Friends, family and Easter

We stayed in one place for a whole week with our friends Sue n Vic. Took our cat to the vet for a check up as she has an overactive thyroid which is being controlled by medication. The vet had seen her several months earlier and did a blood test to confirm the diagnosis.
I have been spending some time sorting our pictures on the computer and sending them to our web site. I suppose you can still call them photographs because they are a record of focused light in a camera. Such is the march of progress that our pictures are now digital and stored on a hard drive in a computer and displayed on an electronic screen. A printer can be used to produce a copy on card using coloured ink. Previously a chemical process was used to record and print the pictures. Sadly many of those prints have faded and lost their bright colours over the years. However the old black and white ones have lasted much longer and still have those recording family faces for over 100 years. Only time will prove the survival of the digital picture revolution.
Arrangements were made using the magic of the internet for a family visit and another of those Sunday lunches in the Bistro at Hillmorton. Brod drove mum up for an enjoyable day staying for tea and cake while Brod introduced me to the wonders of ‘Flickr’ and picture sharing on the internet.
Having received and sorted a Tesco delivery we moved on to Barby where we stayed for yet another week. Spent the time going for a few walks and continuing with the picture sort. Sunny days, windy days, wet days, and finally cold days followed by some snow was our view of the outside world while keeping warm with our diesel fire inside the boat.

Thankfully ‘Gosty Hill’ stopped to fill our tank again this time charging 68p a litre; such is the variability of oil prices these days. As Easter approaches more boats are on the move rushing about causing waves that rock the boat and damage the canal banks, much of the canal becoming wider and shallower causing some boats to run aground.

A week or so of events

We have moved back down to Braunston. The land slide by the entrance to the tunnel is still slipping down due to an underground stream and we nearly ran aground getting out of the tunnel. Hedge laying is making Braunston look tidy but the canal is now more exposed.
While visiting friends we discovered that a local group called ‘Braunston Pickle’ will be playing their music at ‘The Old Plough’ so we went up there one evening. Next day, being ‘Mother’s Day’ we returned for a meal out.
Ann went off by bus n train to visit Sue n Vic who were at Polesworth. She helped them up the locks to Atherstone before returning a few days later.
Needed some more diesel and decided to move down to Napton Junction to fill up in Wigrams Turn Marina. Stopped for a few days near Nimrod bridge and while it was sunny we walked across the fields to Calcutt locks and back along the canal. Molly was very good when walking through a field of sheep with their lambs.
A text message arrived on our phone. Sue n Vic had got to Hillmorton already. The Bistro is open for Sunday lunch and a table is booked. We set off early and did the 11 miles arriving just in time to meet our friends at the table. Been 5 months since last seen in Wales last year.
Serious Storms: Oh the March winds do blow, caused by a deep low of 28.5, normally 29 to a high of 31. The canal is looking more like the sea with breaking waves. The boat is securely tied to rings and we have removed various items from the roof in case they get blown off into the water.

www.moore2life

Much effort is being made updating pictures on our web site. It is intended to be a record of the waterway system as we have found it over a period of several years and a diary of events in our life while living on our narrowboat called ‘Moore 2 Life’. The web site contains a list of over 20 canals and rivers and over 1000 pictures. Other subjects include wild life, old working boats, boat systems, Post Office addresses vets and surgeries.

Yelvertoft, Northants

Birdie on the nuts

A half hour walk down the bridleway leads across fields past allotments, a field of horses, cricket and football pitches.

Turn left past a lovely cottage garden full of spring flowers.

Across the high street we see this fine example of an ancient village water pump a reminder of a different age. Some parts were removed during the 1st. world war but it has now been restored. The old wooden case is apparently original. Dates seen on a plate indicate that it was constructed AD MCM and restored AD MM. We think that MCM is 1900.

Nearby is the old school house dated 1792 with a bell on the roof and a sun dial on the wall. The building is now used as a reading room and community centre. The old blackboard and easel out side the door indicated that ‘Lent Lunches’ were being served.

The wide high street has rows of houses either side, one of which is occupied by a small shop and Post Office. Further on is the local butcher. Towards the end of the street stands the 16th. Century Manor House and church. So it seems that the structures of an old way of life still exists, left behind during the industrial revolution.