Comments so far (4)

By Vic, On 8 March, 2010 13:56

I’ve been laid up recently after suffering from a heart attack a couple of weeks ago. One minute I was fine and the next, I started feeling a bit ‘unwell’ and then I felt Like I’d been hit by a train. The pain in my chest was staggering and intensified and spread until it was down my left arm and jaw in the classic heart attack symptoms.

Anna called for an ambulance and whilst waiting for it to arrive, the operator stayed on the line in support mode, which was very reassuring. Before the ambulance arrived, a lone paramedic turned up by car and it transpired that we knew each other from when I worked in Brighton and he had in fact been one of the paramedics that had turned up to a bike crash I had a few years ago! Must admit, it was good to see a familiar face and it helped to put me at ease during this stressful time. Once the ambulance arrived, I was loaded on board, given a load of Morphine (nice) and taken to the RSCH A&E and then up to the cath lab, where instead of administering clot busting drugs, they did an angiogram followed by angioplasty, where a stent was placed to open up the blocked artery.

After a few days care in the hands of the coronary care unit, I was released to go home and recuperate. I have to say that the care I received was first rate and showed the NHS at it’s very best. The staff were incredible and a credit to the profession.

I’m now well on the way to a full recovery, although not allowed to drive for another few weeks which is a bit of a bummer. I still have to go back in a few weeks time as there is another artery that is causing some concern and may have to have another stent fitted. Once all that is sorted, I’ll be on my way to full fitness again, although I’ll be monitored by the cardiac rehab nurses and have to get used to the new drugs I have to take now. Hopefully, I’ll be up and running again in time for the spring Squid hunting down at the marina.

Now, apart from the obvious bad points, having a heart attack is no fun. Being a bit of a hirsute person, it was bloody painful when they later peeled off the adhesive heart monitor lead connector patches stuck all over my upper body – cheaper than a body wax but not my idea of fun. My chest now resembles the coat of a mangey old hound with bare patches everywhere. My bruised groin, although a fetching purple and green colour is no good when the other side doesn’t match!

The good points to come out of this; I got to see my eldest daughter for a few days after she travelled down from Sunderland to check and confirm that I was still alive. My Mother came up to visit and made her first coach trip from Southampton to Brighton. My wife Anna – unruffled, calm and bloody fantastic. She’s had to put up with a lot, what with keeping everyone informed and being on the phone for hours, looking after Alex, acting as a hotelier for my daughter, visiting me in hospital and generally keeping everything running. You are one in a million my love – thank you

Click to comment

By Vic, On 21 February, 2010 18:57

Got out yesterday for the first time in ages, which was a much needed session,  albeit brief. Although fishing is a bit pants at this time of year, I decided to have a bash anyway for some Herrings and maybe Plaice down at Brighton Marina. After picking up some Raworm and Lugworm from the Tackle Box,  I headed for the East arm and got there at about 2.30pm, wich was just after high water. The sea was pretty calm and clearish with just a hint of colour. Weather-wise, there was just a very light Westerly breeze with an overcast cast sky threatening rain which never materialised, apart from a few drops.

Once there, I settled in at bay 30 and setup one rod with some micro sized Sabiki lures and another rod with a 2 hook flapper baited with the worms. The bait rod was cast out and I then set about the business of cast and retrieve with the lures.

For the period I was there, the bait rod remained static, with no indications of interest apart from the one knock which resulted in an 8″ Flounder, which had taken the bait after I changed over from a flapper to a running leger with a beaded up trace. There was no interest whatsoever on the Sabikis.

With nothing showing and the tide dropping away, I gave up at about 6pm. The only upside is that no Rockling showed up, which can only be a good thing!

Click to comment

By Vic, On 6 January, 2010 13:27

Had the first session for a couple of months and the first of 2010 on sunday out at Seaford beach. Loaded with some nice black lugworm and two boxes of squid, I arrived at around 6pm and started to unload the car. By the time I’d got all sorted and walked onto the beach, I couldn’t feel my fingers it was so bloody cold!

Undeterred, I trudged across the shingle and started to set up the rods. After the first was done, I had to have a short break to warm the hands and fingers up before doing the next one. Big baits were the order of the day to try and avoid any small Whiting and Rockling, so one rod sent out with legered DVice 3/0 hook crammed with lug and squid, second rod out with whole squid on 4/0 pennel rig. It was then a matter of keeping warm and waiting!

Although freezing to start with, later on, as cloud covercame over, it actually felt like it was warming a bit – so much so that I had to open the main zip on my ABU floaty suit as I was getting a bit too warm.

Fish wise, I ended up with a few Whiting and the dreaded Rockling ’slugs’ which still manaed to get themselves hooked on the worm baited 3/0’s. Not a great start to 2010 but at least it wasn’t a blank. May leave the beach for a while now as the Rockling seem to be in abundance and the cod having moved off before I could target them in earnest. Will now concentrate on the Herring at Brighton Marina if the seas clear out.

Comments so far (7)

By Vic, On 21 December, 2009 11:37

Haven’t written much lately due to no fishing.

I’d just like to take the opportunity to say thanks to all who have read my witterings over the last year and hope you have a great Christmas and a productive and happy 2010.

Comments (1)

By Vic, On 27 November, 2009 13:15

Well, not had much to write about fishing recently what with work, the weather and other committments, so thought it was about time I wrote something.

We took delivery of our new car last week as it had been time to get rid of the old wagon, a 2001 Renault Laguna Sport Tourer. It was a toss up on the new one, between a Renault Scenic or a Citroen C4 Picasso. In the end, the Citroen won as it was the only one that was both diesel and automatic; not really strictly an auto but EGS which basically is like a sequential manual box but can be used in either auto mode or manual shift via ‘Flippy flappy’ paddles. Engine wise, I opted for the 1.6 litre HDi turbo diesel which combines reasonably good performance with good economy. I’ll miss the performance of the 3.0 litre V6 I had but 50+mpg is a damn site more attractive than the 20 I was getting before.

We haven’t done a long distance trip yet but so far, it has proved to be an absolute joy to drive – comfy, roomy and with plenty of ‘toys’ to fiddle with. The seats are a bit on the firm side firm but are supportive with plenty of adjustment to get the driving postion just perfect. All the controls are well laid out, with the vast majority being controlled from the multi function steering wheel central hub which remains static and independant of the steering wheel itself. It’s a bit weird at first but is a fantastic idea and something I think other manufacturers should think about.

As for fishing – well there’s plenty of space for all the stuff I usually lumber myslef with, so there’s no problem there. I just must be careful and remember not leave items such as buckets with bait remnants and other stuff lying around in the boot to fester and ruin that lovely ‘new car’ smell.