VIII 

 WEEKS IN WORCESTERSHIRE 



IN the Sudan one day a Worcestershire man 

 spoke of the charm of the Teme valley. 

 So far away, these home references impress 

 the listener. Hence, one day in October 

 this month being prime for grayling, first cousin 

 of the trout Paddington was the tryst for three 

 of us. The big railway strike* was just over. 

 Neither of the two companions, one a plumber 

 from Deptford, the other a cartage contractor 

 from Rotherhithe, had done any grayling fishing. 

 They were ambitious to learn but wished to 

 begin, in the old-fashioned way, with worm or 

 gentle. For fly-fishing they could wait, said 

 they. Above all, a holiday in the country was 

 their desire. 



The humorous is a happy ingredient in any 

 care-free holiday, and the railway journey early 

 supplied this ingredient. The C.C. had thought- 

 fully provided bait in the shape of meal worms. 

 Do not scorn them : the bird shops sell them 

 eight a penny. These he had put in a tin. In 

 the hurry of packing he had clapped the tin into 



* 19*9. 



