We started the new fishing season. Actually the season at Ashmere began on February first, a bit early for me, and for most, since one would have had to break the ice on the lakes. But we did manage to start the season on the 19th of March, which turned out to be a beautiful day. I got five fish, also a hook under my chin, which I jerked out, and toward evening, the midges found me. Somehow I thought it was going to be early for midges. But it was a nice day for them too. Normally I douse my hat with insect repellent, and that keeps them away. But I thought it was too early. I was wrong.

Not much point in telling you what the Journal contains. When you look at it you will find out for yourself. It's all here. Read it, and, hopefully, enjoy.

DESTINATIONS - THE HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL SHOW, at Earls Court, London, is a friendly place, strongly tilted in the direction of the everyday traveller rather than the professional. They come prepared with sandwiches and a goodly number of experiences in a multitude of destinations to which they have gone, and want to talk about new destinations to which they would like to consider going.

Travel personnel here are patient and helpful. So when we came along they were more than pleased to talk shooting and fishing, many of them having had first-hand experience with rod and gun.

Cuba was very well represented and there was a lot of interest here. Cuba has long since broken out of its isolation and welcomes large numbers of tourists, except from the United States, which makes Cubans sad since it is the US that doesn't want its citizens going there. One man, from Texas, I believe, who wanted to go fishing there, got caught out, wound up in prison in the United States, with a hefty fine as well. He heard how good the bass fishing is, and wanted to try it out for himself.

It isn't a very mature attitude for a nation to say: We don't like your government, so our citizens will be severely restricted in their travels to your country.

It's time to go to Iceland. We have never been there. There is salmon fishing, of course, very expensive. But lots of lakes replete with trout, we are told. And the goose shooting is said to be outstanding. For trout on the lakes, you can spin, though I can't see why one would want to. It's what the Icelanders do. It would probably be a good idea if the fly-fishing Brits went over there and showed them how to do it – something like what the colonial powers did in bringing religion to the native heathens.