Field Day

Once upon a time in Arcadia, namely this coming Saturday 25th May in the Year of Our Lord and Other Excuses 2013, I shall be in the company of many good friends and especially my Partisans: Mr. Luke Jennings and Mr. Charles Rangeley-Wilson in the Caught by the River Tent at Field Day , a Festival of Music and Other Delights in Victoria Park in the district of London known as E.9.  There, upon the stage at 3pm, we shall be reading aloud and in conversation summoning up the ghosts of The Duke of Wellington, communing with lost members of Hackney Downs AS and telling the Tale of the Huge Perch in the Heart of a City.   Should you be in attendance we look forward to your good company. 

The National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair - Next Date - Sunday 17th November 2013

Across Arcadia, in parlours and in makeshift kitchens kettles are boiled, dogs yawn, cats cradle and Elgar is once again on the radiogram as the last of the stragglers leaves the town of Redditch.  And, whilst impromptu signs are removed from lamp-posts by overworked street urchins, trumpets sound throughout the Arrow Valley in thanks to all those who stalled out so stoically whilst outside the sun shone and to those who rose early and queued so patiently before the doors opened at 9am for yesterday's National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair.   Your presence was gracious and made for a most enjoyable and convivial day for all.  We look forward to reviving the art of the fair on Sunday 17th November.  For all enquiries including those about availability of stalls and requests for handbills please call me on the field telephone, number 07980 274 383.   Thank-you.

The National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair - Today!

Footsteps

Along the old streets and cut-throughs, emerging from front rooms and factory gates past, the ghosts of Redditch fishing tackle makers gather in silent readiness to shake the hands of all those in the queue for tomorrow's National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair.   Doors open at 09:00hrs.

Spitalfields

Found yesterday at Spitalfields amongst a batch of postcards an attendance prize dating to the years Edwardia Arcadia 1900-1909 for Capworth Street School in the district known as Leyton.  Bearing a scene to the front of a child fishing in view of a watermill, most notably the card is blank.

J.W. Martin, 8 Seymour Street, Euston Square, London N.W

Once upon a time in Arcadia, on the day of the week known as Thursday in the year of Our Lord and Natural Causes 1906, ladies and gentlemen wanting to buy tackles or books from J.W. Martin a.k.a 'The Trent Otter' were able to do so directly from the author and dealer himself at 8 Seymour Street, Euston Square in the district of London N.W.   There, you could buy a 1st Edition of Practical Fishing for the So-Called Coarse Fishes or buy Centre-Pin, Pike and Plain Reels from 1/6 to 16/- each.

Today in the year of Our Lord and Other Curses 2013 on the day of the week known as Thursday, ladies and gentlemen may revive the art of buying directly from the author, as I stall out on the cloth at Spitalfields Antiques Market, Commercial Street, London District E.1. and where I sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul, including items such as were peddled by The Trent Otter himself and where also, if you ask, you may buy surviving and rare 1st Edition copies of my own book 'For All Those Left Behind' (Mainstream 2002).   Thank-you.

Coming Up for Air

Bought from a pair of gentleman under a pale sun before the rain came down yesterday a Homer of Forest Gate 'Flick 'Em' dating to the years between-the-wars.