We moved

Getting through this winter has been a drag. Meeting up with Sue & Vic on No Problem has pulled us through with their company. We have all got to Penkridge with Vic lifting a paddle in front to help us through a few locks. For two days we endured the cold and pushed through some slushy ice.

Away from the Shropshire Union and that muddy towpath at Gnosall. Now we twist and turn on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. At one turn the boat refused to go round due to the mudbanks under water. At least the towpaths are less muddy now!

Winter 2010 at Gailey.  (Library picture)

Two or three hours is quite enough during mid morning, travelling while well wrapped up and drinking hot tea or soup on the way. Once moored we enjoy the company either on No Problem or Moore 2 Life back inside a warm boat.

A bus ride and a movie

We got to Wheaton Aston in the morning. Sue had got some tickets for us to see the movie Les Mis in Stafford.

We went on the bus that took us on a white knuckle ride through the countryside. Many narrow roads making passing difficult and going via Penkridge on the way.

Sue had also arranged a meal in a pub offering a free drink via the Internet.

We do not often get to see a movie in a cinema these days. The days of ice-cream served in the interval between two movies are long gone.

At least with the no smoking rule you do not see the flickering beam of light from the projector. Now it is the smell of buckets of popcorn and coke that fills the air.

The word movie still applies to the experience. At one time it was a strip of film with pictures on it. Now we can watch movies on many different mediums including DVD's. Seems that many things have gone digital including the cinema.

Moving after the refit

Done all the varnishing and we have both used the shower, one at a time!

It is all part of a cunning plan.

We got out of the arm and moved down to Gnosall. Ann left me to go to see our grand children.

When S n V came back from their cruise I took them back to Norbury through a snowstorm. Vic got the fire going on No Problem, Sue sorted the Tesco delivery and I was invited to a roast dinner! 'How wonderful is that!'

Next day was warm n sunny so I was able to use the facilities and enjoyed watching the discovery of Richard the third's body in Leicester, having been lost for 500 years. History as we knew it was written by the Tudor's laced with propergander. Now we know what Richard really looked like. His remains were found directly under a car park reserved space marked with an 'R'.

While I was a single hander I got diesel at Norbury Wharf then moved back to Gnosall, got water and waited for Ann to come back. Then we went to town to do the shopping.

Society makes the rules to follow for the good of all. But there are some who do not follow! 

A boater leaves his boat at a water point.
A driver leaves his car on a space reserved for the disabled when he is not.
A beef supplier supplies horse instead and calls it beef.

Sheltered from the wind

Our boat is down the Norbury Arm. We pushed and broke ice to get there. Work is in progress on our refit. The bath is no more having been cut in half to get it out.

Much hard labour and noise to remove the thick tiles. Mik has now replaced it with a shower and shelves.

We have a land line so power is not a problem and saves diesel. We are sheltered from the wind being surrounded by boats. Going for walks however has been purgatory in the cold wind. The fields and towpath are still sogy as you would expect.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker seen nearby

Snowdrops, first sign of spring

Apologies for not writing but we have been editing our book, varnishing wood and watching movies.