Pike Fishing with Mr. Richardson

In Arcadia as in the rest of the known world it is the last day of the year and I find myself taking the leaded road north to the Fens to go pike fishing with my old friend the artist and gentleman John Richardson www.thetwoterrierspress.com/.  Wherever you may find yourself as the clock ticks down tonight may your bung shiver.

Telegram from Mr. Rangeley-Wilson

From the very fringes of Arcadia, in the very north of Norfolk, my friend and fellow angler and writer Mr. Charles Rangeley-Wilson, whose journals can be read at http://www.hotasafish.com/ sent me these photographs of scenes he found whilst out walking his dog.

Terriers in Search of Mr. Goddard's Patent Dog Bed

Found in the backroom of a booksellers in Inverness, a photographic portrait of a gang of terriers all dreaming of a Goddard's Patent Dog Bed at www.andrewsofarcadia.com

Mr. Browning's Artificials

A perennial problem in Arcadia is the desire to go fishing at times when the Maggotorium is closed for a two week Christmas break, the maggot vending machine on Tollington Park Road is but a memory, the cheese has been scoffed by a distant relative and the ground is too hard to dig for worms.  At such times if a loaf of white bread can't be procured from the larder it is prudent to turn to Mr. Browning's Artificials.   I have found them to be quite effective.

Mr. Goddard's Patent Dog Bed

I was lucky enough to see for myself an original example of the Goddard's Patent Dog Bed (fore-runner of all things Efgeeco) at a house in the Norfolk town of Hunstanton the summer before last.   I thought I would never see another until I found one by chance at Kempton.  The Kempton find is for sale in 'Old Friends' at www.andrewsofarcadia.com

For All the Winners and the Losers

As the light fades on Boxing Day many Club Anglers in Arcadia find themselves standing round the first peg as the Scalesman weighs in the catches from the Annual Fur and Feather Match.   Reputations are staked and the silence is broken only by the stern voice reading out the weights.  The Scalesman then packs his box as solemnly as Albert Pierrepont.

For All the Lost and the Found

Found on the letters page of The Fishing Gazette cover date July 14th 1917 a letter from a Mr. Alex Osbourne of Margate:

Dear Sirs

It might interest you to know that your Fishing Gazette Pocket Calendar of 1916 has saved the life of my son-in-law.   I gave it to him a year last January as a Christmas Present.  On the 3rd of this month he got rather badly mauled in action at the battle of Arras - one eye blown out, a big wound in the thigh and the arm, a piece of shell passed through the calendar and just reached his flesh immediately in front of the heart.  Had it not been for the protection afforded he must have been killed.  What a service a little thing like that can be EVEN IN THE THICK OF THE BATTLE.

Spitalfields

Yesterday at Spitalfields was bitter cold.  Even the ly's fell off.  It was a day for breaking the ice on the teas, celebrating coarse grammar and reading coarse fishing books.  A day to wish my good friends who visit the stall and who stall out on the market a very Merry Christmas.  But mostly it was a day to stay warm.  And so I found myself lingering briefly in Albam, a shop I was proud to first supply with display items when they opened originally in Beak Street and who now have an emporium on the edge of the market www.albamclothing.com .  So, it was to my joy when I found in there a book I urge you to buy if you still have stockings to fill.  It is called 'British Folk' Part One and is written and published by James Pearson-Howes www.jamespearsonhowes.com.   

Mr. Richardson in Zanderland

Many a float has been lost whilst trying to keep up with illustrator and former Arding and Hobbs Fishing Club ace John Richardson.  He spends his summers and his winters and the seasons in between in a place called Zanderland in the east of Arcadia.  You can read about his adventures periodically including his latest today at www.caughtbytheriver.net/

Lost Trade

Found on the reverse of an old membership card for The Thames Angling Preservation Society (Founded in 1838 to protect the fisheries of the River Thames) belonging to a Mr. Landells, a lost trade card for Kennington Fishing Tackle and Bait Supplies of 191 Kennington Lane, London SE11.   Do not go to these premises looking for fishing tackle or bait supplies today as your trade truly will be lost.  There reside there now gentlemen who will try and sell you a house.

Mr. Field's Lost Umbrella

Found in the Lost and Found Office in Arcadia, a genuine 1950 Black Cotton Fishing Umbrella, formerly the goods of Field's Fishing Tackle Makers, Kentish Town.  The reflection of the Ghost of Kentish Town Christmas Past as he walks up a snowbound Highgate Road can be glimpsed by tapping on the glass of the Shop Window at www.andrewsofarcadia.com

Mr Giffard Smith's Otter

A rare Hardy Otter, invented by Mr. Giffard Smith.  Found in Arcadia and now residing 'In the Shop Window' at www.andrewsofarcadia.com 

Andrews of Arcadia Soundtrack to the Year

In Arcadia many miles of open road are covered during the course of the year in the search for Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.  Those long hours are fuelled by diesel, tea, conversation with the Empress of Arcadia, sometimes myself and in silent moments by the sounds of the van stereo.  This year one record has been played more than any other.  It is the debut long player by Trevor Moss and Hannah-Lou.   On Friday last Trevor and Hannah played their final gig of this year in Brighton, home of the Brighton Palace Pier Anglers' Association whose Specimen Fish Register was found on the road earlier in the summer.

Trevor Moss and Hannah Lou will return to the stage in January in a tour of Tin Tabernacles, that quintessentially lost form of British architecture.  For a brief history of the joys of corrugated iron pre fabricated buildings and details of the tour you are invited to watch this short film made by Trevor Moss.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs9emocKs_U

Found in the Snow

In Arcadia it is becoming increasingly common to be snowed into the heart of the city.  Should you find yourself in this predicament today there is only one course of action to be followed.  Lose yourself at The Social's Christmas Market between 1pm and 5pm at The Social on Little Portland Street where you will be able to drink the remaining bottles of the special Caught by the River Ale that was brewed earlier this year and buy treasure including the artwork of the moment a 'Robin in the Snow' badge by Jenny Stitched-Up.   Should you be completely snowbound you can travel by passing mouse to her shop at http://stitchedup-stitchedup.blogspot.com/ 

Spitalfields

A good day for selling and a good day for buying at Spitalfields yesterday.  Many conversations about Christmas chub and the lost roach of the River Ivel.  And then in the dying light, out of the pocket of an out of pocket young gentleman, a 1930's Hardy Perfect.

Pegley-Davies Card Trade Sign

Found hanging behind the glass on the door of a lost fishing tackle shop in the district of South London, an original Pegley-Davies Card Trade Sign dating to the decade known commonly as the Sixties.  Now hanging proudly 'In the Shop Window' at www.andrewsofarcadia.com

Kempton

Found in Arcadia during the month of December.  At the last Kempton before Christmas.  A sunrise.

Porcupine

Lost by a weary porcupine many decades ago, reclaimed and imported via the Docks, the finest porcupine quill, essential raw material for any float maker.  These were made in the back room of a tackle shop now long since hence on a forgotten street in Arcadia.  Unused and unsold, bought at auction, they can now be found 'in the shop window' at www.andrewsofarcadia.com

Andrews of Arcadia meets Mr Natty Uptown

After an afternoon browsing and buying at the Caught by the River Social Club Christmas Market www.caughtbytheriver.net yesterday and an impromptu evening of light ales from the new and old world with the Empress of Arcadia and our neighbour the artist Mark Billingham, I am off to meet Mr Natty, www.mrnatty.com, the Master Barber at The Bethnal Green Working Men's Club for a haircut and a beard trim.

Pegley-Davies Duotone Plastic Bait Boxes

Found today a nest of original Pegley Davies Duotone Plastic Bait Boxes dating from their launch upon the unsuspecting public of Walton-on-Thames in August 1961.  It was in this month that a salesman's van left the Hersham Trading Estate on the very outskirts of Arcadia and touted his wares around the tackle shops of south London and beyond.  The boxes are now lodged in 'Old Friends' at  www.andrewsofarcadia.com