It’s all change with the chickens.
The original ex-battery hens have now all passed away.
To be replaced by a trio of individuals.
Their free run has come to an end.
Partly down to the damage they were causing and partly down to the latest Sunnyrhyl arrival, Stig!
More of him another time.
Freshly installed has been a run made from 6ft trellis and bespoke chicken wire.
You can make out a mini compost heap on the left.
I felt guilty that the’re access to the main heap came to an end.
They love it in there!
Oversized to fit the lawnmower through, I made the gate myself.
It does have a tendancy to ‘fall apart’ when slammed though!
Headwyn’s hutches are still going strong.
The 2 Silkies are small and cute.
I’ll try and get a photo of them after a downpoor. You will laugh!
The grown up, Tony, makes up for the lack of cuteness with a regal air.
They are all laying as I speak.
Plans are afoot to add a couple of others in the near future.
Still a very rewarding pastime
It’s been a while since I’ve given an update on the Sunnyrhyl Allotment.
A few people have enquired as to the state of play, so here goes………
It’s business as usual this year, this time with a selection of vegetables that we are actually going to eat.
Out has gone some fine performers from previous years. Notably, Sprouts, Cabbage and Pumpkin.
All of which performed well but ultimately, we didn’t take to.
I think back to ‘Pumpkin Week’ last year which, after 7 days of the stuff, we ended up declaring ‘Never Again’!
That was before the Pumpkin carving course though!
So, for the time being, we have decided to maximise the stuff we enjoy.
Beetroot, Carrots, Leeks, More Beetroot, Tomato and a lone Corgette plant.
The Leeks are getting a bit taken over, but we’ll start pulling the Carrots and Beet soon to give them a bit of space.
We had 4 Corgette plants last year. What do you do with 4 Corgettes a day?
So this year, just the one.
Productive as expected.
Loads of Potatoes.
Nutty ‘Firs’ in the buckets and Maris Piper in the ground.
All flying.
The Onions went in late, slight concern over their fat necks but hopefull of something usable.
Thinking about it, I’m sure we’ve got too many Potatoes
It’s actually getting easier as the years pass.
Still a bit of time and effort prepping, and then there’s the weeds.
But I as stand here now, it’s been another worthwhile exercise.
Venue - Hydro, Rhyl
Tide - High
Time - Day
Bait - Fresh Lug
It’s a much more sociable activity fishing over high.
With promenaders and dog walkers a plenty, you are guaranteed some interesting conversations.
Sometimes it’s just what you need to take your mind of the lack of fish.
Having put the world to rights with several couples, Headwyn stopped by on Castwatch duties for a natter.
Another hour passed and despite having no luck, I eventually had the place to myself.
Venue - Pensarn
Tide - Low
Time - Day
Bait - Fresh Lug, Frozen Razor
I had a desire to get out today, but I didn’t know where to go.
I thought I’d leave it to fate!
If Geoff’s had Fresh Lug in, I’d fish Rhyl.
If he had Fresh Rag, it would be Holyhead Breakwater.
As it happened, he had both!
Bugger!!!!!
I plumped for a pack of Lug and drove to…………
Pensarn!
East of the car park, just by a couple of outflow pipes.
Still desperate to free up some freezer space, I had some of my winter stock of Razor to compliment the Lug.
Going posh with 2 rods, it was the razor at distance on a Wormy Pennel and Lug sections close in on a Jensen Flapper.
The sea was flat calm so hopes weren’t exactly high, but another deserted beach meant that the ponder factor was ramped upto 100%.
Another blank, but good to try out a different venue.
Venue - Splash Point, Rhyl
Tide - Low
Time - Day
Bait - Fresh Lug, Frozen Razor
Surely it was a good omen finding a penny on the prom steps!
With the fresh bait delivery still on it’s way, a lone frozen Razor was dispatched seaward.
Notbad arrived with 20 of Geoff’s finest Lug. First cast for him and the lucky penny was doing the business!
I’d switched to worm by now and was getting stripped on a regular basis.
2 hours upto and 1 hour after low was enough for me. My BB eviction kerfew had arrived.
A blank for me tonight.
I handed over the lucky penny and left Notbad fishing into the dark.
The conditions were lumpy today. Luckily, Suveran’s dual hull design rides the waves well and offers a stable platform to fish from.
Tope and general fishing was the order of the day. With Mackerel showing in abbundance, the big baits were quickly dropped down.
Carl joined us today on work experience. It didn’t take him long to show us how to hook into a Tope!
After 3 laps of the boat and 2 close calls with the net, the fish got off. Luckily we had sight of it.The picture doesn’t really do it justice. Estimated at 40+
I was busy targeting the smaller stuff. My 3 hook paternoster came up with 3 Mackerel on. This signalled a mad half hour with Tope runs coming from every corner of the boat.
We must have had 5 hooked at one point. Simon and Carl remained calm amidst the mayhem!
Mark was in!
And duly landed,
To starboard, Martin had a nice specimen.
Meanwhile, my species hunt continued.
Simons guaranteed Red and Grey Gurnard rig did the business on sucsessive drops!
Next on my list was a Bull Huss. Simon was busy again and presented me with another special rig.
A Tope wasn’t reading the script…………..
…….but the Huss soon followed.
There were some nice Tubs coming out. This was the best of the day. Weighed at 3lb 9oz.
After a few false alarms, Wes eventually landed a decent Tope.
Venue - Holyhead Breakwater
Tide - High to Low
Time - Day
Bait - Fresh Lug, Frozen Mackerel, Fresh Rag
Things are hotting up on this years Species Hunt. With lots of the regular stuff already accounted for, a trip up to Holyhead Breakwater for some mini species was called for.
Fishing from your car means you can fish as many rods as you like. Notbad and myself made the most of this opportunity.
Fishing 3 hook Jensen mini-flappers was paying dividends for Tony and Simon. A good selection of species was accounted for.
Tony with a Tompot Blenny.
Event - Rhyl Fun In The Sun, 2010
Location - Events Arena, Rhyl
Date - 28th + 29th August 2010
Timings - To Be Announced
Cost - Free!!!!!
Following hot on the heels of The Rhyl Airshow 2010, another FREE event has been announced by Denbighshire County Council.
‘Fun in the Sun’ has become a regular fixture in recent years. Spread over 2 days, and offering live performances from a host of artists. In addition to a fun fair, children’s entertainment, face painting and circus skills, the RNLI will be holding an open day along with static displays from North Wales Police with the helicopter a likely attendee.
Previous years have seen some names that have gone onto bigger things. Diana Vickers appeared in 2009 and an unknown George Sampson was a guest in 2007.
2010 see’s a slight change in format, with the long list of talent show runners-up being replaced with more establised live acts, capable of performing a stronger mix of live music.
2010 Lineup
Eric Faulkner’s Bay City Rollers
China Crisis
Jennie Bellestar and the 1 Stop Experience
Dr and the Medics
T Rextasy
Acoustic Beatles
Ricky Cool and the Hoola Boola Boys
More to be announced, but if last year is anything to go by, getting a full schedule with timings may prove difficult. I’ll see what I can do
