This year, we have had a very harsh and severe winter. Unfortunately, some fish, who were in poor condition when they went into the winter, did not survive. Others, who have been weakened by the prolonged cold spell will emerge in the spring with depleted strength and not in the best of health.

As Chris has been begging the MSB members for articles for the newsletter I thought it might be a good idea to write a koi keepers diary. So I will be writing a month-by-month record of the koi year 2002.

I’m sure you may all remember the last August bank holiday of 2001, the Saturday was a really nice day and Sunday was pouring it down, just typical of the UK Bank Holidays. Well, for myself I shall remember it for a different reason, as you will read on, that Sunday I lost virtually all my beautiful Koi collection, probably my own fault, or was it just a tragic set of circumstances!!!