Prior to arriving at Avenue it had been arranaged that we'd all congregate at a pub in a local town for a spot of lunch. The pub proved easier to find for some than others but by 12:30 most of us were there and it proved a nice location (barring the very low ceiling) for a quick bite to eat, a drink and quick catch up for those that had not been in contact over the past month.

Lunch finished and we headed off for the short drive to Avenue Fisheries where we were met by Pam, the cat and plenty of hot drinks (it was the middle of February after all). We spent a good while milling around the main sales area admiring the fish in the numeorus ponds and two fantastic large Parrots in the outside aivary before being allowed through to the numerous poly tunnels and holding area that is filled with some very high grade koi indeed.

The star of the show was the 98cm Chagoi in the first poly tunnel we came to, but with a justifiably large price tag, it was still there at the end of our visit! A number of the club members were overheard discussing fish with Dave Pope and Pam and asking for advice and opinions on the merits of each fish they were interested in, and at the end of the day a number of the club members were seen carrying their new purchases back to their cars for the journey home, a piece of Avenue all for themselves.

A whole afternoon spent in the company of other koi keepers and surrounded by some terrific fish was enough for most of us, and with the comments of 'enjoying a great visit' being thrown around by many,  I'm sure this won't be the last time that you find members of the club visiting Avenue Fisheries for a spot of koi related retail therapy.

We'd like to offer our sincere and warm thanks to Pam and Steve for allowing us to congregate and essentially take over their sales area for the afternoon, and thank them also for their kind donations of various prizes for the raffle.