25 Friday Dec 2015
Posted in Beer, Books, Car Boot, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Conservation, Cooking, Cornwall, Drink, Everything about fishing, Film, Fish & Game Recipes, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Food, Gin, Interiors, London, Lure Fishing, Mudlarking, Music, Nature, Old Salts, Photography, Pike Fishing, Poetry, Presents, Public Houses, Reclaim, River Fishing, River Thames, Rod Building & Restoration, Sculpture, Sea fishing, Sport, Street Art, Tackle, Tales by the riverbank, Theatre, Tools, travel, Vintage, Vintage homewares, Whisky
To all of you brothers of the angle, shutter and paintbrush, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, may you all find peace and love not only over the Christmas season but for evermore.
For those of you heading to the river or sea tomorrow may your lines be tight and smiles put upon your face.
I bless you all for a prosperous New Year.
24 Thursday Dec 2015
Posted in Art, Barbel Fishing, Beer, Books, Car Boot, Carp Fishing, Childrens Books, Coarse Fishing, Conservation, Cooking, Cornwall, Dogs, Drink, Everything about fishing, Film, Fish & Game Recipes, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Fly Tying, Food, Gin, Interiors, London, Lure Fishing, Mudlarking, Music, Nature, Old Salts, Olympics, Photography, Pike Fishing, Poetry, Presents, Public Houses, Reclaim, River Fishing, River Fishing, River Thames, Rod Building & Restoration, Sculpture, Sea fishing, Sport, Street Art, Tackle, Tales by the riverbank, Theatre, Tools, travel, Vintage, Vintage homewares, Whisky
Between the rain showers and the warm glow of winter sun we dashed around the village doing the lasts bits of shopping before retiring to the pub for a beer and a bite to eat in order to give us energy to wrap those Christmas gifts for young Tales, it may take some time.
The years seems to have passed all too quickly, possibly because we’ve done a lot but more than likely because we are getting older. During the year we went West Wales for young Tales birthday to allow him to fish for sea-trout, went to a wedding in St Ives, visited Mrs Tales birthplace on the island of Cyprus, retuned to Bexhill – a place I spent time at as a young teenager to fish, stalled out at The National Vintage Tackle Fair, worked on some new projects and now it’s Christmas.
As it’s time to spend time with Mrs and young Tales on this Christmas Eve I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you who have taken time to read my blog a very merry Christmas.
14 Monday Dec 2015
It was mid-afternoon when I stumbled across this very rare item, it is a boxwood rope gauge. I found it on a table of treasures in a shop close to my home.
Having lived in SW13 for nearly two decades I have frequented this shop that sells an eclectic mix of vintage fabrics, homewares and hand crafted items by Angel. On the run up to Christmas I always make the effort to visit this iconic shop in Barnes. As you open the door the air is filled with the scent of flowering hyacinths, beeswax and lavender. The warm glow of candles and the glimmer of light reflects the the polished brass, ceramics and glass domes that shroud exquisite works, one that stood out was a tree full of baubles, beads and over vintage trinkets.
This is in no way a shop for thrifty purchases, each item for sale is hand made and unique much like the rare items sourced which in their own right are works of art.
A good friend of ours is a boat builder, well he is a master craftsman, carpenter, sculptor in fact nothing quite describes his sublime skills, for me one of the most talented people I know much like his partner who is a fantastic painter. For Bob these rope gauges would be an ideal gift, more as an item for the mantelpiece than to work with. An item to sit beside his Mamod Steam engine and clockwork Meccano boat.
I do try to find obscure gifts for those who know me for me it is part of the pleasure of Christmas finding things that are not usually available on the high street.
13 Sunday Dec 2015
Posted in Art, Beer, Books, Conservation, Drink, Everything about fishing, Film, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Gin, Interiors, London, Music, Photography, Poetry, Presents, Public Houses, Reclaim, River Thames, Tales by the riverbank, Theatre, Tools, travel, Vintage
12 Saturday Dec 2015
Posted in Art, Books, Childrens Books, Conservation, Cooking, Drink, Film, Fishing, Food, Gin, Interiors, London, Mudlarking, Poetry, Presents, Public Houses, Reclaim, River Fishing, River Thames, Rod Building & Restoration, Sculpture, Street Art, Tackle, Tales by the riverbank, Theatre, Tools, travel, Vintage, Vintage homewares, Whisky
11 Friday Dec 2015
Posted in Art, Beer, Books, Car Boot, Childrens Books, Conservation, Film, Fishing, Food, Gin, Interiors, London, Music, Olympics, Photography, Poetry, Presents, Public Houses, Reclaim, River Fishing, River Thames, Street Art, Tales by the riverbank, Theatre, travel, Vintage, Vintage homewares
The streets were packed with people, children crowded around a couple of real Raindeer that were grazing in a makeshift pen, choirs sang and bell ringers rang their bells and classic Christmas songs sung by iconic singers of the 50’s filled the air.
As we made our way along Church Road towards to Olympic Cinema originally know as the Olympic Studio known better as the recording studio of the Rolling Stones, Led Zep and a cast of many well known groups. There on the pavement was a pop up vinyl DJ booth playing an array of tunes from groups which frequented this leafy village in SW13. It was an evening of nostalgia and one where everyone took to the streets for the annual Christmas shopping evening.
As vinyl is making a comeback there is nothing quite like picking up an old LP feasting your eyes on the graphics then listen to the sound from that rotating black disc. These old records make great secret Santa gifts and if purchased from a charity store should cost you no more than a couple of pounds.
09 Wednesday Dec 2015
Posted in Art, Books, Car Boot, Childrens Books, Conservation, Drink, Everything about fishing, Film, Fishing, Gin, Interiors, London, Music, Photography, Poetry, Presents, Public Houses, Reclaim, River Fishing, River Thames, Street Art, Tales by the riverbank, Theatre, travel, Vintage, Vintage homewares, Whisky
Purchased before the end of the summer for the sum of £2 a fine copy of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and illustrated by Arthur Rackham, published in 1952. This copy by William Heinemann Ltd, London makes an ideal Christmas gift for all ages.
This well illustrated book with simple black and white along with fine colour plates is a treasure to behold.
Interestingly enough my old friend Steve Hunter is playing in our local production of a Christmas Carol by the Barnes Community Players and directed by Emilia Lerderleitnerova, this I must see and have booked tickets for the family.
There is still nothing quite like the vintage illustrations to evoke the thoughts of Christmas past.
05 Saturday Dec 2015
Posted in Art, Barbel Fishing, Beer, Books, Car Boot, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Conservation, Cornwall, Drink, Everything about fishing, Film, Fish & Game Recipes, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Fly Tying, Food, Gin, Interiors, London, Lure Fishing, Mudlarking, Nature, Old Salts, Photography, Pike Fishing, Poetry, Presents, Public Houses, Reclaim, River Fishing, River Thames, Rod Building & Restoration, Sculpture, Sea fishing, Sport, Street Art, Tackle, Tales by the riverbank, Theatre, Tools, travel, Vintage, Vintage homewares, Whisky
Earlier in the year I found a tin decorated with an oriental theme with a price tag of £3 on a self in one of our local charity shops. I picked it up to find that it was containing a full box wood chess set. Inverting the tin carefully it beard a logo of the Twinings Tea company with the further detail ‘Fine Quality Blend Of Indian & Ceylon Teas Half Pound Nett Twinings’ along with (Registered Trade Mark).
A long time ago I purchased a black lacquer and gold painted gaming board with a chess or checkers board on one side and within a back gammon board. This small tin an ideal partner to that board. I thought for young Tales a welcome departure from the modern age iPad, there is something satisfying when picking up a box wood chess piece and saying checkmate.
02 Wednesday Dec 2015
Posted in Art, Books, Car Boot, Childrens Books, Coarse Fishing, Conservation, Cooking, Cornwall, Drink, Everything about fishing, Film, Fish & Game Recipes, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Fly Tying, Food, Gin, Interiors, London, Lure Fishing, Mudlarking, Photography, Pike Fishing, Poetry, Presents, Public Houses, Reclaim, River Fishing, River Thames, Rod Building & Restoration, Sculpture, Sport, Street Art, Tackle, Tales by the riverbank, Theatre, Tools, travel, Vintage, Vintage homewares, Whisky
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Found in a collection of old OXO tins tucked in a cupboard this 1937 Coronation Souvenir Money Box that once contained 6 OXO Cubes. Printed on the bottom of the tin the address OXO Ltd. Thames House, London, England.
Its post box styling a prompt that young Tales should think about posting his Christmas list to Santa Claus.
13 Tuesday Jan 2015
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Fishing, Fly, Hardy, Lightweight, Reel
As bright as a moon and received today this Hardy Fly Lightweight series reel. So small that you wonder if it will manage to reel in a hard fighting brook trout but for over half a century these well balanced reels have been paired to light cane or graphite rods across the globe and played fish in many a chalk or hillside stream.
Detailed below this modern production model is married to a weight 3 forward taper floating line with fine tippet, ideal for early season dry fly fishing.
tales by the riverbank 