Sat 21st - Tue 24th July 07

Old Signs on a bridge on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Zoom in to see the writing.

Saturday

The weather was quite bad today we decided that going up the boat was a no go. We had a run out in the car to the Goytra Wharf on the Mon & Brec Canal which is about 18 miles away from our house plenty of boats there but mostly the small cruiser types. not many steel boats.

Bernard measuring the hight of this bridge on the Mon & Brec canal it was 60ins.

Sunday

Today the weather was diabolical all day didn't move from the house all day. Quite boring really but too wet to venture out any where.

Monday

Today the weather was a little better after swimming we went for a run out in the car following along the Mon & Brec canal from the Goytra Wharf up to Brecon about 25 miles away from our home the weather was a bid overcast and we had some quite heavy storms.

Tuesday

Woke this morning to a lovely sunny day I went off swimming and when I came home we went to Porthcawl a sea side holiday place not far from us. Bernard's sister was there on a caravan holiday at Trecco Bay a very large static caravan/ mobile home holiday park. It was a lovely day we took Jack with us and had a nice walk along the road at the top of the beach there were quite a lot of people in the sea. We got home about 5.30

Don't go without me 20th July 07

We have decided to go up the boat tomorrow for a few days I packed some bags ready so if the weather is better we will go.

Jack didn't intend to be left out so he's making sure that he comes too

Friday 20th July Luke's Shirt

When Luke came home from school today he was quite sad to be leaving his old primary school and all his friends, no doubt he will soon make new friends at his new school in September after a week or two.

All the kids had their shirt signed so here is Luke.

20th July Luke's last day in primary school

My last school run today I have been doing this for just over a year. Richard and family lived just two streets away from me and right by the kids primary school. They moved house which is about 3 miles away and the local primary school was full so Luke had to stay here at his own school . Richard started dropping him off to me very early before 7am in the morning on his way to work so I had to get up early and so did Luke so I decided to go and pick him up in the car and I don't leave the house now until 8.25 and drop him off at school so we both could get a lie in. He walks down to our house after school and his dad picks him up on his way home from work. Unfortunately Lynda my daughter in law don't drive. In September Luke has got a place in the Blackwood comp along with Christina a Lori and its only 2 mins away

Today the weather has been horrendous luckily for us we live in the Vallie's where it is quite hilly but some parts like Barry have had terrible floods and more to come through the rest of the day and evening.

Plans are to go up the boat tomorrow weather permitting as we have a few jobs to do Bernard is going to paint the engine room out and varnish the hardwood windows and put the shiny mushrooms back on the roof We are planning to do the Staffs & Worcs and LLangollen canel starting 24th August. We did the LLangollen and 4 counties last year.

Mon 16th to Thurs 19th July 07

Not a lot of change in the routine swimming and school run. Weather wise its been pretty grim for July and there don't seem to be much change for the long term forecast. Wednesday the doctor rang to say the glucose blood tests I had last Friday confirms that I have diabetes so I have to have more blood tests done next Thursday .

Wild Orchid

Sunday 15th July 07



I came across this wild orchid while caravanning in Hereford the beginning of June I thought it would cheer up the very wet dull and dismal day we are having here.
Haven't been able to do any thing today as the weather has been so bad.
I pity those who are on holiday in this although our three weeks away wasn't that brilliant weather wise.

Saturday 14th July

Shiny Brass Mushrooms

When we came home from the boat last week we brought the brass mushrooms off the roof with us as Bernard decided to put them on his wood lathe to shine them back up as they went to look very dull. As the photos show its an excellent job. They are going to be lacquered now before going back on.

It's been a lovely day today no rain at all.

Monday 9th to Friday 13th July 07

The usual week School run with Luke and swimming in the mornings. Tue Luke fractured his big toe in school so it was down to the A & E. The weather has been mixed some rain and sunshine so managed to do some more work tidying up the garden.
Friday I had to go to the Hosp for a glucose blood test my sugar levels have been too high on my last three blood tests the results should be about a week. Our friends Sally and Philip came up for an evening meal we had a nice mushroom starter Roast lamb and all the trimmings and a rhubarb crumble for sweet a few drinks and a catch up on all the news. The weather as been appalling since 11.30am rained continually.

Sunday 8th July 07

This morning I had a blitz on the pond cleaned out the Lillie's that had overgrown while we were away. Also cleaned out the filter we can see the fish now.
Prepared dinner ready for the family.
Bernard went to pick up Richard Lynda Christina & Luke Lori was spending the day with her friends he then went and picked up my mother. there was 7 of us for dinner We had roast beef and Yorkshire pud. I took them all home at about 6.30.
A bit of telly and a relaxing evening

North Oxford Canal bridge Rugby bridge 58

This poor bloke tried turning a 70ft boat and got caught on a big stone. the canal was blocked for some 45mins

Some Photos of our Braunston Trip

Jack & Jake

The pylons on the Ashby Canal

The Engine house at Hawkesbury Junction

Balmaha just below Rose narrow boats where the tree came down across the canal and stopped movement of boats for appros 8 hrs.

Contractors clearing the fallen tree from the canal

This duck wondered whats for breakfast

A working boat and butty on its way to the Braunston rally

Jake waiting to go

Bernard giving a song while we waited for the tree to be cleared

Cliff didn't think much of it

Saturday 7th July 07

We were up early this morning so went off shopping. The weather is lovely today so we decided to tidy up the garden back and front no lawns thank goodness. Richard and Lynda came over this afternoon and brought their new family addition with them for us to see a little Yorky pup called Ellie Jack wasn't very impressed with it for one so small it was very yappy. Bernard's sister and husband also came to visit. The weather is still nice and the forecast for tomorrow is quite good. Richard Lynda and the 3 kids are coming to dinner tomorrow so that will be nice.

Friday 6th July 07

Didn't have a school run this morning Luke have gone on an induction day to the Comp he starts at in September. I took my mother shopping to Tesco then back home and do some catching up on the house work and washing. Managed to get 3 loads of washing and tumble drying done so there's ironing to do now. The weather today have been very windy with some showers so no change there. Richard and Lynda no kids came over to see us and had a few drinks with us Bernard cooked some nice Lamb chops on the BBQ no we're not mad the BBQ is right outside the conservatory door so we use it quite often. A bit of telly and early night.

Thursday 5th July 07

We were up and had the boat cleaned through by 10.15 and ready to leave the marina. We called into the butchers at Alrewas for some meat to take home and was back in the South Wales Valleys by 2pm we dropped Pam and Cliff of at their home and said our goodbyes for now any way I will see Pam at the swimming pool next week.
Back home it was still raining the garden looked overgrown and it was quite cold. Once inside we had to put the central heating on had a nice bath and Bernard cooked us a nice steak on the BBQ . A bit of catching up on the computer as the orange payg Internet connection on the boat was a bit hit and miss and sometimes no signal at all.

Wednesday 4th July 07

We left Hopwas at 8.45 in lovely sunshine by 9.15 it was waterproofs on again we carried on the Coventry canal to Fazeley then onto the Birmingham and Fazeley canal we arrived at Fradley Jctn and was more than surprised there was no Que for the lock we went straight through on to the Trent and Mersey canal. The River section at Alrewas have been closed for a few days but other boaters told us it had opened so we made our way on to Alrewas. The river section was quite high but we went through OK as we have spent 4 years on the river Avon and 3 years on the river Severn it was quite mild to us. We arrived back at Barton Turns Marina by 2.30pm but today we have had quite a mixed bag of weather heavy rain wind and some sunshine.

Tuesday 3rd July 07

After reading the blogs last night I noted that Lyra was moored down the locks after lock two so I was sure to pass them somewhere on the flight. We left the top lock at 9.30 in the rain again. We had to fill the first 4 locks then it was one up one down much easier then we met up with Cath and Bob Lyra boat on their way up as I knew we would meet them I introduced myself to Cath on the towpath then to Bob on the boat who introduced me to Timmy their cat. It was lovely to meet someone who's blog I read regularly so now I have a face to a blog. Atherstone locks all done we carried on to the two Glascote locks after them we stopped for lunch. We carried on to Hopwas where we moored up for the night.

Monday 2nd July

Left Hartshill by 9.30 and on our way to the Atherstone top lock arrived at 10.30am moored up for the day. Went into Atherstone village for a look round the shops. bought some more supplies and a good tripod from Aldi's store for my D80. Got back to the boat had a good catch up on reading the blogs as the orange signal hasn't been very good so far. We are getting fish and chips for tea tonight from the local fish shop.

Sunday 1st July

We left Rose narrow boats at 8.45am carried on the north oxford up to Hawkesbury Jctn arriving there 12 noon. Went through the stop lock onto the Coventry canal and carried on to Hartshill bridge 30 the BW yard moored up at 3.30. Cliff cooked some lovely pork chops on the BBQ. and had a relaxing evening.

Saturday 28th June 07

When we woke this morning the rain was tamping down so we had breakfast and decided to stay put for a while to see if the raain would esase, by 11 30am it was a bit dryer so we decided to make a move we were only going about 20 min and the rain poured again so we stopped by bridge 30 just before Rose narrow boats where we stopped on the way down when the tree fell on the canal. We were moored up by 1.15 withe the rain still pouring down. We lit the fire so it was nice and cosy.

Friday 29th June 07

Left Braunston marina at 10am weather not to bad today we stopped at Rugby bridge 58 and went to Tesco to do some shopping. We stayed the night there. It was quite a nice. afternoon and evening weather wise