“Do that once more and I will slap your legs!”

Why is it that men behave like kids? While in Coventry today we went into KFC for our lunch (Paul’s choice). There I was enjoying my burger and there was Paul first he couldn't open his sachet of ketchup so I had to do it for him, then not only does he sprinkle salt on his chips but all over the table as well, then he is slurping his drink and to top it all the serviettes ended up on the floor. On a table near us was a little boy of about 4 who didn't make any mess and who was a credit to his mum. Wish I could say the same about my LITLE BOY.

We managed to get most of what we wanted while in town, needless to say we ended up with 3/4 of an hour to wait for the bus so I sat in the shelter and Paul went for a mooch around Cash Converters please don't ask why. Any way about half an hour later he emerged with a carrier bag and a big grin on his face, what had he bought, only 4 play station games for the princely sum of £1.99 each. Bloody hell that means not only do I have to suffer cowboy films, war films, black and white films I now have 4 shoot to kill games to drive me to distraction as well. Thank goodness for my collection of books that I have yet to read.

Not a nice day weather wise but at least it is cooler and the boat is getting a bit of a wash down.

John rang yesterday to tell us that he would be here at the weekend with the new cratch cover so we wont be moving until Monday.

Hawkesbury

What a change in the weather, we left our mooring after a scorching 4 days. Travelling in fine rain with an extra layer on as it seemed a bit on the chilly side. Not a lot of boats about but was still busy at Hawkesbury. We have managed to squeeze in at the end of the 14 day moorings with room behind us for one more boat.

Have just returned from the pub where we had a spot of lunch. Paul has even threatened to light the fire, he is joking well, I hope he is. Not to sure how long we are going to stay here I had earmarked a week Paul now doesn’t want to be here that long so who knows when we will move and to where. A trip into Coventry is on the cards and also one to Tesco.  

We have 5 weeks until we go into Dave’s and we are 14 miles away. Looks like there will be plenty of country moorings tried out.

How about this!

Last night we saw the most amazing sunset and here is the proof.

We never got the rain we were promised either. Had another early start for us cast off around 9 I walked to the lock and managed to walk the whole 9 without a single grumble. Keep thinking of my waistline and how it should be tiny by now, but needless to say isn’t.

The locks seem to take an age but there was a boat coming down for every lock we came to, so for once things were in our favour. As we came out of the top lock a lady whom we had met at Glascote locks was back on the way down, she shouted that her journey hadn't gone to plan as the canal was too shallow so they were heading back the way they had come. She certainly wasn't joking when she said it was shallow the water level was down about a foot all along the way in fact we were on the bottom in a couple of places. I suppose this is all down to the lack of rain and the fact that the canals aren't dredged any more.

I was chatting to an old guy while we were in lock 2 who was obviously a local and he was telling me that the tap by lock 5 has been leaking for about 3 weeks and I don't mean a drip it is running out. He has reported it to various BW people all to no avail. Also there is no locky in the cottage at the top lock, BW have dispensed with his services although he still lives there. Another casualty of the recession.

We are now back by bridge 24 moored by another boat which broke loose just after we had tied up. We were able to get the boat back in from the middle of the canal with out causing too much chaos. 

Wasn’t expecting that!

Last evening we had a nice long chat with Joy and David nb Jessop who were moored up behind us. Their home mooring is at Brinklow so they were on the way back with a visit to the Ashby on route.

We left this morning around 9 with a brisk breeze accompanying us. Although it wasn't cold. As is normal for our journeys we met a doughnut who in his infinite wisdom approached the bridge we were leaving at full throttle and made no attempt to slow down.   Paul  had already throttled back before the bridge because bridge 54 is on an acute bend and he was determined to  keep his course. The oncoming boat still made no attempt to slow up  which meant that  by this time he was up close to the armco and  was in the wrong position for the bridge hole. By now we were out of the way and there was one almighty crash.  Paul didn't look back but knew that a collision had occurred with the bridge. This was obviously more than just a bump so lets hope there isn't too much damage to his boat or the bridge. Lets hope he has learnt his lesson and will in future approach bridges at  a reasonable speed.

We needed to stop at Bridge 48 to empty the cassette, get rid of the rubbish and top up with water. We could see there were two boats there so we pulled on to the towpath side to wait. It wasn't long before one of the boats  left and we were able to moor up. Paul went to the Elsan point opened the lid and low and behold someone had put a full dog poo bag into the pan. Now I ask you why do that. I was the one that had to remove the offending article a job I could have done without.

Tackled two of the Atherstone locks and now we are moored up between bridge 47 and lock 9. It is blowing a gale and looks like rain. Nb Kyle is in front of us saw him at Tixall and Alvecote.

Tomorrow we will do the remaining 9 locks and head for bridge 24. At the moment the itinerary is being followed to the letter. That’s a surprise.

Close encounter of the furry kind!!!!

At last we were able to leave Hopwas this morning, journey was quiet until we got to Glascote locks. Of course there was a queue, I went up to help and also to find out what the hold up was and one of the top paddles on the bottom lock is bust, there is a notice on it but when it will be fixed is any bodies guess. So consequently this lock took and age to fill, only up side was there were boats waiting to come down, as well as go up, so no water was wasted.
Coming through Tamworth approaching bridge 67 we were faced with a willow tree that filled the canal in fact we couldn't see the bridge hole at all, luckily there wasn't any thing coming towards us, hate to think what it will be like at this spot when the school holidays start no doubt there will be a few near misses. After reading Maffi's blog about reporting things like this as soon as we moored up I sent an email to BW.

We are now moored at Alvecote marina for the night, as usual when we moor up I took the dogs for a wander, just up from our mooring I spied some steps going down onto a footpath, so being the intrepid explorer that I am I set off. The footpath took me into the woods, it was a well defined path so is obviously used a lot, with lots of nice smells for the dogs to investigate. I had been going for about 15 mins when in front of me appeared a fox, now I don't know who was the more surprised me or the fox. Luckily Crystal didn't see it or I don't think I would have been standing, I would have looked like a cartoon character being dragged behind a careering dog. Fox turned tail and scarpered. Don't think it liked the look of us.
Paul is trying his hand at fishing again, we did pass a huge pike that was floating probably clobbered by something so he knows there are fish about.

Chairs were so comfy last night, although I must admit when you look in the boat you would think you were in an old peoples home. Mmmmmm come to think of it you are!!!!!!!!!!

Nice chairs

Well here they are, our new chairs, they are so much more comfortable than the old swivels we had. They are a bit larger then the old ones and perhaps they look like there should be a simmer frame in the cupboard. Maybe we should order a commode then we would have the full set then.

 

But we don't care we like them and they are what we wanted. We have decided to go for a meal tonight then move first thing in the morning I have an itinery planned but no doubt that will go by the board once we are on the move again.

Oh Oh!!!!!

We  are still at Hopwas, hadn't planned to be but while in Tamworth on Thursday we spotted a couple of chairs that were just what we were looking for. So, they are being delivered on Monday.

Well now Paul is bored, which is a really dangerous mood for him to be in, so dangerous that he has started stripping bits out of the bedroom. I suppose I should be grateful that the beds are still in one piece. So now we have bits of trim work hanging from the ceiling in the lounge. Other people have pictures and nik naks to enhance their living area we have bits of trim.

Today we went back into Tamworth on the bus and Paul bought a special drill bit for removing the wooden plugs from the large trim work he just had to make sure that worked and yes, it did.

Back on the boat we could here a brass band playing so off we went on a reccy, and found that the local church St Chad's was having a fete with Amington band playing, it wasn't a brass band but a silver band and they were very good. It was nice to see the locals coming together to support the church, bought to mind when my kids were small and we had a village fete every year where I lived.  Of course we had to stop in the Tame Otter for a pint on the way back. A lot cooler today which is a bit of a relief at least the dogs aren't suffering so much.