I’ve always been impressed by the sheer speed and agility of bats zipping around trees at dusk. Last Christmas I was given a rather unusual gift of a bat detector. I had to wait a few months for the bats to come out of their winter hibernation. Now, for the last couple of months,…
Braunston to Banbury
We recently moored in Braunston Marina, a location that is the historic heart of the canal system. This is where many of the old boating families were based and ran their fly boats on what was known as the “jam’ole’run”. Braunston is at the meeting point between the Grand Union and the North Oxford Canals…
It took forty years to get there!
When Ian was a youngster, his family would go on holiday to the Lleyn Peninsula every year. One year they visited Shell Island just close to Harlech and it made quite an impression on the lad. So whenever we’ve talked about doing a trip, he’s suggested camping at Shell Island but there’s been numerous…
An opulent cruise on the Blue Danube!
April brought a change of scenery and a new experience. A quick flight from Manchester to Budapest and we jumped on board the MS Thomas Hardy in time for dinner and a cruise up the Danube to Slovakia. This was the start of a 7 night river cruise with Riviera, a trip for Grandma that…
At last-we are houseless!
We agreed the sale on our house back in August, but it’s taken three failed attempts and eight months to finally exchange and complete on the house sale. To say it has been stressful is an understatement! I don’t think either of us ever thought it would be such a painful process. In fact, I…
Promises, promises!
“It’ll be lovely” he said “We’ll go and see the secret nuclear bunker” he said “And if the weather’s nice, we can have a BBQ” he said Near to Hack Green on the Shroppie (Shropshire Union Canal) there is a long stretch of wide, grassy towpath with picnic tables and BBQ stands. Perfect for a…
Disaster and progress!
We spent a few days at Poole Aqueduct over the Trent & Mersey Canal then finally it’s time to head in another direction. Two very keen boaters and their dog making an early start in the morning sunshine, but accidents can happen to the most experienced of boaters and usually when you least expect it.…
Spring is in the air!
The fallen trees are quite dramatic reminders of how violent and destructive the weather can be. This week the sun has come out and the days are warmer- although -1C at night has still been a bit chilly. The animals are slowly appearing in the fields and it has been a joy to see…
We’re heading south!
Even though we moved onto the boat in January, we haven’t been able to leave the area of our home town. Our family is our core, the centre of the web, and the greatest of plans must be put on hold to spend time with the people we love. The house still hasn’t sold! The…
There’s a monster in the bush!
Sometimes you just don’t know who or what is hiding in the bushes!!