We didn't see any teachers on the picket line when we drove past Sam's school, however with the weather being good though I'd imagine the beer garden and paddling pools scuppered that idea, and maybe a gin and tonic or three, rather than sort of the work for the kids they are meant to teach.
Anyway with Sam twiddling his thumbs wanting to take him on his bike I hatched a plan. !! You see the Stratford Greenway follows the course of an old railway line, and this trail for walkers and cyclists links the town of Stratford-upon-Avon with the village of Long Marston.
It follows the course of part of the Honeybourne Line, a single track railway built in 1859 by the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway and closed in 1976.
Ideal for Sam and I as it's flat and traffic free and it just so happens to cross the river in certain places. I was part of a syndicate here a few years ago but sadly the farmer didn't want to renew after he was taken to court by a member of the public and despite it being public access, he decided to end the agreement.
A scorcher of a day it really was so not ideal to be sitting it out for a bite but there is a bit of the river Stour that you can access straight off the Greenway , so after finishing work and with the rod strapped to my bike and Sam with his BMX on the Jimny's bike rack, we headed on our way.
A look over the bridge over the Warwickshire Avon the water really couldn't be clearer, and with only some small fish spotted nothing big whatsoever, we kept on cycling till we got to the Stour.
It was very clear indeed and with a couple set up camp and swimming in the river upstream Sam and I decided to spoil their peace 😃
Within seconds of the bread being some small chub came up for a look. I'm talking fish less than a pound nothing big whatsoever but then eventually out of sight downstream, a better fish took the bread off the top.
I could wade in the river with my crocs on and could just about see the end of the run so after missing an unmissable take, the second run down of the bread the fish I hooked in to a fish.
Not a big fish and with my Nash 6ft dwarf rod not exactly a testing fight, but the target species caught within ten minutes of being there we were done and dusted, and could leave the couple we shared the river with to get on with their frolicking.
We carried on and did another 6 or 7 miles or so before Sam called the end to the cycling as he was getting far too hot and he was right as it was over 27 degrees.
A bottle of port and some cheese on the way back to treat myself having been told my job is safe (14% head count reduction in R&D) I was glad to get home if I'm honest, I'm not a sun worshipper I'm really not.
Mick, I can understand your frustration, but my wife is a teacher of 30+ years. Her union has not voted to strike.....yet, but every week I see the extra hours she puts in at home for the benefit of her pupils for no reward. Thursday is meant to be her day off, but last week she spent all day arranging cover and lesson plans for when she takes her 6th form on field trip to Aber next week. This weekend will be spent putting the finishing touches to the plans for that trip. So please, not everybody fits your stereotype. And at least you had a day out with your lad. Cheers, Ian.
ReplyDeleteNo you're right, there are plenty of good teachers no doubt, my sister being one of them and striking would be the last thing on her mind. They don't seem to get a voice sadly because they are over shadowed by those that shout the loudest.
DeleteBen is in a fabulous special school and again striking would be the last thing they would do, they are there for the kids. It's just frustrating that Sam has had so many days off in his first year at secondary school.
As someone who works in the private sector as if I did the same as doctors, nurses, train drivers, teachers etc etc to get more money I'd be laid off pretty quick and like many in my industry my pay has remained stagnant for years. I've just never understood the militant unions and those that strike as members of it, if I want more money I change jobs it's as simple as that.
I've cycled along there and had a nosey at the river. I remember it only because of the magnificent breakfast I had at the end in a farm shop in the village.
ReplyDeleteOh yes it's a great cafe that is !!
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