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Caught by the River – Wildie

29 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by The tuesday swim in Photography and video

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by, carp, caught, film, river, the, wild, wildie

Wildie

Without the people affiliated to Caught by the River such as Jeff Barrett, John Andrews, Will Burns and many many more, I’m sure The Tuesday Swim would not had found the depth nor the talented people that I have collaborated with over the last few years. CBTR has always held its integrity, a soft approach that people are drawn to – be it online, at a festival, or through books, music and film. CBTR supports and promotes like minded artists, there is no defining CBTR creative, it’s simply a place where their imaginations sit side by side.

The Glass Aisle by Paul Henry – a film.

13 Wednesday Jun 2018

Posted by The tuesday swim in Music, Photography and video, Reading

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aisle, books, brecon, brian, briggs, canal, crickhowell, glass, Henry, john, monmouthshire, moonlight, paul, poet, seren, the, welsh

At the beginning of May this year I spent two days in the company of poet Paul Henry to film the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal above Crickhowell in Powy where he wrote The Glass Aisle. The Glass Aisle is a long form poem and collection of songs written with Brian Briggs of Stornoway. The canal is rich with a industrial and social past, the workhouse, the kilns, and the canal is the stage for the Glass Aisle, haunted by voices that echo throughout this diverse landscape including the character John Moonlight, angler, Crickhowell. This film is a mesmerising journey, seeking ghosts from those who once lived and worked along the tow path. The Glass Aisle is available here

 

CBTR book review – The Pull of the River by Matt Gaw

11 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by The tuesday swim in General

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book, by, caught, gaw, matt, pull, review, river, the

The Pull of the River begins with the completion of Matt Gaw’s canoe by his travelling companion, James. It is named ‘Pipe’, a nod to Roger Deakin and his recording Cigarette on the Waveney, a journey by canoe. It is the Waveney where Matt and James begin their year-long adventure. The narrative is rich as they meander through each chapter, using historical references, folklore and first-hand observations to form a bountiful account of each river.

The canoe is like no other means of transport: it is silent, unobtrusive, and it offers the passenger time and space to observe and contemplate. Matt Gaw understands this. His canoe drifts silently into a scene, it passes through, the song of the paddle is slight, and the contemplative world is easily reached.

Roger Deakin’s voice echoes throughout the book, especially during the eastern adventures; his words drift in at opportune moments, offering snippets of poetry and advice. Gaw writes on Cigarette on the Waveney:

I listened again and again, soaking up his words, as well as the moments where he lets the river talk. Some of the most evocative parts of the recording are simply the sound of water under the canoe, chuckling drip of dipped paddles as Deakin eased himself into a hidden, more contemplative world.

The Pull of the River is a journey into the soul. The power of the water is a constant flex on the spirit – be it a storm brewing off the shore of Loch Ness or a riffle on the River Lark, there is fear and there is calm. On the final leg of the Stour, marooned on a salt marsh due to a strong tide, the pair are fearful. The only escape route will take them across mudflats, their other option being to return to the turbulent water of the estuary. They regain their composure and take the later option, and not only survive, but start to flourish in this watery world.

In the chapter ‘Alone on the Water’ Matt Gaw observes the re-wilding of the river Otter. This time he paddles solo, and the experience is wholly different. He seeks  out the newly introduced beaver, and one evening is rewarded with a sighting.

Little by little, the author is synchronised with the river and the world around it. The river and the canoeist through osmosis are kindred.

Before the final chapter, where Gaw tackles the wilds of Scotland and Loch Ness, he takes a contemplative trip to his childhood river the Colne. It’s a telling tale – a river his father knew well – but The Pull of the River does not dwell on looking back. At heart, it is a book which encourages its readers to live in the present: to contemplate, to explore, to be lost, to lose control and to regain it again.

*

The Pull of the River is out now and available here, priced £14.99.

Nick Fallowfield-Cooper is a photographer, picture editor for Fallon’s Angler, and keen canoeist.

 

Detectorists – series three

09 Thursday Nov 2017

Posted by The tuesday swim in Music, Photography and video

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BBC, bbcfour, crook, detectorists, Jones, mackenzie, magpie, the, toby, unthanks

I have never placed a TV program up on the Tuesday Swim but with Mackenzie Crook’s masterful comedy in it’s final series I feel the task of messenger urging you all to watch is duty bound. Series three has been inspired by the song  ‘Magpie’ performed by the Unthanks adding a new depth and spirit  to the narrative.  The dectectorists of Danebury; a conglomerate  of archaeologists, treasure hunters, romantics and anoraks strive on, challenged by modern life but driven by the mysticism of the past, tragic, funny, and spiritual, will Andy and Lance uncover the magpie’s tale or shall they leave it lost and buried. Watch here.

The Suffolk Stour by canoe

08 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by The tuesday swim in General, Photography and video

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Tags

build, camping, canadian, canoe, portage, self, stour, suffolk, swim, the, Tuesday, wild

This year I have fished probably less than ever before but I have managed to achieve one thing, I built a canoe. Drifting on water would be a new found perspective that had an appeal and the urge to construct something was prevalent. The process of building the canoe and why I ended up doing it is written up in issue 11 of Fallon’s Angler along with a rather good cover but I will refrain from saying anymore while I gently blush!

After a few short trips on the Lea in the summer myself and a friend Greg decided to make one last trip of the year, to paddle along the Suffolk Stour in the autumn, (personally my favourite time of year).  I knew very little about the county or the river despite making many visits to Portman Road over the years as a life long supporter of Ipswich Town. For both of us this would be a voyage of unknowns and an opportunity to load up the canoe and try it out before I plan a longer trip next spring.

We set off a day after southern England was hit by the aftermath of hurricane Ophelia which whipped up the Sahara sands, a Ray Bradbury’esk atmosphere  cloaked the land in an orange haze as we set off from Bures on the Essex/Suffolk border. Our journey was to be around thirteen miles with a stop off overnight on a small campsite that nestled next to the river. We packed light but made sure we had good provisions; wine, whiskey and food, our campsite had a farm shop and 28 days old steak was offered up to our open fire in the evening cooked on my old steel pan, we were alone, we were the last campers of the season. The night was mild but by sunrise light rain started to fall which slowly became heavier throughout the morning. Over the two days we had the Stour to ourselves aside from the occasional dog walker and one lone angler who sat motionless in the early morning drizzle of our second day. He sat still, an elderly man who’s posture resembled that of a  heron transfixed on the water, mutual respect was exchanged in a silent nod as he waited for us to drift past so he could once again be alone with his thoughts as we headed on towards Stratford-St- Mary.

The River Man – A life defined by a river.

04 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by The tuesday swim in General, Photography and video

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angler, blackwater, falcon's, film, fishing, Gorodecky, man, richard, river, riverman, salmon, the

After my recent trip to the enchanting River Blackwater in Co Cork, I  came across this film, written and directed by Richard Gorodecky  which struck a chord and reminded me of my similar experiences, especially of those in ‘our’ fishing hut. Fishing huts are always heavy with atmosphere, the river a constant sound that permeates through the walls leaving the angler with a itch that there is more fishing to be done. For issue 4 of Fallon’s Angler I have captured the fishing hut in our regular ‘Through the Lens’ series, but until its publication watch this short trailer and take in the atmosphere…

 

The song of the paddle.

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by The tuesday swim in General

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bill, canadian, canoe, lea, mason, of, paddle, river, song, the

I believe the term ‘song of the paddle’ orginated from an american writer/artist called Bill Mason who wrote and produced a film of the same name in the post hippy era of the mid seventies, where he explores the ‘wilds’ with his family in two open canoes. In his film he states “the wilderness was only invented by the white men, for the native americans it was always know as home, now modern society has put a distance between man and his creator.” To take up the paddle or to cast a line must surely be part of the re-connection that drives  anglers and canoeist to venture out? So while paddle and rod cross swords in this country over their  fight for rights to our rivers,  it must be both parties that should tread carefully as we have no rights, if we are lucky we have the opportunity to experience, and then we leave, the ‘wilderness’ should not be plundered, nor exploited and certainly not owned.

Screen shot 2015-01-20 at 14.06.36

Click here to view.

A few years ago I bought a Canadian canoe, an ex-army friend borrowed it almost immediately and took it on some adventures, from source to sea along the Thames, and the following year the length of the Wye on the Welsh/English border. I was happy that the canoe was getting used but I was envious when his tales were re-told. One story that struck a chord was the night-time paddles (mainly to avoid the boat traffic during the day) on the Thames,  to be afloat on the river at night and experience the very first light while drifting with the flow must have been magical, no other soul, just the song of the paddle.

I eventually reclaimed the canoe from a frozen shipyard one January morning out on an estuary in Essex, but to be honest it was nearing the end, damp had got to it, boards were delaminating. So this year I have started to  build a new plywood Canadian canoe, twelve feet in length, that should carry two adults and some gear. In the summer  I want set out and paddle the length of the River Lea from it’s source in Hertfordshire  to Leamouth where it enters the Thames. Like Bill Mason I want this journey to be a connection and not just a recreation, exploring your place, your home and what comes around the corner is a journey that only ends, when it ends.

The Tuesday swim photographer.

28 Friday Nov 2014

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landscapes, photographer, photography, sim, the, Tuesday, tumblr

An update on the tuesday swim photographer project…

http://thetuesdayswim.tumblr.com/

Welsh sandstorm
Sussex millpond
river wye waiting
River Whitewater 2
Some pike 3
Dobbs Weir

The tuesday swim photographer

26 Friday Sep 2014

Posted by The tuesday swim in General

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photography, swim, the, Tuesday, tumblr

A  photographic project that I am working on, the element water is a prime player…

http://thetuesdayswim.tumblr.com/

IMG_0055
lea in summer:HR
Epping Leaf HR
Leyton Marsh comp HR
Leyton Marsh HR
Loch morie
Mud boots HR
aerial c815:HR
IMG_0043
Quills
Wye HR
Wye
river alness:HR

The Tuesday Swim’s 100th post.

14 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by The tuesday swim in General

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swim, the, Tuesday

When I started The Tuesday Swim I didn’t quite know how long I would be writing this blog. From the beginning I wanted to do something that had a sense of originality and held a captive audience even if it was for a select few. I was never a fan of reading about someones day-to-day captures unless the writing or circumstances were exceptional. We all go fishing for different reasons and I didn’t want to preach to the reader about my personal angling triumphs, anyway to be honest they are too few and far between these days! I guess for me I am interested in exploring the feeder stream rather than the main river, the less obvious is more compelling and its quieter, there is no shouting about it here.

Because of my modest writing skills I made a conscious effort not to become overly romantic, flowery or down right clever, instead I have just tried to write my blog in plain english…keep it simple and not to plagiarise others with more natural talent. The most important bit was to include original content and keep it fresh.

What I have really enjoyed is the feedback from like-minded anglers (and non-anglers) here in the UK and overseas  (I need to work on those african cousins, see the map below) who have appreciated the blog by following, commenting, or just simply reading it. This keeps me looking for new material to write about or photograph…always a pleasure never a chore.

world map

For now a big thank you to every reader as the tuesday swim sets sail to take on the sea and a chance of a spring/summer sea bass…coming soon!

header-seagulls.jpg

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Off to the marshes #hackneymarshes
I’ve been here before but this is reassuringly familiar, an antidote to the boutique homogenous lifestyle that is rife in our city. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Watersmeet- Our current winter film set on the Hampshire Avon with @adamchetwood @kgparr link in my bio. Where to next? #anglingfilms #chubfishing
Watersmeet - Chub fishing on the Hampshire Avon, our new film for winter #hampshireavon #hampshireavonfishing #chub #fallonsangler #fishingfilms #winterfishing link in bio
A reunion on the Hampshire Avon. Our new film for Fallons Angler ready to view in time for Christmas. Friends, pints, and fishing #chubfishing #chub #fishingfilms #fallonsangler #hampshireavon
Surely it’s time for a perch?
Epping forest #eppingforest
The fading light plays a strong roll on us at this time of year. The Witching Hour film available to view, link in bio. #embracethedarkness
Next week I travel to France and begin filming a life in Normandy over one year. A man whos footprint on the planet has the lightest touch, where his life and the natural world sit side by side. #dustthefilm …
The Witching Hour our new film launching at midday today 15th October link in bio #fishingfilms #fallonsangler
Last week we spread my parents ashes on the South Downs. In life they were inseparable, so we did the honourable thing and mixed their ashes with our own hands, returned them to the chalk on the Sussex Downs at a geographical point between birth, life and death.
The Prince of Peace is dead, thank you for the musical and spiritual journey of my life. 1940-2022 #pharoahsanders
A quick over nighter by the river and under the stars with @fallonsangler_magazine for a new film. Packing light - bedroll, camera, drone and a Katsu Curry Pot Noodle or two. Film out in a fortnight. In the meantime please order our new issue of Fallons Angler capturing the bewitching hour. #autumnequinox #fallonsangler #fishingfilms #canonuk
Norway, reassuringly boring with some hidden surprises #norway #oslo #snorway

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