Here we go AGAIN (or in fact not go!)

So after a mad Friday morning scrabble and a dirty dash out with the dogs, the hoover, duster and polish we pulled pins before 9.00 and I dashed back in to grab armfuls of paperwork, dirty washing, wet boots etc., etc., etc. Why oh why is our boat always full of toot? That's actually rhetorical because I know the answer really - we've a ton of 'stuff' that doesn't have a home. Sometimes it doesn't matter but sometimes - especially when the weather is foul and you've people coming that don't know you and/or boats it matters a lot. Anyway, I did my best in the limited time available - popping up to lock MR and Yarwood through  Bottisham Lock, popping down again to wash up and popping up again to help moor and then being told our visitors were already parking up. As usual of course, this self induced stress is  so unnecessary as it was lovely as always to see Linda (G's sister over on a visit from Australia), her son Nathan (who I haven't seen for at least 15 years) his wife Carly and new baby Sophie. By definition most 'visitors' have cars so, after a cuppa, we drove into the village of Waterbeach for lunch at The Sun Inn. Very nice home cooked grub for around £6 a head and a CAMRA approved establishment. Dog friendly in the bar next door although we left ours on the boat this time. L-R Carly, Nathan and G

 Sister Linda trying to show me the video of the tame kangaroos back home down under - a boat 'roo; now that would be different

 and the newest addition to the extremely large and ever expanding 'Budd dynasty'

 After they'd left I took the dogs off for a walk and found this incredible 'plot' - vegetables, fruit trees, fruit cages, bird boxes - all behind the flood bank at the adjacent private moorings. Very nice; sadly no signs of surplus produce for sale

 Yarwood and MR from the opposite bank

 G's fishing being hampered by swans and cygnets

and this was the picture of the weir stream adjacent to Bottisham Lock at around 7.00pm last night

this was it around 11.30 am today!

Strong stream warnings. Navigation closed

Lock Landing!!!! Well it was here when I jumped off yesterday

And here comes a hire boat approaching Bottisham Lock - how are they meant to know that everything's shut down - they'll not be on the EA's phone list

The bottom gates are locked open to stop use and ready to 'reverse' the lock if necessary but there are no signs, no warnings, no nothing. We explained what was going on and they headed back to Ely; later on we found a narrowboat in the lock looking equally perplexed. No-one is born with knowledge and experience - imagine if it was you just having picked up your first ever boat in Ely and this was your first ever lock

Bottisham Sluice!!!!

Our boats on the GOBA moorings above the Lock in the distance

Cambridge is off then!