On the road again....well nearly

Given that we ended up lurking in Brinklow Marina for a lot longer than we intended and we're into the worst part of winter for me (shortest days); it hasn't been at all bad. The marina community is good fun & we've made new friends & re-connected with some old ones - some are here permanently, some temporarily & some have been found on the cut locally whilst we were out with the dogs (you can run but you can't hide!). This is beautiful countryside for walking in and, in particular, glorious woodlands. Rugby itself still has a lot of independant shops, including an "Arkright" style hardware store(Cox's Corner Shop) where we purchased 4 machine screws (for our new, lockable filler cap) and a length of rope. I had been wanting some multi-coloured mosaic tiles for splashbacks & I thought I would struggle to find them -we went into "Miles Of Tiles" today & there must have been over 100 to choose from which matched my criteria alone. Literally spoilt for choice. So all relatives have been visited, friends have been supped with, the little car has been MOT'd & sold, the boat has been safety checked & serviced and the boiler repaired & bailed out (yes it was flooded). So it just remains for one last food & drink replenishment & then we're on the road again.

Days out with Floyd & Fletcher

yesterday Uncles' Floyd & Fletcher took us to this brilliant park & taught me to find & chase rabbits & squirrels; Floyd is best at this but Fletcher is best at sticks & swimming. Sometimes I manage to get the stick, 'cause I can nip underneath & Floyd tries to drown Fletcher so that they're not concentrating. Baxter was a bit boring until the adults found a playground & then he perked up no end & was the only one allowed on the swing which wasn't fair. On the way home, we all had to sleep in the back of the car whilst they went up the pub for lunch but there was just about enough room if we all breathed in. Jill isn't doing much on the blog 'cause she says her cnexions scrap (whatever that means) & she' still waiting for the pics to load. Haven't moved home in nearly 4 weeks but we're finding lots of lovely walks - things keep happening but we WILL move soon. Love, Muttley.

PS if there's no blog on here-try NB Caxton!!

No animals were harmed during the making of this movie

Whilst I was back in Norfolk, Graham had been desribing the canine capers between Caxton's crew & ours. I'd only been back 30 mins yesterday when I had the chance to witness this for myself. Above is a short clip of Floyd trying to drown Fletcher (I think that's the right way round) with Muttley stood by waiting for the ball to escape (it does sometimes).

Setting out for our first walk with all of us together, I found that the adult crew were easily trained too....note how Lesley is carrying poo bags and Joe is carrying my wood!

By the time we returned to the marina the sun was setting & then Muttley went to bed & slept & slept & slept.

Stalking Caxton (larder envy)

Caxton arrived at Brinklow today & I controlled myself for a few hours before bashing on the roof - oooooooh I want that larder. Greygal commented about Lesley having spare storage & some empty cupboards & that didn't really sink in on paper (or screen), but when you actually SEE empty cupboards in the flesh (as it were) it's pretty amazing. We didn't have anywhere near enough time but I think we are all determined to catch up more thoroughly when I get back from Norfolk & we seem to be heading in the same direction to dodge stoppages between now & the dreaded "C" (oh how I hate it - Xmas I mean). Arrived back at our boat & looked at the pile of my painting stuff (which still has no home) & is now attracting more junk on a daily basis-boxes of beer & bottles of wine (no home - 'cept my tummy) "mantlepiece" covered in manky gloves & dog combs (do have homes, but can't be bothered 'cause used daily)and felt a bit depressed, but only for a weeny while 'cause Graham had made bread & cooked roast duck with all the trimmings. I find this lifestyle is not really synonomous with any prolonged depression and this is November; not a very good month for me normally, I would prefer to hibernate from clock change to middle of Jan - so far so very much better!
At this point I was going to pull up pictures of everybody crashed out round the fire, but my connection is crap again & I can't be bothered to wrestle with it. I think Graham has custody of the 'puter while I'm in Norfolk so you'll be high tech or silent for the next few days.

Bad Influences

The recent lack of discipline experienced amongst the canine crew of Matilda Rose appears to be spreading to the humans as well since returning from Norfolk. Having consumed far more wine than is good for us on Friday (with the guys from NB Spirit), we decided to delay our departure for a further day so we could indulge in more decadence with Debbie & Mark from NB Marquis last night (ooooh! aren't we becoming the cut's little social party animals). Debbie nobly drove us to The Raven in Brinklow (we've never been into the village before-normally in the Marina for a reason & then gone again) where a few pints of the real stuff & vast quantities of yacking were much enjoyed - by the time we left we weren't even vaguely yacked out so returned to MR for further yo ho ho & a bottle of (their!) rum where Muttley behaved like a complete tart with Mark. I think we finally got to bed about 4.00am!!!!!!!!!!! (not a lot in common). We woke up rather poorly bunnies this am - I can still party but my recovery time is not what it used to be. Funny how both Spirit & Marquis were last met at Cropredy, but in different months. Anyway, delaying our departure for social reasons has turned out to be all for the better because I now have to go back to mum's again Tuesday to cover unexpected hospital stuff. This also means that Lesley & Joe on NB Caxton will definitely be here by the time we leave probably next weekend now - Greygal has already checked Caxton out so the precedent has been set (did you think you only had one stalker Lesley?).

Hearing me moan to both James & Debbie that my MEGA regret in boat choice was that I have no area where I can get away from Graham's noise (his noise, not himself-MOSTLY TV noise) he FINALLY went and bought some wireless headphones for the TV today! He's using them & watching the footy whilst I'm typing this posting & it has more impact than you would think. Firstly I am sat in my armchair by the fire and am, for once, way too hot (I normally sit up the corner to read which is the furthest point I can get from the telly but still sit down & it's not that warm under the side hatch). Secondly, knowing he's on the boat but that there is no noise, I have to keep checking that he's still breathing & not died - so now, every 10 minutes he keeps saying, "I'm still here" I don't know which is most annoying grrrrr!

We've always loved our food but neither of us had come across one of these before it's clearly related to the boring old cauli & exactly the same price; it's called a Romanesque (I think that's how it's spelt) & is way to beautiful to eat so we bought it, photagraphed it & then ate it anyway (jolly nice it was too - sort of nutty and like a mild Brussels Sprout).

Daisy has just given up on the weather & is constantly burrowing into warm dark places & generally hibernating - she's only bought us 3 mice in 2 days.

Baxter & Muttley wish to apologise.......

3 whole days spent back in the "other "world showed us just how unfit we all are for "proper" company. I had made a note to myself that I wasn't to wave & talk to people & I'd warned the dogs to expect leads & the cats that they were not to help themselves to people's bricks & mortar. Started off at Kevin & 'shell's reasonably OK except both dogs dived on the sofa & then muddy Muttley deposited himself on 'shells lap after bouncing on Socks (their cat). Daisy left muddy paw prints over my mums neighbours work surface on Tuesday but managed to escape further embarassment Tues night by going out to dinner with Pete & Sally. Weds we went over to Lesley & Graham's for dinner & had their totally,to die for paella. wether or not itwas 'cause they were fed up with being on their best behaviour (not really) or because they were reunited with their lovely sailing Jack Russell mate, Bonnie, or Bonnies 3 cat friends I don't know but something went very wrong! Having turned over the bin, jumped on the kitchen work surfaces & barked at the cats, Mutley peed up the fireplace. It is a very, very good job that we are really really good mates. I also broke the rules at the hospital on Tuesday by chatting (I know I said I wouldn't) to a lovely lady, similarly half dressed, in the x-ray dept about the boat they'd bought, restored, and lived on on the broads many years ago.
Arrived back at the Marina Thurs eve to bump straight into James from NB Spirit-Dougiehad gone to fetch their motor home & they are leaving their boat here for a bit over winter. Isn't it always the way - I recognised their dog Oscar first. We hadn't seen them since Julyish on the Oxford. Have had a few glasses & caught up a little tonight but they are off tomorrow. Whilst chatting to James & trying to catch up yesterday eve & unloading car & unloading cats,poor Ted hit the nearest warm boat (which was Pete's, up a bit) & got himself stuck on the waterside gunnel. Bless you Pete for coming to find me even after he panicked & scratched you - so nice to be back in a world that understands us, but I think Muttley needs retraining at a correctional institution- I was seriously mortified!

Wash

Those damned narrowboats, I thought their max speed was only 4mph, Bahhhh. I said Baahhhh no not Bath!

Landlocked

Decided to make myself scarce whilst the engineer was here on Tuesday & set off to Rugby Tescos-I've only driven this car a few times & that was many months ago (himself decided to sell the automatic and buy a car with 6 forward gears). Found my way there & dutifully trogged round doing a major shop (it's so much less tedious having it delivered direct to the boat), proffered my card to pay for it only to have the card declined. I don't know why I didn't destroy the cloned card, but I didn't, and I picked it up instead of the new one! Having no other means of paying, I left everything there except the hot chicken for dinner - I had just enough cash on me to pay for that. Leaving the store a very unhappy bunny, it was not only dark but chucking it down with snow - all the markings in the car park were obliterated and I ended up in amongst the delivery lorries before I, eventually, found the exit. I arrived back at the boat 2 and a half hours later, freezing and miserable with only a (now cold) chicken for my efforts. Fortunately, for once in his life, Graham new when to keep his mouth shut - or maybe he was just so overcome with joy that his baby passed her first test - & dutifully returned to Tesco to fetch the shopping; whilst I recovered with a glass or two of vino. A timely warning that the "other" world we are venturing back into tomorrow is a dangerous and scary place. I must also remember not to wave, say hello & generally chat to perfect strangers.