Contented Souls

Reach for your sunglasses-not due to the sun......

2012-02-01T21:45:00.000Z

..........but for fear that you should be dazzled by the brilliance of my halo and the sparkle from my oven.
Whilst searching amongst the 'stuff' in the cupboard under the sink the other day, I came across a present from Lesley (NB Caxton/Yarwood) - A box of "Oven Pride". She gave it to me a year or 3 ago.

Next Saturday sees the start of our 5th year on Matilda Rose and I thought I'd give her a treat so, stand back in amazement - I didn't know we had glass in the door!

Following my triumph with the oven, we broke some ice to service the boat and then reversed back up again, just in case we're going to get stuck for awhile. That done we made good use of the car we had today and drove into Northampton to do some shopping and then visited the littleys (the pre-school grandchildren).

Andre - now walking so fast he blurred the photo

Mylie upstaging grandad

Tylan - the newest addition

A very nice day and no-one threw up on me so that was a bonus

After a great deal of faffing around

2012-01-31T16:25:00.001Z

The very nice doctor in Blisworth declared me fit to drive BUT on condition I gave a (Tony Hancock equivalent) armful of blood and allowed myself to be fitted with a 48hour blood pressure monitor. The reason for the latter being that my blood pressure was ridiculously high in the surgery. There was, however, a very good reason for that in addition to what Sue, NB Indigo Dream would call 'white coat syndrome' (you know it matters so you get stressed and up it goes)
I arrived at the surgery at 10.40 for an 11.00am appointment as I new I'd have to fill in their 'temporary resident' form. This I did and the receptionist duly entered the details into their computer. All went swimmingly until we arrived at the address of my 'temporary residence'. NB Matilda Rose c/o Grand Union Canal wasn't doing it, even after I managed to whistle up a post code (meanwhile the doctor is calling me through - it's 11.05). Various authorities were called up from admin and, even when I suggested we used my daughter's address as she is fairly local, 'the system' didn't seem to want to know. By this stage the doctor had called me 3 times before giving up and carrying on with her list. Eventually someone managed to get something (I've no idea what) to accept and I was allowed to go through and wait for the doctor. Arrived 10.40; left 12.30 - high blood pressure mmmm not surprising really.
The reason for officially 'getting my licence back' after the mini stroke was that we felt that the only way we can deal with Mum's health issues on the East Coast is to buy a car temporarily. I hhadn't bothered to do anything about it previously as I'd had no need to drive.

Fed up with bureaucracy, we decided to walk across the fields to the little village of Ashton. The footpaths were lovely and mud free until we reached this dressage and livery yard. The last 2 fields before reaching the road contained their horses which had reduced the footpath to a swamp deep enough to swallow Baxter and Muttley.

They very kindly said we could go through their property and down their drive into the village - talk about room for a pony!

All of these buildings belonged to the site plus, of course, a menage

Ashton church

The pretty 'Post Cottage'

You can just make out part of the old moat that used to surround the Manor House

Last but not least The Old Crown; closed all day on a Monday but plans to walk across for lunch later in the week if they are dog friendly

Still out of focus, but getting better - they've eaten their way through 3 fat balls and a container of peanuts in less than 48 hours - they clearly know that the bad weather is coming and we too have to make a decision in view of the forecast: up the locks before Monday's closures or stay where we are near to the services at the bottom. It's definitely turning; the wind was Easterly and evil when I walked the dogs today

Portaloo????

2012-01-28T09:33:00.000Z

Go outdoors sell these plastic buckets with a hinged toilet seat below the lid:

The advertising blurb on the label says:

sturdy and lightweight plastic bucket with carry handle
snap on toilet seat
suitable for use with toilet bags and/or toilet chemicals

and on the other side of the label is a picture of three intrepid hikers in the hills/mountains

I wonder how they decided which of them got to carry it...can you see it peeking out of the top of a rucksack anywhere?

Beefur birds and Beefur bowls

2012-01-26T20:55:00.000Z

Way back before Xmas when we were travelling with Beefur boat; they used to put up bird feeders as soon as they moored for the day. This was something I'd wanted to do but, due to being constantly on the move, thought it would be pointless. Sue, however, said that it only took 30 minutes or so to attract customers so we moored up and gave it a whirl and hung up two feeders with peanuts and fat balls respectively.

I spent all morning watching the blue tits, great tits and a robin and did pretty much nothing else.

Then I discovered that the world indoor bowls was being televised every afternoon this week (G and I played A LOT of bowls before we moved onto MR), so that's set the scene for Mon - Weds this week; bird watching in the morning and bowls watching in the afternoon...lazy buggers.

I know the picture is lousy, but they just won't stand still!

So, enough of all this laziness, today we needed to move down through 5 locks to service the boat - except the pound two locks down was empty! We've started to fill it in the pics below

Plenty of water in the pound above - in fact it's overflowing the bank by the lock

The paddles are opened on the bottom gate to refill the pound

By the time we reached the service point we were running out of daylight, so we completed the service and moored nearby just as it started to rain. No time to put up the bird feeders and the bowls has finished for the day - it's a hard life!

Back from scaryland to MR

2012-01-20T19:36:00.000Z

From this.....

My journey consisted of 1 lift, 5 mainline stations, 2 underground trains, and a taxi (the latter was a treat replacing a walk and a bus) and that was each way! I think it is about eighteen years since I've been on the underground - amazing how quickly you learn not to make the - for me - normal eye contact

..............to this

the view outside my window the first morning home. The surface of the ice had started to melt and the ducks looked like they were, 'walking on water' as the radiation fog formed behind them in the warmer air.

No contest

Night night sweet Lynx

2012-01-16T22:37:00.003Z

luv Muttley and Baxter xxxx you very famous houndie in your forever sofa

The best thing about going to your Mum's....

2012-01-15T12:47:00.000Z

......Is about boiled eggs and soldiers out of your old Sooty egg cup.

Then there is the unlimited (hot) water

Not to mention having to not deal with sewage

A Chance visit.

2012-01-12T15:38:00.001Z

Jill has been at her Mums for over a week and I have been on my self enforced Alcohol diet for the month of January, added to all of that I have had a cold for the last 10 days.
Well something had to break.......(sorry Dougie no pun intended), It was my fast.
Look who took me out to dinner.

James and Dougie of NB Chance were out for a New Year cruise, taking advantage of the mild weather and had decided to visit Jill and I at Stoke Bruerne, as well as, others encountered on the way.
It had been two years since we have seen them and Jill has been spitting whatever since she found out that she was going to miss them.
Thank you both for a great afternoon and evening.

I have now moved albeit just through the tunnel to Blisworth, as my time in Stoke Bruerne was up, it is a lovely place to stay for a few days, Thank you to the Landlord Staff and boating friends in the Boat Inn for a very Pleasant New Years Eve et al.

Grandparents for the fith time

2012-01-12T15:19:00.001Z

I was given the news this morning that we had become Grandparents for the 5th time, Tylan Antony Thomas Budd was born at 9.24am weighing in at 8lb 3oz, Mother and Baby are doing well.

Today I staked out Mum's GP surgery

2012-01-10T18:33:00.000Z

I probably shouldn't be blogging this; 'dear diary' should probably be limited to teenage angst, but when you are stuck in this surreal universe and absolutely powerless you, perhaps, say things you shouldn't.
I had chilled and decided that I had to leave everything until tomorrow-resigned, given up. Then they cancelled the appointment and gave me another appointment with someone else on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it is unlikely I will have another stroke, because this is the point where I would have had it.
I took myself down to the GPs surgery and very calmly explained that I had a book, my reading glasses and a sleeping bag and that I was going nowhere until someone spoke to me....it took a couple of hours but head honcho spoke to me - really nicely, he didn't know everything but he told me what he knew.
Not a lot to ask; is it?

I am going spare

2012-01-09T17:32:00.001Z

I have been here, at Mums, for a week now and I still can't find out what's going on. I can find people who will let me talk to them and will listen BUT NO ONE WILL TALK TO US. It now looks like it will be Wednesday. I have completely run out of things to try and that is the worst of all - I have never felt so defeated. This is probably a blog that should remain in draft but sod it

I found this quite funny

2012-01-06T20:28:00.000Z

On my last walk with the dogs before leaving I came across the River Tove ...I don't know if the pronounciation is as in love or as in stove

Nothing residential here then

Look at these poor old girls

Lovely spot

Vote for Captain Ahab AKA Andrew Tidy in th C&RT Election

2012-01-03T13:20:00.000Z

I have prepared my "mini manifesto" but trying to say who I am, what I am and what I can bring to the party all in 150 words must represent a new sport - extreme precis!Captain Ahab aka Andy Tidy doing what he loves best!Well, having chopped and changed my statement for the last couple of weeks here it is:Andy Tidy, Author of website "Captain Ahab's Watery Tales"My passion for boating dates from the "dirty ditches" of the 1960's to the magnificent system of today. I have travelled widely on our narrowboat Wand'ring Bark, and it has been said that canal water flows through my veins! Professionally, I oversee operational integrity within a multinational business, shaping policy, strategy and applying a commercial approach to planning.If elected I will approach this Council role as an enthusiast and a professional, combining 30 years of commercial experience with a 40 year passion for our waterways. It's crucial that the C&RT strikes the right balance between the needs of the various user groups, particularly the boaters who must remain core to its operation. I will take a critical view of commercial and strategic aspects of the Trust's proposals and plans. I would be honoured to represent the boating community. This little statement, and those like it from the other candidates, is all you get to chose who represents the boating community on the C&RT Council. Not a lot to go on is it?I have had a look at some of the other statements kicking around in the public domain and my distinguishing feature, my USP if you like, is that I am an enthusiast first and foremost. Whilst I don't currently sit on any canal related committees, I do get plenty of experience in that direction at work. However, I believe that the getting the strategy of C&RT right is absolutely essential, hence my desire form part of the C&RT's inaugural overseeing body.I guess that this is the official start of my campaign, not that it will be quite like the Presidential Primaries in the USA!. If I am to represent the ordinary boater I will need votes from boating community, which is where you come in. I would like to say an enormous thank you to all those who offered or actually did fill in the Sponsor forms to allow me to enter the election. The papers have been collated and sent to Watford.If, having read this, you would consider supporting me can I ask you to spread the word by e-mail, facebook or text or however please? With few boats moving at this time of year communicating with other boaters is difficult, so using personal recommendations and pointing 'floating boaters' in the direction of my blog and my name on the ballot paper would be a great help.Oh - one small thing to bear in mind. Most people know me a Captain Ahab and I frequently hear cries of Aye Aye Captian from the towpath, but Capt Ahab won't be appearing on the ballot paper. If you want to vote for me when polling opens on the 8th February, you will need to look for me under my real name: Andrew (or Andy) Tidy.

We're talking poo (again)!

2012-01-02T19:31:00.001Z

Needless to say, typical boating, New Years Eve did not go according to plan. We thought we'd have a nice dressing gown sort of day before the hooley down The Boat Inn in the evening. First up to flush the loo realised we had a bit of a problem!!!!!!! So that's going to be 7 locks down, service the boat, 5 locks up.

Off we go and found Lazy Otter prepared to go down single handed-so we tied them together so I didn't have to work the double locks single-handed

It was so tiny, but the help was great as these double lock gates are very heavy.

Serious bank repairs underway here

So we moored up at the services just as another boat approached to come up. I explained that we were servicing and then winding and going back up. He was happy to wait for us and we tied up and went back up again as a pair-slightly bigger pair this time

I don't know the name of the boat but he was off to take delivery of the new boat he was having built.

We had a brilliant night at the pub, the band were brilliant (and not too loud) and they came round with sarnies and nibbley bits (steady Joe) just when they were most needed. We were lightweights, others stayed on until 4.30.

Had 8 kids, grand kids etc out today (well almost 9 - any day now).

Me; I'm off to try and help spring mum from hospital.

Size matters

2011-12-31T10:05:00.000Z

What is it with UK sizing? "your M and S" does ladies knickers at size 8-10, 12-14, 16-18 etc. What are you expected to do if you are 10-12 or 14-16? Absolutely the same problem with walking socks ( of which I get through many) which come in sizes 3-5 or 6-8. I take a 5 and a half!!!! It's enough to make a girl wail. Anyway, the wind somewhat abated, we moved to Stoke Bruerne, despite my ill-fitting underwear and ill-fitting socks, today. Not a pretty day for pics, but here are the best.

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy cruising New Year with a thank you to everyone who has stuck with us on the blog through our trials and tribulations during 2011 and we hope we haven't bored the pants off of you (even if you did find the right size). To all our new friends and those amazing people (new and established) that plunged in when we were in trouble, we thank you and know that this is the true spirit of boating and the boating community - OK so there's been a few oiks along the way, but you wouldn't want me getting all sentimental now would you........or would you?

...and the winner is ....?

2011-12-30T20:22:00.001Z

Been a bit preoccupied recently, but a few of my favourite canal side Christmas decorations

I like the Santa one up the side of the canal cottage - mind you, I did see another similar one but his trousers seem to have.. well, blown up..and I didn't want to frighten the ~~horses~~ children

Decision now irrelevant

2011-12-29T19:10:00.000Z

My mother 'phoned this afternoon to say she has to be in hospital for 9.00am on Monday. Trying to sort out transport to get back again....Sunday being new years day and Monday being a Bank Holiday in lieu (I think). This is Northampton to East Coast - about 4 train changes and two buses and walks. Sorry, poor old mum - we are heading for the Fens for just this reason. G might get to meet up with NB Chance in my absence so he'll be fine. At least after an overnighter in the marina I have clean clothes and clean bedding!

Left or right?

2011-12-28T21:33:00.001Z

Braunston or Stoke Bruerne?
G completed his 800 odd mile Xmas excursion by fetching me back from Norfolk. We arrived back about 4.00pm - tired and hungry with little more than a pint of milk and a packet of cat food (which is ok warmed up with a can of beans - bugger, we're out of beans!)
We soon had the fire roaring and the menagerie happily settled plus, with shore power, the washing machine working overtime. This morning we were up early with G off to Tescos for a major shop before returning the hire car at 12. Good old Enterprise dropped him back and we were out of marina land (like the water and power occasionally but hate pontoon living). I lay awake last night listening to the boat next door banging against the pontoon finger.
The wind has been horrendous today and tomorrow's forecast is not a lot better-so might not go anywhere as we are very tired. Can't be bothered to make the left/ right decision today.
Good news; our gold licence has come. Bad news; our new Vulcan stove fan doesn't work properly and will have to go back. Hassle.

Daisy goes to the Antartic

2011-12-27T21:12:00.001Z

I was cooking Xmas dinner when a shout from my mum had me running into the lounge.....I thought something dreadful had happened but, no...it was just Daisy finding a sudden fascination for the penguins on the telly. Mum was highly amused....

Daisy was trying to dig the penguins out of the telly. She tried from the front fIrst and, when that didn't work, she stretched up and tried to dig them out of the back!!!!!!

The mysterious draft blogs

2011-12-24T19:35:00.000Z

The new blogger 'post' layouts tell me that we have 586 published blogs, 1 scheduled and 30 drafts on file.
Now 586 blogs is a lot of pontificating (or, more honestly, waffling) but 30 drafts...what's all that about..? The new format allows you to find out, so I had a little look. They date from March 2008 (4 weeks after we moved onto MR) to June of this year. 20 of the 30 were just titles and/or thoughts that never developed or duplications for some reason. Some were too boring or contentious to publish or, more excitingly, sub judice - as per the ridiculous situation with the boat on the Fens in 2010. That leaves me with 10 that carry photos and memories worth retrieving. All I have to do is work out how OR just change the dates and publish them. In the words of Stingray, 'anything could happen in the next half hour' or, more likely, nothing at all (case in point, this is exactly the sort of blog I've saved to draft and never published).
.............................................................................................................................................................
I find this amazing; I started this blog just a week ago - before all hell let loose. If there are some that I didn't publish because they were too contentious, with hindsight about what I thought was OK, it's just as well I didn't or we'd probably have been ~~torpedoed~~ (not enough water) or blown up by now! This, therefore rounds off my 2011 with my menagerie at Mum's on the East Coast. Happy 2012 cruising everyone.

Idiot cat - will you PLEASE get out of the bin

Idiot dogs - will you please get out of the sea - grandma will NOT be impressed

Happy Christmas

2011-12-21T23:12:00.000Z

Happy Christmas one and All.

Please press the link below

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/zk7FKdBqhHCSm3nH

Thank you Dougie, James and Oscar.

Today I woke up

2011-12-21T22:03:00.001Z

and made a cup of tea. Then I walked the dogs. Then I went to bed.

Hornet's nest-well and truly stirred!!

2011-12-20T20:00:00.001Z

Blimey; that put my ratings up!!!!!
Quite extraordinary, my main rant on the blog was the bloke that left both bottom gates of the 7 locks open and some paddles making our day difficult and long but, more importantly, endangering the water levels on the pounds. Not a comment, not a reference; but world war III broke out over my moan about NB Stafford roaring past with sheet ice driving down the side of the boat.
Nearly every 'anti' banged on about drafts, water displacement, our inability to tie up our boat; it's not about that, it's about consideration. Working NBs Victoria Gosty and Towcester come and go - laden and empty- without any of this nonsense - they wouldn't have many customers left if they behaved in the same way!
I hadn't realised that G had linked the post into facebook - the comments left on the blog are sugar sweet compared to the facebook stuff; some amounting to threats against our boat. Unbelievable.
My blog, my experiences, my thoughts as I see things. Don't like it, don't read it.
Many people quoted NB Stafford's crew as having 40 odd years experience (100s of years cumulative in one case) and they will all have skills I can only dream of; but I have manners and that you will never take away from me.

Selfish, rotten b******s

2011-12-19T16:31:00.000Z

What a difference a day makes - there we were discussing with (new boater) Rob how one of the (many) pleasures of living life on the cut was the fabulous spirit of the boating community and how we all looked out for each other and that there were very few exceptions - that'll teach me to be a cocky, complacent little bugger then! We just met two exceptions in two days.

We set off yesterday from the top of the Buckby flight, breaking ice again, but someone had already gone through before us and done the first break ....they had also left both bottom gates and some of the paddles open. Now those bottom gates are very heavy and if, nasty man, you are too wimpy to shut them and too wimpy to drop a paddle, then PLEASE GET OFF THE CUT, because I am 8 1/2 stone and, with difficulty, managed it. Yes, I am cross and, yes, I am pissed off with you. Those 7 locks took us most of the day.

Conversely, we pulled up at the end of a line of winter moorings - at the invitation of the last in line who pointed out the vacancy and had just lagged the tap - just before the waterpoint. Now THAT's what I call pole position at this time in the year. Lovely boaters back again.

Then we woke up this morning to NB Stafford roaring through the line of boats breaking ice and with a big building sheet of ice on his bow scoring a slice down everyones boat. When asked to slow down (not just by us) he told everyone to piss off and get a life - perhaps I SHOULD go and live in a bungalow.....selfish, rotten b******s.

Yeah, there are pics but too angry to be bothered

Breaking Ice, but not stuck (yet!)

2011-12-18T13:00:00.000Z

I awoke this morning to the sound of an approaching boat breaking ice. I dragged myself out of bed, somewhat reluctantly, to the thought of 13 icy double locks with none of the hoped for help from my mate Dainion. Soon cheered up though when 3 more boats came down passed us and, therefore, we would have a good road for, at least, the first 6.

Cheered up even more when, stood in the well deck and donning woolly hats, scarves, gloves, dog leads, windlasses, etc.,etc., I was greeted by Megs, a 14 week old chocolate labrador with her new dad who had recently moved onto a boat for the first time. Both were delightful and she was surprisingly calm (credit to Rob) and investigated both our dogs without the 'over-the-topness' so often found in pups. I could have stowed her away in a flash. As I'm writing this, I've just realised that these are the new Crick Marina guys that NB Ellen has blogged about.

Sadly, the encounter cost us dear as, whilst we were chatting, a boat pulled out in front of us and went off up the set double locks without us; so the road was against us all the way. Doesn't matter though, does it. It's all good exercise.

We slithered and slipped our way up - the bottom gates are so heavy and when you are struggling to keep your footing on the icy brickwork ... but we took our time and it was lovely in the sunshine.
We went through the tunnel (me on board this time instead of over the top) and stopped at the top of Buckby locks for water and rubbish disposal before setting off again downhill. It was 2.00pm and this was what was coming.......... reversed up and moored and legged it into the The New Inn for lunch just ahead of the storm
.......before retiring to a toasty boat for cuddles.....

.......and snuggles.....

......and the Strictly finals. Not where we thought we'd be, but it doesn't matter.

G goes boating on the Thames...Well not quite!

2011-12-17T15:42:00.000Z

Friday saw us still in Braunston hoping to take on the eldest grandson as extra crew for the weekend up the Braunston and down the Buckby locks. Unfortunately, he wasn't too well when he came home from school (too much end of term partying?) so it wasn't to be - we'll just have to eat the the new batch of Chelsea buns, crisps and chocolates ourselves.

We also parted with Beefur boat today as we are now heading in separate directions - thank you for your company, guys we have enjoyed travelling with you.

On our way up the Oxford we stopped between Upper and Lower Heyford for a long weekend as Graham was off to London from the station there for the annual Puma reunion on Friday night and then a bit of boating with Richard on Indigo Dream on Saturday before dinner with the Greyhound Re-homing Charity.

So I'm handing this blog over to G now

Saturday morning with a hangover in London is not the best place to be and needing to loiter til 7pm I put the feelers out for suggestions, well needless to say Sue, from Indigo Dream, came up with the ideal solution, get the train to Redhill in Surrey and spread out in their armchair til the evening event. Great.

Thursday, before travelling, I get a message from Richard asking if I fancied a white knuckle ride up the Thames Saturday morning as he needed to inspect part of the flood wall. I couldn't refuse knowing it would either kill or cure me.

South bound on Bow Creek

Having walked back to the UJ club at around midnight on Friday, Full English breakfast at 8am Saturday I set off to meet Richard at his mooring in Limehouse Marina, the normal journey would have taken around 16 mins, but the whole of the London Underground decided that it was the right weekend to do maintenance and needless to say it was horrific, well over an hour and four changes.

Decision point-too choppy-about turn. Thames and O2 arena in the background.

Richard had needed to look at part of the flood defenses down Bow Creek, unfortunately the tide was up too quickly and the part of wall he needed to see was disappearing, as was my hangover. Richard had made plans to go with the tide up the Thames back to Limehouse Lock, at the junction of Bow Creek and the Thames. I said it would be quite nice to see the Olympic Park (it doesn't look too bad in the above photo but the winds were gusting 30 knots).

So back to Bow Lock

and up to the Olympic Park

Some form of Artistic Viewing thing?

Winded at Old Ford Lock

Back past Bow Lock

Limehouse Marina

Breaking bow waves which on occasion reached me at the tiller!

When he returned on Sunday I walked up to Steeple Aston with the dogs to meet him off the bus (no Banbury to Heyford train service on Sundays) and on the way back a farmer out shooting gave us a brace of pigeon - perfect timing as Monica had just shown us what to do with them on Masterchef - jolly nice they were too.

It took him about 10 minutes, once back on the boat, to fall soundly (and noisily) asleep.

I rather think he had a very special weekend.

A blast of hot air

2011-12-16T16:00:00.000Z

I suggested G went to find a bus stop which would take him into Daventry, or anywhere really that would provide me with a hairdryer as well as the other stuff we needed. I'm sorry if this sounds a bit precious but, you know what they say, 'walk a mile in Jill's shoes before.......' You see G is never in a rush in the mornings until he is ready. Then he needs to go now. At this time of the year, with temperatures close to freezing, it's not a lot of fun to set off down the towpath with wet hair dripping down your neck! Anyway, excellent feller that he (sometimes) is, he trundled off to Braunston's bus stop meaning that I had about 3 hours for my own agenda. I still hadn't achieved breakfast when he returned, throwing his rucksack into the boat, and muttering that A J Canopy's were shutting for the holidays in an hour but had 2 machinists free who could fix our cratch cover - usual story; caught on the side of a lock - if we took it down there now. Anyway, cover removed in a panic and delivered he still made the bus and I still - just- had time to give the dogs a run before picking up the cover - £20 and the bottom piece replaced as well as the studs. A J's are brilliant. Himself returned with all things on the list and I managed to get the cratch cover refitted, the dogs walked, the food shopping done and dinner made before he returned. Plenty of hot air on this boat again!

I've never seen Braunston so deserted, you can moor just about anywhere you want at the moment. Every other time we've been through-no matter what time of the year- mooring has been like being in the queue for the first day of Harrod's sale.

Not a single boat on this stretch outside the marina (left below) and we are one of only two on the other side of the bridge

The footbridge over the marina with my boys posing up on high

Re-building the towpath by the pump house

It really is a lovely spot

Looking down on the marina from the bridge

Buns and blow ups

2011-12-15T16:00:00.000Z

The former (buns) were G's Chelsea's - I should have taken a pic but we fell on, and devoured them, with indecent haste like demented gluttons; they were sooooooo good. It's Chelsea bun and mulled wine weather really!
Blow ups - well that was my hair dryer (oh, and my camera but I am absolutely not discussing cameras anymore) so now I desperately need a hair cut and have no hair dryer - even more reason to keep my head under the duvet with Daisy and Baxter still not sharing with Muttley; he still smells.
We didn't like the look of the weather forecast for the next few days so we thought we might be best getting into the civilisation of Braunston. G cruised and the boys and I walked in with plenty of time for lunch, a bit of shopping and a pint at the Plough before Gosty Hill delivered coal and diesel.

Back to our South Oxford cruising, I couldn't wait to revisit this lovely circular walk; I think it's 40 years since I last did it!

The next 5 pics are of the ruins of Hampton Gay Manor

Across the fields to the church - completely isolated now.

Striding out across open fields, we head for Hampton Poyle

Passed this straw bale house under construction

into the hamlet of Hampton Poyle

and it's church

the boys were more than ready for a drink and a swim - and then I remembered that there was only one way to get the dogs over White Bridge

lift them! all dripping wet......yuk! The dogs of my youth swam across and met me on the other side - not these two

this is the back end of Kidlington and the church in the distance - my 3rd on this walk

hang a right and follow the Cherwell back through the (new) woods to Thrupp - a fabulous walk and a very special day

OOooo er. Me blogger's gone nuts and what a night

2011-12-14T15:50:00.000Z

We went to bed really late and read for ages - although we'd dropped the solar panels I was still in fear for them and didn't get a lot of sleep. At times it was like being in a wind tunnel. G climbed out of bed to find NB Tacet had already gone (Ian and Karen are packing in some hours to try and get some engine problems sorted at Gayton) and I tried to sleep in for another hour. Before dinner tonight I loaded these pics ready to blog later. When I went back in this evening, the Blogger format had changed - I know I'm a grumpy old woman (that was not requiring a comment from you Lesley) but I hate it when you just pop on line to do something quickly and things are just changed.

Anyway these pics were taken when we moored up at Shipton on Cherwell - next door to the legendary Thrupp. Daisy was straight off a hunting. Bottoms up!. She's remarkably well camouflaged at this time of the year.

We went off a hunting for Mortimer Bones and Boots, hoping that they would be up for walkies, but she has not been at all well and so we went for coffee and cakes at Annie's Tea Rooms. I hope you are better now.

G and I set off for a walk by the River Cherwell, only to find a lamb stuck in the water at the bottom of the far bank. Modern technology can be amazing - the GPS located our position, the mapping gave us the name of the nearest farm, Yell gave us the farmer's phone number. Quick phone call and two farmers are out on their buggy with a ladder and the sheep is rescued - job's a good 'un

Aubreys lift bridge-now mechanised

The service point to the left (with excellent library)

We moored here opposite Shipton-on-Cherwell Church - convenient access for my friends Wendy and John, with whom we spent most of the weekend and who, kindly, took us to Tesco

We don't like the visitor moorings at Thrupp (although the people couldn't be more friendly) because it's hopeless for Daisy alongside this little lane.

Way back when, I used to play for the bar billiards team at this pub; believe it or not, we never even went in there this time!

G tagged this pic onto the end of this blog when I wasn't looking - there are so many comments I could make, but probably best I don't!!!!!! I'll just be off to get a towel then....

Beautiful sunrise

2011-12-13T14:37:00.004Z

Baxter woke us this morning with his legs crossed - G got up to take him out and took the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise whilst Daisy, Muttley and I kept our heads firmly tucked under the duvet. Listening to the wind and rain lashing down as I type this (10.45pm Monday), Daisy and I might just stay under the duvet all day tomorrow, but not Muttley he's all smelly!

Beefur boat had a Tesco delivery this morning and added some wine for us to their shopping list, after which we cruised/walked on in glorious sunshine - for the sake of our livers we decided we should move out of reach of The Folly's not inconsiderable temptations. Before we left we came across a border collie who seemed to be a bit forlorn and abandoned - whilst happy to thrust a stick at us, he was a bit reluctant to let us near his collar. A bowl of food eventually did the trick and we were able to make a phone call and reunite him with his owner

I was able to take some more pictures of the native ponies as we left - I don't know if this a rescue place, but there were dozens of them. I spotted Welsh Mountain, New Forest, Exmoor to name but a few

Acre upon acre of them

Gorgeous, and the windmill...what more could a woman want

I must have been walking slowly today as MR left me behind

and the boat behind overtook me

Our landscape has lost it's colour and is looking very stark now

Hadn't long moored up by Lower Shuckburgh when NB Tacet came by and Karen popped round to say hello. You can find them at http://narrowboattacet.blogspot.com/ Hopefully we'll get a chance to meet Ian as well in the morning.

The Canal & River Trust Council election

2011-12-12T16:30:00.003Z

We have recently been asked to support the candidacy of Andrew Tidy (Captain Ahab) who will be standing for one of the four boating council members on The Canal and River Trust Council.

We have met Andrew on several occasions during our travels around our waterways, and have indulged in his waterways blogs over many years.
We, as continuous cruisers, have a great deal invested in what is our natural habitat and Andy, in our opinion, has all the necessary skills, knowledge and intellect to ensure that all that is good and great in our environment will remain so.
Andrew has had a love affair with our waterways for 40 years, he not only travels waterways that are still in water but is also well known for searching out the routes of canals long lost to the system.
Should you need to look any further for a worthy Candidate have a look at Andrew's Blog. Please vote when the time comes next year - we need a voice that we can trust and speaks for our lifestyle with understanding and passion.
http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/

Beefur throws her weight about again!

2011-12-11T18:51:00.000Z

A few ice crystals spotted for the first time this year as we travelled on Friday (yes I'm back on current time). We moved onto Napton and moored before the bottom lock. The pound between 15 and 14 was in dire straits waterwise.

Beefur moored below lock 14

and this was our side hatch view for the afternoon - we woke to an iced up canal and Beefur locked down to nearer the water points. There were a lot of boat movements; perhaps we were all panicking at the first signs of ice after the traumas of last year

and then there was the dilemma of somewhere to moor. BW has left their ' vessels' all over the place on the 48 hour and visitor moorings. They didn't even have the decency to moor together and, in fact, took up moorings for 4 boats. We tried to shove one up so that we could get Beefur in between the two.

Another case of Delaney's donkey..pushing it and shushing it

You don't need this hassle and they promised they wouldn't do it!

View to the front of Beefur-bow inside the barge

View to the stern of Beefur - a veritable Beefur sandwich

G and I decided to get up close and personal with the Napton icon and found this lovely Rowan tree and memorial bench

Quite a view from the top

and then we slithered our way back down the hill to the towath

These fields were full of England's native ponies

Met up with Sue and Dave for a meal in the evening at the Folly - it's absolutely fabulous under the new management

Beefur gets carved up?

2011-12-10T15:58:00.001Z

Due to recent technical/signal problems I've still a huge backlog of pics to sort and only caught up with these today - I'd forgotten how funny it was.

The only way to turn at the end of the canal is to go through the lock and wind on the Thames; these lads had just set up on the pontoon to fish and I had to explain that I needed to use the pontoon to hold MR's nose with the bow rope whilst G pivoted round (OK so we've been watching too much Strictly!)

They didn't seem much impressed with the idea of shifting all their gear - especially when I told them it would happen all over again when NB Beefur came through

We completed our manouevre and then pulled over for brekkie, waiting to pull out behind Beefur once they'd winded

This ~~Oxford~~ College Cruisers hire boat(Thank you Maffi) appeared to pull out right in front of them

but the hire boat was well and truly stuck - not in the normal run aground sort of way but balanced on something wobbly - the bow and the stern were both willing to move, but they couldn't actually get it moving. Rather like Delaney's donkey they were pushing it, pulling it, shoving it and shushing it

So Dave climbed on board and they tried a bit of rock and roll

around this point Sue and I realised Beefur was drifting off unattended

Well held Sue!

But Dave, being the very experienced and helpful boater that he is, eventually cracked it! We later found out that Mortimer Bones had got stuck on the same submerged obstacle. The crew on the hire boat were extremely grateful and spent the rest of the day apologising for taking up our time and holding us up - as if we were in a hurry bless them. Later in the day they told Sue that they had always had good weather when hiring and that, in a way, they'd quite like some bad weather so that they could don Sou Westers and look like proper boaters. It seemed a bit wimplish to tell them that, 'proper boaters' didn't go out in the rain if they could possibly avoid it! A great bunch of guys - I hope they had a good time.

Oxford outskirts and approaches to the end of the canal

2011-12-09T16:26:00.001Z

I was really looking forward to arriving in Oxford by canal - I imagined it to be similar to the approach on the Thames (not done since we had a little cruiser some 20+ years ago).
Unfotunately, once passed Kidlington, it all gets rather scruffy with row after row of moored boats - some legal and some making camp on the 24 hour moorings complete with bird tables etc. We tried to get in on the 24 hours on the way back; looking forward to a special treat at The Anchor - the same culprits were still moored there plus one additional boat with it's bum almost blocking the bridge 'ole. These are not winter moorings.

The actual moorings at the end are perfectly pretty and cat safe (essential for Beefur boat and us); but horrendously noisy

This bell tower is a major noise culprit

There are more moorings down the arm on the left; beyond the long terms but a bit too close to the road for boats with puddy cats.

It's easy to swap from canal to river here and the dogs and I had a pretty short walk after mooring

This is the Thames in all it's reflective glory

All very nice, but back in arrivals/departures.......

......you are trundling under by-passes/motorways without, to me somehow, the grandeur of the BCN

These lift bridges are a law unto themselves - they are the normal DIY things but are locked on the towpath side

When you've worked out how to open them you have to hurl yourself across the beams or fling them into the air and hold them up-it's easy when you've worked it out!

All this is lovely

with fun on the allotments

Sue raises this lift bridge, looking very cool, and showing how it should be done

Beefur in the lock and MR waiting behind - Sue is still deheading her geraniums at this point!

The other side of Oxford - day 2 was for the dogs and my soul

2011-12-08T10:25:00.002Z

Within spitting distance of the canal is Port Meadow, where there has been common ground with grazing right for yonks and yonks, which covers a vast space across to Wolvercote between the canal and the river Thames. My intention was to walk all the way round and then back up the Thames towpath

Muttley, normally the first to 'tidy up' the ducks back into the water, was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of bird life

We only saw two other people in the two and a half hours we were out

King of the ~~castle~~ log

anything you can do..

supper?

filthy, wet and very happy dogs

Wolvercote in the background

Burgess Hill nature park

Then the plan went a bit awry as I was cut off by flooding and it was getting quite dark

So we retreated and turned back the same way - not the first time I've been caught out by these short days

Safely home, tired happy and hungry - all 3 of us

We're back - we have a signal in the pub!

2011-12-06T15:28:00.007Z

We had forgotten that the majority of the southern end of the South Oxford Canal is cut off from all modern communication formats - 'phones as well as t'internet.

So here I am trying to do a quick blog in The Bell at Lower Heyford - it's a tough job, but one of us had to do it, although himself had to come too so as he could get e-mails etc off his 'phone at the same time ......
.................................................................................................................................................................
.....and this was as far as I got with that blog on the 24/11 when the computer locked up and it was chucking out time (3.00pm) before we could get it fixed. So, finally, and very belatedly, on 6th Dec here is my Oxford (day 1). This is the classic bit - I never did 'tourist' when I lived here for a short while

Sheldonian

Somerfield College

I love the Turf Tavern; described as, 'a satisfyingly difficult place to find by chance'. It's around 30 years since I've been there but, amazingly, I managed to find my way round back streets and alleys. It was nice to be able to introduce the crew of NB Beefur to it's hidden delights

Carfax clock tower

Closer to home was the Weatherspoons - I only had a scarf with me, but this pint could have done with at least a hot water bottle if not an electric blanket!!!

Oxford (day 2) was dedicated to dogs and the rural side - you only get 2 days. Why we stuck to the rules though I'm not so sure, no-one else did, but that's a rant for another day - signal permitting of course

Banbury - Shipton. Trouble at lock

2011-11-18T09:51:00.001Z

Grants Bridge under repair at the lock

King Sutton Church

Kings Lock

The lock cottage and pretty Tarvers Bridge

A new (to us) shop opened up above Nell Bridge, selling gas and all things pig - you need to be quite stalwart though as the moorings are 'vague' and these 3 hounds will come charging down to meet you

We'd trundled on quite happily up until this point, but knew there was a problem when we reached Nell Lock and saw one boat waiting ahead and a group of people (more people than we'd seen for a week) peering down into the lock in that head scratching way

BW chaps were in there fishing, poking and prodding as a boat (who had passed us on our moorings at high speed earlier) was stuck trying to go down - another boat (coming up) was in there as well trying to pull him through.

Success eventually - although whatever it was in the way was never found; only moved so it's waiting to happen again

Looking back into the lock

we shared the lozenge shaped Aynho weir lock with Jack the lad - 'Jack' is a right old softy (the dog)

moored for the night at Aynho as we ran out of daylight. After dark some lads turned up in canoes fund raising for Leukemia Care - they left again at 7.15am. The stamina of youth! We left about 9.30.
Allens lock is a doddle coming down, but is very tricky coming up as it is set at an angle away from you - the cause of many an undignified arrival for the unwary.

A pleasant untroubled day as we continued on through the Heyfords.

and the Mill Lift bridge - now replaced with metal and well balanced - last time we came this way I walked merrily on past the bridge forgetting all about MR who had to be rescued by a villager

We moored up in good time at Shipton (we prefer the moorings to those at Thrupp), where Daisy had a ball.
Somewhere between the two points we picked about a kilo of field mushrooms - so that'll be mushrooms and blue cheese; mushroom pate and mushroom soup for starters........I could tell you where but I'll wait 'til I've picked some more on the way back up. Yummy!!!

PS before I forget - the boat stuck in the lock and tearing about said that they had to get to Reading - they passed us a few days later coming back up grumbling that they couldn't get to Reading as the locks were closed on the Thames. That does tend to happen at this time of the year - the antidote is called planning

Banbury - but should be in Oxford when this is published today

2011-11-16T17:30:00.023Z

I am more than a bit behind with the blog and am getting into trouble as we are turning up at places before we are expected - so position update - Wednesday am at Shipton/Thrupp. Intending to drop into Oxford today.

Many, many years ago I lived in Banbury for 2 years as a student at the art college – it’s good to come back as a visitor and get a fresh prospective. It really is a lovely town.
The eggs are a lot cheaper too! approaching Spiceball Park they had their own free range eggs for sale at £1.50 per dozen. Now that’s value.

We enjoyed Ye Ole Reindeer Inn, but not the price of the guest ale, ‘Flagship’, at £4.00 per pint. The normal Hooky Ales – Old and Gold – were at the (what is fast becoming) more usual price of £3.30 per pint

We were also given a tour of the Globe Room which was dismantled for safety during the blitz and then re-assembled. It’s now owned by the Council although it’s part of the pub building. Well, I think that’s the story but It was all too quick and complicated for my poor little brain to keep up with!

Here we are moored on the left, Beefur behind and MR in front. Nemo and Daisy had to make do with the bushes and gardens around the Social Club for one night – they’d had more than enough mice recently anyway. Sue deserved a good night’s sleep and a break from the mouse catching night watch.

G had an eye test in the morning and we stocked up with veg at the market before watering, re-stocking at Morrison’s and moving out to Aynho. We wanted to be down at my friend Wendy’s at Kirtlington for the weekend so decided to push on.. we all know what happens when you make a plan….

Wormleighton to Cropredy

2011-11-15T17:30:00.002Z

Hadn't long set off when we spotted the Bicester Hunt – approve or disapprove it’s lovely to see everyone out and it is very much part of our heritage. Mmmmm...... I’m aware that I’m beginning to sound very patriotic recently. OK, I can live with that.

This is Wormleighton reservoir (hounds to the far side) but there is VERY little water left. The canal level is OK though

Stopped for a long chat with this guy, I used to hunt with his Dad many years ago

Claydon top lock. I love this flight, it’s so pretty and so remote

Fenny Compton Inn now has a shop and sells eggs at £2.00 per 1/2 dozen – I queried the price and was told that they were local free range. When I commented that they should be cheaper due to reduced transport costs he wasn’t particularly amused. They also sell herbs and spices within the pub as a separate franchise with an honesty box. These were VERY good value for money.

Clattercot wharf

and into Cropredy – The Red Lion has closed down until further notice!

The Brasenose wants £3.70 for a pint of Broadside!!!!!!! Cheaper ales are on offer (but not a lot). Definitely, ‘down South’ now. Ouch.

Every time we come to Cropredy I lose G. Last time was to Dougie and James, then on NB Spirit, now on NB Chance. This time I lost him to Penny on NB Campanula. He disappeared off muttering about showing her how to do electrical equalisation checks – makes a change from etchings!

Chirruped for Daisy in the morning when ready to leave and a puddy tat voice answered me – not Daisy, but Rosie, she was soooo affectionate. That made 3 boats in a line with puddy tats on board.

England's green/orange and pleasant land

2011-11-14T16:16:00.001Z

This really is a beautiful part of the world - I've done this lovely circular walk before, but in the summer, not the autumn. This time G came with me.

We set off up to Stoneton Manor and the old moat from the original medieval village - only a farmhouse and the moat left now.

The farmer is very much into shooting and fishing with private fishing areas and fenced enclosures to keep young birds under control

When I was last here, the farmer and two children were being picked up by helicopter for a day at Old Warden aerodrome!

We returned to the canal via the gorgeous and secluded manorial village of Wormleighton

If you just want a short walk, it's straight up the track from bridge 133

Coming from the canal it appears completely isolated, although there is a main road the other side - probably 15 minutes by car from Banbury

the oak trees looked stunning in their autumn gold

The church is 13th Century

It's such a short walk and so worth the visit

Alternatively, you may wish to invest in a slice - this 5 bedroom house is yours for offers in excess of £675,000 - although the environmental impact of the high speed train link in the vicinity may have reduced the price a little!

Derby to Napton (now that would be impressive)!

2011-11-09T22:51:00.001Z

We had to hire a car on Thursday for my check up with the consultant at Derby hospital and, to be honest, it was a complete waste of time (theirs and ours) and money (ours). They don't know what caused the TIA, they don't know if I'll ever have another one and they didn't carry out any further tests. Dismissed to GP. We could easily have conducted the conversation by 'phone.

We diverted to Grantham afterwards and made a surprise visit to see G's mum which, at least, made the car hire worthwhile. We returned the car Friday and hot footed it out to Napton to meet up with Beefur again and for a pint at The Folly. We moored up above the first lock and Sue and Dave walked down Saturday morning to lock us up to join Beefur before continuing in convoy.

Walking the Napton flight there were many places where I struggled to keep my feet due to carpets of Crab Apples it was like trying to walk on ball bearings

We moored at Wormleighton in time for Nemo (pictured below) and Daisy to make the most of dusk to go mousing

Beautiful evening

We missed the 'boggle' of bloggers in Braunston

2011-11-07T20:29:00.004Z

What is a good collective noun for a collection of bloggers and how many do you need to qualify? Anyway, we seem to have missed most of them by a week.

Is this ever going to come out of the water - can anyone tell us the story?

Doesn't matter how many times you come this way, you have to take one pic

One blogger still remains- NB Piston Broke. A quick hello with Paul

Our first port of call was to recover our mail from the post office - Sally (keeper of our post) had mustered what she could in the way of official documents. No matter how many times we hire a car from Enterprise, we still have to go through this business of documents with the same address as your driving licence dated within 3 months. We endeavour to make everything as paperless as possible but, when we try to print off 'phone bills etc, the address doesn't show. In fairness, they rarely glance at the paperwork but it only takes one 'jobsworth' and you are stuffed.

Looking back down towards the marina from the village

Lookee who we have here - Greygals new(ish) acquisition. Here to have some work done

Poor little NB Henry H, will he ever come out to play now Greygal and Andy have homed their 8th hound - they'll never all fit on at once!

It's still very busy round here, plus the hire boats are back at home after the half term holidays. I expect everyone, like us, is scuttling about trying to be in the right place before various stoppages.

This time we found not only the boat but also the skipper - Brian and his dog ghost were at home on NB Kyle, so we were able to meet up Wednesday evening before my skirmish with the medical profession in Derby on Thursday.

Autumn Colours in black and white

2011-11-06T16:47:00.000Z

With a day to spare before going into Braunston we set off for a circular walk around Flecknoe.

The village is really pretty but the approaches along the footpaths from the canal (bridges 101 and 103) are pretty hard going as some sections have been ploughed up.

There is one pub in the village called the 'Old Olive Bush'. The adverts along the canal say that they are closed Monday and Tuesday lunchtimes. It being a Tuesday, we had no expectations but, be warned, the sign on the pub says that they are closed Monday-Thursday lunchtimes. At least it's still surviving.

Flecknoe is on a hill and, below us, you can see the Grand Union Canal winding around in an, otherwise, fairly straight stretch as it continues towards Braunston Turn.

A small diversion into Braunston

2011-11-05T20:50:00.001Z

I had to be in Derby for 4.00pm last Thursday and we could't do it by public transport, so it meant a small diversion into Braunston to pick up a hire car. We left NB Beefur at Long Itchingdon on Monday and Sue and Dave kindly locked us up the Stockton flight.

I love this imaginative dedication in the seat back at the top lock, but it is in need of a bit of paint and varnish now.

Sue and Dave kindly gave me their long handled windlass for the big worm screw lock paddles and then we said goodbye, leaving them to return down the flight for their breakfast - I waited long enough for them to get most of the way back before realising that I had left the windlass at the top lock and ringing them. So they went all the way back up again, but it wasn't there.

The last 3 (Calcutt) Locks were in our favour and the boat coming up behind us had 'our' windlass. So we hung a left towards Braunston and bumped straight into Gosty Hill

So we stopped for fuel (87p per litre) and a catch up; pausing to admire the new crew member who was found by NB Waterlilly and adopted by Alison and Ian

A bit further on the hedgerow had been absolutely massacred with all the debris strewn along the towpath

Not funny trying to get passed with two dogs

Passing the pretty church at Lower Shuckburgh

We moored up by bridge 103 for a couple of nights - we had the place pretty much to ourselves, whereas further up (at Fox's Gate) it's usually pretty busy.

Another lovely day

Radford Semele to Long Itchington

2011-11-01T20:25:00.005Z

We left Radford Semele in leisurely fashion Saturday morning

Because of the distances between the first 6 locks we couldn’t lash the two boats together, so Sue had some company on the back in the locks

Happy people finishing the day’s locking with the 4 at Bascote (including the two lock staircase).

We moored at Long Itchingdon in plenty of time for a pint at The Two Boats Inn before settling down in front of the TV to watch Strictly.

About 11.00pm, we had an unexpected visitor; it was puddy cat Nemo (from NB Beefur) who availed himself of Daisy’s cat flap to pop into the well deck for a quick hello – fortunately, Daisy had long since tucked herself up in bed and neither dog batted an eyelid.

When we woke Sunday morning, a third cat was watching us from the far bank.

G and I took ourselves off for a walk down the disused railway line

across country

keeping a wary eye out for some over friendly horses

before returning to the towpath

back by Boscote Top Lock

This chimney reminds me of Chickin’ Lickin’ as it appears to be holding up the sky.

Hatton in the sunshine- my first blog in 'live writer'

2011-10-31T15:31:00.001Z

Couldn't resist putting this up today (albeit out of sync) spotted on the wall of bridge 103 on the run into Braunston.

Decided to have a go at blogging off line and then transferring it as Blogger actually ate the whole of Beefur's blog spots yesterday - not just a post - so it seemed like a good idea. Quite straight forward, even to a techno-phobe like me.

Beautiful sunny day with Sue ready to take Beefur down the flight with Matilda Rose tied alongside as a fender – not that she needed fenders.

I make no apologies for publishing, yet another, couple of pics of the dragonfly sculpture

It is so beautiful

So off we go, Sue doing a splendid job with the wallowing pair

The front was steering, but the ass end was wallowing to starboard

We realised why later – we’d emptied the poo tank (sits on the port side) and all the coal was loaded on the starboard side – no wonder we were right hand heavy. No probs for a helms woman of Sue’s calibre though – sorry Sue

An attractive bit of graffiti to finish the flight

We continued onwards through the Cape Locks, Warwick and Leamington before mooring at Radford Semele around 4.30/5ish. All but one lock against us, but tying the boats together left us with crew either side, plus one to set ahead. 2 hours 20 for the Hatton 21 and we didn’t rush it –a beautiful day in the sunshine.

Downpours and blog eaters.

2011-10-30T10:50:00.001Z

I was just about to publish this last night when ....pufffff.....it vanished. Nothing in draft. Nothing in the re-cycle bin. Even my resident font of all knowledge couldn't find it. That's it then, after this one I'm going to get to grips with Microsoft Live Writer.

Having seen the weather forecast for Thursday I donned full wet weather gear from the start. We moved the short hop up to the top of the Hatton flight, stopping by Shrewley tunnel for an essential visit to the shop at the top of the horse tunnel - lovely sausages, bacon, ham, samosas etc. They even gave me a supply of fresh coriander from their own kitchen as there was none in the shop.

Once moored I took Muttley (and dragged Baxter) out for a walk

passed Hatton station

It may have been raining the whole time, but the colours were still fabulous

We went to the Waterman in the evening to celebrate the 19th anniversary of Dave's living afloat (the reason why we moved up in the rain

We had a lovely evening and my Sea Bass was stunning-the staff were friendly but it wasn't busy. Probably because no-one else was daft enough to turn out in the ghastly weather

Somewhere over the rainbow/s lies Baddesley Clinton

2011-10-28T20:35:00.002+01:00

Stayed in our lovely spot on Wednesday as we're not planning to do the Hatton flight until Friday, after Thursday's predicted (and actual as it turns out) all day rain. So I set off, rather late in the day, in search of Baddesley Clinton's medieval manor house.

A right old kerfuffle going on as a full length boat tried to turn right onto the Grand Union out of the Kingswood link with another boat coming. Why they insisted on 'keeping to the right' in this situation I don't know - it made everyone's life doubly difficult

~~Hadar's~~ Chetsey's bought a new butty, I wonder if the owners would sell me this one - goes by the name of Hebe

Turning right over bridge 65 and then, almost, immediately left past The Navigation I encountered, 'Kingswood Park, the home of Castle Eventers'. Their set up is fantastic with barn stalls, menages and cross country fences. Then the heavens opened (not forecast) and drowned me. Worth it though as rainbow after rainbow popped up all around me.

Quite stunning

The weather continued to look more than a bit dodgy, but I didn't care as the light was sensational

I arrived at a junction and asked another walker which way to the house and the church. I followed his directions against my instincts and later regretted it.

He sent me the long way round on the circular National Trust walk - if I'd gone straight on I'd have been there in 10 minutes, instead of walking another mile and a half!

The church is 16th and 17th century

By the time I reached the house and stables it was one minute past 5pm. They close at 5.pm and, with the sun setting behind, I couldn't even get a decent photo, grrrrrrr

Despite my mis-direction and missing out on the house, it really was up there with some of my best ever walks

Down the Lapworth with NB Beefur

2011-10-26T21:44:00.001+01:00

We moved on a short distance on Monday and Dave and Sue (NB Beefur) caught up with us later at the Bluebell Cider House.
Fortunately, this boat reached us just by the winding hole - there is precious little passing room at the moment along here due to shallows and overgrown vegetation

Out passed the ~~Disney Set~~ Dickens Heath - still looking pretty much deserted; such a strange place

The building edge (right below) is the end of the building (left above). That's it - straight back into open countryside.

Another Shetland

I wouldn't fancy staying the night here - a bit drafty!

A quick stop at the bakers/deli/greengrocers off of bridge 20. They offer a good selection of fresh produce and amazing patisserie, but very little is priced and you can get a nasty surprise if you get carried away.

We set off slightly ahead of Beefur Tuesday morning in glorious sunshine

Muttley snatched something dead and disgusting and then shot off with it back the way we had come, the little b****r. I had no choice but to wait for him to finish it as, every time I approached him, he ran further in the opposite direction.

We pulled over at the pretty Hockley Heath where G had some mail to collect from the Post Office

I love these carved picnic tables that can be found at intervals down the canal

The last one is actually on the Kingswood link

Beefur passed us whilst we were at Hockley and went on so as Sue could lift the first bridge

I lifted the second, but didn't find Neil's (NB Herbie) windlass

Sue's flowers are still looking good

No matter what time of year you pass this cottage, the garden is always a fabulous contrast of colours and textures. BW person said that the cottage had just changed hands. I hope the newbies keep the garden up.

A time share boat had gone down the first three locks before us; leaving open a 'full house' of paddles and gates. We shut some and the BW person went and found them to explain how it should be done. We passed them a little way on where they had pulled over to do a spot of fishing.

Starting on the main flight proper, I was unlucky enough to encounter a boat coming up out of lock 8 whilst I was trying to get out of lock 7, round the bend and into 8. If you have a 66ft boat, you run out of pound before you can get the back clear and start turning; then the waiting boat is there as well - plus I got a bit of the bike embedded in the wall. It wasn't elegant!

I love this canal and it's beautiful locks - and what a day for it

Although we were intending to turn left to the Grand Union, we took the right lock option as we wanted the services

G does a quick pas de deux in the basin

and reverses up passed the barrel cottage onto the service point

and I run round with the dogs over the first of the South Stratford locks before continuing through the Kingswood link and turning onto the Grand Union and waiting in the rain for MR to catch us up to moor at Turner's Green just before the newly re-opened Tom o'the Wood pub on the opposite bank

Moved up 3 miles to no man's land South of Shirley

2011-10-25T16:30:00.000+01:00

There are some nice circular walks around here which I'd forgotten about-this one leaves the canal at bridge 10

It was lovely for me, as well as the dogs, to get off the line and go and play in some pretty open spaces

We walked past vast acreages of Christmas trees of varying heights

This is the point where I should have remembered to re-call the dogs, because round the corner is a nice smelly stagnant pond

which I'd forgotten about

A lot of love and hard work has gone into this lot

Imagine how glorious they would have looked in August

I guess there were some prize winning blooms here

room for a pony

completing the circle back to the canal at bridge 11

our neighbours across the canal

a nice, peaceful mooring

Starting our Southerly migration

2011-10-23T16:30:00.018+01:00

We left B'ham again late Friday morning and set off towards Kings Norton Junction and the North Stratford Canal to start heading down towards Oxford. Most of our fellow friends and bloggers appear to be already down there and heading back up or, like us, starting to move down there now. Oh well, it should be a jolly party when we all get stuck on the bottom together due to water shortages. It's difficult to wish for water though whilst the weather is so beautiful - perhaps a few drops at night would be good.

I loved this frothy seed clinging to the fence between the tow path and railway line - the leaves look like clematis

We'd hoped to stay overnight on the Bournville moorings, but there was no room at the Inn.

I love King's Norton town and it's moorings by the park (just go straight on towards Worcester and you can moor just on the right). The town has retained it's own identity and traditions with farmers' markets and Morris dancing. Goodness knows how they've avoided being eaten by the suburbs of B'ham. G wanted to press on a bt, so we hung a left onto the N. Stratford towards Warwick.

I think this is such a pretty, quiet (amazing when you think of it's geographical location) and understated Junction - no razamataz here. Realistically, probably because there's no pub within stone throwing distance.

The decorative spire on King's Norton Church -mostly 14thC

Quite a tight turn and G had to wait whilst a good natured crew pushed, pulled and dragged their hire boat round the turn and under the bridge

Then through the King's Norton stop lock with the two wooden guillotine gates mounted in iron frames.

I jumped back on the boat here to finish off dinner and stick it in the oven as we intended to moor just through the tunnel by Lyons Boat Yard. A bit further on the bank was under repair.

We took on 10 bags of Taybright at Lyons, which earned us the choice of a free bag of, either, kindling or logs. If you're in the market for batteries, Gary reckons he can do you one of the best deals. We spent ages chatting to him and Sarah and lost all track of time - it was only when I realised that my souffle was sinking aand my beetroot burning that I realised it was nearly 6.00pm and we hadn't even had lunch.

It took us 4 attempts to get MR into the bank-there is not a lot of water in this canal either

Due to publishing Beefur's arrival this blog is a bit out of synch

2011-10-22T16:26:00.001+01:00

We returned to B'ham City centre, from The Vale, on Wednesday morning with himself on MR and the dogs and I on foot when, being ahead of MR, I encountered the day hire boat with a skipper who had developed a unique steering style. We've all, understandably, seen people push the tiller the wrong way but this chap kept the tiller central until he encountered an obstacle, such as bends, bridges, etc.. I never saw him move the tiller at all - he just hit things and let the ricochet turn him. Unfortunately, the next encounter with an 'obstacle' was going to be Matilda Rose who was just through the bridge and on the bend. He bounced off the bridge (at full tilt of course) which deflected him straight across the bows of MR I ran back alongside him telling him to push the tiller hard away from me and G just managed to avoid him. I watched him continue merrily on his way, still with a central tiller, bouncing off alternate sides of the cut.

We stopped at Away2Service for diesel - 90p self dec - and coal, but the coal was ordinary household smokeless and at £9.00 for a 20kg bag we only had 2 bags to tide us over. A bit of an awkward manouevre from this direction as we had to wind and back in

to get our diesel tank alongside their pump, but G achieved it with enviable panache (just don't tell him I said so).

The wide beam trip boat held off in the bridge 'ole and waited for us to clear the narrows

Daisy stalks the pavement in disgust after her mouse glut at The Vale-the cyclists don't impress her much either - nor me. After 2 or 3 nights in Birmingham I am sorely tempted to run out the trip wires. What don't they understand about, 'dismount through bridges' and 'dismount through City centre'?

We moored up on the other side of the canal and on the 48 hours this time, as our favourite sunny spot on the 14 days' at the end of Sherborne moorings was occupied.

time for lunch and a rest before heading off for a walk - we really must get bigger chairs (or bigger laps).

The Heron was busy fishing and completely unfazed by our appearance

Not the only one out hunting - this cat was after a rat on the far bank

Very difficult to sneak up on things when you are so brightly black and white - we recommend you put a camouflage coat on your xmas list

So that'll be goodnight from Muttley

Missing - 2 blokes last seen heading in the direction of The Wellington

2011-10-21T21:10:00.000+01:00

Having been relieved, last week; that we didn't have to wait until after the weekend for doctors' appointments they had the last laugh anyway - don't they always - by booking us in for routine flu jabs/bloods on Wednesday and Thursday this week so we had to come back into the City Centre again Weds lunchtime - never mind; found out NB Beefur would be in town Thursday night and we are both heading off in the same direction towards Oxford - looking at the stoppages, Oxford seems to be the only viable route this winter without going North or West and it keeps us reasonably close to the kids.

"What's that then?". "Don't know - but it just went up that tree". "Was it a wabbit?"

G came with me on a walk around the Soho Loop

The ever present BT tower

There really is no shortage of 'countryside' round here

The biggest problem is the amount of food lying around - we thought we might end up having to muzzle Muttley (our Labrador in training).

The residential moorings on the Soho Branch

The four miles took us an hour and 20 mins, which gave G enough lee way in his calorie count regime for a couple of pints with Dave from NB Beefur when they arrived - just as well as it turned out.

I've never seen this funghi before

Aren't they beautiful? Does anyone know what they are?

Offices at the front of Winson Green prison

Back round to the Main Line again

and here's Beefur

Just time for the quickest of 'hellos' as Sue was dashing off to catch a train back to her mum's for a couple of days - Dave and G arranged to go to the Welli later and said they'd just have a couple of pints and then ring me when they'd got back to The Prince of Wales for open mic night in case I wanted to join them.

Now the Wellington, normally, has a choice of 16 real ales but, to their horror (well that's what they told me) they discovered that they'd landed in the middle of The Wellies beer festival with 40 real ales on.

So, If you see two guys of average height and average build with very big smiles on their faces, would you send them back to NBs Beefur and Matilda Rose.

Pavement pounding in Edgbaston

2011-10-20T12:10:00.002+01:00

The "Test" blog G put up was to try out windows 'live writer'; like wot Geoff on NB Seyella has been trying out. I've been moaning for years (a number of people will confirm that remark) about not being able to blog off line when there's no signal. Which means if you don't store pic numbers and keep notes, you forget where you are/were and the process of 'catch up' can be quite daunting. In fact, it's the reason why I stop blogging from time to time. He was going to take the Daisy picture down, as I'd already posted the 'honeymoon' blog earlier, but it seemed a shame to ''take Daisy out' although Sue (NB Indigo Dream) said Lynx would quite like to.

Not a very nice day, but at least it wasn't raining so we set off with the dogs to do some pavement pounding - we haven't managed to find any footpaths in this, otherwise, pleasant area, so we set off through the University Campus to see what we could find.

This is Old Edgbaston Church

Edgbaston Cricket Ground

opposite it we found an Aldi so we loaded up with this weeks' special offers of a variety of veg for 39p each; perfect now the weather's turned so cold, we'll be having lots of delicious soups, at a smidgeon of the cost compared to other supermarkets.

Monument to George I outside the Barber Institute of Fine Arts

The local grammar school, King Edwards; G used to play against these guys when he was at Denstone College

I'm surprised we found an Aldi here as this is a seriously up market area

These wide avenues are beautiful and quite Parisienne

Serious property and serious money

We made our way back to a bridge across the canal and railway line further up as we wanted to give the dogs a run off the lead along the towpath before reaching the boat. Unfortunately there was no access from the bridge to the towpath

We were successful at the second attempt

and arrived back at MR 2+ hours later, ready for a nice cuppa

Test !

2011-10-19T21:54:00.001+01:00

I hope this works

Funky Fish sets off on their honeymoon

2011-10-19T17:11:00.000+01:00

Monday morning and Big Ginge (Colin and Eva's cat) decided to return to their boat so they were able to set off on their honeymoon cruise as planned. I hope this isn't their first marital row-Eva is legging it down the towpath and Colin is on the boat.

Only joking; we had been down to wind and Funky Fish passed us to go and do the same when they realised that they'd left their hose connector on the tap. There's no easy pedestrian access from the mainline to their mooring so we picked Eva up and did a divert round Oozells Street Loop to drop her off.

I love this loop, it's full of contrasts

The converted Sherborne Wharf

Sheepcote Street Bridge; you'd never believe that this was central Birmingham

Popping out again between the Sea Life Centre and the National Indoor Arena

Down to the roundabout and pull over to dispose of the rubbish

Here comes Colin; now with wife and hose connector back on board, setting off down Farmers Bridge Locks (we heard later that they moored up at the Dog and Doublet around 7.15pm (so that would be in the dark) 34 locks and 7 and a half hours later - G replied to Colin that it was meant to be a honeymoon not a wife beating session. Eva must be shattered. I hope the Dog and Doublet do food on Monday evenings!

We reversed out, heading for the waterpoint opposite the Mailbox

it still looks attractive - even in the rain

via Gas Street Basin

From the waterpoint I walked with the dogs down to the Vale by B'ham University

Through the little 105 yd Edgbaston Tunnel

Waiting for G to wind and try and get MR off the bottom and into the side - arriving in reverse as usual

Come on Dad, hurry up with that fire and our armchairs - it's damp out here. Stop messing about

A lovely, rural setting and it only took Daisy 10 minutes to catch her first mouse-surprisingly, she's never caught a single mouse in the centre of B'ham; not even in the underground car parks. That has to be a tribute to the cleanliness of Central Brum

This rams home the severity of the water shortages

2011-10-18T15:30:00.000+01:00

Sunday lunchtime I dragged himself out for some fresh air after the excesses of Saturday's wedding and suggested we walk up to Edgbaston Reservoir - it should probably be re-named Edgbaston sand pit.

This is also the home of the Midland Sailing Club which hosts sailing, kayaking and wind surfing courses - Nicholsons', for some reason, refers to it as Rotton Park Reservoir - it's certainly more Park than Reservoir at the moment.

There's not a lot of water left for watersports

I was amazed by the amount of mussel shells lying around - sadly all empty

G's GPS showed us as being in the water

All this is the reservoir bed - when Lesley and I last walked this in January/February, the water was up to the tree line

and right up to the bridge we are stood on - now there's only this little stream left. G kindly went all through our photo archives to find the pics I took here during the ice age but, for some mysterious reason, we couldn't find them. Every other walk that Lesley and I covered except this one It would have been nice to be able to, 'compare and contrast'

Although we are further away from the BT tower here, it looks even closer

A chap from the sailing club said that they had drained this reservoir 3 years ago (for repairs to the dam) and that there was more water in it when it was drained than there is now.

G is standing below the dam wall

These guys have found a bit left to play in

I love these Victorian warehouses - they back on to the Icknield Port Loop which does not have a towpath

So not really surprised to see a couple of narrers in the yard

Colin & Eva are wed. These guys are serious party animals

2011-10-16T21:18:00.002+01:00

The gorgeous cake made by one of Eva's 4 sisters who told me she doesn't make cakes!

By the time I was up and about on Saturday morning (wedding day) I had come to my senses and realised that there was no way I was going to survive the heels, so I downgraded my outfit to trousers and court shoes. I had been reassured by Eva that there was no dress code as, although her family would dress up, the likes of our lovely Diesel - aka Colin - would be hard pushed to get out of his overalls. I knew I was, therefore, in trouble, when Diesel went past helming the bride to her wedding.

Blimey, he doesn't half scrub up well - that woolly hat has been covering up smashing hair as well!

A wave from Eva as she passes our boat EARLY (a family trait evidently) no time to get the dress back on then.

Arriving at the wharf across from Gas Street. That's Aiden above left who is a very close friend of theirs and gave Eva away. He is also a professional musician and plays the Iulleann pipes, guitar and goodness knows what else. He played during the ceremony and was joined by a drummer and fiddle player.

Eva looked sensational

Here I need to apologise as we had a bit of a problem with the camera indoors - we don't know why.

Eva and Colin having just signed the Marriage Register

It is normal to have a reading or two; Eva wrote her own poem which I think is lovely, she has given me permission to publish it on our blog - I should point out that they live aboard NB Funky Fish with their 3 cats; Diesel, Weasel and Big Ginge

Three cats and a boat what a wonderful life

Now Captain and First Mate become husband and wife

Our family's the hull, water-tight and strong

Our friends are the fenders for when things go wrong

Of course we need diesel and we're lucky to know two

Our cat and our Warrior who warm our boat through

They keep us both going through watery miles

When things are getting tough they bring out our smiles

Our trusty cat Weasel always greets us on our way home

Big Ginge is on the run again finding new places to roam

Whose hand's on the tiller steering the way?

Deciding the route day after day

Jointly we hope we'll hold on together

To conquer the storms and inclement weather

Our waterway journey under bridge and through lock

Our lives can only get better now we're tying the knot

copywright Eva Bellamy

One of the bridesmaids - I seem to have mislaid the other one

All 5 sisters together

Kevin - another friend and brilliant vocalist/guitarist who writes his own stuff - between Kevin and Aiden's sets, another boating friend, Paul, did some DJing. It really was the most fantastic day. The buffet food was sensational and Aiden was at his best encouraging everyone to jig about all over the place, with more enthusiasm than finesse I might add - who can resist fiddle and pipes? I was only too happy to take some of the guests back to Matilda Rose who were, like most people, intrigued by the idea of living on a boat. I had to go and feed the dogs and let them out for a pee and, shame on me, swapped the court shoes for my walking shoes. My feet just couldn't hack it.
G made two runs back to the boat at around 9; the first to see to the dogs and fetch my meds, plus more wedding guests - the second to fetch my meds which he forgot - he still didn't manage all of them......bless.. but there was an awful lot of real ale swilling around. It was around this time that they came round with sausage and bacon baps to provide a little absorption - brilliant idea.
I was a good girl (but it didn't spoil my fun) and reluctantly dragged myself away from the festivities around 11 ish. G rolled home around 3.30am (they all ended up in The Prince of Wales) with a severe dose of hiccoughs and only just managed to get out of bed in time for the Rugby this morning!
The wedding played havoc with his weight loss regime, when he put his food and beer consumption into his 'app', look what happened! Oooops! The red bit speaks for it's self.

If Big Ginge comes home tomorrow, they are off for their honeymoon down the Farmer's and Aston flights to the Dog and Doublet and, possibly, Alrewas. So, if you see them, give them a toot.

Engaging with the NHS (the only downside of being nomadic)

2011-10-15T17:00:00.003+01:00

My last registered GP is on the East Coast and I did not want to give the name of that Doctor to the good staff of Derby hospital as it would have meant going back there for ongoing medication (initial consult plus routine reviews) and medical after a month free of attacks to regain my driving licence. Derby said I had to be registered somewhere before I go back on the 3rd so I decided to register with a GP in Birmingham as, in the Midlands, all public transport leads to Brum.
I printed off the NHS registration form and sent it off to the chosen practice, giving a friend's boat name and Sherborne Wharf as our address. After 3 days I rang to see if they had received the form - they had. Could I book an appointment please? No. You have to come in and fill out the form. Well could I book an appointment please and come in before hand to fill out the form (we had not reached Brum and I didn't want to get there and then have to wait a week for an appointment)? No. We can't make an appointment until you have filled out the form.
WHY NOT? WHAT B****Y DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? I said nothing but resigned myself to further delays.
We dutifully show up in the surgery on arrival in Brum on Wednesday to fill in the form. Have you photo ID? Yes. A document with your address on? No, we've only just arrived to take up the mooring (OK so are noses are starting to get quite long) so we have no post yet. Then I'm sorry but I can't register you until you can produce a document. I am now in the physical situation I have been told to avoid - my blood pressure is rising and I'm fair fit to have multiple TIAs all over their waiting room!!
Eventually, the practice manager was summoned and they agreed to let us have appointments provided that we produced something with our address on asap. Could have been worse - at least we were offered appointments that week.
I saw the GP on Friday morning and he seemed a straight speaking, OK sort of guy and then he told me that I must cut salt out of my diet completely. I replied that my appetite was poor at the moment and 'no salt' wouldn't help. He responded that I was overweight anyway and could do with losing half a stone. I thought, at first, that I'd found a GP with a sense of humour, but no...he was serious... I'm not even into my Michelin woman winter clothes yet - and there was I thinking I needed to put weight ON. Half a stone off would put me under 8 stone at 5ft 6". This is obesity obsession gone nuts.
He also told me that I couldn't resume my normal life for another 4 weeks - I had rather set my sights on being cleared by the hospital in 2 weeks.
I left the surgery in a state of high dudgeon and (probably) high blood pressure, so I took the dogs for a lovely sunny walk around some of the BCN's industrial heritage before round two - an appointment with the health professional at the surgery at 4.15.

My good humour and (hopefully) blood pressure restored by my lovely walk in the sunshine, I attended my 4.15 appointment where I was told that I was underweight and could do with putting on a stone. Is this what they call a yo-yo diet?

By the way, whilst I've been thanking people for helping us do the things that I'm not allowed to do at the moment; did I mention that I've also been forbidden to clean the oven and it's in a very bad way?

Aaaagggh! What are those doing on our boat?

2011-10-14T17:45:00.000+01:00

Oh Lordy - they are mine - I haven't seen them in this state for at least 5 years. I only normally see them dangling out of the bottom of my shorts and disappearing into hiking boots and socks!

When we moved onto the boat, we both saved a couple of items of clothing for celebrations and funerals, which haven't seen the light of day since. With a wedding on Saturday we thought we'd better dig stuff out of the back of the wardrobe and make sure we had something halfway decent to wear as the following needed to be taken into consideration rather than panicking at the last moment:
- could we find all components; shoes, ties etc?
- had anything been eaten by moths or Daisy's mice?
- could we still fit into things?
Next hurdle was that we don't have a mirror (apart from the one over the sink) and I had a choice of 2 dresses and 2 jacket combinations; which meant consulting himself for a decision - I don't think any woman would be totally comfortable with accepting her man's decision 'blind'. Himself had a brainwave, I tried on the options and G took pics - whose a clever boy then and I agreed with his choice. It's at least 10 years since I've worn heels, but it's that or hiking boots - still, it is OK to take my slippers in my rucksack isn't it?

Having sorted that out, I decided it would be a good idea to sort my normal clothes out - dig out the thermals etc and put away the summer stuff. As fast as I tried to put T-shirts away, Daisy burrowed in and dug them out again, so I sent her out mousing so that I could get the job finished - all sorted now, summer stuff under the bed and everything filed in a nice orderly fashion (for about 2 days). Sorry if my halo is dazzling you!

Seriously bored with all this fashion business, I set off with the dogs (leaving G to sort out lunch), down the towpath to the Soho Loop, across the bridge and back down the other side. Lesley and I pounded this route on most of the 55 nights we were stuck here in last winter's ice age.

This is what I call accessory territory (notice how the fashion theme runs 'seamlessly' through this blog). The territory of young men who have brass adorned Staffies on one side and a can of Special Brew on the other.

The moorings here are fine, MR is the furthest away of the three NBs

I love the way the architects have kept all the sexy curves to empathise with the original bridge arches

The boys love being up higher and getting a bit of a birds eye view of all the goings on

From the top of this bridge you can see both the main line and Sherborne Wharf running off to the right

More bridges and more curves

This is new on the Gas Street side of The Symphony Hall. Clearly past their summer best but a lovely idea.

My knight in shining armour on his shiny steed

2011-10-13T17:55:00.009+01:00

Oh the joy as we pulled into the first of the 24 locks (that are the Aston and Farmers flights into Central Birmingham) and I saw this from the side hatches. It was Richard's (NB Indigo Dream) trusty steed. The mad impetuous fool had come up from Surrey via Marylebone and Snowhill; flying over the horizon (well, down the towpath) at 10.15. He'd also stopped off at Indigo Dream and solved a few problems at work before setting off to rescue us - goodness knows what time he got up! Aren't folks grand?

We cleared the first two locks before stopping for a coffee brew (the crews of Indigo Dream and Greygal will do anything for proper coffee and hot chicken - although I understand Lynx has upgraded to legs of lamb which is unfortunate for us OAPs - but we skipped the hot chicken as there were no hounds today (at home with mummy Sue).

The first of only 2 boats we passed coming down today

The second boat turned the lock on Richard but, hey ho, the sun is shining for the first time in ages and these flights are lovely

I was forbidden to do anything but pootle about with the dogs, although I must admit it was nice to wander around with my camera, looking for different angles and little niches - only trouble is that I knocked the camera onto the wrong button and they were all out of focus so had to be deleted. All those artistic gems down the ~~pan~~ digital.

Richard and G quickly eased into the old efficient locking swing (developed during the BCN challenge, which they did to raise money for Greyhoundhomer, a small branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust). With the two of them bossing me about I had no chance - although one gate just happened to blow open in the wind whilst I was in the vicinity. Slight delay at this one whilst G does the obligatory firtle down the weed hatch.

In no time at all Richard is setting the last lock in the Aston flight

Whilst MR leaves the penultimate lock

The last of this flight

Then I'm told, gently but firmly, to get back on the boat - humph! a precious 6 minutes short of the hour I'd been promised. So, sadly, no pics of the Farmers flight as, being under buildings, you can't take pics from inside the boat. G tried to demolish one of the buildings when he failed to make the turn - not that he hit it hard, but you probably heard on the news yesterday that an office block had an emergency evacuation due to a very localised earthquake.

Up we pop then; into the sunshine of Cambrian wharf

Just in time for some lunch before My Knight in Shining Armour rode off on his trusty steed into the sunset (well, the 3.15pm from Snowhill).

Thank you Richard ( and Sue and hounds for lending him to us for the day).
Thank you also to Sue and Dave on NB Beefur who sent a message last night saying they would come up from Stourbridge and lockwheel us up the flights today.
So many people have helped us - thank you all.

Flying solo and no-one to save us this time

2011-10-12T19:02:00.000+01:00

Set off early on Tuesday morning for the 11 locks on the Curdworth flight, I was allowed out of ~~jail~~ the boat to walk some of the flight with the boys and my windlass sitting snugly in it's holder on my back...oh joy.

Approaching our first lock of the day - Curdworth bottom lock

I wasn't, actually, doing a great deal of locking - more sort of driving the boat out and holding it whilst G shut the top gate. I did have a go at one stiffish paddle where, with all my weight behind it, the windlass slipped and I crashed onto the concrete - bruises are quite spectacular when you're on blood thinning drugs!

I also shut the bottom gates with a little help from G's carefully placed tiller arm driving water behind with his (little) propellor to take the weight off of the gate. At least I was out with the boys doing something a little bit useful.

Common Lock

The pretty row of terraced cottages by Bodymoor Heath Bridge

I've tied the boys up here because, not only did Muttley try to chase the cat that lives here returning home across the lock gate, he also added insult to injury by nicking all the cat's food which was in bowls behind the wall (I'm going to have to stop him hanging out with Floyd!). The long suffering Baxter grabs the opportunity for a quick nap.

The Dog and Doublet where we should have been moored Monday night - 1 1/2hrs into our journey and we've only reached where we should have started from. It was clearly going to be a long day.
We trolled our way slowly up the flight and I returned to MR for a rest before the 3 Minworth locks, seeing those off and heading for Brum proper.

We stopped for dinner and to give G's leg a rest - what a pair of old crocks.

BW building a culvert to drain and repair the collapsed towpath

Under Erdington Hall Bridge - topside guys were trying to repair the burst water main - the water was pouring down the inside of the bridge on the left of this pic

Erdington/Bromford power station - sort of mechanical triffids; very foreboding from the canal below

Running parallel to the parallel world

Approaching the canal's spaghetti junction (under spaghetti junction)

Loving the reflected light

The sign posts help us chose the right branch

We turn left here

Giving us a glimpse of the Tame Valley Canal to our rightRichard, Sue, Sarah, Andy and G were last through here at 10.00pm in May on Indigo Dream in the BCN challenge.

So, on to Cuckoo Wharf for the night - the only place to stop before the Aston and Farmers' flights - we went to bed hoping that Richard (from the aforementioned Indigo Dream) might be out to lockwheel us up the 24 locks into Central Birmingham. A lovely day, but very, very tired.

A nice drama free weekend

2011-10-11T22:05:00.000+01:00

We moored, on Friday, between Huddlesford and Whittington on the Coventry Canal where they are constructing - yet another - new marina. The strange thing about it is that, although it's only partially dug, there is no plant on site; almost as if it's been abandoned.
I was glad to stay put for a couple of days and it gave 'us' the chance to log and store the wood we'd collected over the last few weeks and sort out the contents of the top boxes - I prefer to play Beverly Hillbillies in private.

We left quite early on Monday, passing under bridge 78 which is the official change from the Coventry Canal to the Birmingham and Fazeley; it's odd changing canals without a junction.
Passing through Hopwas we found NB Snowgoose moored up (our Good Samaritans), so we stopped off for a cuppa with Lizzie and Andy. They weren't meant to be here as they had booked a winter mooring down on the Aylesbury Arm and were looking forward to a nice, sociable xmas with the very friendly Aylesbury Club. Due to stoppages and closures for the new marina, they realised that they would be unlikely to get out again and up to Nottingham for their re-paint...that'll be plan B for them then.
Our plan for Monday was to turn right at Fazeley Junction, do the first 3 locks of the Curdworth flight and moor at the Dog and Doublet.

By the time we reached Fazeley Junction and watered it was gone 4.00pm and we'd had enough, so we called it a day and moored overnight.

There was a time when you wouldn't have dreamt of mooring here, but it's all rather smart now; masses of new buildings before the turn

juxtaposed with the old canal buildings after the turn

and then you're straight out into open countryside. The trouble with stopping short is that it makes the next day's journey even longer as we are people with a wedding mission - we've already missed the stag and hen nights.

Look who we found

2011-10-10T18:22:00.000+01:00

We set off on Friday, on our own for the first time since the incident - this was the state of his ankle/foot and I'm not meant to be exerting myself - only gentle, limited exercise. We devised a plan whereby I booted him off at the entrance to the locks and picked him up on the way out. We waited outside the first lock for a boat to come down. I felt dreadful that I wasn't up there helping them...let's face it, it's bloody rude. I felt like making out a placard to hold up saying, "sorry".

and look who popped out.....our mates Mags and Geoff on NB Seyella who were going down to wind and come back up. We quickly appraised them of the situation and, once again, we had help.

So we set off for Fradley Junction in convoy

With Seyella behind and Geoff closing our gates behind us before re-setting the locks for Mags

On arrival at Fradley they just managed to grab the last parking space, whereas we were turning left down the Coventry. I actually persuaded G to let me do the swing bridge as it's very well balanced, but Geoff moored Seyella and sprinted round the corner before I even reached it - that man is fast.

We moored up temporarily to accept the invitation to take pooches for a cup of tea, so here we are again, Mags Geoff and Graham

Unbeknown to me, Floyd had been giving Muttley tuition on Thursday. Muttley went straight onto Seyella, ate Megs' dinner and then started decimating her toy box-no manners, but Megs is very long suffering (and looking very smart after her shower this morning).

Back to front; Megs, Muttley and Baxter (trying to dissociate himself from his bad mannered son.

Great to meet up again and thank you for your help.

Caxton's crew come out to play

2011-10-09T19:15:00.000+01:00

The approach into Alrewas with Wychnor church on the hill to our right

This weir is no more horrendous than many that we've seen on the River Trent but, because this little bit of the Trent is so tiny, you have to get way too up close and personal

The village of Alrewas was as pretty as always and we wandered in for a drink at the dog friendly George and Dragon with Lizzie and Andy when we arrived on Wednesday (they do great value food).

We found this Ford Pilot V8 lurking in a car port - don't be impressed, Lesley told me what it was; I can just about distinguish a Mini from a Roller

The following morning we waved a reluctant goodbye to Andy and Lizzie but they are also on a schedule and heading in the other direction at Fradley, whilst we were waiting for ~~Floyd and Fletcher~~ Joe and Lesley.

Nothing changes, although we hadn't seen them since May, Floyd followed all his old habits - shot into MR making a bee line for Muttley's food bowl (it always needs tidying up) then trying to climb on my lap and wash my ears

After lunch Lesley and I walked our happy band of four down the River a little way.

No prizes for guessing who was first in

So we arrive back at MR with four wet dogs and Lesley set about drying off Muttley. There's something about Muttley being up in the air that incites Floyd to riot - look at him eyeing up his chance

and then going for it.......grrrrrrr........let me rip his head off! It was lovely to see them all having fun together again

It was also very nice to see Lesley and Joe again after such a long gap - but don't tell them I said so!

We need, ideally, to be in Birmingham Wednesday (although Thursday will do). We should be OK as we only have one last hurdle, albeit a large one, the Farmers and Aston flight into Brum on Wednesday.

Our Good Samaritans-the amazing crew on NB Snowgoose

2011-10-08T17:15:00.001+01:00

Having had MR rescued by Shangrila on Thursday, they moved off on Friday whilst we had a late start and stocked up at Sainsburys. We moored at Derwent Mouth lock in front of NB Snowgoose, owned by Lizzie and Andy whom we had not met before, but took our rope and invited us round for a drink later. We hadn't been there for more than an hour when I decided to pull a full blown drama queen stunt. It seems that I had a TIA or mini stroke and it was alright for me as I was blissfully unaware of anything but was, apparently, not unconscious as I was trying to co-operate with their instructions (that'll make a change for me then!).
Upon dialing 999, there was a fair amount of difficulty in explaining where we were and the ambulance went to Shardlow - about a mile away (see previous blog).

Graham, having torn a calf muscle several days previously, ran the mile down the towpath in the dark and a mile back again carrying the paramedic's bag whilst Lizzie and Andy looked after me - they then moved Snowgoose up to Shardlow, in the dark, whilst the paramedic (who was seasick) attended to me. Persuading another boater to shift so that they could moor near the ambulance, they then walked back to MR to walk the dogs and back again - doing the same thing again at 6.30am.
Graham returned in the morning and they helped him move MR to Stenson (10 miles and 5 locks) for easier access to Derby hospital. ( When G returned to the hospital, his leg was such a mess after his adrenalin fueled run on the existing injury that they offered us the bogoff; stroke unit for me; A and E for Graham).
Once out, they continued to help walk the dogs and stayed with us until Thursday helping us through all the locks to Alrewas as neither of us was in a fit state to do much (we are only trying to move as we want to get to Birmingham for a boater's wedding).

We really have no way to re-pay such kindness; I just hope they'll accept this little blog as a tribute to their wonderful natures - I bet they'll be more careful about who they invite round in future though! I jest - I know they'd do it all again.

If you are going to have a crisis, I strongly recommend you try and have it in the vicinity of Snowgoose's crew!

PS Lizzie makes a wicked roast dinner

Do you know where you are moored tonight?

2011-10-07T19:51:00.000+01:00

It was a pleasant evening on board NB Snowgoose a week ago today, we had moved inside to evade the smell wafting over us from the sewage farm above Derwent mouth lock.
A glass of wine was offered and accepted and story telling had begun, all of a sudden Jill says "I don't feel very well". I looked at her and notice that her eyes had glazed over and her head was drooping, I checked her pulse 120 bpm looked at her face again and her left cheek and mouth had drooped, asked her to lift her arms, she could only raise her right arm, what next what next oh yes "Jill smile for me please, Jill speak to me" all very slurred and unintelligible. "Andy call 999 and get an ambulance"

"Hello operator, we need an ambulance, a lady aboard my boat is having a stroke" says Andy.
Operator " where are you?" " we are on a narrowboat at Derwent mouth lock" says Andy.
"Where is that?" says the operator.
"Its about a mile and a bit from the pubs in Shardlow" says Andy
"Shardlow where?" says the operator.

You get the picture, whilst all this was going on we were all scrabbling around to try and find the name of the nearest road.

I have learnt my lesson, know exactly where you are all the time and be prepared.

Oh by the way Jill was taken into hospital in Derby and sent back to the boat the next day, she had a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) which is commonly known as a Mini Stroke. She has made a complete recovery but must take it very easy for a while which she isn't finding very easy.

What we would have done without our neighbours Lizzie and Andy on NB Snowgoose I don't know but we'll tell you exactly what they did for us tomorrow.

How difficult would it be to paint postcodes on locks whilst carrying out routine painting? It could save a life.

Shangrila Towing Company - thoroughly recommend them

2011-10-04T13:00:00.010+01:00

Peewit/Lapwing skulking in the undergrowth

Having lost power going into Holme Lock, we eased our way out onto the moorings at Holme Pier Pont whereby himself diagnosed a fuel filter problem and set off to rummage in the garden shed and engine 'ole for the spare. He produced two oil filters, but not a fuel filter to be seen!

It's a beautiful spot and was a glorious day and Shangrila had been kind enough to pull over with us, so we asked Castle Marina in Nottingham to obtain the part and opted to stay where we were for the night and eat outside in the sunshine -it was far too nice to move into the city anyway.

The very handsome Toby on the back of Shangrila - Nigel is the one without the spots!

We went to head off in the morning, only to find our power loss had escalated into a full-blown refusal to start - that is until we remembered that 'we' hadn't remembered to turn the fuel back on after the previous nights investigations. None-the-less, we still didn't have enough power to find our own way, so we tied ourselves alongside Shangrila whereby Nigel expertly dragged us along the river and round the sharp right turn back onto the canal and through the two locks.

It may be a wide canal but it's not that wide when you are trying to manouevre two breasted up narrers of uneven lengths on one engine, but somebody loved us as nothing barge sized came the other way.

I had time to admire their flowers (I suppose I could have done some watering)

Ann and I had loads of time to have a good natter without interruption and shout warnings to any oncoming and advise the individual fisherman to lift their landing nets.

Yes, it was that tight and that dreadful left hand bend!!!

We moored up outside Sainsburys, parting the boats, and the fellers retrieved the correct part from the Marina, fitting it easily and fixing the problem ( that makes a nice change then). We then retired to the pub to express as many thanks as they would let us-they didn't allow us many. Thank you so very much - we thoroughly recommend the Shangrila Towing Company and the crew are lovely as well as efficient.

It was all too much excitement for the boys.

Setting off from Gunthorpe to Nottingham....well that was the plan

2011-10-03T10:43:00.004+01:00

A long row of Cormorants basking happily on the weir barrier

Stoke Lock - not manned by your usual friendly lockie - was way too exciting for my liking; very glad I'd put the crystal away after washing up that morning.

Despite Holme Lock not speaking to us either and the lights being red, the gates were open with this pretty little ketch waiting for us! I think the lockies must have had a late night up the pub or something. I asked this lockie if Stoke Lock was being manned by a volunteer that day and he responded with a monosyllabic, "no". You think he could have shown enough interest to muster a, "no, why?" (reminded me of having a 15year old teenage boy again) - oh well, I suppose we all have our off days.

This teeny weeny fishing style ketch was covered in beautifully painted roses and castles - my grandson would love it, I didn't catch it's name as we were having a few problems.

Just as we approached the lock we lost power, but that's the next story!