slidesofaustralia

Yes he has.

After 12 weeks wait and several visits to meet him "AMSTEL" has arrived.

His credentials came highly recommended and we are not disappointed, he is a little charmer and a time waster too.

Burmese cats are not most peoples choice, but we love them. Martha our resident Burmese was not impressed with Amstel, she is 10 yrs old and is still pining her older chum who died last year. But she is a character who loves to play till the cows come home and after 24 hours we could see the writing on the wall,all is going well. Come the time cometh the cat.kkma.

Yes it was Terence Stamp(Actor). The last time I saw him he was playing the part of Sgt Troy? In the film version of Thomas Hardys "Far from the Madding Crowd" and he was trying to seduce Julie Christie.

This time he was asked to give an opening introduction at the London Dive Chambers Annual seminar held at the National Geographic Association building in Kensington.

A lot older I might add but none the less a SCUBA diver with a story to tell. Once the Introduction was over we were introduced to a guy who specialized in Cave diving he is currently the record holder of the longest and deepest cave dive in the UK and the venue is Wooky hole in Somerset, 90 mts deep and over 200 mts long and that was as far as he could physically go, as the end of the tunnel was full of shifting shingle on a downward slope which backed onto you as you went forward. It was hairy scary stuff and not for the feint hearted, Buddy 2 and I were both enthralled by the whole programe.

Frank Gardener a TV journalist and reporter was up next he is a paraplegic. He was shot whilst covering the Gulf war in the middle east and left a cripple, but it has not stopped him diving, over coming lots of obstacles to get back into the water.

Last but not least was Monty Halls an ex SBS Royal Marine Major who got into making dive programs and films for TV, the antics he gets up to whilst diving are to be seen. The evening soon come to an end and hopefully repeated next year. We hope so as it really is an enjoyable run ashore. Thanks B2 (Mr D)for organizing the tickets. Role on 2K8. kkma.

Anguilla anguilla, average size 1lb. British record 11lbs 2oz(5.05kg)caugjht by Mr S Terry, Kingfisher lake, Ringwood Hants. 1978.

Habitat: spawns in the Sargaso sea and moves to freshwater to mature.
Behaviour: Usually feeds at night.Found in snaggy and weedy areas. Powerful fighter. Can travel overland by filling their gill covers with water.

Best baits: Worms,fish. "Smelly" baits generally.

No phots of Trent fish. But I have got some phots of something in rubber and wet all over,show you on Thursday? kkma.

Thanks to MrD and his IT skills You will now be able to leave me a comment on my site, as I was beginning to think I had been sent to Bloggentry.

On Thursday the Buddies are off to London and the National Geographic centre for some simulated Diving? If it's anything like last years seminar we will have very dry feet. Getting home will probably involve a Duke of Edingburgh route march map to get back.

And finely last Saturday whilst fishing the River Trent at Stoke Bardolph I landed the biggest fresh water Eel I have ever caught, 3lb 2oz of angry Eel. kkma.

Yes I know what I said, but that was yesterday.

The sea is like a mill pond compaired to yesterday and the I.O.W. is bathed in sunshine, the fish are swimming, shitehawks are flying and all is well.

Have a good weekend.kkma.

With the exception of 1.

Why do I bother?

I must try harder and not write monotonous type boring bloggs, checking the Blogg meter in depth its obvious that no Feker is interested. 2nd memo, must go sea fishing more. Maybe I have been sent to Bloggentry!

I like that word maybe I should copywrite it?(Bloggywrite even). kkma.

Well what an occasion it was, blue smoke wafting all over the place creating a stench,raised voices bending my ear,people speaking out aloud,gongs and chimes all over the place, a real cacophony of all sorts and that was just the special efects, all were part of Sister Mary's Memorial Requiem mass at the Cathedral. If I did not know any better I could have swore I was in a Dope house for Dyslexic Sub mariners on a long weekend pass who had got lost in an Chinese brothel somewhere in Fratton.

It was the first time for 45 years since I had been in the Cathedral, and not a lot had changed except the school which was attached to the Church had now gone and had been taken over by the Church and used as anti rooms for the clergy etc. I had a good old nose around my old class rooms and the play ground. And the the oak tree next to the bike sheds, ah yes! the bike sheds, many an oily rag was consumed in its shadow. Finding my way through to the Cathedral was like going back in time using a Transmorgafier (TIME MACHINE. I then heard this voice which made me jump, and as I could not see from where it came. Then from around the back of a stone pillar came a 4 ft tall Gargoyle! well thats what she looked like to me, placing a Hymn book into my hand which promptly burst into flames! it then fell on the floor.

Hello young man she said picking it back up and thrusting it back into my palm, and I smiled back at her, at the same time uttering under my breath, mia coulpa, mia coulpa mia maxima coulpa or something like that in other words hello you old dragon looking gargoyle.

The next person I met was a 6 ft tall sky **** pilot with his arms folded and looking a right pillock. He looked at me as if I had come for the job as an assistant Gargoyle excrement collector, moving on with my new found friend dressed in black who escorted me to a pew (not blind pugh I might add). Once he had gone I moved to the back of the church because if God was looking for me he would know where to go.

The Bishop and his party all paraded in singing and swinging the incense burner straight past me with out a second look I wanted to shout out Oy! I havent been here for 45 Fecking years, Im'e over here. No they just Ignored my silent plea and the 2 Chief sky pilots were not having any silent abuse thrown at them either, so they ignored me and sat down.

The Bishop stood in the front of the congregation and went right for the jugular, his speech was fantastic he ranted on for a good 5 minutes about Sister Paddy and would have gone on for a lot longer, then one of his assistants told him that he had not switched on his Fecking microphone. So we had to listen to it all again I prefered the first version my self. It was at this point I remembered the reasons why Religion and I parted company, so I waited 2 seconds and just like Elvis left the building.

Passing out of the doorway of the Cathedral was like having a stone lifted off of my shoulders. Out into the sun shine and the real world, I felt better instantly. I had done my duty to Sister Paddy and my memories of her will be good ones.

Finding my way back into the shop I purchased a picture of a Nun with an Irish lyric which I read, it made some sense (IRISH LOGIC) and would also make a good book mark. Finding the car still in one piece I drove off to go on a fishing work party. kkma.

**** (Sky Pilot, = a priest,vicar or rabbi, man or woman of God).

Wearing short trousers and feeling somewhat vulnerable I stepped forward as my name was called out. I was 11 years old and it was day 1 at my new school, the year was 1959. It is just a memory now but the lady who called out my name on that special day made me feel very uneasy.

Dressed in black and looking at least 7ft tall she cut an impressive figure. As she walked towards me, I heard another voice call out to the first lady, this lady had a funny accent. I could not relate to the accent or from where. This lady was also dressed in black but a lot shorter and not so Intimidating. They were "Nuns" and were both Irish. The second Nun said to the first one Sister, you take the next row of children and I will take this line.

I was mesmerised by her particular accent, it was later on at assembly in the classroom that she introduced herself and where she was from. I did not know then but this lady was to make such an impression in my life.

Sister Mary Annunciata was born in "Gods Country" in 1921 and was formerly known as Hannah Marie Lynch, or to us kids behind her back Sister Paddy. She did not miss very much, and was aware we had nick-named her Sister Paddy.

As a child and growing up during junior school years Sister Paddy was always there. I remember her coaching me for my 11+ exam which I failed, She said If I pass I would go to St Johns College, but should I fail I would go to St Johns secondary modern where she was going to teach in the new term next September.

The rest is History now but I wonder to my self did I fail my 11+ exam just because I had the hots for Sister Paddy or was I just a Lazy academic?

Just before I left school to go sparking for a living I had been involved in the school swimming championships and was entered in 3 races and 1 dive competion. I won the 3 races only 50 yds each but when it was my turn to dive I injured my leg on the edge of the dive board as I entered the water during the somersault. This resulted in me developing an Infection and I was off school for 6 months. The end of my school career soon came and I had not returned to school due to the injury and never got the chance to say my goodbyes.

After about a month a letter arrived from Sister Paddy and enclosed was a holy picture of St Michael the Arch Angel and on the back she had written " GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE" and that I should never look in Bibles for inspiration as I grow up? She like me had never forgot the naming incident and had got to notice how I developed with my R.I. as I went on. Not once did she ever force her religion or teachings onto me in all our lessons and years of knowing one another.

We would bump into each other at least once every couple of years or so, and often talked about those days when we were at school together. Sister Paddy worked with Class A Prisoners at the local Prison and in particular those with a terminal Illness and not long to live. She would smuggle in extra fags and nutty for them until she was caught and sacked as the duty Nun.

She had lots of Courage this lady and the patience of Jobe too. Sister Paddy was the person responsible for my Confirmation name "Michael" it came about in a very odd way, I could not make up my mind what name to take so she gave me her prayer book and told me to flick the pages and stop when I like and on that page would be a name which I could choose. The page I stopped at was a page with the picture of St Michael the Arch Angel in full flight on it, so that was to be my new name Michael, just think it could have been Jesus or Mary? We always laughed about that.

A few years ago at about the same time as Sister Paddy was bounced from the nick I found the Holy picture and I thought I would send it to her and cheer her up better still pay a visit but alas I left it to late as sadly Sister Paddy Died in her sleep on New Years Eve aged 86. Her Funeral is today at Wickham, Hants and later at the local Crematorium, sadly I am unable to make either but on Sunday Sister Paddy is having a full Requiem memorial mass at St Johns RC Cathedral, Portsmouth, so I will pay one of my rare visits to church before I go fishing. I wonder now what if I had been in the other row?RIP Sister Paddy and thanks for the name. kkma.

We are off to the Opticians tomorrow for the 2 yearly bin's checkup, wonder if I can find the way? Need to see the dibber go under, very important?

Blue witches 444? Was a teaser and Bloggers attempts at cracking the riddle were good some better than the real reason. Have a nice weekend. kkma.

And forsooth sayeth I, no I am not still Brahms and List it was just the first thing tahat came to mind when the alarm went off at six am this morning. Shaking off the holiday comfort zone feeling and still harboring a nasty chest cough I fought my way past the cat and promptly kicked the bed side unit Oh bother I uttered!

Did you all have a good one? Well we did even though we were only running on 3 cylinders. I do prefer the New year feeling, whats in store? And all that malarky.
We had a smashing time at Mr and Mrs D's on NYE well into the early hours watching and singing songs of the "EAGLES" none better. Well our feet are back on terra firma now. We made our choice of a new Burmese Kitten which will inherit us at the end of January his pet name is Amstel in memory of our trips to the Greek Islands.

At long last I was able to watch The Pythons "The Life oF Brian" last night for the first time scince it was released at the Cinema without any interuptions, and what was just as good was the documentary before the film, I had a real good laugh. kkma.