PeverilPeril

Trent Bridge and the floods on the news this morning. Will another notch be chiselled on the wall? The Trent here in our Staffs village is covering a few hundred acres. It will eventually all pass under Trent Bridge.

The TV program about the snow and floods of 1947 brought back a lot of memories. I was 8 and still in short trousers. There were some derelict houses just below our house on Peveril St. At the end house there was an alleyway that linked Peveril St to Aspley Place. This was our short cut to the 43 and 44 trolley bus stop, outside of the Alma. It was also our shortcut to Bentinck Rd School. In the winter of 1947 the snow had drifted as high as the derelict houses eves. There was no way it could be cleared so we dug a tunnel through it! After about 5 weeks of snow the thaw set in and ca

I quite like the looks of that Kia EV 9 - but there again I've never liked swoopy cars. Big estates or SUV's for me. Pick up's even better. The Kia, being boxy, will have more space than a curvy design. The problem with EV's is space due to the volume of battery, so a bigger car has relatively more space per overall volume. I think a lot of EV's are bought on company schemes. My SIL has one and the terms are very attractive and includes a low cost recharging contract. If I were still in business I would definitely be running a large EV.

When I was at DMS I sold Japanese Plagate shut off nozzles and the Swedish Heldin probes along with my own design Manifolds and Minifolds. Later I was a partner in PMS systems who made controllers for the big Multi Nationals. They were taken over by MoldMasters, then Husky after I retired. ps - we had an agent in Adelaide - Bob Parrington - he also owned a football club.

The day after Boxing Day I went fishing with friends. We book a small lake the same day every year. It's an old 3 acre mill pond with a derelict mill house at the end. I've been fishing there for the past 50 years and I always reflect on the past, on this special day. I'm sitting on one of the benches and read the brass plate bearing the name of a long deceased pal. There are several such benches within sight and I imagine my old pals sitting on the benches that were dedicated in their memory. We are having a laugh or discussing the merits of certain fishing flies. I looked over to my lef

Morning Trogg. My bike and rowing machine sessions are much easier than they sound. I just plod along while watching telly. I find the 400 yard walk to our fishing club pub much harder.

Good morning all and a Happy New years Day Started my Concept2 January Challenge this morning with 3k on the rower and 12k on the bike. Felt good - hope the rest of the month stays that way.

For fishing our nearby canal and the Trent, in decent weather, I use my Elephant bike. The front carrier is big enough to carry a folding stool and cushion. Large rear panniers carry tackle, flask and lunch. Rods etc,. carried in a holdall over my shoulder.

Missed you and your footy reports Oz. Get well soon mate.

Had venison yesterday Trout today. Duck last Sunday. Pheasant this w/e. Love me game. None costs me anything, just the occasional pint or a days fishing. Some sort of game turns up from one of my mates most weeks during the season. Fly fishing yesterday and caught 4. Kept the one I just about to serve.

Well, I'm 85 Mary and trying to do my bit to reduce my large carbon footprint - still smiling and happy though To be honest, for me to make a significant reduction would mean quite a change of lifestyle. Downsizing from our rambling old house would be one but we would struggle with that. If we all did little things........

There isn't much we do in modern living that does not have an adverse effect on the natural environment. I was only talking today about some test results from the lab and for the possible reasons for the lack of invertebrates in one of our rivers. The samples were taken upstream of a known pollution area (farm slurry) and this is really worrying. It was a similar result that used to show where sheep dipping took place but this is not sheep country and that particular sheep dip has been banned for a long time. There was no obvious suspects however my scientist friend said that it could be

In the old days we didn't have any choice about food packaging and distribution. Nowadays it's all about freedom of choice and we tend, naturally to go for the most convenient and best value (note, I didjou n't say cheapest). I have a large carbon footprint but trying to reduce it. We have shut off the front half of our house. Radiators off and doors kept closed. My old 4x4 is thirsty but I've reduced the mileage quite a bit. I need a 4x4 for the environment work I do, as well as for fishing. The occasional long trips are in Mrs PP's little Renault 1.3 petrol. W

Do we think about our carbon footprint? If so, do we try to reduce it? Must confess, mine is not that good... Discuss...

The Witham has a good reputation for chub Rog, so get yourself up there. Brew can advise about fishing rods Most of my time on the river banks these days is checking for pollution. I lead a team of volunteers who take samples from 5 local rivers and we record the levels of phosphates, nitrates etc. We are also checking the health of the rivers by taking samples of the invertebrate populations. We are part of an Angling Trust initiative involving over 500 volunteers. Thankfully, in recent years, anglers are far more aware of environmental issues. We are seeing ourselves as cu

HSR, I couldn't wear a watch with that provenance.

Enjoyed a few hours in the sunshine fly fishing is Shropshire yesterday after being laid up with a cold. Back on the indoor bike and rowing machine this morning to get things moving and unblock the lungs....life is good....

I had the turnups removed from my tropical suit in preparation for a Summer wedding (granddaughter's). Apparently the King's tailor was too busy prior to his African visit. My heavy winter double breasted suit still has turnups and I will wear it next week at the Remembrance service.

Just watched the Arnold Scwarzenegger(sp) interview on BBC Breakfast while on my rowing machine. When asked for his advice he said - "When you wake up in the morning, don't think. Do some exercise. Cycling, running, gym or whatever.. Then start thinking". It's worked for me for decades.

Had a birthday card today showing a doctor talking to his patient "We've decided to keep the hip and to replace the rest of you". Just about sums it up

A normal start to the day today. Make coffee. Take medication. Do a session on the rowing and cycling machines. Shower. Breakfast. Don't feel 85 at all ...life is good.

Not a good start for our 61st anniversary. Roads are flooded on our route to the hotel so rather than risk it, I have cancelled. I had booked a nice hotel in Chester where we would have done the history tour, but heavy rain all day would have spoilt that. Try again later this month. Until a few minutes ago Mrs PP didn't know where we were going Anyway, we will have a nice lunch somewhere today.

Been thinking a lot about the Berridge and Bentink Rd schools this last week. What a fabulous investment they were. Good old bricks and mortar. Craftsman built with slate roofs. None of this fake concrete, jerry built stuff. These venerable schools have seen off generations of 'modern builds'.

Following a wonderful week of trout fishing in the highlands I decided to do a bit of coarse fishing yesterday. Tench were my quarry. I arrived at the syndicate venue in Willington at 8am, signed in and as I drove to the fishing spot there was a hell of a racket from under the bonnet. Thought I may have run over some debris or rocks hidden by the long grass and carried on around the lake but the power steering failed and steam hissed from under the bonnet. fan belt!! - well a bit more than a fan belt as it turned out. No way a pair of tights would solve this The problem was that I was inside

Mary - my pal was diagnosed with PD about 6 years ago. He is managing it quite well and is otherwise very fit. Odd body movements and lack of coordination douse not stop him helping me with heavy objects. Tying flies on to the line takes him ages but he gets there. Smashing bloke. Reffed footy at pro level and we still enjoy a game of pool, having similar ability, being well past past our former selves .