Newbold.

We arrived at Newbold yesterday morning after a quick text to Dot and Derek to find out where they were. As luck would have it they were moored at Newbold just killing time till Friday when they hand the boat over to it’s new owners. So it was a lovely reunion and we have arranged to go out for a farewell meal.

My blood pressure has returned to normal after a very fraught Sunday when Paul was on his play station and loosing his temper big time because he couldn't blow up a tank!!!!!! At lot of boats had come past and because of the low water level if their speed was above what it should be we banged against the side causing the dogs to jump and Paul to swear. Consequently when one guy came past and more than a rate of knots Paul really lost it and was up in the cratch giving it a load of verbal and obscene gestures. This obviously made him feel better but he still didn't blow up the tank until about 3 hours later.

Today we caught the bus to Hillmorton to check  if we were okay for the 16th. I’m sure the expression on Dave's face changed when he saw us walking through the yard. I made myself scarce chatting to Jeff the painter and John the carpenter. At least now we are a lot more confident of the work and Paul has had all his questions answered, he even managed a quick chat with Bimm the guy who is doing the steel work. So now it is all systems go for the big strip down which will commence next Monday.

Also last evening Betty and Graham popped to see us, they had a hire car after running Grahams dad back home, so yet another reunion and a good old chinwag with Paul and Graham winding one another up. As they are off down the Thames we wont catch up again until they go into Hillmorton for blacking in October, hopefully we will be in the paint shop by then with everything nearly done. Think we are going to stay here until Thursday and then go to Rugby.