Wednesday, 15 August 2018

Smoke gets in your eyes

Eased the charabanc along the M11 and through the Blackwall Tunnel to collect some stuff and to "take some pictures for your blog Dad..".

Deptford is on the rise, not the faux artisan puff of Peckham yet but certainly going places. The station has new signage and there is a growing food area, but still the sub- car boot dross market too. Some of the stuff on there was not even Stalham car boot  knuckle dragger standard.. Who wants one smeggy trainer?


Bread. Again

John Evelyn was a big plantsman cheese way back when hence the long street and park bearing his name. Check for  Novichok chaps. The Mulberry tree was rather small for 320 years despite Peter the Great's best efforts.


Of a similar age is St Peters, built by Thomas Archer in the Italianate Baroque style. It was descried by Betjeman as being a pearl in the heart of Deptford. It is certainly a striking building.


It's square has a most un-English feel about it as well.


Something very London English by claim but with an strong immigrant origin is the pie or eel shop.


Some very healthy dissent featured here. One for the Essex Scribbler.


Ex pub. The Princess of Wales.


Along the Thames Path is the Surrey Docks area.


I grew up in two Colne shipbuilding ports and an abiding memory is the smell of fibreglass. That was abundant here. Not the ever present riveting of Wivenhoe James W. Cook's Yard though.




We ate well as well. Marcella on Deptford High Street. Italian, bare basic but what a fabulous veal ragu though. I learnt not to order large, about 5 more strips of lovely fresh pasta for 7 quid more.  One of those places where the kitchen is in full view. The kitchen team seemed happy and relaxed. Not sure what the masking tape was being used for. Oh, and sparkling water for the table. Most agreeable.


Very nice lemon and bay ice cream. Fresh bay is a wonderful herb I think.






















Tuesday, 14 August 2018

Mining a rich seam

Crossing the bridge a band of clear water under along a low willow line had me stopping. A spot I'd earmarked for some spray hemp and mag sometime in the future but just some gentle trotting using the extra length of the  15 foot Grays and a pin. I was expecting mainly dace but happened on some solid if not spectacular roach. Seems there are plenty in the system right now. Along with the seven plus chub that are appearing in the weeklies and sponsor posts. 

Not  a seven plus chub. But  a chub none the less. Makes the  Drennan Super Specialist #16 look like an anchor.


This roach  had a very high back and a big belly.


Standard size it seems this year. One a trot for a while. All netters





Love dace when they start pushing this size.


Really must spend some time planning for the better roach this autumn. They're certainly there. Bread  mostly I think.








Saturday, 11 August 2018

A worm at one end

Friday and the second day of sweet, cool rain. Even an autumn tang in the air. It brightened briefly late in the evening, enough to grab a rod, some shot and hooks and some worms. The gates had been opened  and shut to let some cut weed and the rain water through and it had shifted some of the gravel and summer holidays kids crap about so will be worth a daylight look. Just a half and hour or so tonight so it was a case of exploring the pool and converting some of the tugs and nibbles.

This was the best of a few perch, all bristly fins and stuff.


Only one"silver", in the shape of this little chublet.



This sprightly jack grabbed a worm on the retrieve and a  deffo pound plus roach was snaffled by a double figure pike.







Friday, 3 August 2018

A break in service

I've been catching a few side plates of late, with only one approaching a dinner plate but certainly no more dustbin lids.




I've been hatching a plan for an all out method attach down the middle but the prolonged dry spell has put that on hold for a while. A wise precaution.












Tuesday, 31 July 2018

Sunday, 29 July 2018

That there London


Took advantage of the graduation ceremony to have a little wander about that there London.

Looking down from Greenwich Observatory. I did spend a little time in Blackheath at the top of the hill when I was very young and I'll always remember the smell and those lovely yellow and grey London bricks.


Cutty Sark



Greenwich Market.


The staff of life



A little more exotic perhaps. Sometimes I think that Deptford and Greenwich are  a world apart, not just a street.


George Boi's next door neighbours.









Saturday, 28 July 2018

England's breaming...

Can't get enough of Abramis brama of late. But you have to pay your dues and mine included an hour long slog in extreme heat with an industrial sized mower to beat nature into some sort of brief submission around the Barely Blue Lagoon. Found a couple of things on the circuit, including this magpie feather./



Found rather more of this juvenile jay.



Dues paid it was out with a wafter down the edge and it wasn't long before Johnny Bream came knocking. I had a lensman on hand and here it is, all 8.02 of it.


Got a going back shot too. It's always good when you have someone decent behind the viewfinder .


Lensman gone it was up to me the next time the baitrunner fizzed. A little smaller at 6.13 and  one with spawning tubercles and rough, reddened skin.









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Wednesday, 25 July 2018

Another Bureboi done good.

Off to the Smoke midweek as  Bureboi number 4 George had only done gone and got a First in History from Goldsmiths. Given his difficult start in school such a massive achievement. Well done son. Hard work pays off. Always.

The Right.Hon Dame Esdelle Morris presided, one of life's most genuine and wonderful 
public servants. Our Boi was first up. We whooped.




Don't suppose there will be much reason to go back to New Cross and surrounds  once I've done the last laden Charabanc runs which will be a shame since Bureboi number one @Bain3z started at Goldsmiths on a degree, masters and several mostly media jobs laden decade plus ago. He treated us all to a very generous meal at Primeur in Islington. Lots of sharing plates, wine and a general Hip vibe. The food was divine. Go. Seriously. You must.





Best of a very good quality bunch this pig cheek.



I wasn't allowed to wear my pre meal pint Greg Wallace hat in the restaurant, can't think why...








Sunday, 22 July 2018

Saturday night and the feeling is right

Brief foray on the Barely Blue Lagoon which is getting rather pondweeded out. Some rakeage called for in the week. Managed a very shirty bream of about 2 lb which thought it was much bigger  and this feller, scooped up in a ball of pondweed. Both gave decent indications.