Ken L

That's pretty much what I was planning for option one - and of course, these days, floating braid mainlines make such tactics so much easier, and circle hooks will make it safer for the fish.

I have the option to fish a large, deep reservoir for pike in the autumn. This is well outside my comfort zone, but I see two possible approaches. 1. I can drift suspended deadbaits - if so, at what depth? 2. I can pop up large deadbaits on a 4oz lead, walk them around a bay, and twitch them back. Any thoughts?

My back is actually a bit better now, but my knees are knackered.

First visit to the reservoir this year on Thursday. It was colder than expected, and I only managed a couple of fish. The first one fell to a foam spider on the point, and the second to a buzzer pattern. It was my first time fishing an indicator, and it worked perfectly, with me striking at both fish before I felt a pull.

Great fish. As a non-Facebook user, I found it here. https://www.anglingtimes.co.uk/news/stories/potential-british-record-roach-landed/

The last one I bought was about four years ago and is a Xiaomi. It does what I need, but it's hardly current tech. I tend to treat stuff like this as disposable. Most will let you play videos and access the web without any issues. Edit: Just be sure to decide weather you want to use a SIM, or just wifi before you buy.

Cheap Android tablets work just as well as an i-pad, but I much prefer a PC plugged into the TV and a wireless keyboard.

The sodium nitrite is what stops you getting a whole body botox.

Butter is definitely a healthier option than margarine, with it's hydrogenated (trans) fats. Been watching the seed oil thing gain momentum for a while, although I haven't really done a deep dive. Does the video go into why they are "bad", or does it just do a general waffle about them being "inflammatory"?

Cold, windy and wet. I think I'll put off my tench foray until next week.

They can't catch the kids that are causing havoc on electric scramblers, so I don't think I've got too much to worry about unless I'm doing 40kph up a hill without pedalling, and they come up behind me. Of the two listed, I like that the Shengmilo only has 3" tyres, but I hate those forks, and I don't really like rear suspension. The Burchda has nice forks and is a solidly built hardtail, but those big 4" tyres are going to attract unwanted attention. I'm still looking for the perfect combination.

I'm stuck between the BURCHDA RX50 and the Shengmilo MX03 - leaning towards the former.

I'm seriously thinking about an e-bike, to make the trips a bit easier. But if I do, it'll be a bit more powerful than is strictly legal. Hey, if it's good enough for the ginger fisherman...

I've had a slight improvement with my back recently, but my knee is still wrecked, and my walking ability is a few tens of meters on a good day, so about the only exercise I can manage is cycling. I honestly thought it was three miles to the pool, but in actually, it was almost five, so I was ruined when I got home. It was however nice to get out and catch a few fish. The skateboard backpack that I ordered from China worked great for the chair, the landing net and the rods, but the bag with the reels, kit and bait was a pain. Hopefully, I've solved that by ordering a chest bag, and I'll put together some very limited kit to keep the weight down. If I can get some exercise, get out of the house and catch a few fish this year, I'll be a happy boy.

Decided to take myself fishing today, which meant five miles each way on my pushbike - which is pretty much my limit. I arrived at the venue (Wilden Pool near Stourport), with two travel rods, a seat, and some basic gear, at about 11am, and found the place packed, with a match in progress. I set up a match rod and a 7' spinning rod. The match rod got a waggler, and the spinning rod was basically set up for freelining, but with a little float that slides onto the line from a wire to act as an indicator. Noth had barbless hooks to soft and fine braided hooklinks. The chap next to me was fishing hard against the island with standard carp gear and had already had a couple when I arrived. I put the spinning rod out, about 40cm off a clump of reeds, and fished the waggler at about 5m, in a little over 2m of water. Both baited with meat I then sat in the cold for two hours without a bite! Feeling pretty miserable, I had the rice and curry from my food flask, took a swig of water, and zipped up my coat to keep warm. Finally, the inside rod marker slid away and I struck into nothing. Ten minutes later, the waggler slipped under, and I struck and was immediately smashed up. I knew the line was new, so there must have been a fault, but I set back up and ten minutes latter, the float slid away, resulting in a common of about 6 lb, that put up an amazing scrap. Not so amazing was that I needed forceps to remove the hook - I'd accidentally put a barbed hook on after getting smashed. Part way through tying a new barbless hook, the indicator on the freelined bait slid away, and I landed a low double. The chap next to me packed up at 4:30, with a total of 8 fish. I fished on until six, and ended up with ten fish, including two that were either very high doubles or low twenties (one a fin and mouth perfect common that gave a lift bite) and a mid double that I hooked in the base of the anal fin, and which took me all over the pool. I packed up because it started raining more heavily than forecast and I got soaked coming home. The return trip was a bit grim, because my knees were giving me grief and the tackle bag was cutting off the blood to my arms, but all told, it was a fun day. Weird that it was all carp though, the place is stuffed with bream and they love the small chunks of meat that I had on the waggler.

I remember getting sick very suddenly while fishing at Bewdley a few years back. Fortunately, I had a pack of tissue with me, used all of those in three or four hurried bog runs, then my underwear, and finally, my fishing towel. Fortunately, I was with my dad, and we packed up and drove home. By the time I got in, I had a fever, stomach cramps and was shaking all over. Three hours later, I was fine.

If you haven't already, try dietary exclusions - wheat, dairy, processed meats etc. Your body might just be sick of the abuse you give it. Maybe it's craving clean living and salad.

Sorry to "hear" that, Dave. Hopefully you can find some relief soon.

Confucius institutes in our universities, many thousands of student visas issued to PLA members every year, a cabinet member married to a Chinese national and illegal Chinese police stations in our cities. We're just not taking the potential threat seriously. We even allow Chinese post grad students to work in our most sensitive tech development industries.....

Are you thinking of splashing out on one, like Bill?

Makes an interesting risotto variation too. It takes forever to cook, though.

No need for a machine. I currently have cream of chicken soup in the fridge that I made from scratch on Saturday.

The Data Protection Act is your friend. Drop them a "Subject access request" for details of everything they hold.

Well done that man.

I've seen three in and around Birmingham. There are a couple of known hotspots (Sandwell Valley and Shard End) in Brum, but none of the sightings were there. As you observed, you tend to hear them before you see them - and as they are pretty common in India, I knew what I was hearing straight away.