Chaps and Chapesses


I would like to draw your attention to a super auction in the Charity Section

Very Special Auction - Gardening Leave (Veterans and Ex-Servicemen/Women)


There is a super bunch of gear including an Atomsix Rod, WM Salter rod tube, tying gear and one of my reels too

Bidding starts at £50 but please dig deep!!!!


Thank you kindly



Benjamin

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Come on Chaps - 111 views and only one bid


Cracking lot there for a very worth cause



Ben

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**The SKB Website**


Tackle Essentials - Pliers, Snips, Pimps etc

Utterly Pimping Reel Porn


MrTrout's Furled Leaders


Help our Heroes



*Proud Sponsor of the EYFA and Pitsford Pirates*

Can I just add on a more personal note. Unlike treatment centres like Combat Stress, you don't need to wait for an admission to go to Gardening Leave. I am usually there 4 days a week and I speak for a lot of other veterans here (as we have discussed this a lot). If it wasn't for Gardening Leave, I/We wouldn't be here today.

A bit of background. When I first got ill with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) I was still going out as normal but I started getting flashbacks and panic attacks and a lot of times it resulted in someone phoning the police because I'm sure they must have thought I was an escaped nutter. So I thought if I control my environment I won't get flashbacks. So I stayed in the house, the longer I stayed in the harder it was to go out, at one point I was staying in the house between admissions to combat stress (usually between 6 and 8 months between admissions. This was all before I found Gardening Leave, I then made a massive decision which would change my life forever and also save my life because I was going down a very deep hole with what I thought was no way out. So I moved to Ayr 3 years ago to be closer to Gardening Leave. Since moving I can now drive to Gardening Leave on my own and was able to take up one of my childhood passions again (fly fishing). Although I still can't go to busy, noisy places, I can spend all day down on the river with my headphones on and I am steadily getting more confidence.

I am not alone. There are a lot and I mean a lot of veterans that live local and never even knew Gardening Leave existed and are just so glad that they found it. Gardening Leave can't survive without donations and that is the only reason I tried to organise this auction because they have done so much for me and I want to try and give something back.

This has been hard to put down into words but I just want people to know how important Gardening Leave is, not just to me but to every veteran.

Thanks
Tam

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The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly.

http://www.gardeningleave.org

Having donated a part of the prize, I'd like to explain why you should bid. And bid high - this is not about getting a bargain.

There's been a lot of publicity about Forces Charities recently, and a lot of new ones started up.

We all know anow about the British Legion, but many have forgotten that a charity called "Combat Stress" was started in 1919, just after the end of the 1st World War.

"Help for Heroes", having achieved its original aims, gives a large amount of its money to "Combat Stress", and "Combat Stress" helps funds charities like "Gardening Leave", because 93 odd years of experience knows what works.

And "Gardening Leave" has shown that it does, .

So bid away. Show that you care.

cheers,

Andy

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Wm. Salter & Grandson - Merchants
www.wmsalter.co.uk

I wrote this before I read Tam's post.

He says all there needs to be said.

Get bidding.

cheers,

Andy

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Wm. Salter & Grandson - Merchants
www.wmsalter.co.uk

We must have been writing at the same time

You also said what I forgot to say so I thank you for that

__________________
The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly.

http://www.gardeningleave.org