Well as I sit here typing away I keep asking myself what I must have done to p%ss the Carp Gods off?

Let me explain....

I left work bang on 6 last night and called into the Syndicate on the way home just to get an idea on how many carpers were already on ready for the weekend. As I drove through the gate I noticed that the first car park was empty,"that's very unusual" I said to my boss who I was giving a lift home. I continued round the track to the top car park and on nearing it I looked out of the window and caught sight of the lake......I didn't like what I saw so I turned away and then looked back again hoping it would change and it was just my eyes playing tricks on me. But alas I had not been deceived......the lake was starting to freeze!

As I pulled into the top car park that too was unsurprisingly empty, I turned the van around and flew back down the track all the while trying to keep my emotions in until I was alone! [I wasn't sure my boss would fully understand my utter frustration at finding the lake frozen not having chucked a lead for 3 weeks]

I got back on the dual carriage way and made the short sprint to where my boss lives and dropped her off, after she had gone I pulled over and let out an almighty roar that would have made William Wallace proud!!

I rolled a smoke and rang Martin to give him the bad news, we agreed that we would go anyway even if it was just for a few hours to wet the lines in a bucket sized area of wobbly water, desperate times indeed!

So this morning I jumped behind the wheel and made the short drive to the Syndicate. On arrival I was greeted by the same sore sight of the previous night, I drove round to the top car park hoping for a slight improvement but there was none, there was now snow sitting on top of the ice! Although the sun was beginning to show and there was a chance it would melt, the forecast temperature's for the night meant it would soon freeze over again as soon as the sun dropped out of the sky.

I had a quick walk round to assess the situation, then rang Martin to tell him not to bother getting out of bed!

After throwing a tantrum in the car park I accepted defeat and headed home with my tail firmly between my legs, that now means that so far I haven't managed to get behind the rods for 3 weeks and because I am working next weekend it's not looking likely that I will be able to get out again before my Birthday session on the 9th December!!!!

Right, I'm off to sulk, if you manage to find some wobbly water I hope all of your dreams come true!

Until next time,

Smithy

Well as you can guess by the lack of posting activity this last week I never did manage to get on the bank after work last weekend, what with a few last minute "chores" that needed doing here and there it was too late to get behind the rods. In the end I just had a good sort out of the gear and threw a load of cr%p away, I couldn't believe how much of it I have been lugging around the lake this season!

I am however definitely getting on the bank this weekend, I've been a nightmare to live with this week (so the wife tells me!) and she is almost pushing me out of the door!

So tomorrow night will see me rig tying and doing all the usual rituals then I shall be behind the van wheel at dawn on Saturday Wellingborough bound!

I shall be joined by my brother in law "Martin", who has yet to do a winter on the bank.....and after just checking the temperatures forecast (-6 on Saturday night) it may well be his first and last!!!

I myself love getting behind the rods at this time of the year, the fish look immaculate and are at good weights plus the banks are starting to quieten down......If I catch then that's a bonus, if not I will just enjoy being out there taking on the elements.......

Until Sunday,

Smithy

Well, it's been a while since my last post so I will start where I left off.....

The plan was to get back on the Syndicate the following weekend to get my revenge on the inhabitants of the crystal clear water, and I did just that....nearly!

I arrived early and was met by my good friend Paul in the "Car Park Swim" and with a couple of stockies under his belt already and a lot of fish showing in front of him it looked promising. Martin was due down to do a guesty with me so he dropped in next to Paul in the "Social" and I went the other side in the "Boards".

It didn't take long to get sorted and before I knew it I had 3 baits out and the kettle was on.......lets be having you then!

The day passed quickly and darkness soon descended so we took this as a cue to get on the blower to the local Chinese and get some food delivered, Pete arrived at the vital point and offered to fetch it from the gate, Good Man!

We all sat in the social devouring our dinner and having a good chinwag when Martin pointed to his mat, it was white and frozen solid and it was only 18:45pm! It's going to be a long cold night I thought! As the night wore on we all started suffering from eating far too much and the freezing fog didn't make it anymore comfortable so by 21:00pm we called it a night and returned to our bivvies.

I was soon in the land of nod and slept like a baby until my blackberry woke me up at 05:45am, I fired up the Coleman and rolled a smoke. As I sat on the edge of the bedchair looking out across the lake I couldn't help but think how dead it looked, completely different to the previous morning but with the plummeting over night temperature's and heavy frost I couldn't expect anymore I suppose.

By 10am I had the barrow loaded and was heading back to the van, I was getting used to the walk of shame so another blank really didn't bother me!

When I arrived home I was just figuring out how to tell the wife that I would be spending the following weekend on the bank when I noticed a unusual silence in the house, she knew what was coming and I could tell she didn't approve! So doing my best to avoid a divorce I bit my lip and said "Fancy a night away next weekend darling? Nice Hotel, Dinner.....The Works!" Her face lit up, 'Well Played Smithy' I thought, a few brownie points in the bag there!

So the following Saturday morning I was flying round the M25 heading to Deepest Darkest Kent, we had a great night and met up with Paul and his wife Tina for a lovely meal and before we knew it, Sunday morning arrived and we had to get back to reality.

So that brings us pretty much up to date, so with a few brownie points on my side I shall be heading down to the Syndicate for some more therapy straight from work on Saturday for a quick overnighter......It will be nice to be back on the bank, it's only been 8 days and I look like someone who has gone cold turkey!

As I sit here writing this I am like a kid at Christmas, being the tart that I am and liking shiny new things I am awaiting the arrival of my new Aqua Luggage (Thanks go to my Sister!) so hopefully that shall be accompanying me on Saturday too!

Time to stop boring you now and get the dinner on the go, hopefully I shall report back on Sunday with some good news!

Until then,

Smithy