LAST WORD & TIDES

Another tale from Sam Harris.

Every year there used to be an annual small-boat competition on the Isle of Arran, which our club always used to fish.

Near the pier at Lamlash there was a permanent fish and chip van, which was always the first port of call as soon as you got back to the shore.

One evening there were about twenty of us standing waiting to be served, talking about the ones that got away and so on. Suddenly, the chap who was serving threw himself over the counter and just shouted “Run!” He was off in a flash.

We stood there wondering what the hell he was on about when there was an almighty bang. Fish and chips started flying out of the chimney, across the counter, and, it seemed, from all directions.

As a result, we got covered in batter and squashed fish and chips. and those damned things were red hot. That was when we decided that we had better join him and run for cover.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Many years years ago, at Amble, some of the commercial boats used to take anglers wrecking. One of these boats, which had a party out one day, had a very low gunnel and the nets were piled all along one side, and the top of the nets were a bit higher than the side of the boat.

The skipper decided to try another wreck and we were all told to retrieve our lines. When we asked how long it would take to the other wreck, the skipper said “about halfan-hour”. Time enough for a snooze.

One of the lads lay down on top of the nets at the side of the boat and fell asleep. About 15 minutes later, another one of the local charter boats crossed our bows, and the swell that this created made our boat roll around.

This caused ‘sleeping beauty’ to fall overboard into the sea. After we managed to get him back on board, the skipper put it out on the radio what had happened. It caused much amusement to everyone who heard the story, even though it was a serious matter. ■