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Facilities for disabled anglers Accommodation suitable for disabled anglers Detailed history of the River Waveney Back to Angling Page click here
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Dave Gladwell, on his recent trip to help in Thailand writes...So how can I describe my Thailand Trip? Well in a nut shell it was like a Triathalon event. Gourmet food; cooked by the locals on site at the Centre; with considerable physical elements; and at times unexpected emotional trauma. Certainly worthwhile and we achieved a lot. The scenery was absolutely fantastic in the mountains, driving for nearly two hours often mainly just on narrow dirt tracks up mountain sides requiring the four wheel drive at times. Great bamboo plants towered upwards with stems 6-8” thick and there are over 60 varieties there to be seen. They will never look the same in my garden again. At times the sides were sheer drops in to Jungle and we were so high we were level with tree tops and clearly see light-seeking white plants blooming on the Canopy of upper growth. To enter a Village of perhaps only 40-50 people living in their somewhat primitive houses and view their humble existence was like a time warp to the Missionary Church story days I used to have to sit and listen to in my youth of Baptist hymns. These short in stature Thai people of the Akha Tribe are a nimble, friendly and clean community not holding the terrible aromas of South African villages. Very similar are the Burmese Shan in their community who travel over. Literacy rates are as low as 4%. Poverty is rife. In all this there burns the brilliance of their smiles in friendship and appreciation. How would we ever cope with the “Lot” they have drawn? The Thai people are great supporters of their King whose picture appears all over the Country beside the roads and public places. They have a colour for each day of the week they favour. Many are extremely vulnerable to exploitation and enforced transit by richer business men seeking to employ them in far of brothels. They make promises of work and education, or buy them from destitute parents, but ensnare them, boys and girls, in prostitution for the Bangkok brothels. Slavery indeed! Chang Mai where we waited overnight for the internal flights, seemed little better with bars sometimes forcefully offering 20 beautiful girls on the pavement edge by the bars. Like everything else in the poorer Asian sections, values are very different. Aids is no where near as bad as Africa but exists alongside venereal diseases. At schools the children are well behaved and dogs roam in and out to participate at will. Watch out if you are a plump black one though or you will be in the cooking pot as a meal in no time. Fishing is generally appalling and a waste of time in public rivers and reservoirs because they are netting the fish to eat all the time. They also regard it as a community activity and fish with about 20 in a row and up to six hooks on their rod’s terminal tackle! I did catch some catfish up to about 7 lbs though. The tough worms purchased came from the sewage beds and drew the flies in legions. My mind was very full and drawn to several poems of Blake and other socialist writers, and I really felt I that: “I am part of all that I have met, yet all experience is an arch where thro’
Patrick Coloquin in his time said, “Poverty is a most necessary and indispensable ingredient of society . . . It is the lot of man – it is the source of wealth, since without poverty there would be no riches, refinement, no comfort, no benefit to those who may be possessed of wealth. Indigence (paupership) therefore and not Poverty, is the evil”... All very compelling thought provoking stuff when one sees it close up in reality! So where did my mind find its resolution amongst the disturbing aspects. Well, it found that Hands Leader Dave who speaks three dialects and lived there 15 years had a quiet practical Christianity and simple faith. Dave and his Team’s service in this far-flung, poverty stricken undeveloped area of such impressive beauty is outstanding. Both practical and spiritual achievements speak volumes for the love of their fellow men and there are many grateful for it. I have been privileged to work with them and returned home the richer in life for it with plenty of thoughts in my mind for tomorrow. The site of the Boy’s hostel respite is rented and if the £5,800 it costs to purchase it can be found in some way it would release the monthly outgoings and give Hands the greater scope and ability to improve and expand the facilities there. Six voluntary teams go out there to work from New Zealand, Switzerland, and four from England in Southampton, Ludlow and Malvern. A sack of rice costs just £8; and to sponsor a child with "Hands" £15 a month, however any donation, even small, can help and is appreciated. Tax-aid fundings and direct debits are arrangeable. Cheques for the Group's collection for materials and aid should be made out to "Hands" and will be forwarded to my daughter Bridget Alban in Malvern where her Group is putting next year's Scheme together - with each person paying their own expenses again. Last year thanks to everyone, I raised £2150 and the Group £9100 altogether. Thanks & Cheers. Dave Gladwell © Just some of what your money done - for which I greatly thank you !
Can you let us know by email if there are any questions you would like to ask Dave regarding fishing technique, equipment or any fishing tips. www.bungay-suffolk.co.uk
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