Readers’ Letters

Battle with a pair of monster pike

John with his catch.On holiday in New Galloway, I donned my fishing gear and my wife Lynne gave me a lift to Loch Ken.

But when she dropped me off the conditions were horrendous, with white horses rolling down the loch.

I sought shelter in a wood before wading clear of the tree line to cast. But the bait landed well short of my target area. 

I edged out as far as I dared and this time used a flat cast — level with the water to beat the wind. But two minutes later the rod pod was wiped out by wind and waves and my rods and reels were in the drink.

Whopping

Surprisingly, however, the rod looped over and the reel yielded line. I’d hooked a good fish and after a dogged battle out she came — a whopping 25lb 8oz pike — without the aid of a landing net!

I reached for the Sony digital — but aargh, disaster — the camera was on the blink. I rang Lynne, who said she’d buy a battery and be with me in half an hour.

I slipped my catch into a pike tube before casting again. Within minutes, I was again in luck — and it was another big one! 

Another epic battle ensued as I remembered my landing net was still in my holdall. Back into the water, ready for another hand landing, my legs turned to jelly.

I scooped her out at the second attempt and strained as I lifted 29lb 8oz of predator clear of the water. 

What a result — a 55lb brace from a wild Scottish loch. Life doesn’t get any better. 

John Barker, Whickham, Newcastle.

Mason

MY daughter and her family paid a visit to Durham Cathedral, and my grandson Christopher, who’s 14, wandered off to explore. His keen interest in the stonework and carvings drew the attention of one of the guides. She approached him, remarked on his interest, asking him if he knew any masons. “Yes, my dad is a mason,” he proudly replied. The guide said she’d love to have a chat with him, but when he told his dad, Richard, about the guide, Dad started to laugh. Christopher didn’t realise the guide meant a stonemason, not a Freemason.

Mrs R. Nelson, North Shields.

Simpler

AFTER WATCHING an old 1940s movie on TV my young daughter turned to my dad and asked, “Grandpa, was the world black and white when you were young?” He looked at her and replied, “In some ways actually, it was. Certainly life was much simpler then.” Talk about “out of the mouths of babes and sucklings.”

A. Wilson, Edinburgh.

Not for sale!

My mother is a seasoned bargain hunter and after coming across some half-price crystal glasses in a gift shop in Glasgow’s West End she had the owner climbing ladders seeking out more bargains. Carried away by her find she seemed oblivious to the fact he had a limp and remarked to the man, “My family say I’m such an ardent shopper that if there was a wooden leg going cheap I’d buy it.” He knocked on his leg with his knuckle and said, “Sorry, this one’s not for sale!” I didn’t know where to look. 

J. MacPherson, Glasgow.

Evidence

WHILE TIDYING up in preparation for my sister and nephew visiting, I told my son not to make too much mess with his cousin, as I was tired clearing up after them. He agreed to be on his best behaviour. Then, when the front door bell went, he rushed to open it saying, “You’ve not to make all that mess this time. Mum says she’s fed up tidying up after you!” My sister shot me a look that could kill, then burst out laughing. Yes, you have to be careful what you say to the kids — it’s often used as evidence against you.

A. Collins, Helensburgh.

No wife

MY DAUGHTER asked her husband to go to the store to pick something up. He reluctantly said he would. My five-year-old granddaughter went with him. On the way, out of the blue, she said to my son-in-law, “Dad, does God have a wife?” “No, he doesn’t,” he answered. At that my granddaughter asked, “Oh, does that mean he gets to do what he likes then?” He had to stop driving until he stopped laughing for fear of causing an accident.

John Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 

 
  “Not that kind of palm...”

A Piece of My Mind

The poll which shows voters across all political parties are more in favour of plans to scrap the council tax and replace it with a fairer local income tax is to be welcomed.

The TNS System Three survey revealed 46 per cent of those asked said they supported a local income tax and 22 per cent were opposed. 

At a time when people are under increasing pressure from a rising cost of living, the council tax is grossly unfair and is simply adding to this burden.

The unholy alliance of Labour and the Tories to keep the discredited council tax has been a monumental flop, even amongst their own voters, and they have completely misjudged the mood of the country.

On average all family groups, particularly pensioners, would be better off, with only the top 10 per cent paying more according to their ability to pay. 

After two Scottish Parliament votes in favour of ending the discredited council tax and increasing public support for a fair local income tax, it’s time for all parties to recognise the will of the Scottish people.

Alex Orr, Edinburgh. 

© All copyright D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd., 2008