On The Hook

Mary and I took a stroll along the seafront between Shanklin and Sandown on the Isle of Wight. After a couple of days of glorious sunshine, we got a return to something more October-like.

It rained on and off. There was an autumnal nip in the air, meaning we needed light jackets. But otherwise, it was decent enough walking weather. 

We Brits are an optimistic bunch aren’t we? Decent walking weather? I wore a baseball cap because the peak is good at keeping the rain off my glasses. I had to shake my arms now and then, to get rid of the rainwater gathering on my sleeves. 

We came across the lads in the photo. They were having a great laugh. Taking the piss out of each other, casting their lines every couple of minutes and running up and down the groyne. The fish weren’t biting, but the lads didn’t care. That wasn’t the point. The point was, they were out with their mates. 

It got me thinking. I reckon those lads had been out there with their dads. Even their Grandads. Showing them the way. Staring at a float for hours, to no avail. But having a good time while not doing that much. 

It reminded me of my own time on the bank of a river somewhere in Warwickshire. Staring at a float, hoping I’d get that tell-tale tug. And when I did? Messing up the strike and getting bugger all. But none of that mattered. What mattered was being out there. I had as much fun keeping my tackle box organised as I did catching fish. 

I suppose it’s like what I do now. Wandering around with my iPhone poised, ready to take another photograph that won’t be award-winning but will remind me of why I took it. I’ve walked miles in the hope that I’d get a couple of decent photos. What do I come back with? Snaps. But they’re my snaps, so I’m alright with that. And, as a bonus, I’ve had a good walk. 

That’s the point isn’t it? We all do seemingly pointless things. But if we get a few minutes of not having to think about much else? Well, like those lads, I’ll keep going, come rain or shine. 

Mary and I reached Sandown and went for a nice warm brew. It was like nectar, strong, Isle of Wight tea. Nothing better.