I was very lucky, in that I had an experianced relative, who was older and wiser than me, and I am sure that that made a huge differance.
Just having somebody there to help makes the differance between having a bit of a laugh...or a lot.. when you fall over in a puddle, at three in the morning, having dragged your sleeping bag through it, and having a complete disaster... trust me I have done both.
I takes a lot of mental discipline to stay a night on your own when you are new to it.
Maybe try just fishing into the early hours under a brolly with a flask or kettle (even august can get chilly during the night), rather than stay the whole night with all the complications of a bivvy.. bedchair etc etc.
I dont mean to put you off, or belittle you in any way, its just there is a real risk of having a visit from the f*** up fairy, and what seems a 'reletively' easy problem during the day, birds nest, snap off, fish weeding you up, becomes a real mental challenge of biblical proportions at three in the morning!.... as I am sure everybody here has experianced...especially if a wee can or two of dizzyade has been consumed.
It took me quite a few regular sessions before I got my 'act together' so to speak, and got the hang of jumping out of a ropey old bedchair, running towards a dodgy old optonic which did or did not work depending upon atmospheric conditions, and actually lifting the correct rod and tightening down the front drag all in one fluid motion!
Best piece of advice is have fun, be safe, dont annoy others and dont take it all too seriously.
Ry
