Another Idle Angler review….

That contentment is found on every page, but there is much too that readers will find provocative and challenging. Parr explores depths rarely plumbed in angling writing, examining its philosophies and idiosyncrasies in a way that is hugely engaging. This is fishing – not necessarily as we know it, but as most of us wouldContinue reading “Another Idle Angler review….”

Idle Angler Review

A rather nice review of The Idle Angler has appeared in CountryFile magazine. Editor Fergus Collins writes that ‘there’s much to enjoy here‘ and suggests that ‘it’s a very gentle, eclectic plea for understanding through revealing some of the joys to be had from the pursuit of hidden quarry..’ The full review is here IdleContinue reading “Idle Angler Review”

Butterflies….

There are so many butterflies on the wing this summer. My lunchtime walks have seen dozens dancing away from every footstep. I have sharpened up my identification skills – relatively at least – and also tried my hand at a few photographs….it’s not easy without a viewfinder and the detail is lacking a little, butContinue reading “Butterflies….”

Extract from The Idle Angler

  From Chapter Five – Lunchtime (Courtesy of Medlar Press) Sir John Whitaker Fairclough was a man I never met but whose fly-fishing tackle is now in my possession. Fairclough was a key developer of IBM’s System 360 computers in the 1960’s, machines that set industry standards in the era of mainframe computing. His reputationContinue reading “Extract from The Idle Angler”

Early season snakes

So mild has this winter been that I worry for many of our hibernating fauna. The temperature may not have been cold enough for long enough to properly let the hibernators go into limbo and yet they would not have found the food to sustain their metabolism. The snakes have been showing for some weeks.Continue reading “Early season snakes”