Fantastic, (in the end)

Thanks guys for all your lovely comments... I had a lovely day thank you IN THE END...
The day started with me waking up without my beloved as she was down in Kent with her Dad as she had to go to another doctors appointment, but the good news was, we were meeting up in London later in the day.... it felt like a date. She had also left a card and a small present to open, the card even had a narrowboat on it, she's brill....

So I then made my way down to the station and when I got there it was packed.. Well it turned out that some selfish git had jumped in front of the train at Milton Keynes and closed the lines down into London.. I had to wait an hour before they let a train run out of Rugby but I managed to get a seat for the mad rush to get on it.. Hmmm well sitting along side me I had a guy who decided to make a phone call (not in English) and he never came off the phone all the way down to London. Thank god for tunnels when he lost his signal and gave me a minutes rest each time!.. Then I had a guy standing in the aisle with his arm holding on to the seat in front so his armpit was right next to me and you guessed it, it stunk!. Behind him was a guy chewing gum and all I could hear over this phone was tick tick tick of his mouth, chewing on the gum, and to top it all I had a guy behind me with his headphones on tapping the back of my seat to the music he was listening to.. Great! It would have been a better trip travelling in a cattle truck, which it what it felt like, and cows don't do phones..
I arrived in Euston and found Al where things got a lot better.

We headed straight for my favorite restaurant Hard Rock Cafe and we went straight in and got a prime seat,  in fact I sat in the seat where Bill Gibbons sat (the lead singer and guitarist from  ZZ Top) last night, with a bunch of guests, and Al was sitting in Frank Beards seat (the drummer in the band). I was facing my favorite wall which was filled with all Queen and Pink Floyd stuff, we felt like royalty.

They even played our favorite music for us, so we had Queen, Pink Floyd, Springsteen, Jackson and of course Bon Jovi. What a great lunch, we were in there three hours and stuffed with food and drink..

We then jumped on the bus to Piccadilly where Eros was in a big snow shaker and then walked to Hamley's to play with all the new toys, and then the apple store to check out the latest gadgets and workshops..

When we came out the Christmas lights were on and we did Oxford street and the Selfridges windows..

They were really good this year and a bit more effort has been made, we enjoyed them

Boots even had lights with real snow coming down from three snow making machines on the roof, lovely.

Then it was the bus to the bar for more drinks and cocktails before heading off back to Al's Mum and Dads where more presents were opened.....

 One present I got from Pam and Alf was a chainsaw chain sharpener which will help out through this cold winter they say we are going to have..and it will save on buying a new chain every time..........

It turned out to be a lovely day, thanks again guys....

Birthday Boy today

Happy Birthday Del, my forever teenager xxxxxxxxx 

 

 



We're Ready

We looked at the weather when we got up and thought it was a good time to move today. We still had a couple of days on the waste tank but thought due to the weather report we should get it emptied. We pulled the pins and moved down to Clifton Wharf and after a bit of hassle we moored alongside two other boats for a pumpout. It always feels good when your tank is empty and your diesel is full, Mmm just water to worry about..

We left the Wharf and headed into Rugby where we passed a quiet Brownsover. We then winded and put Derwent6 on the water point.

Del had spotted a bit more wood so we loaded up with a few sticks to keep us going.. so loaded with wood, coal, water, diesel, and our empty waste tank, bring on the bad weather.. Perhaps we shouldn't have said that..
We had plans to head back to Braunston, but as we pulled round the corner a boat pulled off at Brownsover where we can get telly.. We also had one more thing to do, fill the cupboards with food and with Tesco's just a stone's throw we moored up..

We got the shopping and managed to get all the heavy stuff back to Derwent6 before it rained. So that was it for the day, fire stoked and feeling exhausted we just put our feet up..  we love this life!!!!

Enjoying the peace and quiet

Well we have chilled a bit over the weekend and it has been nice.. We have just been doing all the normal things like locating and chopping wood, and just taking it easy..

We gave Mark a ring on n.b Calisto and he came along on Saturday.. We had his last six bags of Stove Glow due to to the fact a marina had brought the rest for the expected cold snap ahead.. He was loaded with other coal but SG is one of our favourites.. After feeding his dog, and filling us with diesel he left.

To be fair nothing much has happened. Al has been up the shops a couple of times and been down to Kent as she needed the doctors, so we have had a good location here for all the things we need right now..

 We plan to move tomorrow...

Prep work

We woke up to a miserable morning so it was difficult to get out of bed, but as usual we had loads of jobs to do.. Del started on the engine, by checking the levels and greasing the grease points.. Then pumped up the central heating ready for winter.. We are trying to prepare ourselves for this cold snap we are going to have, but I'm sure it will catch us out.. Del then did the porthole liners while Al did some (house) boat-work.. In the afternoon we invited Andy and Irene round for tea and Al had made some date and walnut rock cakes. Irene had brought some gifts as well with some cake and a bottle of Crabbies for us.. We had a laugh in the heat of Derwent6 with its fire blazing in the corner.. In the evening it was a bit of telly for us...
On Tuesday we were up early as it was a nice day and Del cleaned out the bilge and also the rain gutters on the weed hatch. He then started to cut up some more wood so the locker was full.. As we did this we said our goodbyes to Andy and Irene on n.b. Kamili.

We soon had the wood locker full and then went on the hunt for more wood. Al walked up the shops and topped up the fridge (with more chocolate)..

In the evening we just chilled listening to music......

Cake, Cleaning and Cheers!

With the good news we decided to stay put for the weekend like we normally do. At mid morning we were joined by Andy and Irene on n.b Kamili.. They moored up and then walked along to see us..We were having lunch and Al was still in her PJ's but we arranged a chat with them and were invited back to their boat for a cup of tea.. We got round to them at 2.30pm and were greeted with cake, Mmmmm. We had a good catch up talking about the cut and toilets and engine issues.. It was lovely to see them..

We left just as it was getting dark (and Del wanted a wee) as Al had her place booked in front of the telly as Strictly was on.. We had a warm and cosy night on Derwent6..
On Sunday the weather was a lot better and Del was up early doing the brasses and cleaning off the leaves bringing Derwent6 ship shape again.. He finished at 3.00pm just as Andy and Irene were going up the shops... We had planned to go up the pub to watch the football so we arranged to meet them at 4.00pm.. We had a lovely afternoon chatting about how the year had gone and what our winter plans were, with the football in the background and a pint in front of us..heaven!

We left just in time for us to get back to the boats and see strictly and run our engines for a hour.. It has been fun having these guys around this weekend...

Great News!

We were up early again after last night, waiting for a phone call from the hospital, and at 9.30am we got it.. It turned out to be great news that Alf (Al's Dad) has got the all clear on his tumors.. they have receded and the blood supply that was feeding them has been cut off. All that happens now is that he has to have a check up every six weeks... we both fell into tears.. he is still shaking from the news and feeling like a new man...We couldn't have asked for better treatment and care from Kings College in London, and we have had tremendous support all the way.
So our day was made up..Del went and cut a lot more wood while Al went up the shops to set up some treats for us to celebrate.. Nothing will spoil our day today....

To London to Visit the Queen

After a restful day on Tuesday for Del, Al had made her way back to Derwent6 managing to get back in daylight...  but tomorrow, another hectic day was ahead..
We were up early as we had another train to get. We caught the 10.30am train down to London and met up with Bernie and Erica at Victoria station.

From there we went over to Covent Garden where we used our Taste Card in Fire and Stone where we all had lovely pizza's for half price..

Del and Bernie then went in the pub while Al and Erica did some window shopping and we met up again at Tottenham Court road. From there we got the tube to Shepherd Bush and we went into O'Neill's for another couple of pints.. here we were joined by Steve and then we all got in the queue for The Queen Extravaganza, a Queen tribute band picked by the Queen band themselves..

They came on at 8.45pm and started with We will Rock you (we can hear you stamping your feet)

The lead vocalist was just brilliant and sounded just like Freddie in fact when he sung Somebody to Love you couldn't tell the difference when you shut your eyes..

We were sitting close to the real drummer in Queen, Roger Taylor, checking to see if they were getting it right...

So if you ever get the chance to see them you won't be disappointed, you can see them on YouTube. We were clock watching a bit at the end as the last train back to Derwent6 was at 11.30pm but we belted out and made it in good time in the end.. we all had a fantastic time.. and got back to Derwent6 at 1.45am, knackered!

Bonfire on the Beach

We were up early on the Saturday as we had a train to catch to return Thomas back to Kent.. When we arrived at Rugby station the steam train pulled in on the platform next to us. It did delay all the trains but it was lovely to see it..

We got down to London and missed our connection so we went to McDonald's for some lunch. We got down to Al's Mum and Dads where we picked up the car to take Thomas back home.. After dropping him off we then carried on down to Whitstable where Zoe and Greg were having a Bonfire Party on the beach. We helped them arrange a bonfire, BBQ and fireworks and luckily the weather held off and we had our mulled wine and sparklers while we lit up the skies of Whitstable. It was a late night and we were a bit worse for wear, singing and playing 70's songs all night, but we got to bed at 2.30pm.

In the morning (Sunday) we had a lovely breakfast cooked for us and that made us all human again.. We all watched Strictly and then at lunchtime we all said our goodbyes..

We then made our way to  Bernie and Sarah's where we got changed to go to see Maxine and Graham at the Beeches, now a pub and restaurant. They were having an open day and have changed things all around so you can now just go and have a drink in the bar, as well as the usual lovely food, .. It was very busy as they had done free nibbles, and also had a live band playing. .We met up with Steve and Erica who then invited us back to theirs where we caught up with all the local gossip and saw the transformation on their house. We ended up having a take a way Indian before leaving.. It was back to Bernie and Sarah's and bed..
On Monday we were up early again and drove back to Al's Mum and Dads where we sorted ourselves out. Alf had a scan to go to and Al was going with him while Del went back to Derwent6. We all got on the same train and Del changed at Bromley..

Del got back to Derwent6 at 2.15pm and got Derwent6 warmed up as it was quite cold today.. Everything went well for Alf and we await the results. Al went back with her Dad and will be coming back to Derwent6 tomorrow..

Beating the rain

We heard the chimes of the church at eight and had the engine running at 8.20am and moved up to the water point to top up again.. \

We then turned and crept out of Braunston and headed out toward Rugby..

We had heard the weather was going to be bad at midday and it was strange as we had lovely sunshine as we headed towards Hillmorton locks.

It seemed very quiet outside of Braunston.. At Onley, a boat moved off behind us but it had been very quiet..  At Hillmorton Thomas was in action again.. and we had no problems getting down the locks..

We cruised to a nice quiet spot where we could get telly tonight as Thomas wanted to see a programme... as we moored up it started to rain, good timing so we watched a DVD in the afternoon.. 

Cuttings in the Cut

It was another early start as we wanted to make good ground as the weather looked poor tomorrow..  We were first hampered by the grass cutters who had left the cuttings in the cut, this, together with the leaves, didn't help the Axion prop and we had to keep dropping into neutral to clear it.

Still we didn't see much traffic and made easy progress once we waved goodbye to the grass cutters..

It was lovely twisting and turning our way to the top of the Napton Flight at Marston Doles.

It was very handy that we met another boat just as we entered the locks..

When we got to  the flight down into Napton we had the lock keeper and his dog, help us down, and with Thomas it was very easy..

By the time we had got to the bottom Thomas had a new friend..

There were moorings at Napton but we thought better to make as much progress as possible.. We soon got to Wigrams Turn, (Napton Juction in our eyes) and pushed on toward Braunston.

Here we could tell we was on the M25 of the waterways as we now had three boats in front of us and two behind us.. Will we get a mooring at Braunston..

As we pulled in we watched one boat pull into the last space so we tried to moor before the bridge but as always in Braunston the rings aren't right for Derwent6 and you can't pin in.  It was starting to get dark so we found a spot on the 48 hours and managed to get telly...

Another shower and we were soon over the pub this time taking advantage of the buy one meal get one free..  We got back to Derwent6 at 10.00pm and watched some spooky telly before bed..

A Long Day to Fenny

We set off early on the Wednesday and had to turn round, so we did the lift bridge and lock in Banbury before we turned at the tramways.. As we turned we spotted Dusty the coalboat getting loaded by Tom so we pulled alongside for diesel..

We then moved along for a top up of water just before going through the lock..

We then pushed on and it seemed to get very busy all of a sudden..

We got to the first lock and we had a queue of four boats and about seven people helping us through the lock..

We got to Cropredy with no problems and with Thomas's help, in record time (not that we were rushing) but we decided to plough on..

It was risky as the nights draw in so quickly and mooring are scarce in this area..

 But we made it just as it was getting dark but had to moor on the end.

After a quick shower we went up the pub for the Two for a Tenner offer.. Thomas enjoyed it as we could play Domino's while we waited for our food to arrive..

We got back to Derwent6 exhausted again and fell into bed, with another early start tomorrow...

Thomas back aboard

Al had been down in Kent after all the problems with the storm and the following day met up with Thomas. After a doctor's appointment they came back in the evening and met up with Del who was waiting in Banbury town centre.. We then popped to Maccy D's for something to eat and had an early night ready for the off tomorrow

The eye of the Storm

Battered by the winds last night we were surprised it didn't feel any different to normal winds we have had in the past. We had some very heavy rain and it was strange that we had a very calm bit in the middle of the storm, it felt like we were right in the eye of it.. Gale force winds and heavy rain then nothing for about half an hour, then gale force winds with more rain again.. On inspection in the morning no trees down and no damage.. We must have been quite shielded here..
The problem we had was no trains and Al had to get down to London as her Dad had an appointment at the hospital.. It was a matter of waiting till the lines reopened.. She left at 2.00pm and managed to get down to Kent at 5.00pm but it was a shame that her Dads appointment had to be cancelled due to the storm disruption...