Starting 5th March 2012 and running for 365 consequetive entries (and beyond this with occassional posts) Ian Banks posted a daily photo journal blog via his Atoll Blipfoto portal. Photos were taken on his increasingly ratty old iPhone 4S and stories told were trivial, obscure and obtuse in equal measure. A Fantastic 5 'F's' of family, friends, football, food and fishing featured a lot. 'Barbel Alley Blues' was written to accompany the Blipfoto photo entry for a very rainy 7th July 2012 when I was fishing for Barbel on the part of the River Severn known in course fishing circles as 'Barbel Alley' at Hampton Loade, Bridgnorth with my long-time fishing nemesis 'Kempy'. Needless to say no fish were harmed (or indeed caught) during the day. Actual Blipfoto entry can be viewed on: https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2135122/gallery/