In reply to Post #817
Snow can be very frightening depending where you are i was once up in the hill country driving a land rover and i got lost you could not tell the sky from the snow on the ground it was a complete wipe out so i can understand how people get lost lucky i knew my way around and managed to back down the hill but one chap i knew did get lost and the rescue team could not find him .They had all the equipment but he had literally vanished it was a similar thing that i had experienced a complete wipe out. he turned up 12 hours latter he could not find his way off the hills and had been walking around in circles he was a very lucky man he survived when he was found he was minus his boots and his over coat what he had done with them i really don't know but i would think he had been hallucinating caused by the cold but quite a few have perished on the shropshire hills old fiddler lock the gypsy was one unfortunate man to loose his life to the elements and he knew his way around and had passed that way many times on his way back home but he perished in those high hills and he was not found for some days after nature can be so cruel but it does happen.
But i loved those hills and i was never happier as when i was up there i loved the different seasons the spring summer autumn i loved to see the hills amazed with the purple heather a wonderful sight to behold to pick the wimberries by the basket and take them home to my mother in law ,who would sell them at the market to look for the foxes earth high up on the side of the hill, to watch her feed the cubs she would never know i had been there she would bring the rabbit and the hair and at times a lamb as well , i would fish the mountain stream that ran through the valley i would trundle the worm through the fast water and under the far bank the rod tip would bend under a violent take and i would land another little brownie a jewel in this small stream, i would only take the largest that i caught the rest were returned to catch another day. i would love to stand in the tumbling water and cast a fly as it drifted in the current you would see the splash of the taking fish most pleasing to my eye what better way to spend an hour of two on this summers day. , i wandered the hills far and wide with a box upon my back it held the ferrets that i would use to catch the rabbit i never bothered with the nets i would quietly slip the ferrets in the bury and stand back with the gun out they would bolt make for the cover of the heather but they were dead before they made that cover what a way to spend a day only myself for company and the ferrets on my back well a bit more latter
Snow can be very frightening depending where you are i was once up in the hill country driving a land rover and i got lost you could not tell the sky from the snow on the ground it was a complete wipe out so i can understand how people get lost lucky i knew my way around and managed to back down the hill but one chap i knew did get lost and the rescue team could not find him .They had all the equipment but he had literally vanished it was a similar thing that i had experienced a complete wipe out. he turned up 12 hours latter he could not find his way off the hills and had been walking around in circles he was a very lucky man he survived when he was found he was minus his boots and his over coat what he had done with them i really don't know but i would think he had been hallucinating caused by the cold but quite a few have perished on the shropshire hills old fiddler lock the gypsy was one unfortunate man to loose his life to the elements and he knew his way around and had passed that way many times on his way back home but he perished in those high hills and he was not found for some days after nature can be so cruel but it does happen.
But i loved those hills and i was never happier as when i was up there i loved the different seasons the spring summer autumn i loved to see the hills amazed with the purple heather a wonderful sight to behold to pick the wimberries by the basket and take them home to my mother in law ,who would sell them at the market to look for the foxes earth high up on the side of the hill, to watch her feed the cubs she would never know i had been there she would bring the rabbit and the hair and at times a lamb as well , i would fish the mountain stream that ran through the valley i would trundle the worm through the fast water and under the far bank the rod tip would bend under a violent take and i would land another little brownie a jewel in this small stream, i would only take the largest that i caught the rest were returned to catch another day. i would love to stand in the tumbling water and cast a fly as it drifted in the current you would see the splash of the taking fish most pleasing to my eye what better way to spend an hour of two on this summers day. , i wandered the hills far and wide with a box upon my back it held the ferrets that i would use to catch the rabbit i never bothered with the nets i would quietly slip the ferrets in the bury and stand back with the gun out they would bolt make for the cover of the heather but they were dead before they made that cover what a way to spend a day only myself for company and the ferrets on my back well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #821
I have been up in hill country this morning i was asked by the family i would put a wreath on my in laws grave no problems i managed to get to the church there had been about a ft or more of snow it really brought back some happy memories the snow looked absolutely beautiful on the fir woods high up on the mountains, i took my camera with me and managed a few shots it is the most beautiful country and it is known locally as gods own country the whole place is full of mystery and legends, of ghosts and such that abound around the place i have personally never seen a thing, but i know of others that have, one such man was my father in law, legend has it if England go to war on are threatened in any way the Anglo Saxon chief wild edric is seen to ride with his clan across the mountain tops of the stiperstones well just before the second world war my father in law was returning from his day shift at the habberley mines and was crossing the hills on his way home it was a moonlight night and he was surprised to see horse men coming towards him especially at this time and in the dark, but he was more surprised when they reached him he shouted out to them but they failed to stop the one was covered in golden armour and it shone in the moonlight he had a great sword strapped to his side the other horse men where dressed similar and the moon shone on there golden hair with blew in the breeze as they past,him by and at the rear were three or four big wolf hounds as they disappeared, from sight he distinctly heard the sound of a horn blowing this was the account he told me he had kept it in his memory and it was still as clear and fresh as when he had the experience, i do not doubt that he saw something i asked if it frightened him he said no he got a distinct feeling of peacefulness but the funny thing is one month after the encounter Germany declared war on Britain so was it wild edric riding across those hills on his way to warn people of the impending danger i keep an open mind my father inlaw was an honest chap and i truly believe he saw something that was not of this world.
but i have talked to other locals who have had funny experiences i have walked those hills all hours and have never seen a thing only foxes rabbits and such but i do believe that some can see things that others cant, i have had the odd feeling that i should not be there and some one was watching me my dog has growled at nothing and i was glad when i moved on but i have never seen a ghost , i don't ask you to believe me but this was as far as i am concerned a true account of what my father in law saw that moonlight night it has been seen by others over the centuries, i think there is more to heaven and earth than we will ever realize. a bit more latter
I have been up in hill country this morning i was asked by the family i would put a wreath on my in laws grave no problems i managed to get to the church there had been about a ft or more of snow it really brought back some happy memories the snow looked absolutely beautiful on the fir woods high up on the mountains, i took my camera with me and managed a few shots it is the most beautiful country and it is known locally as gods own country the whole place is full of mystery and legends, of ghosts and such that abound around the place i have personally never seen a thing, but i know of others that have, one such man was my father in law, legend has it if England go to war on are threatened in any way the Anglo Saxon chief wild edric is seen to ride with his clan across the mountain tops of the stiperstones well just before the second world war my father in law was returning from his day shift at the habberley mines and was crossing the hills on his way home it was a moonlight night and he was surprised to see horse men coming towards him especially at this time and in the dark, but he was more surprised when they reached him he shouted out to them but they failed to stop the one was covered in golden armour and it shone in the moonlight he had a great sword strapped to his side the other horse men where dressed similar and the moon shone on there golden hair with blew in the breeze as they past,him by and at the rear were three or four big wolf hounds as they disappeared, from sight he distinctly heard the sound of a horn blowing this was the account he told me he had kept it in his memory and it was still as clear and fresh as when he had the experience, i do not doubt that he saw something i asked if it frightened him he said no he got a distinct feeling of peacefulness but the funny thing is one month after the encounter Germany declared war on Britain so was it wild edric riding across those hills on his way to warn people of the impending danger i keep an open mind my father inlaw was an honest chap and i truly believe he saw something that was not of this world.
but i have talked to other locals who have had funny experiences i have walked those hills all hours and have never seen a thing only foxes rabbits and such but i do believe that some can see things that others cant, i have had the odd feeling that i should not be there and some one was watching me my dog has growled at nothing and i was glad when i moved on but i have never seen a ghost , i don't ask you to believe me but this was as far as i am concerned a true account of what my father in law saw that moonlight night it has been seen by others over the centuries, i think there is more to heaven and earth than we will ever realize. a bit more latter
In reply to Post #822
Its Christmas eve tomorrow and i may not be able to put a story on owing to family commitment it will be a busy day and they must come first. So i would like to wish those who have read my stories and have asked and encouraged me to continue . A very happy christmas and a prosperous new year and may i wish you piece and happiness for the coming year god bless you all pete thanks again for your support plenty more to come
Its Christmas eve tomorrow and i may not be able to put a story on owing to family commitment it will be a busy day and they must come first. So i would like to wish those who have read my stories and have asked and encouraged me to continue . A very happy christmas and a prosperous new year and may i wish you piece and happiness for the coming year god bless you all pete thanks again for your support plenty more to come
In reply to Post #823
Hi Pete.
Thank you for your inspiring an vivid images you have envoked in me again over the last twelve months.
You are a kick up the arse for me at least to enjoy what I do.
I hope your Santa brings warmth and love and good health to you an your family..
Best Wishes Pete.
Peter.
Hi Pete.
Thank you for your inspiring an vivid images you have envoked in me again over the last twelve months.
You are a kick up the arse for me at least to enjoy what I do.
I hope your Santa brings warmth and love and good health to you an your family..
Best Wishes Pete.
Peter.
In reply to Post #823
A big thank you Pete for all your stories, always a must read thread for me and I really hope you can get the book sorted next year. Seasons greetings to you and your family and I hope your wife gets better soon.
A big thank you Pete for all your stories, always a must read thread for me and I really hope you can get the book sorted next year. Seasons greetings to you and your family and I hope your wife gets better soon.
In reply to Post #822
it was christmas eve as i walked the path that went through the wood the snow was falling like feathers from the sky the pool was frozen , but all was well i was fourteen years old i was there to hear the haunted bells that was reputed to sound from the depths of the old 25 acre lake i would laught at such statements but as we stopped you could hear the unmistakable peel of church bells bloody hell said my mate Gerald I'm going he was as white as the snow lets go pete, no says i its no ghostly bells, there was a slight breeze and the lake was in a hollow below where we were standing the church at condover was only two miles away and it was their evening service the bells were really from the church but carried on the breeze and sounded like they were coming from the lake, but i must admit for a minute i thought we had heard the hunted bells of bomere pool, it goes to show how rumors start although i have fished the place many times and have been told it is hunted i am yet to be convinced i have seen nowt worse than my self i really think it was put about to stop the poachers from long ago, but it never stopped me from fishing the place or taking a few pheasants the only Person i was frightened of was the keeper and his assistants . i had poached this old place many times over the years and i knew it back to front i knew where to run if i was chased and which was the best place to hide. Just over the field from bomere lived old mr mc cartney he was a terrible man and ran his farm with an iron rod putting the fear of Christ into his labourers and he really frightened the locals he was a bully and to some a very bad man he had a small pool on his land no one would chance thier arm and fish it but i was not going to be put off by him or his attitude towards others he had caught on his land. I would be on that pool before he had even got from his bed i would float fish the place and caught some very nice Rudd and tench, after a time i went and asked him if i could fish his lake he told me to bugger off, and if he caught me he would stick his boot up my bum . By the time i was sixteen i owned my first gun he had a strip of woodland with mixed trees of oak birch and a few conifers i poached that woodland many times and shot the pheasants with my old webley four ten, one day i heard this shout he had discovered i was there come out yer bugger he shouted i was out the other side and away up the bank behind the house stop he shouted or ill fire and he did ,i heard the pellets hit the tree over my head, on i went and managed to make the main road. After hiding my gun and pheasants under some briers by the railway bridge i managed to get home i said to my parents the police may call and told them the farmer had shot at me wheres your gun dad said under some brambles they will not find it i was right half an hour latter, old Sgt landers arrived on our door step could he see me yes said mum, have you been out shooting today no , where have you been then he says, down town says i, why some one was out poaching mr mc cartnys ground he thought it was you, he could not prove a thing if only he had asked to see my gun i would have been in big trouble so i got away once again, i recovered the gun latter that evening and six pheasants and i never went near that old buggers land for some time . well a bit more latter a merry christmas to you all
it was christmas eve as i walked the path that went through the wood the snow was falling like feathers from the sky the pool was frozen , but all was well i was fourteen years old i was there to hear the haunted bells that was reputed to sound from the depths of the old 25 acre lake i would laught at such statements but as we stopped you could hear the unmistakable peel of church bells bloody hell said my mate Gerald I'm going he was as white as the snow lets go pete, no says i its no ghostly bells, there was a slight breeze and the lake was in a hollow below where we were standing the church at condover was only two miles away and it was their evening service the bells were really from the church but carried on the breeze and sounded like they were coming from the lake, but i must admit for a minute i thought we had heard the hunted bells of bomere pool, it goes to show how rumors start although i have fished the place many times and have been told it is hunted i am yet to be convinced i have seen nowt worse than my self i really think it was put about to stop the poachers from long ago, but it never stopped me from fishing the place or taking a few pheasants the only Person i was frightened of was the keeper and his assistants . i had poached this old place many times over the years and i knew it back to front i knew where to run if i was chased and which was the best place to hide. Just over the field from bomere lived old mr mc cartney he was a terrible man and ran his farm with an iron rod putting the fear of Christ into his labourers and he really frightened the locals he was a bully and to some a very bad man he had a small pool on his land no one would chance thier arm and fish it but i was not going to be put off by him or his attitude towards others he had caught on his land. I would be on that pool before he had even got from his bed i would float fish the place and caught some very nice Rudd and tench, after a time i went and asked him if i could fish his lake he told me to bugger off, and if he caught me he would stick his boot up my bum . By the time i was sixteen i owned my first gun he had a strip of woodland with mixed trees of oak birch and a few conifers i poached that woodland many times and shot the pheasants with my old webley four ten, one day i heard this shout he had discovered i was there come out yer bugger he shouted i was out the other side and away up the bank behind the house stop he shouted or ill fire and he did ,i heard the pellets hit the tree over my head, on i went and managed to make the main road. After hiding my gun and pheasants under some briers by the railway bridge i managed to get home i said to my parents the police may call and told them the farmer had shot at me wheres your gun dad said under some brambles they will not find it i was right half an hour latter, old Sgt landers arrived on our door step could he see me yes said mum, have you been out shooting today no , where have you been then he says, down town says i, why some one was out poaching mr mc cartnys ground he thought it was you, he could not prove a thing if only he had asked to see my gun i would have been in big trouble so i got away once again, i recovered the gun latter that evening and six pheasants and i never went near that old buggers land for some time . well a bit more latter a merry christmas to you all
In reply to Post #826
Merry Christmas Pete. Always love reading your bio my friend.
Merry Christmas Pete. Always love reading your bio my friend.
In reply to Post #827
Thanks taffi me old mate the same to you and your family have a great time and piece to you all
Thanks taffi me old mate the same to you and your family have a great time and piece to you all
In reply to Post #828
Pete your way with words is so accurate in describing past events that you give the reader a real feeling for what you have seen through your eyes, i read a lot of books by famous profesional authors and beleive me you have a talent just keep writing as you have untold fans on this forum , and you are giving a lot of pleasure with your stories of old.
May you have many years to come and merry christmas to you and your family
Pete your way with words is so accurate in describing past events that you give the reader a real feeling for what you have seen through your eyes, i read a lot of books by famous profesional authors and beleive me you have a talent just keep writing as you have untold fans on this forum , and you are giving a lot of pleasure with your stories of old.
May you have many years to come and merry christmas to you and your family
In reply to Post #829
thank you so much for those kind words fred very much appreciate them hope you had a great day yesterday so may i will wish you and your family a very happy and peaceful new year thanks again god bless pete
thank you so much for those kind words fred very much appreciate them hope you had a great day yesterday so may i will wish you and your family a very happy and peaceful new year thanks again god bless pete
In reply to Post #826
I am not feeling to good today full up with a cold and a bit of man flue so i really am feeling a bit sorry for myself i should really of stayed in bed and wrote this on the lap top but i have so much to do i hope you all had what you wanted i certainly did no fishing tackle as i have loads and really did not want any but i have received a new printer a three in one job that scans prints and does the photos i have already got one but that's up stairs, but i have the new one with my computer in the living room and also one of those photo frames you can load all your photos to and play them back so i have done rather well good old Santa.
i can remember all those years ago when i was a youngster when your mum and dad would say if you don't go to bed and sleep Santa wont come well i tried to stay awake and would look out of my bedroom window hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer and sleigh i was lucky to have had loving parents as they always provided us with a christmas. my cousin jean would always stay over festive period and we would get that exited on Xmas eve looking back i think mum and dad must of had quite a time trying to quieten us down, But it is a magical time of year i have played father christmas a number of times over the years for the children of our village and the look on there young faces always fills me with pleasure and brings a tear to my eyes, i have also done, it for the old folk at the home and i really feel that some who have lost there capability to remember still believe in Santa its what i call there second child hood, bless them every one as they have lived through difficult times with war and food rationing and most had very little money so i think a bit off magic helps them along the way.
some times i wandered where my parents got the money as in those days my step father was only a signal man on the railway but they certainly looked after us as children i have told you all about the one christmas i woke up to a find new split cane rod made by hardy it could be used for fly fishing spinning and float fishing a combination rod we found the receipt when clearing my parents house out when they both died, 70, pounds he paid for that from Gordon forests fishing shop in shrews bury good god that was an enormous amount of money in those days i also had my first Michell reel with the rod i was only about twelve years old they always encouraged me top fish well i suppose shoot as well as i awoke one christmas morning to a brand new air gun and pellets that gun became my second arm and although not that powerful would bring the dinner home i soon learned to stalk the rabbit and get close enough for a head shot it was around the time of the big myxomatosis kill which really decimated the rabbits for some years you would still see isolated pockets of rabbits but they were left alone to survive i soon learned to shoot the pheasants and i got quite accurate with it so we did not starve i know this is not about fishing but about a time when people really struggled to survive and live but they were good times where every one pulled together but sadly that does not happen any more some don't even know there next door neighbour, very sad really but i suppose that's progress more latter
I am not feeling to good today full up with a cold and a bit of man flue so i really am feeling a bit sorry for myself i should really of stayed in bed and wrote this on the lap top but i have so much to do i hope you all had what you wanted i certainly did no fishing tackle as i have loads and really did not want any but i have received a new printer a three in one job that scans prints and does the photos i have already got one but that's up stairs, but i have the new one with my computer in the living room and also one of those photo frames you can load all your photos to and play them back so i have done rather well good old Santa.
i can remember all those years ago when i was a youngster when your mum and dad would say if you don't go to bed and sleep Santa wont come well i tried to stay awake and would look out of my bedroom window hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer and sleigh i was lucky to have had loving parents as they always provided us with a christmas. my cousin jean would always stay over festive period and we would get that exited on Xmas eve looking back i think mum and dad must of had quite a time trying to quieten us down, But it is a magical time of year i have played father christmas a number of times over the years for the children of our village and the look on there young faces always fills me with pleasure and brings a tear to my eyes, i have also done, it for the old folk at the home and i really feel that some who have lost there capability to remember still believe in Santa its what i call there second child hood, bless them every one as they have lived through difficult times with war and food rationing and most had very little money so i think a bit off magic helps them along the way.
some times i wandered where my parents got the money as in those days my step father was only a signal man on the railway but they certainly looked after us as children i have told you all about the one christmas i woke up to a find new split cane rod made by hardy it could be used for fly fishing spinning and float fishing a combination rod we found the receipt when clearing my parents house out when they both died, 70, pounds he paid for that from Gordon forests fishing shop in shrews bury good god that was an enormous amount of money in those days i also had my first Michell reel with the rod i was only about twelve years old they always encouraged me top fish well i suppose shoot as well as i awoke one christmas morning to a brand new air gun and pellets that gun became my second arm and although not that powerful would bring the dinner home i soon learned to stalk the rabbit and get close enough for a head shot it was around the time of the big myxomatosis kill which really decimated the rabbits for some years you would still see isolated pockets of rabbits but they were left alone to survive i soon learned to shoot the pheasants and i got quite accurate with it so we did not starve i know this is not about fishing but about a time when people really struggled to survive and live but they were good times where every one pulled together but sadly that does not happen any more some don't even know there next door neighbour, very sad really but i suppose that's progress more latter
In reply to Post #831
so i think a bit off magic helps them along the way.
and your certainly providing that for us all here as well Pete
Your a lovely bloke and providing some real 'hairs stand up on the back of my neck' moments with this thread!
I wish you good health and happiness for the new year Pete
so i think a bit off magic helps them along the way.
and your certainly providing that for us all here as well Pete
Your a lovely bloke and providing some real 'hairs stand up on the back of my neck' moments with this thread!
I wish you good health and happiness for the new year Pete
In reply to Post #832
Thanks ash i really appreciate your remarks a happy new year to you and your family god bless pete
Thanks ash i really appreciate your remarks a happy new year to you and your family god bless pete
In reply to Post #831
i have walked the lanes of Shropshire and traversed hill and vales Ive climbed the trees to the crows nest, and looked upon its eggs , i have seen the young buzzards and held them in my hand, i have stood on wen-lock edge and watched the rolling Shropshire planes and thought what a lucky man i have been, i have walked one end to the other meeting many on the way most i met were simple men that would not hurt a fly but one thing bound us together was nature and her ways. My friends and i have shot the pheasant and the woodcock to we have watched the humble fox cross the rolling hills and vales, and shot the rabbit as he bolts from his hole within the hedge i have fished the streams and rivers catching the gray-ling and the trout Ive cast a fly in the twilight for that wily trout and held him in my hand and admired his lovely colour and returned that handsome fellow to fight another day, i have seen the streak of blue as it passes me in flight looking for his evening meal i have watched the dipper walk under water by the water fall, i have found the nest of the fly catcher with her eggs in the tree above the falls what more could i ask i have shot the duck on a moonlight night waiting on the stuble seen the geese come on high the grey lags and the Canada's going to there place of roost and have shed a tear at this wonderful sight, i am but a simple man that does not ask for much only to fish and shoot and watch the nature and her ways. to pick the mushrooms in season and blackberries to to dig a few potatoes from the farmers field poach the pheasents and the rabbits. To also fish the streams owned by the the big estates, be by the river in the night free line the worm towards the pool under neath the over hanging trees under the far bank and feel the vicous take and bring another trout to hand we will not starve, another four or five and ill be home. To listen to the nosies of the night they all ment so much to me the scream of the vixen or the bark of the dog fox were noises that i loved and i knew i was not alone no need to run and hide tonight the keepers were not around just a bit about my life and i hope you have all enjoyed it as much as i have over all the years, i can not run anymore my legs are buggered and my old bones creak with age, no poaching any more but i have my memories of those times long ago and the woods i used to walk and take the pheasents, most still stand but are not the same the keepers have now all gone so long ago and rest in slumber in the old church yard, maybe there ghosts still haunt the rides of these ancient woods on certain nights i dont know as im not there no need to poach anymore those days have gone long ago never to return. well a bit more latter
i have walked the lanes of Shropshire and traversed hill and vales Ive climbed the trees to the crows nest, and looked upon its eggs , i have seen the young buzzards and held them in my hand, i have stood on wen-lock edge and watched the rolling Shropshire planes and thought what a lucky man i have been, i have walked one end to the other meeting many on the way most i met were simple men that would not hurt a fly but one thing bound us together was nature and her ways. My friends and i have shot the pheasant and the woodcock to we have watched the humble fox cross the rolling hills and vales, and shot the rabbit as he bolts from his hole within the hedge i have fished the streams and rivers catching the gray-ling and the trout Ive cast a fly in the twilight for that wily trout and held him in my hand and admired his lovely colour and returned that handsome fellow to fight another day, i have seen the streak of blue as it passes me in flight looking for his evening meal i have watched the dipper walk under water by the water fall, i have found the nest of the fly catcher with her eggs in the tree above the falls what more could i ask i have shot the duck on a moonlight night waiting on the stuble seen the geese come on high the grey lags and the Canada's going to there place of roost and have shed a tear at this wonderful sight, i am but a simple man that does not ask for much only to fish and shoot and watch the nature and her ways. to pick the mushrooms in season and blackberries to to dig a few potatoes from the farmers field poach the pheasents and the rabbits. To also fish the streams owned by the the big estates, be by the river in the night free line the worm towards the pool under neath the over hanging trees under the far bank and feel the vicous take and bring another trout to hand we will not starve, another four or five and ill be home. To listen to the nosies of the night they all ment so much to me the scream of the vixen or the bark of the dog fox were noises that i loved and i knew i was not alone no need to run and hide tonight the keepers were not around just a bit about my life and i hope you have all enjoyed it as much as i have over all the years, i can not run anymore my legs are buggered and my old bones creak with age, no poaching any more but i have my memories of those times long ago and the woods i used to walk and take the pheasents, most still stand but are not the same the keepers have now all gone so long ago and rest in slumber in the old church yard, maybe there ghosts still haunt the rides of these ancient woods on certain nights i dont know as im not there no need to poach anymore those days have gone long ago never to return. well a bit more latter