Go fishing by train!

Quite a few years ago I took great delight in going fishing by train. I would often travel the Cotswold Line from Moreton-in-Marsh to the tiny stations of Combe, Finstock and Charlbury to spend a day on the River Evenlode. There was a paucity of services in each direction and I think I even had to request a stop on occasion. 

FC Herrick 1925

It would have been so much easier to go in the car, but not quite as much fun. The joy of stepping off the train and walking into the open countryside, tackle in hand and fishing within a few minutes was far more appealing. I recall catching the last, but not convenient, service back home when the mayfly were carpeting the river. The trout, dace and chub were feeding with gusto...............just one more cast! I only just made the train and caused some excitement coming on board with rod assembled showing the suits some live mayflies I had in a pot.

Charles Sharland 1920

I nearly got adventurous after my local forays. I was able to fish the lovely Cheshunt Reservoir (one of the most atmospheric waters I have had the pleasure to fish - of HT Sheringham, William Senior and John Andrews fame) near Waltham Cross. A horrible journey by car, but what fun by train as it would include a cross London underground element in addition to the standard Inter-City 125!

Douglas Constable 1932

Alas, it only got as far as the planning stage. I dallied and whilst doing so Thames Water decided to fill in some of angling's greatest heritage from 1836. I managed one last farewell trip after the club had given up the rights and the heavy machinery was on site......... but that's another story!

Kraber 1936

Hope you enjoy these super vintage London Transport posters.   

Nash in Swanage

I have written previously of my liking for Paul Nash and especially the period when he based himself in and around the Purbecks when researching and writing the Shell Guide to Dorset (1936).

1935 Paul Nash - 2 The Parade, Swanage

Swanage and its antiquities appealed to Nash so much that he moved in to number 2 The Parade in February 1935 with its gorgeous views over Swanage Bay. It just so happened, on a recent field trip, that I found myself with a bag of chips looking out at the very same view across the bay. The blue plaque is the only clue as to who lived there.

I was fascinated to read recently that Nash stayed at Furzebrook House near Wareham for a while in 1937 - you can read the excellent article by Pennie Denton here who also wrote Seaside Surrealism: Paul Nash in Swanage (Peveril Press 2002).

2013 - 2 The Parade, Swanage

 

1935 Paul Nash - Swanage Steps

 

1937 Paul Nash - Blue Pool Cliff, Wareham

Friday Face

Rainbow Workshops

Margaret Calkin James

 

1935 GPO First Ever Greetings Telegram Form - Margaret Calkin James

 

1922 Curwen Press - Margaret Calkin James

  

Rainbow Workshops Sign - Margaret Calkin James

 

When the wind is from the west.......

......the fish bite the best!

 

I hadn't noticed it before. On a recent yomp around Wareham I glanced up looking for the buzzard I could hear mewing and my eyes were drawn to the lovely weather vane at Lady St Mary church near The Priory and of course the Dorset Frome. Is it a salmon, sea trout, roach or a dace? Who knows. All frequent this part of the Frome, but what a mighty fine sight it is. Praise be to Izaak!  

 

 

A couple of splendid Corfe Castle Brewery ales were purchased for my enjoyment at home. I particularly liked the malty burnt caramel tones of the Gloriette. Perfect for an early autumnal evening with a good book.

The Man Who Hated Walking

It is with unashamed front and huge delight that I am plugging a fabulous read which is due to be published later this year.

The Man Who Hated Walking (Wymer UK) by Overend Watts - I was lucky enough to read the manuscript of this book a few years ago by me bestest mucker. A truly entertaining and enthralling read by a very great wordsmith which details the success, trials, tribulations and encounters that the solo walker carved along the treacherous South West Coast Path. This in turn carved a deeper path in his life which runs deep to this day.

During his walk we spent a very memorable couple of days around Padstow at 'Obby 'Oss time, the music and atmosphere still resonates with me to this day. It was also with some sadness and a tad of envy at the time that I waved him on his way to continue his journey on foot as he crossed the sands of the River Gannel in Newquay.

From this other magnificent feats such as John's End to Land O' Groats (sic) were undertaken by Overend and I would eagerly await tales of each with anticipation - not just the detailed description of the landscape, cloud formations and architecture, but the many characters met on each path trodden.

Overend is not really known for his love of nature, countryside and the outdoors - they are a huge part of his life. He spends much of his time tending his Scottish croft and has many angling achievements (an early barbel pioneer on the Rivers Wye and Lugg and memorably catching the lovely Raspberry from the legendary Redmire Pool to name but a few).     

The book is published to coincide with the Mott The Hoople November 2013 UK Tour which begins at The Symphony Hall, Birmingham and concludes at the O2, London.

The book can be pre-ordered now from the publisher, Wymar UK:

Overend Watts: From 1969 to 1979 recorded and toured extensively with Mott the Hoople, Mott, and British Lions before shunning the limelight and turning his hand to record producing, gentlemen’s hairdressing (briefly!), and dealing in antiques.  At this point, however, most of his spare time was spent in the pursuit of large carp and he became a well-known figure on the gravel pits around the London area, where he always used luminous pink carp rods, so his mates, and the carp, could locate him easily!
    After a few years of antique fairs and auctions he concentrated on recycling and painting furniture and restoring antiques before opening a large “retro” department store in Hereford, which proved popular with customers from both Great Britain and abroad, with its specialist clothing, unusual antiquities, instruments, and rare music.
    After leaving the retro store in February 2003, by way a of a change, Overend then aged 55, and The Man Who Hated Walking, attempted the SW Coast Path National Trail - the greatest challenge of his life - all 650 miles of it. Or in Overend’s case, more like 680 miles as he frequently got lost over the two months it took him to achieve this incredible feat of endurance.
    The Man Who Hated Walking, Overend’s first book is a wonderful document of this amazing achievement, which is explored and described with more than a smattering of his macabre humour.  Although undoubtedly a book that all Mott The Hoople fans will want, it is also an essential read for the walking fraternity, and is undoubtedly a massive inspiration for anyone who has the urge to do some serious walking.
    Since backpacking the South West Coast Path, Overend has also completed all of the other national trails including The Ridgeway, Offa’s Dyke, The Pembrokeshire Coast Path, The Thames Path, The South Downs Way, Hadrian’s Wall (3 times), The Saint’s Way, The North Downs Way, Peddar’s Way & Norfolk Coast Path, The West Highland Way, The Great Glen Way & The Speyside Way, The York Wolds Way, The Tabular Hills Walk, The Cleveland Way, The Oxford canal, The Southern Upland Way, Glyndwr’s Way, & Wainwright’s Coast to Coast.
    In 2008 he completed a marathon 1,250 mile walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 63 days - incorporating The Cotswold Way, The Heart Of England Way, Staffordshire Way, Limestone Way, Pennine Way, Cheviots, Grampians and Cairngorms.        
    He has also walked sections of many other trails, including The Two Moors Way, Gritstone Trail, Camel trail, and many others.  Now semi-retired he spends most of his spare time quietly in a former croft in the Scottish Isles, when not backpacking, fishing, or travelling in his motor home. 

Such larks as never

It must have been my jaunt on the marshes, but I couldn't get one of my favourite films out of my mind. Not the whole film, but the first three or so minutes. The 1946 David Lean adaptation of Great Expectations, especially those first few minutes are probably some of the most atmospheric cinema minutes I know. Spine chilling for a young lad, poor old Pip - I dare not show it to my children......not just yet anyway.

Signs I like

I don't know about you, but going for a drive these days seems to be like driving into a Christmas tree - multi coloured signs telling you to do this, do that, look at this, look at that and you should be thinking this! 

These on the other hand are just the ticket - oh for the days when all signage was like this. The boys in Norfolk had style. My own Dorset directional signs are a thing of beauty and I was heartened to see recently that you could actually adopt one of your favourites to help keep them preserved and maintained. 

The mermaid's kiss

I always thought glasswort sounded like a good name for a bad gnome in BB's The Little Grey Men. It is of course another name for marsh samphire (Salicornia europaea) - like a breath of summer its season is short which also adds to the mystery. A delicious salty vegetable delicacy that I take great delight in harvesting on the annual family holiday to the North Norfolk coast. Harvesting bare footed through the crust of mud on the marshes it's not only the samphire that is the draw, but the call of curlew and oystercatcher. If you are lucky, as I was, you may spy a peregrine causing havoc among the bluebirds. This will divert your attention, but keep an eye on the flooding tide. 

Picked by hand in the low water gap between the tides it needs a bit of preparation before eating or preserving. Trim to remove any woody stalks and give an almighty wash to remove any flotsam and jetsam.

I like mine pickled - blanch and then fill sterilised jars with the samphire and vinegar. Leave for as long as you can. I like mine as side snack with a pork pie.  

The traditional Norfolk way is as follows: Wash the samphire well in fresh water. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. It is cooked when the fleshy bits slip easily from the stalk. Serve with melted butter or sprinkle with black pepper and vinegar. You eat it by sucking the leaves off the stalks.         

One of the nicest variations I have had is a new one on me - samphire, black pudding and a duck egg on toast. Cook the samphire in the pan after the black pudding, adding more oil - the salty samphire makes a nice alternative to bacon.

Like asparagus, this sea veg season is short. We are at the tail end now, but I have a feeling it may run a bit later this year.

I am going to leave you now in the most capable and lovely hands of Mr Screw Palmer. Picking Samphire at Blakeney in 1961 (Outlook - BBC East, courtesy of the East Anglian Film Archive) a short hop from where mine came from. 

Happy Holidays!

Wells, Norfolk - See Britain by Train, British Rail Eastern Region, Lance Cattermole

Norfolk For Happy Holidays - John Bee, British Rail Eastern Region

Norfolk - See Britain by Train, Talbot Kelly