A couple goes out for the day. The events were the same, but they each saw the day differently. This is Martin's viewpoint. (to see Sandra's story click the link at the foot of this page).

The Fishing Trip

The story as Martin told it...

The mist was tumbling along the river, putting a bit of mystery into the dawn. It was a great start to the day. A bit chilly with the promise of clear skies and no rain. I really hadn't believed Sandra would be ready in time, but she kept her promise. You have to get up early to grab a good pitch on the last Saturday of the Season. I catapulted some ground bait towards the opposite bank and followed it up with a perfect cast to the exact spot. My casting is very good now. The fish started biting almost as soon as the float dropped in and I landed two good roach within the first hour. The fishing went off a bit after that and I think the problem started when a water vole swam out from the reeds. When Sandra saw it she mistook it for a rat and squealed so much that she scared the fish. I must admit I lost my patience and snapped at her. Then I made it worse by trying to explain the difference between rats and voles. Pointless effort. I mean, you don't win arguments with women, do you? Things got more frustrating later in the morning when the Sun got higher in the sky. There was a bit of a breeze, which kept the temperature down, but it was bright enough to bring out the top feeders, especially the bleak. They're the little green ones, like overfed minnows, and they leap on the bait before the float has time to cock. The monsters would be quite attractive if they were six or eight times the size, but at 2 or 3 ounces they're just a nuisance. I changed up to a bigger hook and bait, but it didn't put them off. It's so messy getting them off when they gorge themselves on an oversized hook. Sandra made herself useful making coffee and knocking up sandwiches. She even produced some hot soup, though from the way she was cuddling the mug I could see she was suffering from the cold. She kept shivering and complaining that she didn't have the right clothes for this kind of trip. Well, that was the perfect excuse for me to suggest a visit to the Outdoor Shop to look at the fleeces on the way home. I didn't like to admit that I was getting bored, so I made it look as if we were going for her sake.

©Derrick Phillips
November 1999

To see the same events through other eyes read Sandra's version