I was just saying

Words & pictures of a surfing, fishing, footwear business owning dad

[jamslockyer]

It's been a while

Note to self, I really must start blogging again. No blogs since November very poor, could do better. I'm going to dig out some of the winter images to post.

[jamslockyer]

Poppy

It's weird how a small red flower means so much to so may people. Every year on the eleventh of November I think about my great grandad. I never met him but I can just remember his widow who used to live with my gran. She was a smart and determined woman, she had to be because my great grandad went of to war in 1915 and never came back. My great gran was left with three small children & no benifits. I can't imagine how it must of been for my great grandad to be miles from home and miles from his family. It must have been awful and very scary. No one knows how he died, all we have is a letter.

[jamslockyer]

The lake does have a few pike, just need to catch the big ones

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Look at the big ghost carp, will he take a fly?

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One for the new lake

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Yesterday was a special day, we made a go cart.

[jamslockyer]

Swim up

As you may have realised I have messed up my knee. It hurts but it doesn't bother me as much as not being able to run, surf or play squash. The man told me that rest and gentle exercise would help. Swimming is low impact and as long as I don't do breast stroke my knee should be fine. Last week was my first proper training session in a pool for 15 years. I swim a lot with the kids but it's not really training. So my first session was planned to be a gentle reintroduction into swimming but how wrong was I. It turned out Tuesday night is when the hardcore guys I used to surf with turn up to crank some lengths. I was asked to drop in behind them and get going. We ended up doing around 60 lengths and I was frazzled. This week I wondered down and managed to find a lane away from the hardcore and did a gentle 70 lengths. It wasn't fun but it was satisfying to know I can get back into stuff so easily. It going to help my fitness and defiantly help my paddle power next time I get in for a surf.

[jamslockyer]

Blood

I'm feeling a bit smug today due to giving blood. I used to do it a lot but for no reason in particular I stopped for 10+ years. A mate from work was going today so I went along.

It's a nice thing to do, there is always a cool atmosphere in the hall. Everyone is there to give a special thing away. It only takes 20 minutes and it really doesn't hurt.

You also get a cup of tea and a biscuit, I am a slut for a biscuit! I'm now back at the desk feeling chill but a bit frustrated I missed a good swell but I turned it around and did someting positive. I just hope the vampires don't hyjack the truck carrying my life juice.

[jamslockyer]

Look at these beauties, I love Autumn, the smells are amazing.

[jamslockyer]

Swimster

Phew tried a bit of swimming to help the knee this evening, first time in a pool without the kids for years. The problem was a load of guys I used to surf with were training and press ganged me into joining them. 60 lengths of hard front crawl, 1.2 miles, bloody knackered now and my vision has gone weird. All in the name of fitness!

[jamslockyer]

MSW are calling super good surf for Thursday, looks like I'm going against doctors orders and having a surf. It will be the normal up a 5am and in the water at first light. Flask n banana combo. Can't wait!

[jamslockyer]

This may have been my last outing for trout on the river this year.

I took Dad out to the Upper Brue on Sunday. It's a great bit of river which is privately owned. I am so privileged to be fish it, the owner is a true gent.

We never got on the river until around 3pm and there were no sign of any trout moving.

We prospected in the pool below the bottom weir and I had a solid take on a pulled black wooly bugger but it didn't stick.

After a slow amble along the bank we saw a few small rises which turned out to be dace. The takes were super quick and really hard to hook up. I ended up with one about 6".

I then saw a better fish rising in a bubble line which I covered with the klink and nymph which hit the dry hard and was on. A few more 10" fish followed.

During a tea break we saw a fish rising consistently in a narrow run behind a falling tree. After 15 minutes of very careful wading I was in position, as the water was low it was a one cast chance. I extended the line and chucked the best cast imaginable and the fish in the picture gulped the fly down. A great way to end the season.

[jamslockyer]

Doc Vriend

My doctor is legend. He had a good look at my knee and showed me a model knee to explain what he thinks is wrong.

He gave me some positive things to do:

Wear a knee compression strap

Do some exercises to strengthen the muscles

Take some anti inflammation pills

Swim (not breast stroke - that hurts any way)

Ice every evening (with a slice)

Things not to do:

Run

Squash

Surf

At least I still have fishing and now swimming which will be good for my surf fitness

[jamslockyer]

The Doc

Here I am sat amongst the old people of Street waiting to see my doctor who will most probably tell me to rest my knee. Time is ticking - I don't do sitting around, I want to be out there.

[jamslockyer]

Knee update

Crikey and creaky.

I did a 2 mile run last night to try out my knee. It is officially knackered, I'm going to the doctors to be told to rest it and then going to call a private clinic to get it sorted.

I want to go boarding this winter and I need 2 knees.

[jamslockyer]

Winter sky

[jamslockyer]

Knees

My knee is hurting bad, it has never really bothered me but over the last week it's been rough. I always felt invincible but age sneaks up on you. I reckon it's from years of abuse, skateboarding, surfing, biking, running and then squash. I only started squash 6 years ago and I have been injury free. Trouble is I only play in the winter so I got straight on with it after 4 months out, three games in a week. Stupid old bastard!