Afishionado

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch. Mad Mike

It looks like being a lovely day lads. I hope the fishing is good and you all have a great time...... Mad Mike Looks like Paul D tried to launch in Cuba and left the bung out again........

First the good news........ The Cuban fishing club (A group of guys in a town called Moron in the region Ciego de Avila) were over the moon with the tackle I took over. Particularly the wire traces and big hooks. As I said before they use the tackle (mostly with hand lines) to catch fish for the local free food exchange. Now the bad news........ Firstly I could not take it all as it put us dramaticly over the luggage weight allowance. Thomas Cook Airlines very kindly gave us an overallowance but I still would have had to pay

If Adam can post a pic' of his squeeze with a fish I can bloody do it too!! Mad Mike PS yer only jelous 'cos you didn't get a snog from The Lovely Lena!

Anchor Low Cost............ 10lb Fishermans Medium/High cost.10lb Bruce (type... Look on e-bay for a clone) Either to 10ft of 3/16th galv' chain then 150 to 200 ft of 8mm Nylon rope (idealy plaited) Many anglers drastically over specify their anchor requirements. Don't forget you have to pull it in as well as put it out. Retrieve by using the Alderny buoy method........ If you don't know what that is come to a meeting and all will be explained or send me

The lovely Lena............ see piccie below

Hi guys, just got back and am severally jet lagged (yes severally....... some bits of me are worse than others). We had a fantastic time and what stuff I could take (full story later after sleep) was really greatfully recieved). the lovely Lana (piccies later) sends big kisses to all of you. (I accepted them on your behalf and will willingly pass them on if any one wants theirs ) Mad Mike

Still got Kimmeridge on your mind then Paul? Mad Mike

Adam boldly sugests..........A case of suck it and see I suppose? I thried thath and cuth me bloothy thongue, thudith thing thoo thoo wth a rathor blathe Mad Mike

Just over two weeks guys........ And rest assures when I am lying on a sun bed that is placed in the pure white sand just on the crystal clear waters edge by our very own cabana boy, and he is serving the third or maybe fourth Strawberry Daiqueri of the day, I shall think of you all....... Honest I will Just found out that I can rent a 6M speed boat (DellQuay sorta thing) and a guide for $150US an 8hr day........Sounds good to me Mad Mike PS All you guys STAY SAFE and enjoy the early cod. The one thing I have to look forward too when I get back is reading about and joining in the cod and whiting season

After hearing what you guys went through, I'm not suprised that the engine packed up. The poor thing probably died of fright when it saw the wave that was coming Mad Mike

(What did they use?.....a red Stanley razor blade scraper! I was astounded as I would imagine it to damage the gel, so I asked how they did it. Basically it just slides along the gel and under the graphics removing them in the process!) Fine may be for freshly applied graphics on a warm day, but for old hard graphics that are brittle you are a braver man than me using a metal blade on gel coat. Plastic or wood is safer by far. Mad Mike

I have been in correspondence with a girl/lady in Cuba. She is on the hotels public relations staff for the tourists. I have copied below the latest mails to and from her, so we can all know that our gifts have found the right place......... Dear loco Miguel, You have just talked to the right person. My Godfather is a member of a Cuban Fishermen Club that works for feeding the local population and the poorest around the province where I live . Also I have some friends ( neighbours) that fish for living. That is what they do all the time, I think it is the only thing they know .. So we can sort it once you get here and I promise you that it will get into good hands. Over here there are fishermen that accostume to fish near the hotel but they do it just for fun and it is very easy for them to get the equipment with the tourists here in the area and I think that is better to give it to people that really need them and for whom it is very difficult to get the equipment. Thank you very much. That is very kind of you. Those people will appreciate that very much. Best regards lena -----Mensaje original----- De: Mike Harvey [mailto:mrv@mharvey31.freeserve.co.uk] Enviado el: S

Acetone WILL desolve the resin that holds the glass together. But you can use it to clean some adhesives off GRP providing you wash the residue off with soapy water after it's done its job. Most GRP suppliers sell it at a lower cost than the pharmaceutical grade. If the name is stuck on vinyl then a gentle application of heat (heat gun on low) and peel or scrape them off with a WOODEN scraper. Then petrol will do the do on any sticky residue. If it is painted on then cellulose thinners should do it. But do it a letter at a time and wipe off any residue with a damp cloth with Cif on it. Both Acetone and Cellulose thinners can make you ill (as in unconsious) so work out doors and make sure you are not inhaling the fumes. Mad Mike

Bob I got tucked up like a kipper by Martin and the 'ugly anchor' is back with me now .... Doh!! So if you want it, it's yours. Ugly it is but it would hold a string of pots in a 5knt tide! Mad MIke PS if Bob has changed his mind and any one else wants the worlds ugliest grapnel anchor they can have it

Give the man a coco nut Spot on Adam Mad Mike Oh... you've not heard then... No, I've already said too much... There's sinister Is it Bach? Mad Mke

There's sinister Is it Bach?

Give the man a coco nut Spot on Adam Mad Mike

Rich cautions............ take some posts with a pinch of salt Who does he mean I wonder? Mad Mike

Just a thought Rich, If your dad has not yet bought those bolts at

Attchd is the new EEC logo of The British Isles. A coconut for the first lad to spot the deliberate (?) mistake. Mad Mike

For goodness sake what is this board coming to !! Suggesting indeed, that some man comes down here specificaly to show his 'bunch' !!!!!!! That could scare the children, amuse the lady members and attract stray dogs!!! Mad Mike

G'day Grant and welcome to the club. Mad Mike

The whole thing does get totaly out of hand IMO and should be renamed SEA CHEQUE We are getting to the 'Kids having to wear goggles to play conkers' stage. As one can not buy common sense and experiance they are trying to replace it with OTT safety recommendations. The sea still got up and bit you back in the days when a sports fishing boat had a 5hp Stuart Turner and a back up pair of oars. We learnt to use the tide not fight it, respect the signs in the sky for changing weather, and used caution in all things. The biggest safety features IMO is erring on the safe side even if it means loosing fishing time and using ones brain. OK Rant over Mad Mike

The cods are in, all we need is a bit of settled weather. All the forecasts for the last few days have been woefully inaccurate. Ho Hum the forcast for where I'm going is 30c, wind 10mph NE, 78% humidity and BRIGHT SUNSHINE WHooooooooooooooooooooooPeeeeeeeee As you can tell I am getting all excited Mad Mike