Expensive Flies

07/21/2005

Two days of showers have freshened the River Trollaigh, despite much pressing business the temptation to grab Lachie and nip up to the headwaters is irresistible. A few casts with an expensive new fly purchased at Scone and I am into a fresh 10lb salmon. A baronial battle ensues and to cut a very long story of skill and cunning short, it will be Salmon Hollandaise all round. This success surprised me for two reasons; firstly, any expensive new fly is inclined to be hooked in a tree within two minutes of the first cast. Secondly, judging by the number of old camp fires as we climbed up the river, my fishery has been receiving considerable unsolicited assistance. We used to be allowed to set mantraps at night for these buggers, but this ancient right does not seem to be enshrined in the bolliffic Blairite Countryside Access Code, more is the pity. It will take at least a week to get some normality into our regime at the Tower of Glen Trollaigh, but we are scratching the surface even getting a stripy finish on the sacred lawn, although much of the BOGIE inspired banking has grass as high as the proverbial Elephant’s eye. On updating this diary, I discovered that it had attracted 42 comments from some arsehole called Sher, trying to sell mortgages to the Trollaighs. I wondered at first if it was Cher, that 60’s witch; however, it appears to be some overweight Muslim banker. Mr Sher’s comments have been removed and a threat of legal action despatched. Amongst other messages was one from my old friend “Salty Dog” or some such, commenting on An Lochran. This brings to mind the reporting of another art exhibition comments book. In the current Botechelli Venus Surfing show in London, amongst the pages overflowing with sycophantic garbage, the immortal phrase “nice tits” is writ large. Thank the Christian Lord that there are a few individuals left to express their opinions. Dearest Dotty has appeared proffering an Ardbeg if I stop writing now and adjourn to the Garden Room to enjoy a cool and midge free dusk, such an offer, Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.