Summer not quite gone - well maybe it has!

Friday 9^th September to Friday 16^th September 2016

First job of the day was to return the hire car back to Enterprise – it is always a concern for me that something will be found wrong with the car, and until it is signed off by them I remain concerned – so, once again relieved that all was OK and after getting a lift back we (I) could relax.

There was the small matter of needing to refill the water tank and remove the ‘orrible waste, but with that all done we, in the end, moved less than a mile to some favourite mooring just north of Bridge 190.

Why is that a favourite spot? Well, it is close to the Paddington Packet Boat Inn, where we are now building a good relationship with the woman behind the bar – Sue ; it is also away from the random foot traffic and only the occasional car over the bridge – and none late at night.

It allowed us to have a lovely Happy Friday at the pub with Dot and Gordon – there was the discovery of some cut-price double spirits drinks and in particular Black Russians – which were consumed in numbers by Dot and Diane – now known as D and D, which almost described their condition later on.

It was a quiet weekend during which a lovely Sunday lunch – at the Paddo’ was consumed – the Uno cards made an appearance before and after, which added to the enjoyment of the afternoon. After we left the pub we took a wander around the Little Britain Lake just down the road.

Monday came along and we made a move into Uxbridge for two reasons – firstly Diane had a doctors appointment in Watford on Tuesday and the connection is good from Uxbridge and secondly, we would need diesel at some stage before our next cruising adventure and we do not miss the opportunity to fill at Denham Marina (still 60ppl and always self-declare).

We found a mooring outside the Swan and Bottle, which we were initially a bit apprehensive about, but it was a lovely quiet night with no noise outside at all – if there was any, then we were too tired to notice.

Early Tuesday, we moved to get the diesel tanks filled, before Diane headed off, after-which I cruised the boat back to virtually where we were before we left.

That evening, after Diane had returned and the heat had gone from the day – I hadn’t mentioned yet, that it seems that summer has returned – it has been particularly hot – with so many people having a hard time with the heat – for me, it was fine as long as the humidity was below 50% - anyway back to what I was about to say, we got a few nibbles from Tesco and sat down with Dot and Gordon who had drinks in their fridge and just enjoyed an absolutely lovely evening outside; the sunset, following by the rising moon, the coolness of the evening after the heat of the day was really quite wonderful – an absolutely perfect end to the day.

Our schedule now meant that more movement was necessary on Wednesday morning and so we used the services again, farewelled Dot and Gordon and gently cruised away – firstly in the morning cool which was delightful and then the increasing warmth of the sun – cruised as far as the park at Willow Tree, Yeading, where we have enjoyed a couple of days.

Diane even managed to get her prescriptions filled in full at the Tesco – a first for any of the pharmacies we have been to, to have it all.

Thursday afternoon ended with some rather heavy clouds appearing, a little bit of rain and some ominous noises overhead – almost like a Queen song (but without the lightning).

But Friday morning was completely different – thunderbolts and lightning and hard rain – bloody wonderful it was – a pity about the flooding that resulted and the disruption, damage and chaos that it caused.

The rain continued during the morning and we had a little problem – we needed to be moving and be at or around Alperton ready for tomorrow.

Around 9:30 it eased off and we thought that we may as well go for it – luckily the only rain that we did have on our cruising was of the light nature and neither of us got particularly wet – mooring up outside Sainsburys about 11:45am.

We decided to check out the new installation about a quarter mile along – a new elsan point – that we had seen previously – yes!!, we were correct, so a full cassette would be emptied later on.

Somehow or other Diane had engineered it yet again – in Alperton, in time for lunch at the Chinese restaurant that we both like – hands were held up in mock surrender – and so we enjoyed a lovely lunch and then back to the boat for Diane to pack and me to do some work.

The much cooler weather and a few more spots of rain meant that we were pleased to be inside.

Later on we caught the final set of the first rubber in the Davis Cup and watched most of the second.

17 Miles, 2 Locks

YTD:  602 Miles (969 km) , 358 Locks, 6 Tunnels, 14 Lift Bridges, 3 Swing Bridges

Total: 4397 Miles (7076 km), 3057 Locks, 118 Tunnels, 59 Lift Bridges, 170 Swing Bridges

We’re not in Kansas anymore.

Sunday 24^th July to Friday 29^th July 2016

First up was the need to fill the water tank and empty the cassette which we managed to take care of at the Cowley Peachey services – the water tap here is much faster than the one at Cowley Lock.

It was a slow easy cruise into Uxbridge – for one thing the moored boats meant that we were slow anyway and for another there appeared to be something around the prop which would not budge.

This combined with a couple of sections of canal since we had got back on at Brentford which were heavily clogged with weed, was the awakening that we were indeed not in deep, flowing water anymore.

We were somewhere not like we had become used to.

I had hoped that we could clear the prop when we stopped for diesel at Denham Marina, but this was a particularly busy Sunday morning – a boat in ahead which was just about to leave and another had come in behind us and a further boat waiting out in the canal itself – we couldn’t muck about – afterall we could move, so the prop clearing would wait until we moored up above Uxbridge Lock.

We shared the lock with a cruiser – the guy seemed particularly keen for us to come in – we had visions of crushing the cruiser like a bug, if the water coming in was too fast.

In the end we both fitted pretty well; the water was slow coming in; and no cruisers were “killed” in the passage through the lock.

Finding a mooring place was difficult – plenty of boats and just a few spaces where sadly we could get in – guess that was why there were spaces.

We carried on to Denham Deep Lock, where we shared with another boat but as I jumped off to help with it, who should be on the other side but Nikki and Phil with the girls – Mia and Jess – just out for a bit of a stroll and they nabbed us.

We did finally moor above the lock, had a cup of tea and a chat and said we would see them later in the week – it is their house that we will be looking after.

We have moored here before and it is so lovely that it should be a more frequented spot – next time maybe.

On successive days we then moved along to moor below Stockers Lock and then in Rickmansworth – interestingly we had trouble getting TV reception but it wasn’t of any concern to us at all.

Our plan was to have a bit of a rest day on Wednesday – rain had been forecast anyway – we checked out the nearest cinema – Harrow – and the new Bourne movie was on that day – it was a no brainer for us.

On the train; tickets to the movie; lunch; then sit back and relax.

Now we love this series of movies anyway, but we had a special reason to want to see this one soon – and yes we were in it, well the boat made it into there, our faces were obscured behind the curtains -  so very pleased with that.

--- and we enjoyed the movie as well.

Just a few miles further along on Thursday and we had arrived at our destination.

We will be here for a bit of time – looking after the house and we have now turned this all into a chance to get through a number of jobs that have been hanging around for a time; also a chance just to take it a bit easier.

The biggest job that we have to do is to get the rest of the walls ready to be painted – Friday was the day – so, clear out as much as we could from both the lounge and the galley/dining areas – anything that would attract dust.

Then Diane sanded her way through it all whilst I washed the boat; after that it was vacuuming time and then put everything back – job done and “dusted” in about 3½ hours.

Bookcases cleared; knick-knacks all gone...

...the wine storage covered up...

...kitchen cleared...

...and ready to go

A great deal of relief for both of us to get that one out of the way.

So now we can enjoy the rest of the day and plan for the painting.

 

A satisfied look at lunch - glad that the job was done

I think the other plan that Diane has involves baby sitting the washing machine and the bath – access to unlimited power and hot water is now with her.

Not sure that he has enough fenders - maybe he is an ex-cruiser owner

11 Miles, 11 Locks

YTD:  482 Miles (776 km) , 311 Locks, 4 Tunnels, 14 Lift Bridges, 3 Swing Bridges

Total: 4277 Miles (6883 km), 3010 Locks, 116 Tunnels, 59 Lift Bridges, 170 Swing Bridges

An Expected Journey - Northwards.

April 2016

Over the last month we have made our way north from Uxbridge; stopping at places that we have not visited before and also at places where we have such nice memories of previous visits.

We have been down a couple of arms that we had promised ourselves that we would get around to exploring and met up with so many lovely people – some of whom we have met before and known for quite a while and some who we have met for the very first time.

At present we are moored up in Rugby but that will not be for too long as we will need to be underway again.

The fishermen (should that read fisherpeople, although we have only seen men with their rods in hand) have been extremely pleasant and very happy – perhaps a sign of the improvement in the weather – a bit of sun on your back will do that to you.

The cyclists have improved in their manners and slowing down – maybe that has something to do with my refusal to jump out of their way quickly and they then have to slow right down – but still we are getting more co-operation with them in sharing the towpath.

The walkers are all back out again in their usual gear and setup – it appears that there must be some code of dress and code of necessary equipment than one must have and carry and be seen with.

Lastly the boaters are all starting to emerge from the winter hibernation that occurs for those who inhabit marinas and/or land-based abodes.

The likelihood of meeting a boat at a bridge during Febraury or March is almost non-existant, but come April-time and you need to be checking through the bridge-hole each and everytime.

Sharing of double-locks is now back in vogue or at least there are enough boats around for it to happen; and the chance to leave a gate or gates open for approaching boats is now more likely than before.

Yes we are emerging into the cruising season and April is just like a hire-boat change-over day; one day they are not there, the next they have appeared from the hedge-rows en-masse.

We called in at Berkhampstead for a couple of days – mooring spots galore – and spring rain to match – but we had always told ourselves that we should try and see a local football match – that we did – on a cold Tuesday night we saw the South Midlands Premier League battle between 4^th placed Hertford Town and 5^th placed Berkhampstead.

Diane did the honours at the gate and managed to get my OAP discount – a smirk on her face as she was pleased to indicate to the gate man that I was now old .

The match was a very competitive match with the home side coming out on top 2-1.

Diane had a stroke of luck with an earlier find of £10 at a lock prior to us mooring up and for her trouble it paid our way into the match.

Gee - they almost look like real teams - Hertford on the left and Berko on the right

Previous travels have taken us through Cowroast without mooring up, so this lovely open area had us for a night – and such a nice quiet place to stop – we really should have made it two nights at least, but our need to carry on overtook the desire to stay.

Sometimes when something special happens, it is as though there is such a thing as fate, and so with our decision to just spend the one night at Cowroast, the cruise the following morning – very early start at about 6:30 – we encountered more Kingfishers in one 3 mile stretch along the Tring summit level than we had seen in total in all of our travels – 10 of the bright blue thunderbolts were darting in and out and there were 2 pairs flitting around together.

What a great way to start the day.

The Aylesbury Arm had beckoned to us for a fair while now and we were not about to just cruise past for another time, so it was back onto some narrow locks for a few days as Diane steered the boat into the top lock.

Apart from a mile stretch where the canal bottom was encroaching on the water surface and we had some slow going, the journey was wonderful; beautiful scenery and a lovely basin at the end with pontoon moorings for 48 hours and 7-day moorings just before.

Coming into the Aylesbury basin - the 7-day moorings on the left and the pontoons
with 48hr moorings at the end on the right

A Waitrose supermarket right there meant that Diane would get her free coffee each day.

The township is very pleasant to wander around and enjoy; be sure to visit The Kings Head and see the story of the history of the pub.

Our pontoon mooring had access to water right there as well as bins for rubbish; across the way the new sanitary station was opened for use just a day or so after we had to leave.

A stop at Wilstone on the way back for Sunday lunch at The Half Moon was good advise acted upon – but you do need to book.

An overnight stop at Slapton did not give us any reason to want to do it again – the pub was closed when we ventured into the village mid-afternoon and some drainage of the pound overnight left us leaning quite a lot and a bit more heaving in the morning allowed us to get off the now shallow side.

One place that we have always stopped at previously was the The Grove Lock public house at Grove Lock was cancelled in preference to an overnight stop to check out The Globe Inn, which was a little further on past Leighton Buzzard and Leighton Lock.

The pub was lovely and we would be glad to stop again – but for those who need TV coverage, then you may be disappointed; we were not so critical on this count.

 

Early mornings in spring are simply magical...

...a bit of mist and a bit of sun and a clear sky

After good days, of which we had had so many since appearing north of the M25 it is reasonable to expect that somewhere along the way there might be a bad one about to happen – but not in this case.

We were pleasantly cruising along; slow past the moored boats; and who do we find but Gary off nb Inca, so we quickly moored up behind and the kettle was on; chatting away for an hour or more until Carolyn returned with Hamish after their walk.

The day was already very sunny and warm but these guys brightened it up even more – can’t wait to catch up with you two again and soon.

Who's a bit of a cheeky boy there Gary?

All good things must end and so we were off again and onto the next lock to where Gary had followed us to show off his skills on operating the lock – sorry mate, but you will need a bit more practice!

 

Sorry Gary, "feet too close together; elbow not at the right angle and your thumbs,
whatever were you thinking" - Craig Revel-Horwood

Along further we encountered Soulbury Locks – WARNING!!! – if you are at these locks early in the morning you will find at least one of the pounds almost dry – as we did – we had been through this before, but it wasn’t long before we were on our way again and then moored up at Fenny Stratford.

This little fellow was interested in us filling the water tank at the bottom
of the Solubury-3

This heron hung around for a while as well...

...before getting bored

A shopping trip to IKEA was on the agenda of the social secretary and as her bag man I was summoned along – to do what? – carry the bags of course!

There was a further reason for stopping here – Diane had her prescriptions sent to the friendly Boots store here and we collected these the following day.

The journey around Milton Keynes can be done one of two ways – quickly, like an endurance course and get it done and out of the way; or slowly and enjoy it – we chose the latter and stopped at Giffard Park where we had a lovely couple of days – the pub was showing all of the football, the Guinness was lovely, we even had a relatively nice Chinese as well.

We did our touristy walking and found the Medieval Vollage of Great Linford; had a very nice lunch and a pint in the pub there (The Nags Head) and, of course, the football was on.

 

Indalo Man - all the way from Mojacar - spotted on a house whilst we were
taking a walk

The old manor house - still around and occupied

We pushed on the following day and made it to Yardley Gobian – again we had never moored there – it is now marked with a great big – DO IT AGAIN – in the Nicholsons – so lovely and quiet – just so peaceful.

 

Not misty, but a beautiful spring sunrise

From there it was through familiar locks again – Stoke Bruerne for one night and then a further night just to the north of Blisworth and then a night just short of Weedon Bec and a chance to visit the renovated pub The Narrow Boat – nice enough but they are looking to attract a more up-market clientele – we sadly missed the boat on that count; but there were lovely views over the canal and countryside past there – and it was just plain nice sitting in the sun with a Guinness in hand.

We paired up with a single-hander to do the Buckby flight; the boats were tied together and Diane took over steering for the last two locks which were quite tricky and she failed to leave any paint on the lock gates or lock walls – another expert display of her helmsmanship (or maybe helmswomanship).

We moored just short of the tunnel and had an early start the following day – managing to do the tunnel and the six locks and be moored up in Braunston within 2 hours – with a little help from a hire boat crew who seemed to be in shock at how efficiently a boat (or rather boats) could move through the locks – just part of their training.

A gathering of boaters was a-coming, well it really had to be – Maffi was already there; Sue and Vic (nb No Problem) were there;we had no sooner moored up when Cathy and Martin (nb Moriarty) appeared; the following day Sue and Andy (nb Festina Lente) moored up and lastly but very importantly for us, Bev and Roly (nb Klara) were there in person as well.

 

Just another boaters meeting - not once did we mention batteries or toilets
From left - Maffie, me, Martin, Cathy, Diane, Sue, Andy, Sue and Vic
photo courtesy of Andy Gicquel (nb Festina Lente)

Over the time that we were there we shared drinks, meals, laughs and plenty of good-hearted boating chatter.

The quote goes something like “there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”, but there is really is nothing so wonderfull lovely as catching up with friends and fellow boaters.

 

On board Ferndale with cuppas all round - Diane suffers from short arms and
is too close to the camera

Andy has a bigger one

But all good things must come to an intermission – we needed to carry on a bit further northwards to Rugby and everyone else – including Maffi – had other places that they needed to be or had things that needed to be done.

Diane had a doctors appointment in Watford and we thought that getting a train down would be the most efficient way – until we saw the cost of hiring a car (from Enterprise) for the weekend –actually cheaper (ignoring fuel costs) so we did that.

In addition, I had had a chat with Steve Vaughan (Willow Wren Training) about a VHF Radio Licence course – “yes” he said – “next Saturday” – the day after our Watford trip – “oh and here is the book that you need to read before then”

The Watford trip went well.

The training course went well, if you completely ignore the worry and angst that I had all week trying to understand it all – by the end of the day it was over and I have a new licence; now to buy a radio and get onto the Thames again.

On the subject of hire cars: in my last blog I recalled some of the problems that we had experienced when hiring from Europcar (in Spain) – I will still advise anyone against hiring from them (based on our experience).

We received a phone call from the people here in England to advise that they had not been able to get any evidence from the Spanish people from Europcar and they would be refunding all of the additional charges made against us – this has now happened – there was profuse apologies, but nothing, absolutely nothing, will make up for their manners; lack of service and understanding, and complete apathy as to our problem with their company.

The credit card is healthier, but then again it should not have been anything other than that – if you get the impression that I do not like them, then you would be correct.

Happiness is ... Guinness and twisties ... and a full refund

One last thing – If you are looking for a boat to buy and live-aboard; even if not planning on living on it all of the time, then get yourself along to see this one – it is well worth your while and you will be assured that Vic and Sue have done a great job on this boat and it runs and works as well as they will advise you about.

Someone should buy it and buy it bloody quickly!! Check it out at Apollo Duck 

nb No Problem in full flight across The Wash 

95 Miles, 117 Locks, 4 Tunnels, 3 Swing Bridges

YTD: 195 Miles (314 km) , 156 Locks, 4 Tunnels, 3 Swing Bridges

Total: 3990 Miles (6421 km), 2855 Locks, 114 Tunnels, 45 Lift Bridges, 170 Swing Bridges

Never-ending Xmas

Friday 25^th December to Thursday 31^st December 2015

Our plan was to spend Xmas Day in Apsley and, of course, along with that was Xmas evening and Xmas night – the weather reports indicating rain and not a day conducive to movement.

What I hadn’t planned on was also being awake quite so early on Xmas morning – the first cries of “Santa’s been, Santa’s been!!” came at a little after 3am – the second round was at 4:45am and finally the third and final lot at a little before 7am by which time I relented to stay awake and commence the day and excitement of a 50-something kid.

It was later that she told me that she had first woken at just on 1 am and thought better of waking me then – bloody good call dear!

Traditionally, I like to sleep in on Xmas morning – in the past it was to get the little kids going but now it is to get the big one going. Our son, Mitch, when we spoke to him later in the day, welcomed his mother to his world as an 8-year-old wanting to open presents early but with a father pretending to sleep-in.

Anyway, after I relented, Diane brought the Xmas stocking into bed – yes, there are still stockings done – so that she could find all of the goodies that she could taste before any hint of a proper breakfast – which, in the end, didn’t eventuate anyway.

After that it was getting up and into Xmas clothing to open presents and all of the phone calls – the beauty of Viber these days is that there is no need to worry about the time of the call – so one to Brisbane (Mooloolah); one to Melbourne; and one to Dallas.

After the excitement of the morning and controlling the big kid from playing with all of her “toys” we had a chance to relax a bit – nice and cosy in the boat but coldish and wet outside.

Lunch was an easy affair with not too much to worry about and not needing to eat too early – mid-afternoon was the time, to coincide with Lizzie’s TV appearance; and not a huge plate whereafter you would gladly snooze the rest of the day away – we managed to play a few games before settling down to watch Dr.Who and the Xmas Strictly Show –pretty much after that it was a bit more relaxing and unsurprisingly we were in bed at our normal early time – I say unsurprisingly, but it felt like I had woken up in the middle of the night before and not been allowed to get back to sleep.

 

As usual lunch was simply superb...

...including dessert

Our schedule dictated that we needed to move on Saturday – this time as far as Cassiobury Park, from where we thought we would venture up into Watford for a bit of a walk – did we miss something in our planning – something like Boxing Day Shopping madness – what were we thinking??

We still managed to buy a few things that we actually had needed to buy before high-tailing it back to the boat and safety.

The uncharacteristically mild weather for December was continuing in the London area, but elsewhere it seemed that the island was sinking, with the terrible flooding being experienced in so many areas north of where we were. We watched some you-tube stuff of different scenes and you can only feel so so sorry for the problems that so many are having at what should be a festive time for all.

Sunday and we were on the move again – not far – just a mile or so and a couple of locks.

The Watford family have a couple of days of Xmas gatherings – first at Nikki and Phil’s - an open day with them and Nikki’s family and then the following day with Maggie and Paddy and that side of the family.

We had a really great time on both days without eating or drinking too much at all.

After all of the festivities were finished we decided that we needed to start cruising again – going south yet again towards Uxbridge – the lure of cheap diesel is too much to resist and also we do enjoy that stretch of canal – between Watford and Uxbridge.

 

Xmas cruising - a bit warmer this year...

...but simply great of course

We were sort of under the impression that the marina only closed for a couple of days a year – that not being between Xmas and New Year – alas we were not correct, so it was a few days in Uxbridge which is not such a hard place to take and here it was that we spent a relatively quiet NYE – well… it was very quiet but not for us and as usual we did not make it to the witching hour – bed for us was about 10pm and thus another year has ended.

This will be our last blog for a while – I simply have found it difficult to keep it up to date over the last couple of months and have decided to have a break.

No doubt in the near future it will resume but for now I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to be bored silly with what we have been up to – we look forward to seeing many more places and many more people this coming year.

Our main cruising will be the Thames – this time with a Gold Licence – there will be a couple of breaks during the year as we take some time out to visit friends and family not in the UK.

So goodbye – just for now!!!

 

As a finale, we captured a shot of this fellow - a great way to end the year

3 Miles, 7 Locks

YTD: 890 Miles (1452 km) , 568 Locks, 14 Tunnels, 11 Lift Bridges, 16 Swing Bridges

Total: 3784 Miles (6090 km) , 2689 Locks, 112 Tunnels, 45 Lift Bridges, 167 Swing Bridges

Where have you been?

Monday 30^th November to Thursday 10^th December 2015

I have received a complaint about the blog in this last couple of days – apparently I haven’t been writing them frequently enough and my beloved father-in-law has duly noted it and passed the comment along – via the enforcer – his daughter – oops that should read as my wife.

So I have decided to sit down and start the process of bringing it all up to date – but to tell you the truth we have merely marked time in the progress along the canal heading northwards.

 

We were out with Xmas hats on - not caring what those elves
got up to with the baby reindeer. The weather has been so warm
that the ice rink (background) was starting to melt.

As Mitch would say - "Those crazy kids are at it again"

Monday comes and there is that Slug and Lettuce
half price deal - the one that Diane can never
refuse

We did stay in Uxbridge for a few more days before moving on the Friday morning and got as far as Lynster’s Lake – a quiet mooring and very enjoyable, the only problem being that the television reception was less than adequate and as everyone knows that simply wouldn’t do for her indoors and her “Strictly”, so there was no option but for a bit of boat movement to happen.

 

December arrives and the decorations are up

Luckily I knew of a spot just a few miles up which would have good reception and be quite open – so off we trundled cruised and voila it came to pass that there was excellent TV and SHE was pleased.

 

A measure in the sand or rather a soggy towpath -
one by which Diane measures where we are

This little fellow found a ledge inside the lock

We stayed for the night and the following day we had made plans to cruise on a bit further – this time it would be with Nikki, Phil, Mia and Jess – they wandered down from where they live, close to the canal and were right on time.

It was a lovely day to cruise, which really made it so much better.

 

The Sheehan gang - enjoying a sunny cruise - you can tell
by how they are rugged up

We have been extremely lucky during this time; the weather has been unseasonably mild with temperatures up to the mid-teens and overnight it has been barely below double figures – so much so that the Reflecs has hardly been required for more than a few hours each day; the boat is so well insulated that it remains at 12-13C overnight and we get away with a summer doona and still a bit warm for us.

I guess it will just be a matter of time before we all start to feel the very cold weather and some of that white stuff will appear.

One of the main problems with such warm weather is that with the rain that we have had the towpaths are a bit muddy and sodden so that it becomes a bit difficult walking through it all.

Anyway we had a lovely cruise and were able to find a good mooring at Croxley Green, where we have moored up.

8 Miles, 10 Lock

YTD: 875 Miles (1408 km) , 538 Locks, 14 Tunnels, 11 Lift Bridges, 16 Swing Bridges

Total: 3769 Miles (6066 km) , 2659 Locks, 112 Tunnels, 45 Lift Bridges, 167 Swing Bridges

It's not really Xmas (yet)!!

Saturday 21^st November to Sunday 29^th November 2015

We hung around in Alperton for another couple of days, mainly on account of the weather conditions before we finally headed off; we had wanted to spend a couple of days at Willow Tree Open Area but decided against it, opting to have a quite long cruising day by our recent standards and made it to Cowley Peachey where we found a lovely mooring just up from Tesco.

It is to be expected that at this time of the year the conditions will be a bit unpredictable and not the best for daily cruising, so we have got into the habit of mooring up for a number of days before finally moving.

With mooring restrictions relaxed, essentially they are all 14-day moorings (unless otherwise stated) it becomes a bit easier on the need to move-on quite so soon.

The Costa located in the Tesco store as well as the one a bit further down the High Street seemed to be a bit well frequented whilst we were around, and strangely on Thursday morning we found ourselves outside the freshly- reopened Aldi wating for it to open so that Diane could inspect and purchase her favourite Star Wars toys – really is a big kid (again!).

 

Crazy people - queuing up outside Aldi - and we were crazy
as well

Her spoils

It was just as well that it was open early because we had decided to move on up to Uxbridge after the shopping expedition and, of course, in the process, had to go through that locking process business for the first time in quite a while – that being with both of us there.

Luckily we managed to grab a perfectly sized mooring spot in a line of moored boats – it being virtually the last one available.

There were more through the bridge but didn’t fancy being moored outside a pub over the weekend, although we doubted that there would be much trouble.

It was quick work mooring up and a little later we walked up to the station – Diane was off to Watford for her annual diabetes MOT, but because of the early appointment time she spent the night with Maggie and Paddy – the Friday being Paddy’s birthday – cannot tell you how old he was but he was a war-time baby.

 

Looking fighting fit and ready to celebrate

Diane passed the testing and is now OK for another year – oil change and tyres all checked and in good working order.

We did a bit of follow-up work on some planning for a trip-away in the new year and that is now taken care of; we also went off to the movies here in Uxbridge to see “The Lady in the Van” with Maggie Smith, whom we admire as a wonderful actor – I didn’t think much of the story which, although true, showed up the gullibility of the author and also Social Service attitudes which I find condescending and in many ways blinkered.

Saturday was a milder yet quite windy day but I was coerced  suckered  persuaded to go shopping – oh how I love shopping especially when it involves Diane looking at clothes (NOT!!!) – but I survived got through it came out of my coma woke up from the nightmare.

We also ordered some tiles that we need for a new splashback in the kitchen and they are likely to arrive in another week, so we will need to come back – as we will have moved by then.

Without doubt the highlight of the week was a surprise phone call on Sunday morning from Sue (and Andy) – they had been at Twickenham for the double header the previous day and wondered if we were free for lunch.

It seems almost like years since we had last seen them both, but it was only the end of August – which in boating terms is about the same.

 

There is always somebody trying to photo-bomb - that big guy at
the back just wouldn't move

So we met them in the town centre and adjourned to The Three Tuns – the food was quite delicious and plenty of it; good value too; the Guinness was good and that was what counted for me; the football was on, but in the other bar area and rightly so as we wanted to talk to Sue and Andy and the football was not important (after all it was only Spurs v Chelsea).

 

Incredibly nice lunch but not as nice as the company - such
a lovely surprise

This was just such a good tonic for us – although we are in contact almost on an hourly basis with everyone via Viber, it was so good to catch up with them over a meal – we will of course be off to see the whole gang very soon anyway.

After we said our goodbyes it was back to the boat and out of the wind (which was still blowing quite strong) and also out of the cold – so we settled down and resisted a nanna nap.

It almost seemed dark outside at 3pm but we had only to wait another 90 minutes to really complete the process.

Just think, it is only another 23 days until the winter Solstice and then the days will be getting longer and we will be heading to summer – that season of the year with more daylight than not.

Diane is deeply “indebted” to the words of wisdom passed onto her by Gary (nb Inca) concerning the correct time to put up Xmas decorations.

In Gary’s “thesis” on the subject, he states quite clearly that any decorations put up before the beginning of December mean that an “elf is killing a baby reindeer”.

Diane is severely traumatised by all of this – walking around town with decorations clearly on display; seeing people wearing xmas clothing; avoiding even finding exactly where our decorations are currently stored.

She has however decided that we needed some battery powered timer lights to be put in place which are apparently our new security lights – on Tuesday they will be renamed decorations.

This one is by courtesy of Gary (nb Inca) and is from a couple
of weeks ago as we posed at one of these pop-up toilets.
No really we were only posing - it was too cold to expose anything

12 Miles, 1 Lock

YTD: 867 Miles (1395 km) , 528 Locks, 14 Tunnels, 11 Lift Bridges, 16 Swing Bridges

Total: 3761 Miles (6053 km) , 2649 Locks, 112 Tunnels, 45 Lift Bridges, 167 Swing Bridges