Laid up

Only a few weeks ago it would have seemed un-believable that in the middle of a Sunday afternoon the boatpark would be as deserted as this. The only activity was one boat being taken out of the water. Almost every mooring in the bay was empty as the forecast Easterly wind arrived.The part-time inshore fisherman have dragged their boats up the slip ready to be put back in when the weather moderates.Dinghies tucked safely out of harms way.All in all a pretty bleak look to the place........just how I like it.

Re-cycling

Funny things lobsters. Hugely expensive to buy, succulent and tasty to eat. And surprisingly simple to catch.

I spent a good amount of my summer hauling pots and boiling lobsters. Great fun it was too. But perhaps the most satisfying part of it has been the fact that all of the materials used have been recycled. I guess in the old days this would have been referred to as beach-combing. Call it what you will, over the last couple of winters I have returned from walks on windswept beaches laden with old floats, crushed lobster pots, bits of rope, spinners, hooks and pot necks.........all of it damaged but good enough to catch me a few lobsters. I've even managed to get my friends in on the act, Mrs R returned form the Scilly Isles at half term with a smashing float which has since served me very well.

But as with all fishing there is always 'the one that got away'. And this picture is my 'one that got away'. On a recent Sunday exercise Gav and Chad spotted this beauty and retrieved it from between some rocks. Without doubt the finest beach-combed pot I have ever seen. It should have been mine......Oh yes! it should have been mine.

Turns out, size does matter!

Tom, our resident fisherman is a great chap. He looks after me and my family very well by supplying us with a regular supply of fish and crustaceans. This afternoon he rang me and was very happy with himself.you can probably work out why! Photos never truly do justice to creatures of the deep, however, take it from me.....this was one large fella. 7lbs to be precise. So big in fact that he wouldn't fit in my usual large lobster boiling pan. Indeed, he didn't fit in my enormous large ham boiling pan. Sadly, I had to remove his claws before cooking him. No easy feat I can tell you.
Still, I'm sure he will taste fantastic......I'll let you know!