The day started at 7.15am, Ken picked me up in his car, he had already picked up Colin Beavis and Derek Young.

We managed to get my bag in the boot alongside the fish boxes and the small tank that I wanted to sell and headed off. Over the forth road bridge, onto the bypass, then Ken took the A68 route to Newcastle.

The trip down was good, nice scenery and a good blether with the guys. Ken and Derek had made this trip before and planned a breakfast stop at a Dobbies garden centre near Newcastle. We got there only to find that they were shut! Doors opening in 15 minutes but not selling anything for another 30 minutes!!!

Four hungry stomachs weren’t going to wait so we got going again. Next stop was at Birtley. We got there with a little time to spare, before the auction was due to start. We got our lots booked in, the Birtley guys had even reserved some front row seats for us.

Over to the tea bar, a cuppa and a roll on sausage later and we were ready. The auction started, Andy doing a great job as auctioneer, together with the rest of the club doing all the other tasks required.

I managed to win the bid on some whiteworm cultures that came up, we had agreed that if more than one of us wanted an item, the others wouldn’t bid on it, as it seems silly to be bidding against your own clubmates, we were going to share the items anyway and there were enough to go around.

We had made a little cash from the sales of our lots and were happy with our purchases, all except Colin…who had seen some C. Frontosa (cichlids) come up for sale and was interested in them, only problem being that he had already spent most his cash, with only enough left for his dinner on the way home. Ken offered to lend him some cash, but Colin politely turned it down.

Colin’s stomach was in charge of the buying now!!!

The Frontosa’s were sold to another aquarist and I’m sure that we could see a tear welling up in Colin’s eyes!

I’ve added a list of the fish that we bought at the end of this article.

Ken had filled his fish box and had some in Derek’s box to and was cautious of buying any more for fitting everything into the car again. Something that the rest of us weren’t as concerned about, and kept on buying!

Auction over and the car repacked for the trip north, we said our goodbyes to the folks at Birtley and thanked them for their help and hospitality and off we set.

The planned stop was at a local Toby restaurant serving Sunday roast dinners, we got there only to be told that we would have to wait an hour for a table!

Off again and next stop was Berwick, Ken and Derek knew of a couple of fish tea restaurants in the high street. We got in and four cod and chips with mushy peas together with bread and butter and a cup of tea later and home we headed.

I got home around 7pm, fish checked and bags opened to let the temperatures balance, selecting which fish could go in which tanks.

A good day out, tiring but worth it, and as for the frontosa, there will always be another auction Colin….

My thanks to Ken, Derek and Colin for an enjoyable day out.

Ken's Fish.

Julidochromis Marlieri (4)

One possible pair of angelfish.

Corydoras Duplicareus (6)

Cynolebius Whitei (3 trios)

Poecillia Sphenops (black mollys)(8)

 

Derek's Fish.

Blond red guppies

Black Moscow guppies

Knight gobbies

Red tail black shark

Colin's Fish.

Poecillia Sphenops (Black mollies)(2 pair)

Corydoras Elegans (6)

Characadon Lateralis (1 pair)

Julidochromis Marlieri (1 pair)

Nanochromis Parilus (1 pair)

German blue rams (2 pairs)

Aulonocara Korneliae (trio, 1 male, 2 females)

Aulonocara dragon blood spotted (6 off)

Golden gourami (1 pair)

Golden gourami (1 female)

Three spot gourami (1 male)

 

Joe’s Fish

Large shubunkin (x1)

Three spot gourami (x1 female)

German blue rams (x2 pairs)

Black moors (x2)

Nanochromis Parallelis (x2 pairs)

Poecillia Sphenops (Black mollies)(2 pairs)

Silver mollies (1 pair)

Aulonochromis Maluna (1 pair)

By

Joe Graham

KAS president