We really do all want to say a very big “THANK YOU MICHAEL” well done.
Now with that over with back to the usual, we got lost (and I mean really lost), the Welsh gentleman on the gate at the Ghurkhas Barracks had never heard or seen the lakes just 500 metres down the road (miserable welsh t--t was muttered from our leaders lips), the lady at the first Premier Inn we went to seemed very nice and kindly gave us directions to the one we were actually booked into about 5 miles away. The “HILL BILLY CREW” in the Audi estate had no sat-nav, map or any idea they claimed they just used their sixth sense and went straight to all venues Hotels etc. This obviously only worked in the car as chief of the “Hill Billys” was unable to find the toilet 5 paces away in the room on the first night !!.(The poor lady who witnessed the mishap has been sent for counselling) the thought of Dingit in his underpants wondering around in the middle of the night is enough to make you double lock your door.
The weather was very warm to hot, not conducive to large catches but most members got fish and a few of the usual stars showed that they are worthy of the top places in the club and shone through on all days. New member “Bear” appeared to enjoy himself and the other new member, Keville, lost most things most of the time left other things behind but again enjoyed the weekend.
The senior members showed us all that your appetite does not dwindle with age, Roy ate and drank his way through most of the menu, the site of Nigel washing down 3 or his pills with a large Bacardi and Lemonade will stay with me for years, keep it up boys we all hope to still be enjoying the fishing if we are lucky enough to make to your ages.
The younger members of the club showed that the wisdom that comes with age is a valuable asset and where unable to keep up the pace with out taking a little afternoon “siesta”. “Bless” at least his mummy will love him.
(Clearly 'NOT ASLEEP!!!')
The two friendly days over with Sunday saw the actual Pot Black match, team leader left the clip board in the bar after the World Pool Championship (he won that as well), but chief helper Nigel picked it up in an effort to get some brownie points and move back into favour with team leader. Might of worked had he not have left it in his hotel room after we had checked out and only discovered his small lapse of memory after we had travelled the 5 miles to the venue (having told me on the way how he had been up since 5am ensuring nothing was left in his room).
Anyway a quick dash back to the hotel and then back to the venue and we were back cooking on gas, the lake / canal / thing with an island in it, had been surveyed and given the old “Pot Black Magic”, corner pegs where favourite with the bottom end out of the wind the most sort after although a longer walk was involved. We apparently were all given a “semi floater peg” in that you could move one peg either way if you did not like the look of your drawn peg, as usual some members decided to bend this nearly to breaking point, others did not hear this at the draw and struggled from there drawn peg.
Chief of the Hill Billy’s fishing from the three pegs and a good bit of the bank not pegged in the bottom corner produced a truly wonderful bag of fish to take top honours in the match, team leader and the very much in form Mr Michael Wall was going great guns from the start but faded away half way through (got the old problem back then Michael !!), as he had insufficient feed to keep both the ducks and the fish interested, but still managed a good weight and a podium finish.
Other members had mixed fortunes ranging from “ not even a bite in 6 hours Banjo” to Paul Chilvers in his Out Of Africa outfit catching but really only watching Martin land fish.
After the weigh in and a most confusing run through of the results which seemed to be impossible for anyone other than “team leader” to actually understand it appeared that we all won (well all bar a couple apparently) which was a marvellous way to end a truly marvellous weekend.
Thanks to everyone for a lovely weekend, everyone to a man has expressed appreciation at the organization that was put into the weekend and we again thank Michael for all his efforts, can we please have another “weekend away” put into the fixtures for next season.
Great company and a great weekend.
The other bank.
