Not a very nice day

30th May 07
Today has been very odd weather wise blue sky, sun, and then some very heavy downpours, and tonight it has got really cold almost cold enough to put the heating on.
Didn't go swimming today but took my mother shopping as we are going up the boat tomorrow for a few days. We have to fit 4 new batteries ready for our cruise around the Leicester ring on the 18th June. Hope the weather is better tomorrow as driving on the motorways in bad weather isn't a good idea.

Not a lot happening today

29/05/07
Went for my swim this morning 9am to 10am then took my mother to the doctors at 11am.
Just pottered around the house and garden after that and washed my car and messed about on the computer.
So nothing exciting to report today

Bank Holiday Monday

28/05/07
Today turned out much better than expected we had nice blue skies and sun shine but a very cold wind. Didn't do a lot today Bernard tidied up the garage and did some turning on the lathe. I just did a few odd jobs around the house and played on the computer and with the cameras. So not a lot to report tonight.

Oh what a day

27/05/07
Well what a day it haven't stopped raining at all and the wind is really blustery. Took our visitors to the Makro Store this morning bought a few things then came back home. We cooked a lamb roast for 2-30pm then they packed up and went home to Cheltenham. They have phoned to say they arrived home safe and sound and they had a smashing time. We will make arrangements to go caravanning with them in a few weeks time as we are going up the boat next Thursday to take the batteries up and get them fitted. Having had a good weekend I think an early night is coming on to night.

Out and about

26/05/07
Today saw sunshine and a very few showers. We had breakfast and then went off to Abergavenny Market Town it stayed quite warm and no rain bought a few bits and bobs then made our way back home for a lunchtime snack. Five oclock Bern went to pick up Son and Daughter in Law to come over for a BBQ. had Steak and pork chops new pots cauliflower cheese garlic bread and apple pie and custard and plenty of bevvies. a good time was had by all with lots of laughs. now time for bed.
Maureen

Change of Plans

25/05/07
As the weather forecast was looking grim we decided to give caravanning a miss. My cousin Drena and husband Geoff who lives in Cheltenham was also going caravanning with us so we decided that they will come to Wales for the weekend and we will still spend some time together. So it was swimming 9am to 10 this morning then shopping and back home and do some work around the house and to await their arrival around 6.30 we have a BBQ planned for when they arrive and a few bevies and lots of chat that's nothing new as we chat most nights by phone or on the net.
The weather here today have been quite good plenty of sun shine and quite warm lets hope the weather forecasters live up to their name.
Maureen

24/05/07

Didn't have the school run to do today as Luke is off for the rest of the week. Went swimming 9am to 10am adults only swim which I do every morning when I am at home.
Thursday is mother's shopping day at Tesco so that was all done by 1.30. We were taking the caravan out tomorrow to the Malverns until Monday but the weather forecast isn't looking that good so we will see what happens tomorrow then decide what we are going to do. These new digi cameras don't come with the cards now so I have sent for the xd picture card on line today.
Maureen

23/05/07

Today is back to normal or as normal as can be 8.15am off to pick up Luke youngest grandson and take to school. 9am down to the hospital for Bernard/s blood tests ready for his annual diabetic review a week on Monday(4/06/07) no sooner we get away from the hospital and we get a call from Richard Son to say Luke was sent home from school because he had a swollen face due to a tooth infection and would I get him to the dentist as Lynda daughter in law don't drive. So off I go pick him up and off to the dentist. He couldn't have the tooth out until the infection goes so he's on antibiotic's for a week 12.30 before I got back home.
And by the way forgot to say some one have racked up £700.46p on my Barclaycard at Play.com Jersey so there's forms to fill in and sort that lot out. Also my faithfull old Fuji F601 camera decided to die so I ordered a Fuji F31fd on line which I received today so spent some time working out the new camera and so we had a quiet afternoon and evening and TV
Maureen

22/05/07

Up this morning at 3.15am had a cuppa and some toast then 3.45 off to Cardiff International Airport which is approx 45min away from home. The ETA for the flight was 4.50am and as we approached the airport the plane came in just above us so it landed 4.30am by 5.10am they were through customs and we were on our way home. They all had an excellent time and were well bronzed, We dropped them off at home and then we came home and went straight back to bed that was 6.15am and managed to sleep until 9 15.
They came and picked up ZAK and bobby the budgie later this afternoon. So I feel an early night coming on tonight to catch up on our lost sleep
Maureen

21/05/07

Today was a fine sunny day and I gave ZAK his bath ready to go home when the gang comes home tomorrow. Bernard did the tidying up around the front so all looks well.
We are having an early night tonight as we have to be at the airport at 3.50am.
Just looked at the arrivals on the Internet and their flight is delayed by 2 hrs so we will have to keep a look out on the arrivals.
Maureen

Painting finished

At last the weather today was fine and sunny so out with the paintbrush to strike while its fine and so the jobs done. Front of house is finished and looking good, only the gates to do now so a good job has been done
The lilies in the garden are absolutely beautiful (that's if you like them) and I do.

April Showers in May

Today has seen some very odd weather with heavy rain and sun so its April showers in May. So unsettled that the painting of the front of the house was off once again.
Did manage to plant 2 rows of runner beans in my mothers garden in between the showers.
Gave ZAK another good brushing ready for his bath on Monday and his masters return home from holidays on Tuesday
Maureen

Real bad weather today

After an early 8.20am appointment with the doctor this morning there's not much to report. I went to do some grocery shopping and another visit to our Makro Store to stock up on all the large items. It's rained steadily all day and the wind is quite keen and it's cold so the painting is also on hold.
Maureen

Change in Weather

Today the weather has been very good. Bernard have managed to paint the front bricks only the window sills to do now so hope for some more fine weather tomorrow to get the job finished. I managed to get some more photos of ZAK the big hairy monster.

Still Raining

Today we woke to more rain. After an early appointment at the doctors for Bernard we went off to B&Q for more paint for the front(Wed is Pensioners day) Weather too bad for painting today. Gave Zak another brush out can only brush him for about half an hour he gets bored after that. Took some photos of him today but will take some better ones at the weekend.

Started Painting

Today Bernard started to paint the outside of our house in between the showers and I started to brush out Zak ready for his bath which I will do next Monday before my son comes home on Tuesday. The weather has been generally April showers in May but there's not a lot we can do about the weather. I will post some pictures as soon as I can
Maureen

Weather Slightly Better

14/05/07
The weather today has been slightly better no rain but still on the cold side. We have a few jobs planned for the next week while we are house bound Painting the front of our house and catching up on all the jobs that get forgotten while we are away boating and caravanning. I also have to give Zak the hairy German Shepard a bath I always bath him here as we have more room at our place than they do at their place. I will post a Picture soon. We took the family to Cardiff International Airport this afternoon for their flight at 6pm. Christina the eldest grandchild is 15 today and flying for the first time on her birthday
Maureen

13/05/07

Well today have been one of those days when it haven't stopped raining we even had to put the heating on. We are confined to home for the next 10 days dog sitting a great big hairy German Shepard belonging to my son as he and his wife and 3 kids are off to Gran Caneria tomorrow.

12/05/07

The Lillie's in our garden 49 counted this morning and more blooms still to come. Today the weather have been quite awful so we went to our local Makro Store where you can spend many hours and also many pounds as well. This evening we had a very nice BBQ we are very lucky that the BBQ is right outside the conservatory doors so we can BBQ in any weather.
Maureen

12/05/07

11/05/07

Back at home all day today the weather is terrible rain, rain, and more rain. Haven't been anywhere today

10/05/07

We left Alrewas at 9am and had a good run up to Barton Turns Marina but as always at B T the wind was blowing and we had a struggle to get Madasa-Soles onto her moorings. We had a cuppa then gave the boat a good clean inside and out and left by about 1pm for the Welsh Vallies where we arrived at about 4pm

09/05/07

Left the Bridge 55 Kings Bromley mooring by 8.50am we had a good run through Fradley where we saw NB Sanity then on to Alrewas where we moored up by 12noon. We went off to the butchers for some meat for the BBQ but rain stopped the BBQ so we cooked on board and had a relaxing evening.

08/05/07

Time has come to leave Tixel Wide by 9.30am we were on our way down to Gt Hayward for services.
We carried onto near Kings Bromley Bridge 55 where we stopped for the night. this was a very peaceful mooring.

07/05/07

Here we are still on Tixel Wide and still being very entertained by the wildlife. Mr & Mrs Swan the Ducks and babies and the Grebes and also the Squirells jumping from tree to tree.

07/05/07

Still on Tixel Wide and still being entertained by Mr & Mrs Swan. the Ducks, the Grebes and Squirells, and the phesents. Had a BBQ and a very relaxing day and evening but not the weather to sit out and enjoy.

06/05/07

We stayed on the wide all day today the weather wasn't brilliant but it stayed dry. We had a nice BBQ. Quite a few narrow boats from the Ash Tree Boat Club were there and they had a very good social gathering with B B Q and water sports. The Residential swans were nesting opposite us and gave us good entertainment. We named the Cob Mr Nasty he managed to see every thing off our stretch of the canal.

05/05/07

Left Rugeley 9am stopped at Great Hayward to service up then onto Tixel Wide. I think we had the very last mooring on the wide and had a very relaxing day and evening.

04/05/07

Before leaving Alrewas we went to the famous butchers for meat. We left Alrewas about 10.30am and just before Fradley the engine cut out and we had to have a new fuel filter fitted. Just as well there was an engineer on board and a stock of supplies.
We carried onto Hawkesyard Priory where we moored up for the night. We had our dinner and then about 20 youth's passed pulling pins and throwing our mooring bollards into the canal. The other two boats moored moved off so we did the same and we moved onto Rugeley Bridge 66 where we spent a relaxing night.

Left home this mooring at 10am for barton turns marina. Arrived at 12.45 Had some lunch and got sorted out and left marina at 3.30 made our way to Alrewas arriving around 4.30 managed to get a good mooring at Alrewas for the night. The Swans are nesting at the footbridge

First Blog

Well at last I have decided to put a blog together. Don't know how it will work out but i'll give it a go.
A little about me Worked for 28 years as Catering Manager for the Local Authority retired for 5 years. Married to Bernard for 46 years Bernard had his own business as a Building Contractor. Have two children and four grandchildren. Have been caravanning for 36 years with a touring caravan and boating for 11 years we've had two cruisers moored at Tewkesbury on the river Avon and Upton on Severn on the river Severn. When we retired we decided to buy a new narrow boat we have a Liverpool Boat by the new boat Co. we were moored on the river Severn at Upton for 3 years with it but found it frustrating because when the river flooded we couldn't leave the marina so 2 years ago we moved moorings to Barton Turns Marina Nr Burton on Trent where we are quite happy. More car miles to travel from home as we live in South Wales but worth it as we can always get out.
Thursday 3rd May we are going to Barton Turns and taking the boat out for 8 days.