My nonattendance from the canal-side in the years since I stopped angling appears so odd to me now. I used to adore it so much, particularly because my other activities tended to be at the violently energetic end of the spectrum, playing as I did rugby, football and cricket for different school and village sides. Having the opportunity to grab my fishing tackle, jump on a bike and ride for the ten minutes to travel to the local fishery and spend a few hours silently sat with a rod in my hand and watching a float on the water was a joy.