all the recent travelling had caught up with me.

 

 

 

The Show on Sunday was a resounding success, we all had our concerns because of the date clashing with the Jubilee weekend but plenty of people turned up and having spoken to as many as I possibly could seemed like all had a great time.

There is a detailed write up on my latest Fishing Magic Diary HERE

I managed a few days at home before setting off once more for St. Albans where my youngest daughter was celebrating her birthday with both her sisters for the first time in a long time and of course with the new addition to the family!

 

 

 

A week later and it was my birthday and the first day of the fishing season, no fishing for me though, I was back on a quick visit to St. Albans once again having spent the week at home struggling with the garden.

With just a week to go before Henry and my daughter headed back to Sydney I decided to stay down in Hertfordshire with my old school pal at his cottage near Baldock.

This meant I had to cancel my trip up to Manchester to see Bruce and with the conditions looking decidedly muddy at the Isle of Wight I gave that one a miss as well, not to worry because Hyde Park is coming up very soon.

And so one last week of fun with the little fella and that was it, back home where I’m fully engaged in all things fishing and looking forward to my first session of the season tomorrow on the Severn, normal service has resumed!

 

 

 

 

Just before I sign off I have a short article in the latest issue of Coarse Angling Today. Have to say this months Barbel Special has some excellent stuff including a great piece from Pete Reading all about the Barbel Society, check it out;

That’s it, short and sweet, I’m off to the Severn!

See you again very soon with plenty of barbel related stuff.

STEVE