Tight Lines Granddad

What a joy it's been to spend a couple of days in the company of my 10 year old grandson Bradley. (Well 11 in September)

Grand parenthood is so different to parenthood. The pressures of being a parent are great, well at least I think so. Being a grand parent is just fun!

Nowadays there is increased pressure on parents to appear politically correct in a world that we know is far from it. The paranoia that seems to be promoted to the effect that the world is an unsafe place for all children is not present in my psyche. I think childhood and the world is wonderful and there to be enjoyed!

No, I am not irresponsible. I came from a world where children were not wrapped up in cotton wool, but one where a few bumps and scrapes were considered part of our growing up experience and not an opportunity to sue.

Day one started early. In fact we had to get up at 5:30am to get ready for a day fishing. It was so wonderful to see the excitement bubbling up in Bradley as he rushed to get ready for his first experience of fishing. It reminded me so much of my younger days getting ready with my dad to go to Mote Park Lake.

I was very excited too with the thought of introducing Bradley to a sport I enjoy.

My wife had asked the question,"How long do you think he will sit still for?". "He'll be fine", I replied.

At 6:15am we set off for the lakes on a bright and beautiful July morning. We arrived at the lakes at 6:50am and entered the Tackle Shop. With mine and Bradley's adrenalin now pumping I said, "One adult and one junior day ticket please". Wow, can't believe what I have just asked for!

The tickets were stamped and paid for and at last I held them in my hand. "A pint of maggots and a tub of worms please", I asked.
"What maggots do you want, white, red or a mixture?". We had a mixture. Here came Bradley's first fishing tip. The man told him to put one of each colour on the hook and whichever one was sucked by the fish, that was the colour they were biting on for the day.
I watched as he listened intently and processed the information into his brain's knowledge file.

Now let's get to the lake and fish!!!

First things first, let's get Bradley fishing. I explained how we set up the gear and he chose the float he liked the look of. I showed him how to attach it, clip the weights on and tie on the hook.
We then had to check the depth was set right and I cast out. Once that was done came the time to bait the hook. Unlike my youth when my pockets were stuffed with all manner of creatures and unpleasant stuff, Bradley, being raised in our new sterile society, had not had a close encounter of this wriggly kind before. Bradley touching maggots or worms was going to take time.

I baited his hook then showed him how to cast out, a skill he picked up with remarkable speed. With his chair in place, his rod rests in position, he donned my fishing hat to begin the day.

Almost an hour and a half after arriving I managed to sit down to fish myself.

The time ticked by as Bradley and I chatted. He asked me questions about fishing and I was only too happy to pass on the knowledge acquired since my boyhood. It was a wonderful experience for me, sitting with my grandson, together at the waters edge, with nothing but the wild birds and creatures to distract us from each other.

Then, my line went. I reeled it in and on the end was a roach, about 6 inches long. (That's Granddad speke for 15cm) I let Bradley reel it a bit to get the feel of a fish on the line. I could see his excitement as the vibrations of the wriggling fish transferred to his hands through the rod.

One nil to granddad.

The morning wore on and Bradley cast and then recast when his float came near to the bank. Finally a bite! He reeled in a small roach. He was clearly delighted with his catch and his joy was multiplied in me a thousand fold.

Of course came the obligatory photo. Again, Bradley's lack of contact with things flappy and slimy meant that holding this fish was out of the question. Instead I had to place it on the grass and he put his head in the shot. Suddenly the fish flapped! Bradley was up and at the back of the bank faster than an Olympic sprinter.

The morning gave way to the afternoon. Bradley was really enjoying the day. He continued to catch a few roach, commenting after each one, " You are the expert fisherman Granddad and I'm catching more than you on my first day!" I smiled back, thinking to myself how perfectly it had turned out.

Later in the afternoon Bradley hit a "purple phase". He hit into a shoal of roach. Within seconds of casting the float was under. Some he caught, some he missed. I became Bradley's Bait Boy!

Finally, at just after 4pm we decided to call it a day. Bradley could have stayed for much longer, but at a score of Bradley 13 roach and 1 perch to granddad's single roach he decided to be kind to me and let me off any further humiliation.

Bradley and I really enjoyed our day, not only fishing but being together without any distractions from other people, computers or telly.
In addition Bradley did manage to hold a fish with me to put it back into it's watery home and succeeded in touching maggots. Both experiences were received with a modicum of caution, but they were experiences none the less.

We headed back home, both of us looking back at a wonderful day together. Our experiences were so different but equally rewarding.

Bradley told me, "You are really cool Granddad", and gave me a hug.

He couldn't wait to tell my wife Cheryl about the day, which he did at length when we arrived home.

A good night's sleep ensued and the next day Bradley, Cheryl and I spent the day together at Wildwood Animal Park in Herne Bay. Again a wonderful experience for all three of us but so different from the day before.

Bradley wants to go fishing with me again and I can't wait.
So many people fear the onset of years with the high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. Despite all that, for me the joys of my mature years are so wonderful and so enhanced by my grand children.
My advice is, keep taking the tablets, embrace your advancing age with both hands and enjoy passing on your joy of life to others. As a result I guarantee you will receive an immeasurable bounty of satisfaction and happiness no money could ever buy.

Long live grand parenthood!!