Firstly, I wish for a England victory against the old enemy.

And secondly, and its a very close second, I wish Fred Bonney would stop sending me E-mails. Which bit of  ’I really don’t care’ escapes you Fred?

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I have my first membership card from the Barbel Society at home, it is dated 1998. For 20 years I had been busy catching barbel from rivers all over the country and it was Chris Holley, on the banks of the Royalty one day, who suggested the BS was something I might enjoy. I have to admit I had never heard of it until that time. So I looked into it and joined, and enjoy it I did.

 I met lots of like minded folks who all had a common interest and the meetings and conference were something to look forward to. All seemed fine to me while about 04/05. Then, some of the highly regarded Committee men and members alike, y’know, folks who had given a great deal more than I ever would to the BS and were respected for it, started to leave. I knew many of them well and there seemed to be a common denominator in their reasons for leaving……Steve Pope.

 Now lets be clear I don’t have any personal grudge against Steve, he always seems a decent enough sort to me when we speak, ok so its difficult to get a word in edgeways but I put that down to him being a Southerner. However, as the years have gone by I have watched the number of Popey detractors rising to the extent where many more of the movers and shakers in barbeldom have a bad word than a good one. Many who were good friends of his are now anything but and the BS has suffered accordingly through attacks on BFW, FM etc. I have said this to Steve and he disregards it saying, “its only a few”. Sorry Steve it’s the majority of the well known Barbel anglers I know……….. and I know more than a few. As an aside, five years ago 90% of the HPS were BS members, today I can think of 5.

I think Steve knows he should have gone after the first 10 years and I know he thought about it at the time as he told me so. Go out at the top, let a young thruster take over, names made so nothing to be achieved by staying and in any event 10 years is more than enough for any one man to front an organisation.

 Steve may still feels he has the energy and enthusiasm for it but in reality he hasn’t and its failing in almost everything it tries to do. Everything happens so slowly that it almost goes backwards and despite falling membership and revenue it has failed to grasp any of the many, and I mean many, ideas put forward last year by the membership to turn things around. The only thing that went up last year in the BS was the amount paid to the Committee members in expenses, up 300%. Yes you read that right 300%…… times are hard aint they? (Source BS accounts published last week).

 Fundamentally, I do believe the main problem is that the Barbel Society doesn’t really know what it wants to be. Or should that be “needs” to be. Is there a need? Does the barbel need a Society? Do barbel anglers need a BS? Did the upper Stour want barbel introducing? Does Rich Frampton really carry  Popeys tackle?…… Make you own mind up to these and a host of other burning questions.

Even Bob can see all is not well and called for a “coming together” of the 3 different national barbel groups on his blog this week so one body can represent all caring barbel anglers. Sorry, wont ever happen whilst Popey is at the helm. Its also the case that Fred Bonneys new air of self importance and nasty attitude on the BS forum, and others, has caused a good few members to leave this year, I could name them but best not. Seeing as Fred is Popeys new best mate he gets protected from above but I have seen this all before with others on t’committee, time will come when Fred will have served his purpose and he will feel the knife between his shoulders.

 Don’t get me wrong I know many of the Committee try their best and work very hard in the name of the Society. It’s a thankless task and I would certainly never have the time or the inclination for such a thing, I have done my bit in support over the years though. The thing is the BS could and should be so much more. How many barbel anglers do you think there is in this country? The potential membership is huge.

I conclude that the BS today doesn’t know which way to turn, its failing and doesn’t know what to do about it due to poor misguided leadership and I cant think of any reason why I should be a member of it any longer,……….so I think I wont.

Good luck to the BS and all who sink with her. .

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The river season is just getting going and today is the longest day of the year, it’s a thing I always have trouble comprehending. Summer is just beginning it seems and from tomorrow we will be going backwards.

I used to work with a bloke called Bob Shorthose at the EA and every year he would come to work on the 22nd of June and proclaim “Nights are drawing in”. He did likewise, but “out”, on the 22nd of December. He never forgot in the 12 years I worked with him and because of him I am now afflicted with the same stupid ritual.

Another thing Bob did every year was to have his tea with the whole family on the first Sunday of February at precisely 5pm……. without the lights on. This was a tradition passed down to him from his father, apparently to celebrate the lengthening days. It is often still very dark at 5pm when the first Sunday falls close to the beginning of the month. I have not tried it myself, and don’t intend to. Well, maybe just the once, to see like.

I have managed to get out on the river a couple of times since the 16th and had a couple of lovely days. Yesterday I bumped into Matt Brown as we arrived at the river simultaneously. Not seen Matt for a couple of years and we had a look at the river and caught up a bit before wandering off to try and tempt a fish or two.

Matt struggled with the heat, the insects and sore eyes. I struggled with 3 chub and 2 barbel. It was a lovely afternoon and I was home in time for Brazil v Ivory Coast.

I am not going to mention the football, its all been said, isn’t it getting interesting though.

Edit,    No doubt N. Korea will blame their 7-0 thrashing on espionage by the Yanks and S. Korea.

Longest day sunset over Burton upon Stather.

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Nice end to the longest day and a win for Spain

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Will be having a little break from this for a week or two unless something inspiring strikes me.

I will be mainly watching the world cup (love it) working or fishing, not necessarily in that order.

Viva Espana.

Edit Sat…….I leave you with a few pics Faye took this morning.

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Our house from Brickpond.

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Monet

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Black and yellow job

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Arty

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Brickpond

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Cheeky tree rat on balcony

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Opium

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Large Skipper

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I fished yesterday and started a post on here about it. I got a bit carried away though and it ended up far too long so its on its own page, The tale of the Old Brick Pond.

The second chrysalis hatched today and is busy puffing is wings out. Is another Eyed Hawk moth.

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You may remember I blogged on blogs a while ago. Well, as I though, lots more folks are having a go now. I have put one or two new links up, hover over them for a glimpse of what you may find, some are worth a look.

Dave Wingfields has been busy of late as he is catching some lovely looking commons in Canada, check it out. Dave Burr has just got going but knowing Dave I am sure he will have plenty to say of interest. Conrads having a bit of a sleep at the moment, busy with important things, but I’m sure he will be back soon. Monty continues to offer an “alternative” view of the world but fair point is usually made for those who read well between the lines.

Then we have newcomer Fred Bonney. Who seems to have taken against my last posting on here, must have struck a nerve, and even goes so far as to twist my words. Fred says,…………… “I mean, would you have somebody working for you for 4 years and not tell them they were up to the job, and then palm them off to another manager in your organisation”…………… If you care to look below Fred you will see I said “4 years ago” she only worked for me for a small while. Silly old fool, polish your bins.

And, on the subject of money Fred offers us, “Still not certain why people won’t spend their hard earned and miss out, just to leave something for the kids”………. Well you wouldn’t be would you Fred, you don’t have kids so couldn’t possibly understand. Parents tend to put their children before themselves. I look to the heavens and shake my head.

Oh, and just for the record Fred I am very happy being 5ft 7ins thanks. Much happier than I would be if I were further around the middle than I was in height.  ……….Sorry but it’s a dull blog so far Fred, nice garden though.

On a positive note if Freds busy blogging at least it may keep him off the forums damaging the reputation of the Barbel Society with his words. I bet Popey is well relieved.

Talking of Popey, he’s giving it a fair crack on his blog and does well to steer clear of any controversy, wise move Steve.

It seems some like to put an awful lot of effort into their blogs, I know Popey does and clearly Bob does too, they are important to them. Me, I just write something of the top of my head in two mins when I feel like it as it matters about as much as the rest of the nonsense you get on t’net. We cant all be “wordsmiths” like Bob now can we. I almost fell off my chair when he wrote that about himself. BB, Yates and Venables may call themselves such a thing, typical journo style fits Bob better I think.

Personally I am very proud of my CSE grade 3 in English language, I did well to get that if the truth be known.

Not long to go now and the rivers will be open, am I excited? Er, no not really, not even got my tenching off the ground yet as I have been busy with other plans.

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