Back in the Smoke

Reluctantly,we had to come home on Wednesday  as I had a check up at The Royal London hospital to see if my knee replacement , done last April, was still ticketty boo. After an x-ray, I went in to see the doctor and was pronounced AOK. I then spoke to him about my OTHER dodgy knee, another x-ray ensued and I have gone on the waiting list for that to be similarly replaced. He could not say exactly how long, but guessed around three months time. I told him later rather than sooner would suit me better. I don't want to miss too much of the best boating  months! But thank God for the NHS! Long may it endure, so hands off Mr Cameron and pals!

Bank holiday...how can you tell?

It's barely stopped raining all day today. A few boats went by this morning decked out with flags and balloons but looking rather bedraggled, and the steerers looking less than happy, with water dripping off their noses! Several hire boats rattled by, some at high  speed, determined to make the most of their time afloat, weather or no! We decided to stay where we are, so we've had a lazy day reading, cooking, playing the guitar and recorder, listening to the radio and playing games online. The wind is buffeting us about and it's tipping down, as we sit recovering from "toad in the hole", roast and mashed potatoes, carrots, peas , green beans and gravy, followed by a slice of Mike's home made chocolate cake. I hope tomorrow is better, my waistline can't take much more of this!

Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Today is the first day of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. We only  boated for about 3 hours today , including 5 locks, but there were many boats dashing around early all in a rush to get somewhere.We don't have to be anywhere, so we are moored up in a quiet place with only one other boat in view. Mike lit the stove as it was  a bit chilly and I set about making dinner. It's cosy in our little boat when the stove is lit and before long it began to rain. In the distance we can hear the sound of a Jubilee firework display going on somewhere, but far more important , we can hear the sound of rain pitter pattering on the canopy and the screech of an owl in the trees outside. I know where I'd rather be.

Birthday afloat!

Yesterday was my 61st birthday and being away on the Great Escape meant there was just Mike and I to celebrate it. However due to the power of technology and a functioning Dongle (at last...thank you T-mobile!) I was able to receive messages from many friends and acquaintances all over the world via Facebook, as well as personal messages via text. Gone are the days when anyone can be totally cut off from the rest of the outside world, but on the green corridors of the canals you can pretend!

there is NOTHING--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

The weather being beautiful, we set out for a trip down the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. People ask us "Where are you heading?" and are often surprised by our answer that we are going nowhere in particular. We will go for several days and turn round and go back again. It's better to travel than to arrive,so they say........

The joy of the canal is that  round the next bend or under the next bridge may be an interesting old building, a beautiful view, or a herd of cows which really oughtn't to be in the newly sown wheat field! 

Just like life really, it's the journey that counts, we all know what the destination is...

Today we are back at the marina at Great Haywood. One of the reasons we came up at this time was the retirement of Jennie and Dave who have lived and worked at the Marina since before  it opened. Although we have only been here two years, they have made us feel welcome, given us advice and helped us out when we've had a problem. Ask anyone who works or moors here and they would tell you the same story. Jennie and Dave are just good people. The sheer number of people who turned up for their surprise party this evening  is a testament to the high regard in which they are held.  We wish them every happiness in their well deserved retirement and happy cruising!

Didn't it rain?

This is how it has mostly been since we set out from Great Haywood on Tuesday...we have just been down to Fazeley junction near Tamworth to give the boat a good run to charge up the batteries and to reacquaint ourselves with boating after a five month lay off. We never intended it to be this long but ill health and various crises have kept us away much longer than we planned. Of course, it also means we missed the lovely sunny weather last month and now seem to be in the monsoon season! 

I keep telling myself we need the rain, the canals need the rain, if we are to be able to cruise through the summer months. So just grit the teeth and dress up warm! 

It's maybe true what they say...sometimes we get what we need and not what we want!