The trip to Devon went well and I spent the weekend in a rather surreal state of reminiscing and double take as a whole host of cousins some several times removed and who, in many cases, I hadn't seen for well over 40 years slowly registered in the conscience.  The distaff side of my family is extensive and over 70 of us assembled at the Brixham Rugby Club all related via my great grandmother who ruled her four daughters and one son well into her 90's and of whom I have very fond memories.

I spent quite a time discussing river flies with one cousin who is keeper of entomology at The Natural History museum then found that a fair percentage of relatives are fly fishermen so it became a bit of a busman's holiday especially as I spent Saturday wandering around old haunts on the River Dart at Buckfastleigh.  Standing on Austin's Bridge just downstream from the village I watched a large brownie lazily eyeing a large hatch of what seemed to me to be purple dun which danced under the trees above the water.  I understand that this seeming perfection is threatened because of increased abstraction from the Dart which is having a severe impact on water levels especially during the summer months.  Something that we don't have to worry about too much on the Ribble up here at Horton.  Despite the problems the Dart remains a most impressive trout river and gives a fair impression of how the Ribble could be with a bit more bankside cover.

My last posting about Paul's pups struck gold and the dog now has a new owner, a member of the MAA.  I'm really delighted that Alan M has acquired him and really look forward to meeting potential real bruiser of a blond Lab.

I now have a lot of reading to do as Rob has very kindly sent me a copy of the history of the Burnsall Club.  I'll come back to this over the next few days.  But now I'm off to see what has changed here whilst I have been away.

Ian