Spring is nearly here!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
INDEPENDENCE DAY 23rd JUNE 2016!
Last edited by pollygog on Fri Jun 24, 2016 12:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
I think its imperative I post today on our new
'INDEPENDENCE DAY' 23rd JUNE.
The good luck omens were there yesterday, first sign, two Magpies squabbling over uneaten koi food I'd netted out and thrown on lawn and a fairly rare visitor a Jay refereeing the fight perched on our arbour seat roof shouting the odds.
I went to vote very early yesterday morning as I had arranged to go fly fishing, second omen, it turned out to be a beautiful day and I had one of my best days yet this year on the lakes at Nanerch, netting 5 trout over 2lb and to cap it all for the third omen, I dropped a packet of hooks from my fly vest pocket and when I picked it up from the grass there was a folded £20 note close to it, just incredible!
That will come in handy for our club trip to the B.K.K.S National Koi Show on Sunday methinks.
'INDEPENDENCE DAY' 23rd JUNE.
The good luck omens were there yesterday, first sign, two Magpies squabbling over uneaten koi food I'd netted out and thrown on lawn and a fairly rare visitor a Jay refereeing the fight perched on our arbour seat roof shouting the odds.
I went to vote very early yesterday morning as I had arranged to go fly fishing, second omen, it turned out to be a beautiful day and I had one of my best days yet this year on the lakes at Nanerch, netting 5 trout over 2lb and to cap it all for the third omen, I dropped a packet of hooks from my fly vest pocket and when I picked it up from the grass there was a folded £20 note close to it, just incredible!
That will come in handy for our club trip to the B.K.K.S National Koi Show on Sunday methinks.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
The day started well at 8.00am with coffee and delicious and egg and bacon baps at the ever kindly Keith and Sue's then all seven of us piled into the minibus and off to the BKKS National Koi Show at Coventry. Initially we went to the wrong venue/post code at a really expensive looking golf club that's so swish it actually has a Best Western hotel incorporated into it but eventually we sorted the right address out at the reception desk and we arrived at the showground at 10.30am.
Personally I thought the actual BKKS show was quite underwhelming!
The whole event was staged in a field, in the open air for the Koi on display, in the ubiquitous blue vats in rows down the middle, the traders were in marquee's ranged down either side and in main marquee at entrance.
It would have turned into a 'Glastonbury' had it rained, luckily it was a dry sunny day, but as it was there were one or two wet muddy spots to be avoided.
Disappointed there just weren't the quantity or variety of exhibitors I expected for such a prestigious event.
The usual main traders were represented, Oase, Evolution Aqua, etc. but precious few bargains to be had.
I was hoping to buy a discounted net and other items on my shopping list but in the event bought absolutely nothing, just no bargains, for me at least.
We met up at 2.00pm and unanimously decided to leave early and visit Shirley Aquatics nr Birmingham Airport instead.
It was well worth the visit in my opinion and at least two members parted with cash buying bargain fish on a' buy one, get one free' basis they had on offer over the weekend.
I just wished we'd left showground earlier to spend more time looking around Shirley Aquatics tempting emporium.
Personally I thought the actual BKKS show was quite underwhelming!
The whole event was staged in a field, in the open air for the Koi on display, in the ubiquitous blue vats in rows down the middle, the traders were in marquee's ranged down either side and in main marquee at entrance.
It would have turned into a 'Glastonbury' had it rained, luckily it was a dry sunny day, but as it was there were one or two wet muddy spots to be avoided.
Disappointed there just weren't the quantity or variety of exhibitors I expected for such a prestigious event.
The usual main traders were represented, Oase, Evolution Aqua, etc. but precious few bargains to be had.
I was hoping to buy a discounted net and other items on my shopping list but in the event bought absolutely nothing, just no bargains, for me at least.
We met up at 2.00pm and unanimously decided to leave early and visit Shirley Aquatics nr Birmingham Airport instead.
It was well worth the visit in my opinion and at least two members parted with cash buying bargain fish on a' buy one, get one free' basis they had on offer over the weekend.
I just wished we'd left showground earlier to spend more time looking around Shirley Aquatics tempting emporium.
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roselanekoi
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:38 pm
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Sorry to hear that you were disappointed with the show, still it didn't cost you anything to get there as the club provided free travel.
I'm afraid the days of loads of bargains at koi shows has long since gone, killed off by the availability of goods on the internet. Very often the dealers website prices are cheaper than their show prices. It's interesting to hear your adverse comments about the show being held in a field, I always think you lose a lot of the atmosphere (granted there wasn't a lot this year) when the koi shows are held indoors.
I haven't been to Shirley Aquatics for a few years as it had gone very poor and it wasn't worth making the trip down the M42 from the M6 to call in, I'll have to have a look in next time I'm down that way.
I'm afraid the days of loads of bargains at koi shows has long since gone, killed off by the availability of goods on the internet. Very often the dealers website prices are cheaper than their show prices. It's interesting to hear your adverse comments about the show being held in a field, I always think you lose a lot of the atmosphere (granted there wasn't a lot this year) when the koi shows are held indoors.
I haven't been to Shirley Aquatics for a few years as it had gone very poor and it wasn't worth making the trip down the M42 from the M6 to call in, I'll have to have a look in next time I'm down that way.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Fair comment Colin, fortunately it was a free trip, but, there were actually better bargains to be had at Shirley Aquatics, one of our group bought a large telescopic pond net there that was priced at £75.00, he paid £60.00 for. There was also a bigger choice of nets there than at the show!
It has improved quite a bit from when I was last there, pity I didn't have more time there to suss some bargains out as the manager was quite happy to discuss discount on the pond net and threw in free drinks for us all as well.
I agree about the internet prices but they do include p&p so there's got to be some leeway at the shows, my comments were aimed at the sheer lack and diversity of traders present, I expected more for such a prestigious show.
It has improved quite a bit from when I was last there, pity I didn't have more time there to suss some bargains out as the manager was quite happy to discuss discount on the pond net and threw in free drinks for us all as well.
I agree about the internet prices but they do include p&p so there's got to be some leeway at the shows, my comments were aimed at the sheer lack and diversity of traders present, I expected more for such a prestigious show.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
July borne the butterfly fluttered my heart
Saw capricious October that tore us apart
PL
Very wisely the committee has decided to move the next club meeting forward a week from Wednesday night 3rd July to Wed. 10th July to avoid the inevitable clash with Wales playing the semi final game with Portugal.
Bad mental image avoided here of Keith keeping a lonely vigil beside his cooling barbecue heaped with uneaten burgers and Sue with a tear in her eye sat in an empty kitchen surrounded by dozens of freshly buttered baps going stale and dry, "Where are they, where are they?
Not saying this would have happened, but in the words of the magnificent omnipotent Liverpool F.C. manager Bill Shankley
'Football! it's more important than life and death!'
Will we see a fairy tale miracle happen on our TV screens on Wednesday night? and then the weekend!
The unbelievable dreamtime final that's actually believable and certainly achievable between Wales and Iceland; it could happen!
Saw capricious October that tore us apart
PL
Very wisely the committee has decided to move the next club meeting forward a week from Wednesday night 3rd July to Wed. 10th July to avoid the inevitable clash with Wales playing the semi final game with Portugal.
Bad mental image avoided here of Keith keeping a lonely vigil beside his cooling barbecue heaped with uneaten burgers and Sue with a tear in her eye sat in an empty kitchen surrounded by dozens of freshly buttered baps going stale and dry, "Where are they, where are they?
Not saying this would have happened, but in the words of the magnificent omnipotent Liverpool F.C. manager Bill Shankley
'Football! it's more important than life and death!'
Will we see a fairy tale miracle happen on our TV screens on Wednesday night? and then the weekend!
The unbelievable dreamtime final that's actually believable and certainly achievable between Wales and Iceland; it could happen!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
France 5 Iceland two! --------------------Ah well;- we can but dream!
Watch this space for tomorrow night though, we might just do it, with a Bale-out?
Watch this space for tomorrow night though, we might just do it, with a Bale-out?
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roselanekoi
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:38 pm
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Sadly Wales couldn't quite make it, the suspension of a couple of their key players making the task of beating Portugal, they are ranked no 8 in the world by the way, just a step to far.
I'm very busy in the garden at the moment with the fruit picking season well underway. My gooseberry bush has had a very heavy crop this year and the raspberries are also doing well. Due to all the recent wet weather the strawberries have not fared so well, with a lot of the fruit rotting before they could be picked. There's also a good crop of blackcurrants and these are starting to rippen so it looks like I'll be busy again next week.
One thing I've notice this year is that the corn is being harvested locally, a month or so earlier than usual. I suppose this is down to the mild winter and the spell of fine weather in June.
I'm very busy in the garden at the moment with the fruit picking season well underway. My gooseberry bush has had a very heavy crop this year and the raspberries are also doing well. Due to all the recent wet weather the strawberries have not fared so well, with a lot of the fruit rotting before they could be picked. There's also a good crop of blackcurrants and these are starting to rippen so it looks like I'll be busy again next week.
One thing I've notice this year is that the corn is being harvested locally, a month or so earlier than usual. I suppose this is down to the mild winter and the spell of fine weather in June.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
That's a coincidence Colin as I just picked about two kilo's of large ripe gooseberries last night, the third picking and also the last of the Invicta gooseberries from my two standards, biggest crop ever this year. The red Hinnonmaki and Captivator gooseberries are just coming ripe so they extend the season into August.
Got a huge crop of Jostaberries ripening quickly and should be ready in about a week and apricots galore at the moment, very mixed fortunes cherry wise this year, the decent crop of cherries from the greenhouse tree are huge this year yet its a very poor crop from trees outside both in tubs and in the ground. This was due no doubt to vine weevils chewing the roots in the tubs in the winter and also late frosts in April at blossom time.
Ah well, you win some; there is an excellent crop of apples and pears this year, not so good on the plums though, if you are reading this King Kenny, don't worry, I've labelled one for you!
Watching the lacklustre Euro Final match between France and Portugal last night convinces me they both were very beatable by the full squad of Wales, particularly with Ronaldo missing for most of the match, what a pity Portugal won, helped by a myopic (British) referee who couldn't tell a black arm from a white arm when he was giving yellow cards for handball!
Neither team deserved a place in the final on that awful performance, especially when you remember the Wales team performance against the mighty Belgium.
Got a huge crop of Jostaberries ripening quickly and should be ready in about a week and apricots galore at the moment, very mixed fortunes cherry wise this year, the decent crop of cherries from the greenhouse tree are huge this year yet its a very poor crop from trees outside both in tubs and in the ground. This was due no doubt to vine weevils chewing the roots in the tubs in the winter and also late frosts in April at blossom time.
Ah well, you win some; there is an excellent crop of apples and pears this year, not so good on the plums though, if you are reading this King Kenny, don't worry, I've labelled one for you!
Watching the lacklustre Euro Final match between France and Portugal last night convinces me they both were very beatable by the full squad of Wales, particularly with Ronaldo missing for most of the match, what a pity Portugal won, helped by a myopic (British) referee who couldn't tell a black arm from a white arm when he was giving yellow cards for handball!
Neither team deserved a place in the final on that awful performance, especially when you remember the Wales team performance against the mighty Belgium.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
The visits from the pheasant both male and female have tailed off this last few weeks, but that's because we stopped filling the bird feeders. Regular visitors now are baby wild rabbits from under next doors summer house putting in an appearance, this latest family is the second lot this year, a good food supply for the local Buzzards from the nearby woods.
I still continue to find tiny froglets hiding around the garden as I'm weeding and no doubt so do the hedgehogs as they career around our garden each night tripping our security light when they cross the back yard.
The heavy and persistent rain over the last weeks is having a negative effect on my cherries in tubs causing most of them to split, never had it so bad as this year. Commercial growers in Kent used to put corrugated sheets under the cherry trees to run off excessive rain so I must think up a similar ploy?
Don't forget our club meet is at Keith and Sue's tomorrow night, bring your own bibs though, or a pinny!
I still continue to find tiny froglets hiding around the garden as I'm weeding and no doubt so do the hedgehogs as they career around our garden each night tripping our security light when they cross the back yard.
The heavy and persistent rain over the last weeks is having a negative effect on my cherries in tubs causing most of them to split, never had it so bad as this year. Commercial growers in Kent used to put corrugated sheets under the cherry trees to run off excessive rain so I must think up a similar ploy?
Don't forget our club meet is at Keith and Sue's tomorrow night, bring your own bibs though, or a pinny!