The River Quietly Calls Louder Than The Bell

Imagine yourself trapped inside a seemingly endless tunnel without any opportunity for respite from rough & vulgar meanders. 

No opportunity for a self-governed brief (or not so brief) pause. Where one leaking hole is simply puttied over to reveal two more, even worse. Impossible to satisfy completely, nor are you able to; at will step away & simply take a breath.

For me, at times, this is how the everyday stress of my professional life can feel.

I must say that I am extremely fortunate to be able to honestly say that I do indeed “love” my job. All its people & peaks, its troughs, triumphs & tribulations.

However, this is not what I would like to share with you here. In fact, it is the very antithesis of my professional life that I believe is a very tangible panacea for me and has been for many years.

Of all Gods Creatures Great & Small; it is the many species of Coarse Fish that live in England’s Rivers & Lakes whom I owe a hearty debt. The industrious schooling Roach, the dumpy but often meek Bream, the Guerilla Skilled Perch, the underestimated Tench & the prized buff coloured Barbel, to name but a few, all play their part to knit a blanket of comfort for me against the cold night of targets, strategies & P&L.

These are not targets, though the ultimate prize is to catch, bring a bank & wish farewell for someone else to catch tomorrow. Not targets, but smooth and sometimes even tender encounters with nature tipping her cap to me in recognition of application of the angling prowess I am lucky enough to have been taught and now possess. To me, however, it is not skill that fulfils me in this, my most favourite of outdoor settings. It’s not even success. It is patience.

What is the rush?

Why would I need to move any quicker?

Why do I need to make a snap decision?

There isn’t one.

You won’t.

You don’t.

Patience & time with no commitment except the water in front of me & the rod in my hand is all that rules me in these precious days & hours. If I catch a fish, then all the better. But I am an angler, not a catcher. 

I have to catch & bag enough on most Monday-Fridays.

Sitting amongst my dad,  friends, or being alone, sharing my own thoughts with the birds & river fauna on any such pleasant day in England is where I revitalise & refresh.

Ready again to take on what I need to take on, come Monday Morning.

Tight Lines.

Dave.