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!