A Poem for the day

Well today has been the windiest day that I have ever been on the boat. It was scary. I was ok when I was busy doing a few jobs but this afternoon I just could not relax…….instead of sea sickness I guess I had marina sickness. The motion on this little ocean plays with your balance, rocking side to side. It even blew the cabins door wide open and I had a job to shut it. There were waves all around the marina. Did not take a photo because it was just toooo windy out there.

Hopefully it will settle down later tonight and by tomorrow all should be ok which is great as we are planning on going away for a few days.

Not much to write about today as I have been busy on the internet surfing, I could have done that on the marina today!

 

Who Has Seen the Wind?

BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.
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A Grand Day Out

Well I have come home to the boat tonight buzzing from the excitement that I have had today.

Some of the friends that I made at Mercia Marina came to visit me at Aston Marina. I know they will all be reading because they are all waiting for their mug shots to appear on the blog!!!

Ha ha you will all have to wait a while…………I have a lot to say.

Talk about laughing, I have never laughed so much for a long time.

We started off with coffee and tea on the boat and a good old chin wag then off we went chauffeur driven by Rob to Trentham Gardens.

groupThe first stop was at Davids Brasserie where we all stopped for lunch…….yummy yummy, a very nice lunch was had by all………..potato soup, chicken and stuffing sandwiches, roast ham sandwiches, roast potatoes, salad……….we were all very good as we didn’t have any pudding……………that was to come later!! Mince pies and more coffee/tea . I feel very full even though we have all walked our socks off today!

PrintWell we visited nearly every shop. Poor Rob, being dragged around all the shops but he did get to have a whiskey tasting session part way round in the whiskey shop. I think he may have needed a bottle of the stuff stuck with 4 women all day.

I got my Yankee candle, Mandarin Cranberry. It smells gorgeous. I have it burning at the moment. This will replace the one I broke last weekend! Dozy me.Well we did have such a laugbarbh trying hats on today.

We were laughing so much it was just so funny!Thanks to Barbara, Julie, Cherrie & Rob

And of course I had to join in also!!

clare

It has been great today and as Wallace & Gromit would say………

It has been a ” GRAND DAY OUT!!”

juerob

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Illuminating

pic11aRoy has come home tonight after a visit to B & Q. I think he has just bought the next set of lights for Blackpool Illuminations! Apparently Mr. Exterior Designer is going for a white theme! He has bought lots and lots and lots of lights for the outside of the boat and an illuminated Christmas tree! I think I best go buy another electric card ready for the weekend!

One light fixing he has bought and already put up tonight is a sensor light for when you come in the boat. He has wired it all up……..it didn’t work……then he realised it only comes on when it is dark and as he had a light on at the time of course it wouldn’t light up!  He didn’t realise this until after taking it apart and checking the wiring.

Anyway, light number one is up and running. Just the other 1000 to go up at the weekend.

Today has stayed dry and so this afternoon I went off on my bike with Wish running along the side of me. I nearly fell off 3 times because Wish kept stopping to wait for me and then didn’t move out of my way. We soon got the hang of it together though and when I saw her stop I just shouted “go,go,go” and off she went.

Shopping all done today, bought a Christmas cake for tomorrow as some of the friends from Mercia Marina are coming over for the day. We are planning on going Trentham Gardens. The weather has promised to stay nice, so fingers crossed as I am sure lots of shopping is going to be done tomorrow. Oh and I must remember go in the Yankee candle shop to replace the candle I broke by bumping into the lock last weekend.

I think we may need an extra car tomorrow, 4 women & Rob, lots of shops= 1 long day, lots of money spent and probably one gob smacked man wondering how he is going to get everything back home!

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Chatty Woman

Well everyone has heard of Alan Carr, chatty man well there is now the female version, Clare Henney, chatty woman ( that’s me by the way).

I used to be so quiet, I think I am making up for lost time.

blahThe reason I say this is because I took Wish out for a walk this morning and saw Elly from NB Parisien Star. We have been following their blog for over a year, so it was lovely to meet her properly today. She invited me in, oh and Wish, for coffee, coffee for me that is, not the dog! Got a full tour of the boat which was beautiful. It’s amazing when you have been reading someone’s blog for so long and seen their boat in and out on photos, that when you see it in “real life” it is just quite amazing. Its like seeing photos of famous places, for example, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, and then seeing it for real……it’s very exciting. Did I explain that well? I know I waffle but I was trying to explain how it felt!

Well after having a lovely chat with Elly I headed back to the boat and saw lots of other boaters I knew from last time we were at Aston. It was lovely to catch up. My walk with Wish ended up me being out for 2.5 hours! I was chatting for most of the time I don’t know where the time went.

Its nice though to actually have the time to stop and chat. Beats rushing around from place to place trying to do a million things at once.

Anyway, the chatting continued tonight as we took a trip back to Mercia Marina to collect my car. I had bought a plant for each of the friends I had made there and so I gave a knock on all their doors to say a quick hello. So lovely to see everyone again and Cherrie had made another chocolate cake which we took back with us. Absolutely yummy! Thanks Cherrie. Oh and your boat looked fantastic!!  Tell Frank you are getting a 10ft tree on Wednesday!!

TV still not working tonight so I guess a bit more chatting is on the agenda! Lucky Roy!

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Final Destination

imageWell we have travelled from Great Haywood today to our final destination. Where you may ask? Well we have come back to our original moorings back at Aston Marina, Stone. One thing we noticed was how pretty the scenery was around here again. Perhaps we took it for granted when we were here last as we were at Aston for 3.5 years  before we had the boat painted back in April this year. It feels great to be back.

imageimage

Roy’s business is based in Stoke-on Trent so for the time being it made more sense to use Aston Marina as a base. We know the canals really well around here so we now have the opportunity to travel from town to town with boat and leave a vehicle from one destination to the next and Roy will still be able to get to work.

Had a wonderful trip again today down here and the sun shone all the way.

imageWe are all settled, water filled, electric card in, rubbish emptied, poop emptied, Roy even washed the jetty off cause I think a duck had found its toilet on our jetty. That duck will have to go and do its business somewhere else now! The only thing we haven’t managed to get sorted is the TV aerial! That means Roy & I are going to have to talk to one another again tonight!! Ha ha, only joking. Missing X factor though……….Oh no!!! Only one thing for it we can watch catch up TV from the i-pad which is plugged into the TV. PHEWWWWWwwwww, thank goodness for that.

imageI can hear lots of people saying out there “X factor ??”, what a load of rubbish, but I love it. Remember I used to be a music teacher so I love programmes like this. I think Sam Bailey is going to win, I am routing for her!! She really is talented.

Well Roy has just made me a cup of tea and put a piece of chocolate cake out so I am slightly distracted at the moment…………cake is calling.

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When smoke gets in your eyes

I like my song titles as titles for the blog. I was going to put “The sun will come out tomorrow” as it most certainly did but I decided on “when smoke gets in your eyes”. It ought to continue to say, in your ears and up your nose, sinuses, on your chest etc etc. I think Roy is trying to kill me off slowly with all the smoke going on. The fumes from the chimney at the back when travelling can be quite strong and as I was the one going through the locks yesterday I think I inhaled quite a bit. Also Roy kept stoking the fire up in the lounge but kept on opening the door to quick and all the smoke came out………anyway, I ended up with a whopping headache last night………I am sure it is from the fumes and smoke.

TreeAnyway, he greeted me with breakfast in bed this morning which was nice…………although the kitchen looked like a bomb had hit it when I went in there. He made porridge and I love mine with golden syrup swirled around on it. Yummy! He actually made it far nicer than me…….think he ought to start making breakfast everyday if his porridge is that good!!

I made ciabattas toasted with garlic cheese and ham for lunch as we were travelling and supplied Roy with endless amounts of drinks as we were travelling.

There were lots of boats out today, probably because the weather was so nice.

AutumnSaw a few familiar boats on our way today. Hi to NB Pied A Terre! Glad you are enjoying the blog. Last time we saw them was on our way to have Foxglove painted back in April this year. A lot has happened since then.

Can you believe it that it will be the 1st December tomorrow? Where has time gone?

We are hoping that it doesn’t freeze on the canals over Christmas as Roy is taking some time off work and we are hoping to get away on Foxglove somewhere. Might take a visit back to Mercia!! Who knows? All depends on the weather and the stoppages.

We are moored at Great Haywood this afternoon. We have only done the one lock which was at the end of the day so I have spent quite a bit of time inside the boat, cooking, cleaning, taking photos, reading etc etc. Went up to Roy to enjoy the scenery for around an hour but I spent most of it sitting by the side hatch taking photos as we were travelling with cup of coffee in hand. It was very relaxing.

spagWell the famous Spag Bol is bubbling away on the stove as I type. I have added it to my recipes section. It is absolutely gorgeous and there is enough for 2 people for 2 days and they are big portions. Yum, Yum!!

No TV tonight as the signal is rubbish. That means I am going to annoy Roy for the rest of the evening by keep interrupting him whilst he is reading!! Such fun. I do this at night when he takes his book to bed, I don’t mean to, but I just start talking and asking questions, I know it’s time to stop though when after about 10 questions he finally shuts his book to!! I find it hilarious!!

EEryIt is just starting t o go dark and I can hear some strange noises in the forest opposite us. Eery ! Other than the strange noises from wild animals, lions, tigers & bears…..oh and the odd duck, owl and hedgehog (if hedgehogs make a noise) it is very quiet and peaceful. So nice having a different view out of your window each morning when you wake up. Trying to convince Roy to give up work altogether…..he is thinking about it !! At least he has cut work down a bit so we can have more time together. After all that is what life is for……..living!!

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Blowin’ in the Wind

pic1Well we slept so well last night. It must have been all that fresh air yesterday, oh and the fact we ate all the chocolate cake by the time we went to bed last night!!

Woke up this morning though and the weather wasn’t too bad although as soon as we set off it started to drizzle and then the wind picked up. I came out of one lock and it scared the pants off me because as soon as the wind pushes against the boat it is so hard to control. Same thing happened when going into a lock today and it was the first time I have ever banged the boat so bad!! OOPS!

We knew something had broken by the sound it had made when I hit the lock entrance. It could have been a lot worse what I discovered when I went inside the boat. Lots of items had dropped on the floor but the only thing that had broken was my Yankee candle. It hardly had been used. Wouldn’t have been so bad if there was only a small amount of candle left in it, but it had only been lit a few times. The glass plate and the glass shade that came with it were still in 1 piece thank goodness so I think a trip to the Yankee Candle shop at Trentham Gardens may be in the pipeline 😉

We have not passed 1 other boat travelling today and Fradley Junction had only 1 boat moored up on the visitor’s side. Everywhere looked so deserted.

pic2Lots of leaves on the canal today and I am not surprised with the wind that we have encountered. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunshine all day. As long as there is no wind about I don’t mind.

Completed 10 locks today and we are currently moored just past Kings Bromley marina. No locks tomorrow unless we decide to travel a bit further past Colwich Lock, so I will be cooking a Spag Bol again whilst Roy is driving or cruising whichever you like to call it and no doubt I will be supplying him with endless amounts of cups of tea. Lucky man!!

Wish is a happy little dog at the moment. She has loved being out on the canals again running without her lead on. There is a certain whistle I call to her which she always comes back to and we have great fun with her at the locks cause Roy calls her off the boat, I whistle her back etc etc. She is shattered with all the coming and going especially after 10 locks today.

The fires on again and Wish has the best place, sleeping right in front of it on my best rag rug. It turned out to be the most expensive dog bed ever!! Oh well, she is worth it 🙂

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Farewell to Mercia Marina……

A new chapter of our adventure is just about to begin.

I have been slightly apprehensive about moving as a whole lot of new changes have happened these past 3 months:

I quit my job

Moved out the house onto the boat

Started living in a new area, Willington.

Sold the house back in Staffordshire

Made a new life at Mercia Marina on the boat.

image

I do not regret any of the above as life is so much better. No stresses and I have been making new friends and started to get out a bit more which has done me the world of good.

These past months have been the happiest ever. I have made good friends at the marina and so just as I am starting to get settled and enjoying life we are now moving!!!

I am trying to look at it positively as it will bring new opportunities, new adventures and at least we are travelling on the boat for a few days and hopefully a lot more once Roy has settled down to a proper work routine.

The last couple of days the friends I have made at Mercia have been so very, very kind. Hi everyone if you are reading.image

We were bought some lovely farewell cards and presents which really touched me. Even shed a few tears. We have been bought a box of Milk Tray, a beautiful hanging heart photo frame, a plaque engraved with a personal message and a bottle of wine. Thanks everyone (Cherrie & Frank, Ann & Terry, Julie & Rob, Barbara & Terry) for your kindness and generosity.imageimage

Guess who was up at 5.30 this morning baking a cake!

NOT ME!!image

Thanks Cherrie for the wonderful cake. We have already devoured a third of it!

We will back soon to collect the car and so I will say hi to everyone when we go collect it and visits to our next moorings have already been planned. Can’t wait!

 

We have travelled a few hours today and are currently moored by Barton Turns.

We had a wonderful trip today, the back cabin stove was on and the weather stayed dry. Perfect cruising weather.

The fires on, Wish is fast asleep and we are going to watch a film……………oh and a cup of tea and the next third of the cake!!

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Yummy Yummy, big fat Tummy!

Today has been a busy day just filled to the brim, just like my stomach is now!!

Dusted, hoovered, cleaned the bathroom, give the kitchen a good clean, washed, dried and ironed………..this would have been a days work at the house……think it took an hour on the boat!! Ha ha! Dog walked, took the rubbish and then the rest of the day was to myself.

I spent ages reading a new blog  http://edwardsnb.blogspot.co.uk/………..every single entry from when they started up until the present day……..thanks Lewis……..feel like I know you already!!

Found out that Lewis & Pav from NB One Thing After Another also had Rob Shone to do some fitting out on their narrowboat. Rob, you did a stunning job if you are reading. We would recommend Rob to do anything on your boat, his woodworking/joinery/cabinet skills are beautiful! Visit his website by clicking on useful links on my blog.

Well after doing all the reading I was really hungry and I had no biscuits, crisps or any nibbles on the boat……….already ate apples so there was only one thing for it………..bake some more flapjacks.image They were even better than first time, I think it was because I did not over do it on the syrup!image

Being the good wife that I am, Roy phoned to say he was on his way home and so I got tea (evening meal) ready for when he got back like a good wife!! ha ha!!

Home made wedges and chilli…….it was delicious!image

Took 45 minutes to make and around 10 minutes to eat……..unbelievable!

I am stuffed now………..especially after eating a couple of pieces of the flapjack afterwards……… big pigs that we are!

Not watched any TV all day which I am glad of as I don’t want to be slobbing out into front of the TV all day watching daytime TV, chat shows etc………I think it would drive me mad. I am planning on reading the rest of my book tonight.

Completely chilled out especially after that glass of red wine, so going to relax now for the rest of the evening.

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Time & Space

Roy has come up with the title for this weekends blog as it is fitting for each day.

Where do I begin. Fitted so much in this weekend I am exhausted but the main events were going to see Doctor Who 50th Anniversary at the cinema last night and todays car boot.

Lets start at the beginning…..

Roy was looking forward to watching Doctor Who as it was a special viewing at the cinema to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and it was shown in 3D. Roy grew up with Doctor who as a kid, I mean watching it on TV I don’t mean Doctor Who was his father!! imageThe cinema was packed and I was surprised because all generations were there and some made the effort to dress up ( we didn’t although I did suggest we could go as Daleks by sticking a plunger on our foreheads!) Some people really got into character.image

I have to admit it was actually quite good, mainly because there was such a good atmosphere and everyone clapped at the beginning and at the end of the film which is unusual. It was like going to the theatre. We travelled all the way back to Newcastle-under-Lyme to go see it and it was well worth it. Nice to share in the experience with everyone else.

 

 

Caught a fabulous sunset photo on the way there, must squeeze that photo in:image

Well today was the day when all the remaining items we took out of the house had to go, things like DVD’s, pictures, candlesticks, books, handbags, soft toys etc. etc…………lots of clutter. We had paid for 1 months storage when we emptied the house and we were determined that we would not pay for a second month as it is just a waste of money when all the items would do is just sit in there. So today I was determined that everything was going to go and we agreed that whatever didn’t sell would be taken to charity first thing Monday morning……….well what a day.

Up at 5.30……….can’t quite believe I was, but up we got, Wish was walked, quick cup of tea and piece of toast and off we went. Passed the cooling towers on the way, everywhere was so dark, hardly any motorists on the road………after all who gets up at this ridiculous time on a Sunday………only car booters I guess!

By Night
By Night
By day

By day

Well the day was a complete success and I could not believe how busy our stall was. Just one person after another. It opened at 7 am for all the people who had the stalls and 8.30 for the general public. By 9 am I had enough and over half of our stuff had already gone. 3 hours to go I was determined to get rid of everything. Well at 11.45 we had done really well and got a few items still left and a lady called Janet and her friend approached us and asked us how much we would take for the rest of our items as they do regular car boots. £30.00 the lot I said, I think they were shocked, deal done without no further a do and I literally was jumping for joy………everything went…………nothing to take back. We did it!!image

 

 

 

The feeling it gave us was ,I guess liberating, job sorted, no clutter, no more boxes, no stuff just sitting there waiting to be dusted, used or just left there………..everything gone! Fabulous!! The question you will all be asking is how much did we make, well the car boot cost us £12.00 and after we paid for that we made a grand total of………….drum roll please………..£436.00imageimage

I tell you what though, one thing it makes you realise before you go spending again is to think how much it will be when it ends up on a car boot one day………we all work hard to pay for all these nice things we have and that we think we need when actually we don’t………they are just possessions that are of no importance, they might bring us a bit of happiness for a short while but working hard to pay for all these things just is not worth it. I am liking the simpler life and not taking anything for granted anymore. Today was a good lesson. The money we have spent over the years……..we have wasted so much. Not anymore……….it is never too late to learn.

We got back home at 12.30 and then went out for some lunch and I have been asleep this afternoon because I was shattered. It has been a good weekend.

4 days left at the marina then we are due to leave to our next destination. We are all ready for the off as we filled up with diesel yesterday while the weather was dry and calm.

Few weeks left before Christmas and I am so pleased as Roy is taking 3 weeks off so we will be travelling, fingers crossed, as long as we don’t get frozen in. Either way it is going to be nice to have quality time together and we will get to take Wish out for long walks. Just enjoying what is around us, the countryside, the views, the wildlife………they say the best things in life are free……….they certainly are!

Oh almost forgot, one item did not sell………………………….image

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