Thursday 28th June

Went into the marina this morning at 9.30am got our mooring and all had showers. Bill Pam's nephew came to pick us and the dogs up at 11.30am and take us back to his house for the day. We were greeted by Yvonne Bill's wife and had a nice sit in the garden had some ham rolls and a nice glass of wine. Later Bill took us in the car for a tour of the spencer estate and Althrop house. when we got back we had a lovely roast pork dinner and Bill took us back to the boat at about 9.30

Wednesday 27th June

Left bridge 30 Rose narrow boats at 8.40am quite a few boats on the move carried onto bridge 58 went to Tesco's for provisions then on to Braunston moored up just outside the marina made arrangements to go into the marina in the morning for the night.

Tuesday 26th June

Left Hawkesbury Jctn at 9.30am then straight onto the north Oxford canal got as far as bridge 30 just below Rose narrowboats at 12.30 and a tree had come down across the canal. The waterways men were there with chainsaws and moved the tree by 5pm but we decided to stay put for the night as so many boats were on the move. Cliff cooked a nice steak on the BBQ. Also spotted Mo & Vanessa moored up in front of us had a chat to them nice to put a face to the blog

Monday 25th June

Left bridge 35 at 9.30 and headed back down the Ashby for the Coventry canal and on to Hawkesbury Junction where we moored up at 5pm had some very nasty weather

Sunday 24th June

Left bridge 15 at 11am as it was raining in the morning we had a late start. Carried on to bridge 35 where we moored up for the night. The weather wasn't good at all

Saturday 23 June

Left Atherstone at 9.45am We decided to go up the Ashby canal to kill a bit of time as the working boats had a rally at Braunston. We went up to bridge 15 and got a good mooring it was 3.45 it was a nice sunny morning but in the afternoon it hammered down

22 June 07

Left moorings at 9.50am went through 5 locks to top of Atherstone flight arrived at 11am Rain poured down so we decided to moor up over night. Pam Cliff and myself went to the village for a walk and get some provisions when we got back it was still raining.

Thursday 21st June

Left Alvecote at 9.05 heading for the Atherstone flight went through 5 locks and then had torrential rain and the boat engine decided to die we were opposite Barry Hawking boatyard so an engineer came out and changed our deisel warter seperator filter which was blocked we went through the next lock and moored up 2.45. we were all soaked through so we stayed for the night.

Wednesday 20th June

Left the Plough at 9am did the two Glascote locks and carried on to Alvecote we moored up at 2.30 as Jane & Jona were on their way towards us and we wanted to meet up they arrived at 6.15 and we cooked a nice lamb dinner for us all had a few drinks and caught up on all the chat

Tuesday 19th June

Left BT at 10am after fueling up. had a good run up through Alrewas as the River section was flooded it was proceed with caution and it was heavy going. On through Fradley and onto the Coventry Canal and we stopped at the Plough Pub moorings over night. Cliff cooked a shoulder of lamb on the BBQ watched some telly and a few drinks and an early night

Monday 18th June

Left home 9.30 picked Pam & Cliff and Jake up then went off to Droitwich to pick up our boat fridge. Went to Alrewas to pick up some meat then on to BT ot the boat loaded up and had a night in the marina ready for the off in the morning.

Sunday 17th June07

We have been very lucky with the weather here but some parts of the country have had terible weather. Richard Lynda and kids and my mother came down for dinner today. Richard gave him a very expensive bottle of whiskey for fathers day. We are all ready for our trip to Barton Turns tomorrow after I have taken Luke to school

Saturday 16th June07

Woke this morning to a nice bright sunny day. The Local weather forecast said Saturday would be the worst day but sods law prevailed and we have had quite a nice day we did have a shower around lunchtime but nothing to worry about. We went shopping today for the things we need for our 3 week cruise around the Leicester ring starting Monday 18th June. Richard Lynda and Luke called in this afternoon with the fathers day card and present. They are coming for dinner tomorrow . Just 4 of them Lori has gone to Majorca with her dad for 2 weeks.
This evening we had another nice BBQ a Scotch Sirloin cooked to perfection. Watched a bit of telly and some computer.

Friday 15th June 07

Nothing much to report today took Luke to school and went swimming the did bits and pieces around the house and garden. The weather wasn't as bad as was forecast we only had a slight rainfall nothing to worry about. We had a nice BBQ. some Scoth Rib eye steak lovely too
Did a bit of computer and telly and just chilled.

Thursday 14th June

Not a very interesting day the usual Luke to school swimming took my mother shopping. Went to visit Bernards sister this afternoon. Mother came down for dinner this evening.
We seemed to have missed the bad weather today ours have been overcast and humid but no doubt we will get it soon.

Wednesday 13th June 07

Up this morning and get Luke off school then off to the swimming baths for my hours swim.
We had an appointment with a double glaze salesman for a small porch over my mothers back door this morning he arrived and took all measurements so will give us a quote asap then we went food shopping and after that took Phill Franks our friend to get his boat engine serviced and then back home to be there for Luke when he came home from school. Richard came to pick Luke up then we had a nice Steak on th BBQ and a bit of computing and telly

Tuesday 12th June

Picked up Luke and dropped him off at school then went swimming. Had a trip up to the Asda store. Today is my son's 40th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD. Computer working OK now . Had a nice BBQ tonight lovely Lamb Chops. Quiet night and a bit of telly

Monday 11th June

Went swimming this morning I am back on the school run again now picking up Luke and taking him to school. I have been doing this since they moved house last year but in September when he starts the Comp he has a place there in the town where he lives so I will be redundant now in a few weeks. The weather is very hot its too hot to do any thing around the house today. Had a problem with the computer this afternoon had to phone AOL for technical help seems I must have done something to my password don't know what but I had to get the password reset then change password but its all OK now.

Weekend Caravanning

Thursday 7th June

Left home at 9am and travelled the 80+ miles to Hereford and arrived at the caravan club site at 11am. We didn't do the motorways we did all the ordinary roads the site is very nice and surrounded by trees. We had some lunch then went into Worcester to Sterling Power Products factory to get out digital boat battery charger checked. It was all OK made our way back to the site had a few relaxing minuets and in the evening had a nice BBQ took the laptop but there was no signal on the phone at the site so that was a no go. so watched a bit of TV.

Friday 8th June

Left the caravan site at 9am and travelled up the motorway we had a good run up the M42 and arrived at Barton Turns marina at 10.20 Bernard fitted the battery charger back on the boat and we brought the fridge back to get it repaired at Worcester. After we dropped the fridge off we went back to the site and arrived there at 3.45. Drena and Geoff were joining us this evening in their caravan coming up from Cheltenham they arrived at 6pm and were lucky to get the pitch next to us. We had a nice BBQ and a few glasses of wine and plenty to chat about until it was time for bed.

Saturday 9th June

Bernard cooked a full english on the BBQ which was very nice. We went into Bromyard for a look around the village there was a scarecrow competition on the ones we saw were great. We went back to the site and had a bit of lunch. After that Drena Geoff and myself went for a long walk along one of the national trust walks Bernard can't walk very far so he stayed at the caravan site with millie Drena's dog we took Jack our dog with us. When we got back we had another BBQ and a few drinks then bed.

Sunday 10th June

After breakfast this morning we packed all our things away in the caravan and left the site at 10.30. We came home on the motorway 15 miles more but more straight forward we got home about 1.30 sorted the caravan out unpacked and prepared dinner my mother came down for dinner at 5pm so now its relax and bed later

Wednesday 6th June

Today was another glorious day. Took my mother shopping to Tesco as we are going away in the caravan tomorrow until Sunday.
Got some washing and ironing done and packed the caravan ready for the off tomorrow.
Gareth oldest grandchild 16yrs came to visit today he had new drain pipe trousers fashions coming around again I said his dado (grandfather)wore them Forty odd years ago.
Had a nice BBQ again this evening and some TV now off to bed

Tuesday 5th June 07

Went swimming this morning 9 to 10am then came home had coffee and then went to Blackwood town to pick up our watches as we have had new batteries fitted, After lunch we did a bit of weeding in the front garden. Had a nice BBQ in the evening had giant marinaded rib eye steaks delicious too.

Took some photos of the fish pond on the patio today we have to keep it covered with net as the cats around here used to come and try tapping with their paws the water iris have come out as well so have the orange tree.

Monday 4/06/07

No swimming this morning as Bernard had his annual review at the hospital an appointment for 10.10am got in to see the doctor 11.15am every thing was OK with it. Went to the Makro store for some shopping and then back home. Didn't do anything exciting for the rest of the day had dinner then watched the tv.

Barton Turns Marina

Saturday 2nd June
These two photos are of barton turns marina they show the construction work going on there to build a pub/restaurant and some outlet and craft shops it should be great when its finished but they are taking a long time on it its been ongoing for over a year now. In the top picture you can see Madasa-Soles the cream boat in the middle of the photo.

The 12 volt fridge has decided to pack up on us now. we turned it upside down overnight but still no luck the fridge is continually running but not cutting out its cold but the freezer box is not freezing up so looks like a new fridge is on the cards. Bernard sold the small generator to the man on the next boat so that's out of the way now.

Went to Alrewas to pick up meat we ordered to take home and had a walk along the canal towpath.

Fridge still not working.

Sunday 3rd June

Fridge still not working. Oh well just our luck. Cleaned the boat through and we were on our way by 10 o'clock got home at 1pm had a good run back down not much traffic about today.

Cooked dinner by 3.45pm mother came down for dinner with us so now I am catching up on blogs and emails and a good program on TV at 9pm

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Home to Barton Turns

31/6/07
We left home at 11am for Barton Turns we had mixed weather on the way some dry and some very heavy showers. Called into Alrewas butchers for some meat on or way its only a few miles from the boat the meat there is excellent. It takes about 3 hrs from home to boat. Sorted out the things we had brought up then had a relaxing afternoon and evening.

1/06/07
The dog had me up quite early this morning he needed to go out it was 7.15am when I was walking around the field then it was to the boat and a cup of tea in bed. Bernard had a busy day to day washed and polished the boat and put it back into our own mooring because when we came back in last time some one else was in out mooring so we had to use an empty one. Then put the 4 new batteries on and working down in the engine room is quite a task.