Paul Arden | Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Incredibly disappointing to get seriously ill for three days of Rickard’s trip. This has never happened before and I haven’t felt that ill for as long as I can remember. Even Covid was “like a birthday present” by comparison. Yes I’ve showed Rickard half of “Withnail and I.”
Anyway. Rickard has been great about it and has looked after himself and also covered for me yesterday.
Today things looked a little brighter. Still in pain, seeing lights, feeling dreadful, but not at death’s door and completely incapacitated. So we shifted the Battleship to a new location. I was still too sick to fish and was worried I might fall out the boat, with dizzy spells. But by evening it was systems go with a tank feeling slightly over half full and I went out to find Rickard.
On the way I found a set. Which was great because losing Paper Rock Scissors three times in a row would have put me straight back in the hammock for another three days. And also great because Rickard shot a fantastic video. Which I’ll upload later. A shot from an angle I don’t think we have filmed before.
So Rickard jumped in the Rocket together and we found three more sets. So a ten set day - Rickard found six sets in the morning/afternoon.
A ten set day is the best of the year. Now we have a morning session remaining and the entire purpose of this morning, the reason life itself evolved, is so that Rickard can catch at least one big snakehead. (And preferably three!).
I’m glad to be alive again. Bummer this happened but the silver lining is that I’m still alive. And that’s just great by me.
Have a great day. Now to cook Battleship Potatoes.
Cheers, Paul