Alan Stubbs

Where's Suzy Dent when you need her?

I was referring to a letter in the Times. It was quite eloquent - I didn't vouch for it's accuracy. Simply, it reflected my own thoughts a long time ago. I make no comment about the veracity of any Murdochian journalism, other than The Times is at least a better read than the red-top tit flashers who then go on to complain about tit flashing. BTW 'Alan Stubbs' is my given name - I don't need to apostrophise it. If I've got something contentious to say, I'll do it without hiding behind an pseudonym.

Capstone Country Park in Gillingham - by the artificial ski school, s a great place for people to start.... I caught my first fish on my first unaccompanied trip there...it's council run and quite safe.

On that subject, I won't be able to attend. My children want to make up for some lost time, and we're in Paris for the weekend.

I'm not anti-scottish, just anti-those-who-are-anti English. There's a letter in today's Times which puts it far more eloquently than I could. I precis as follows: By all means leave the Union so long as the UK financial obligations are met my the scots.... It means taking on a proportionate share to Scotland's percentage of the UK population of the UK's financial obligations existing at the point of independence, including the national debt; public sector pensions, PFI / PPP contracts and any other public debt. The English subsidy to Scotland, currently about £8 billion p.a. should cease and the division of UK oil and gas fields decided upon under the UN Law of the Sea Convention, which defines territorial waters as those drawn within a line of the border of two countries. This places a significant amount of the oil and gas reserves in English waters. There would also need to be a repatriation of the English public sector jobs moved to Scotland. Apart from the relief of being spared the rule of Westminster, it makes independence for Scotland look far less attractive.

Much of my fishing over the last two years has been on a canal. I've had a fair number of 5+ lbs bream and although I've not seen them roll, I have seen them with tails 4" out of the water whilst they're nose down feeding in 5" of water. These fish also scap slowly, but continuously to the net. The last fish I had was yesterday going just over 4lbs, on 2lb line / 1lb hooklength a size 22 hook with a caster. I'd been catching loads (over 60) of small roach all day up until that point.

The plastic surgery suggests otherwise......

At work, I'm in contact with a sales director from Leeda.... watch here for the write p early in June - along with the angling weeklies, monthlies and onlinetv. I'll contact him on Monday and find out for you. I will say that they are a very, very generous company having given us 12 float rods, 12 feeder rods, reels and 24 5m whips towards the project. Apart from which, he's one of the world's nice guys.

I'll get hold of Trogg and Stewart Bloor - Stafford and Wolverhampton based respectively. Stewart is especially relevant as a specimen angler with a track record for tench.

The USA are going to have an additional public day off... We're all going on Osama Holiday....'

Quality!

And to think a domestic step-ladder freaks me out!

It still doesn't sit easy with me, that for whatever the reason, the USA sent a military force into a foreign country without invitation and then brag about it...... If they do that to their allies......

He also said, in a lampoon of the original W H Smith (Sir Joseph Porter, KCB in HMS Pinafore), 'I always voted at my party's call and never thought of thinking for myself, at all.' How little things have changed.....

As wide a range of sources as possible, with the exception of the red-tops, Mail and Express. My first port of call newspaper is The Times (old habits - from before Murdoch got hold of it) The BBC news for all it's faults does extend coverage beyond the bulletins with quite impartial analysis - and deviod oof the froth of CNN and Fox. Sky News gives little quality analysis. I'm forever trawling the internet news pages and blogs. I admire those with partisan beliefs, but have more admiration for these people when they're not hidebound in dogma.

Brian Clarke's articles appear onthe first Monday of the month in The Times and I'vew read them for as long as I can remember. He's certainly opinionated but both thoughtful and thought-provoking, but isn't that the role of an opinion-piece or a columnist? His pieces are mainly game fishing orientated and his coarse fishing pieces are either mildly mocking (a piece regarding the capture of a record breaking perch, comes to mind), or downright scabrous.... he loves to have a dig at carp anglers and the whole going into mourning at the passing of a 'name' carp. One thing is for sure.. he is very readable.

Hi Steve, I won't be fishing, but I'm coming down to Wingham for the day. Family stuff prevents me from fishing that week...or I would! Can you book me in for lunch of the saturday, please?

All the while the electorate is divided up into constituencies, FPTP is preferable to AV. The individual who polls most votes should represent that constituency. Admittedly, the USA have primary elections, but they are fundamentally still a FPTP system. The idea of some people's votes carrying more weight because of their stated order of preference means that in theory everyone's second choice could turn out to be the winner. How can that be fair? Why settle for a second rater? Oooops! Shot myself in the foot there...we've been doing that for years!

Believe it or not, I have your phone number listed as Jim as well...but I was taking to a John Jameson (not the cricketer) whilst I was typing. Sorry Jim.

Good point Tony.... I'm travelling down on 16th May until 23rd May..I will be at Wingham on the Saturday to catch up with all my friends. I'm out on 17th as it's Mum's birthday and I'll be seeing my daughter for the first time in 3 years. I'll be in Medway evenings 18th and 19th.... if you and Sue fancy a beer.....

Chose the wrong day to wear his British issue combat jacket?

Thanks everyone - it's Bernadette's birthday this Thursday, so I thought I'd celebrate hers instead. Lunch at 1.00pm meant we left the restaurant and went to the pub next door - leaving at 11pm. The ceiling was going round but in fairness, I feel great. I've not cried with laughter for years, bit even my ribs ache today. I'm also told that I've got a round of golf to play against a 2-handicapper who liked the look of my putting in the beer garden..... This could get messy!

Thanks! I was celebrating Berni's birthday this Thursday. It's far less stressful!

The title says it all. Thanks for all you and the mods do Elton.

I saw a few bits and pieces and felt that the ceremony was a great combination - relaxed tradition. The couple were obviously genuinely happy and actually enjoying the occasion. The usually curmudgeonly Der Spiegl was true to form calling the proceedings 'Sad' and 'pointless' - but these were the people who reckoned 'du bist nicht, das volk ist alles' Pains me to admit it, but for the first time in ages I felt proud to be British.