I suppose that it's another demonstration of Mr Sod's well known law in operation, but after enjoying a summer when the river was rarely unfishable because of low water we should experience the longest dry spell just as the salmon season should be in full swing.  I stood at New Inn yesterday looking at a very sluggish flow going under the east arch of the bridge and nothing at all under the west arch.  We are promised some rain tomorrow, but it's not clear just how much and we will need a substantial and prolonged downpour to bring the river to sufficient flow to encourage the salmon up to Horton.

It came over dull and overcast yesterday afternoon and remains so this morning in fact yesterday was really odd as about 6pm as I was just going out to milk the goats I thought it was drizzling hard.  On venturing out I discovered that there was a slight dampness in the air, but what looked like fine mizzle was really clouds of small flies or midges.  I have never seen so many.  It was impossible to breath without inhaling a lungful and I became covered in tiny black insects within seconds.  The damned things seemed to get everywhere - in your eyes, up your nose, in the milk and they really spooked the goats which had retreated to the back of the goathouse trying to get away from the invasive clouds.

The breeze came up later and dispersed them, but we really do need a prolonged cold snap this winter otherwise life here next year will be unbearable when the midges are breeding and feeding.  I have said before that I am allergic to the bite of these beasties and I have quite enjoyed this cool summer as the midge plague has been almost non existent until this week.  If we get a warm summer next year after another warm winter I will have to go round in an exposure suit.

Ian