great white

I have been watching an oportunity to get out come and go a bit The boat is ready, the crew full and very keen. Just the damn weather to keep an eye on Winds seem to have increased a bit and now we have the end of this cold stuff to contend with on a medium tide. But Maybe just maybe we can get out at last Anyone else tempted? Charlie

Have a great one Tom Charlie

And Pauls boat collecting snow

Here is a couple of Club boats sheltering this morning at 8

Glad you and the new car got home OK Paul Charlie

I attended a health and Safety training reminder recently. and the message seems to be changing. Even the HSE seem to be admitting that common sense can start to prevail. and openly admitted that If the job takes 30 mins or less there is little sense in spending hours setting up safety platforms etc. you can get the steps out. That is of course steps that conform to the correct standard, are in new condition and are used by trained operatives

Looks like there is going to be a lot of people looking for a bed. also can the owners/skippers let me know what fuel requirements they have, as I am trying to work on a bit more bulk discount in Braye. Rough amounts and when I intend to fill on day two and again on last day if I can, around tides. probably total about 400 ltrs or more depending on what fishing we do. As I said earlier we can buy it all at Braye at the equivilent of commercial rates, which IMHO is worth doing, it will help keep the costs per head down I would rather buy 400 ltrs at their prices than here with the 60/40 split making it 20-30p ltr dearer depending on where you buy fuel and how much. Charlie

Apart from us, I expect some of the charter boys to be going I know from a couple of the websites that I browse a few crews are talking of april/may trips. So if people are going they need to start to book. I think we had 11 boats listed earlier so I thought spaces would be available?? Perhaps I am just preparing too early. Alfresco is fully crewed up, and will add Sam if he becomes available. Charlie

What lovely pictures of the cottage Adam Looks like there was never a boat on the drive Charlie

Hi Guys I know some are already booking accomadation and as its a Bank Holiday I would suggest all that are staying ashore look into it soon. Apart from Mark at Alderney Angling, Rupert at Mainbrayce recomends Ingrid at At Anne's Guest House I received the following this morning Hello, Just seen Rupert Street and he asked me to email you my availability in May (he did not say which dates ! - so here is the whole month) My Guest House has one twin bedded room with seperate private bathroom One double ensuite with extra bed One family ensuite with double + 2 singles Both the double and family can be booked just for 2 people 1st May available one twin, one double 2 - 12 inclusive all rooms available 17 - 24 inclusive all rooms available 27 - 29 inclusive all rooms available Regards Ingrid Murdoch 01481 823145 St Anne's Guest House Alderney I hope that helps Charlie

Hi Bob Sorry to hear your news mate As others say, although times are hard I am sure you will find an oportunity opens up for you. good luck Charlie

Hi Terry Its hard to Impress RM's with stores of hardship. . When they get a few drinks in them and start to share theirs you understand why Charlie

Bad enough here this morning, Took 90 mins to get to work after dropping Dan and Wendy of enroute. Time to stay warm if you can and not drive a brand new beamer around especially through the forest Charlie

Happy birthday mate Glad you had a good one with the family hope you enjoy many many more Charlie

Hi Gordon that sounds like a plan I have Gas bottles here but my burner is smokey and less effiecient than it used to be. I will try other contacts, but if yours can source some i will reimburse the costs Charlie

Will if you can not get them let me know what you are after I have about a dozen of my own. You are welcome to a loan of some or all. Most Bopedo sizes included. While on the subject does anyone have a good source of lead at reasonable costs. I need to top up the spare leads, but need the raw materials first. Charlie

Bloody Cheek lads In my defence I was at work and the phone kept going. I did realise after but then got too busy untill now to correct it, and it far too late now Dan who????

Alex The important thing is not to let youthfull enthusiasm push you out there in poor weather. Get in the habit of checking everything carefully before you go and do not take risks. I am sure there will be plenty of days/light evenings when you can get out in calmer sea, and the fish will come. If you want to discuss with someone nearer your age PM my son Dan [Just add water] he is 16 and very keen. Tight lines Charlie

We may look to go over for the weekend with Wendy if she wants to go. Like Adam I would welcome an insite into what is involved. Charlie

Its never been discussed as far as I can remember, but with all the backup , help with organisation, fishing tips and possibly a bit of block discount here and there, joining the Club and coming as a Member could be a good decision. Charlie

We thought that we could be on our own for the congering, but on a four day trip we fancy a go on the outbound leg. a. we will be keen and fresh b. They all go back anyway so will not have a storage issue However if the weather was poor or the trip shortened its the anchoring that would be omitted. We had a go on the way back last year about 20 mile out the water had clouded and the pollack were not taking lures so we anchored. when the fish started to feed nobody had the energy left or enthusiasm to take them on. Charlie

Sounds like a great oportunity to take a fleet, if we can fill all the spaces It may be interesting to see what the various boats intend to do, so we can start to look at passage plans I will start the ball rolling so in settled weather it would be: Day1 Leave poole in time to get to mid channel wreck and hour or two before slack, drift then anchor for eels, then maybe run to the island for tope fishing. Day 2 Fuel and a mix of Flatfish drifting, tope Day 3 Flatfish, tope or bass Day 4 Drifting wrecks on way home for table fish, Of course this could all change with weather. When I get home I will contact Rupert to see if he can recomend other accomadation and discuss petrol situation and see if it is possible to reserve moorings. Charlie

More to look at the skills of the late night Inflatable drivers. and/or to see how many beers Dean can drink on the back of AWOL.

Hi All I have just had a phone conversation with one of the new owners of Mainbrayce Ltd on Alderney. They are tendering for various services in Alderney Harbour today, and are looking to keep the prices very competitive. Moorings may go up a bit but the lower prices for water taxi, chandelery and fuel should compensate He is also going to look into a group reduction for moorings and the water taxi if the weather allows us to get there with a few boats as last year. a special PBSBAC price sounds good to me He also reminds me that they can offer chandelery services and can order items in advance that could be collected when we arrive VAT free. I am sure Mark at Alderney Angling would be more than happy to do the same for tackle. I will not be at work for a few days to get an update, but will post prices on here when I get them. Leave me to try and get the group prices and concessions as that is a big part of my job. The good new is that their current price for Diesel is

Just received this and thought I would pass it on, for the rest of the other over fifties, and Gordon who is in denial. Importance of walking Walking 20 minutes can add to your life. This enables you at 85 years of age to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month. My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 60.. Now he's 97 years old and we don't know where he is... I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing.. I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there. Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise', I wash my mouth out with chocolate. (I do have flabby thighs,but fortunately my stomach covers them.) The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say, 'Well, he looks good doesn't he.' If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years...... just getting over the hill. We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. AND... Every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave, I look just fine. ______________________________________________________________________