Dear Steve,
The Focus of Gilbert’s letter this week are fish and reptiles. I’m really not in a position to write in detail on either of these, so I take it as an opportunity for some poetic license, jumping around the topic space.
We have lived here for a little under twelve years. When we arrived, there was a good-sized pond in the garden, quite well populated with carp of varying sizes. Unfortunately, the pond became difficult to look after (perhaps it might be more honest to say that we weren’t prepared to put in the effort required to keep it healthy). It had to go.
The fish were all caught, and shared out between my sister who has an even bigger pond, I think the picture is from her pond. that is well cared for, and a retail outlet near Southampton that was prepared to take them.
Constructively, demolishing the pond was not easy. It had been significantly over-engineered but we managed to clear it. The space regained is now a successful vegetable patch, as well as the latrine for every cat and fox in the local area.
On my around town walks, I’ll quite often wander onto the Premier Marinas Wave Guard (what I used Tod to call the Haslar Marina Pier Wall, before the marina changed hands). There are normally two or three people fishing, and I will stop and chat. Fish caught include Bass and catfish. Some are for food, and some for the pleasure of fishing which, having tried it once, I have never understood.
Back in the garden, I don’t recall ever seeing a lizard anywhere (is a slow worm a lizard)? I wonder what could be done to encourage them? Would we want to?
One delightful encounter occurred at the Gosport Shed BBQ held Fort Brockhurst. Whilst sat chatting, a friend pointed at my knee and said “what’s that” I noticed two small bee-like creatures had found a room on my knee and were having a good time.
We’ve had the best part of a week away, at Pagham, near Bognor Regis. The most notable observation, from a Gilbert point of view was the beach which is shingle, but it was noticeable that the appearance of individual stones was very different to Stokes Bay. Much more pebble-like, than the uneven gravel-like appearance of Stokes Bay.
All the very best
Bill
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