Homeward Chugg & Antiques Roadshow

Monday 31st

Weather was rotten so decided on a nice big fry up for breakie and left Hem Heath about 11 ish as rain had eased off. Travelling through Barlaston and Meaford Locks we stopped at Stone for a late lunch.

As we were togged up and damp made the decision to head on back to the Marina,there was very little wind so mooring up would be good. This we did and I reversed onto my pontoon no problem.

Had a shower and headed up to Olashi a lovely Indian restaurant in Stone. It would have been rude not to pop into The Exchange for a beer after.

Tuesday 1st September.

Went into Stafford and visited the lovely church and the Court a Rooms in the Libuary, something I'd never done. Cancelled my 3wifi with 3 as I can get a better deal when I get back from Aussi.then went for lunch in The Soup Kitchen. Called  into Aldi for supplies on the way home. Lovely roast chicken dinner with Ginny as our guest. Losing her job, we needed to cheer her up I know we succeeded. Great evening had by all.

Wednesday 2nd 

Eddie's holiday over he left about 10.30 I'm sure he had a great two weeks I know I enjoyed his company and my boat handling skills are (even though I say it myself) pretty bloody good. Thanks Eddie for giving me the confidence I needed. Had a clean up and then went up to Trentham for my briefing meeting for Thursday's Antiique Road show.  Then spent a very pleasant evening playing Bingo at The Gala at Stafford,with Kate and her friends. Different!!!!

Thursday 3rd

Up early to report to Trentham for the Antiques Road Show. Absolutely fab day even though it was a little cool for September. All the 'Experts ' were there along with Fiona Bruce, who I just happened to have lunch with!

I was at the main Reception Desk organising the queues to be sent to the correct tables to have their valuables valued.

People where so pleased to asked to be filmed and thrilled to have the history as well as the value of their precious items. And what characters I met.

So never a dull moment as discussed over a quick half in The Swan on my way home with my dear friends Gilly and Rand.

Bed early tonight!

Seagulls and Gardens

Saturday 29th

Set off from Engine lock, again a pleasent morning. Took all my pots of the roof in readiness for bridges 8/9 as they are very low. Nothing much about till we got to electric swing bridge then we just missed our chance to go straight through, never mind Eddie is expert now!  Down to Eurturia junction stopped for lunch then on to T/M on the homeward straight. 

Lots of guys and girls heading towards The Britannia stadium as Stoke were at home to a West Brom. With Eddie at the tiller we went so slowly pass the Oatcake boat I thought we were stopping for grub, looked behind and there was another boat up our backside! Never in the life of Wintons Folly has she ever been overtaken! Alas she now has been!  Sorry Baz x

Moored upat Trentham and caught up with football, great excitement Brighton won against Ipswich which has put us on top of Championship. Sad faces started going pass our boat as Stoke had lost. Not the only thing lost, a young boy had lost his trained Hawk in the trees above us. It was refusing to come down it was happy having his supper of baby pigeons.

Sunday 30th

Late big breakfast then walked up to show Eddie Trentham Gardens. Again another visitor to Trentham who was not disappointed. I decided to have a face painting, never had one,  just a little butterfly. We meet Kate, Molly and Connie, seeing my artwork the girls duly had their faces done.

We listened to a Brass Band playing before a walk round the lake catching the boat back. Kate and girls went off to a party and we went for tea and cake.

Another stroll through the gardens, a quick look round the shops,then back to boat for Lamb Shanks! Yummy. Cards and I lost

Steamy Leek and Music

Wednesday 26th   Woke up to the sound of raindrops! We were going on on Churnet Valley Railway and they only run weekends and Wednesday during the summer. So wellies at the ready we made our way along the very soggy towpath to the station. More or less as soon as we got there blue sky appeared and I was totally overdressed!!! Never mind.

The train station was crowded much to our surprise, we went from Cheddleton to Froghall having tea and cake at Froghall,then caught the train back. Smashing day. Got back to boat about 3ish decided to move on th centre of Cheddleton good mooring by Flint mill. We just started to go through first lock when a family of all ages walked up. 'any chance of a lift to the station' asked the elderly lady 'of corse' was my my reply and her 8year old nephew came on board for the short ride to the station. She had imagined the walk shorter from Froghall and at 80 years young was finding it tough going. Very chatty and it appeared the whole family (18) had rented a guest house for her husbands 80th birthday. I think we made her day.

Moored up and I cleaned roof of boat we had dinner and I thrashed Eddie at Yahtzee. Another good day.

Thursday 27th 

Caught the bus into Leek, had a nose round and had coffee and cake in a delightful tea room then hit Aldi for supplies,got the bus back and chugged off to moor right outside The Holly Bush. Went in for early doors drink,back on boat for supper then went back at 9pm to listen to a fab young band called 'Million Fingers' good eve. Lovely moorings outside Pub and the view this morning was great.

Friday 28th

Left by 9 am hoped to get to Etruria, but it was abit blustery and we had done 9 locks and 2 swing bridges and 4 hours chugging and with the effects of our late disco night out, moored up at Engine Lock lock. Eddie went for a walk into Milton brought bread and books.

Staying the night nb Larkspur have just moored up we have been piggy backing them all week.

Beautiful Mornings

Sunday 23rd  

Lovely start to the day sun shinning as we went through 5 locks at Stockton Brook stopping for lunch at Park lane Wharf to get rid of all the wine bottles! At Hazelhurst junction turned right into the Leek Arm and Aussi Mick you where right we 'Dragged our Fu.....g Arse' many times. That's an Aussi expression for 'very Shallow' we went through the tunnel then it was oh shit! We had to turn and had hoped to moor up but there were working tugs all over the place. It was looking very ominous weather wise by now, no time to go back through tunnel to find other moorings so nothing for it but to REVERSE through the tugs. For all those who have a Narrowboat you will know reversing is something only the boat knows which way it want to go, anyway we made it just as the heavens opened about 3pm.

Settled down for a game of Yahtzee before dinner chilli in the oven, then another 'oh bugger' the gas had run out. Ever ready Eddie managed to change it getting soaked into the bargan.

Monday 25th up early as workman had arrived, forgot to take photo of fit young guys in high vis jackets! Eddie saw a kingfisher. Chugged off to aqueduct at Hazelhurst and had bacon butties in the beautiful sunshine. Turning right here we went up to Cheddleton nice moorings in the Churnet valley.Our in built sat nav went on the blink as we walked up to see old Flint mill and had a chat to a builder who was putting in central heating for the old couple in the cottage who where 102 and 98 years young. Then we walked up the hill for supplies. After 15 mins we realised gone the wrong direction.! Back down the hill and up the other side only to find a One Stop a pub that had seen better days. Had an ice cream and wandered back. Played cards, Eddie's getting too good.

Tuesday 26th again absolutely beautiful morning no wind, chugged on the Consall Forge need water and to turn round. Turned ok and came back to Woods Lock 10mins or so from The Boat Pub. So had to take an early doors for a beer. 4 hours later we had chatted to so many locals and walkers we stopped for dinner getting back to boat about 8.30. Good day and I won at cards!

Aston Marina to Milton August 20th/21st/22nd

Started our first day of chugging on a beautiful calm Thursday morning, came out the Marina as Sheena put it 'like a right pro' all the locks right through Stone were set for us,with other boaters coming down as we went up, so fab.

Moored up ar Barlaston about 2ish had a late lunch then had a walk up to the village,then quenching our thirst in the Plume and Feathers, Niel Morrissey's new venture. Beer a bit pricy for 'up north' but very nice feel about the place.

Had dinner, then Gilly and Rand phoned to say they where on there way down from Etruria, moored up just above us and came down for drinks. Lovely to see them again.

Friday 21st we started off with intention of getting to Milton on The Caldon (not Cauldron) as I got it wrong, sorry Elli. Good progress up through the Stoke locks and the turn into the junction also want well. We filled up and emptied out then the fun started!

The Old Bill arrived with lights flashing and made chase after some youths. Who then slung their stash of drugs into the canal.

As luck would have it this lovely burley policeman asked if he could come on my boat and could we go back and forth in the basin using the fishermans net to see if he could find the stash. We had a grand old time for half an hour or so but no luck finding the stuff. Highlight of the day for me,there have been rumours that I may still have him handcuffed on board! No suck luck!

Eddie's Ode

A cooper jumped up on the boat

Quick as you can, I must be afloat 

I must be quick and have to dash

The dirty scum have chucked their stash

Into The Cut we have to fish

To get it out it was their wish

The evidence it must be got

Then into jail these kids must rot

Then a twisty old chugg up to Milton where we moored over night.

Saturday we had a bit of a Tilly Trot to The Moorcroft Potterery centre in Burslem. Beautiful pottery but just a tad out of my price range.

Caught the bus up to Hanley had a wander then the bus back to Milton. Sat out in the sunshine and tasted the local brew,then the heavens opened and we had and are having a really big thunder storm.

Carols Ode

Today the heavy rain clouds fell

To entice us with the magic smell

Of soggy grass and very wet ducks

But inside with beer we don't give a fig!!

Ed and I are now sweating hot

Roast in the oven, we will eat the lot

Yes Classic music is bellowing loud

Let's hope tomorrow we won't see a cloud.

That's enough of the poetry and prose. This is what happens when you have a brainy boat mate aboard.

Blogging again!

August 19th 2015

Nearly can't remember how to do it! But thought I would star to blog again

Out on the boat tomorrow with a lovely friend called Eddie Walker. Some of you will know his daughter Zoe who used to go to school with Kate. Zoe and I worked together briefly at  good old Shabby Abbey (Abbey National) now Santander. We always kept in touch and when she mentioned her father in law was now a retired widow and fancied Narrowboating seemed like a good idea to train him up! 

After spending a weekend in May and not hitting too much now is there time for two weeks out on The Cut.

Picture in May in the sunshine!

We plan to go up The Cauldron to Leek  and Froghall.

It is now pouring with rain but forecast for sunshine tomorrow.

Will keep you all updated x

December 2014

Somehow the month did not end as we would have liked! That's an understatement!

We had spent time visiting friends in Sheffield and Burgess Hill but Barry was not his usual happy self. We thought it may be depression, we had a finance deal that went tits up in Tenerife, or the winter months closing in can make you feel miserable on board. So we decided on possible depression.

We went to the Snowdome at Tamworth for Christmas Eve and had dinner with a couple of lovely boaters, Gilly & Rand so all was looking grand.

We had booked in to The Crown hotel for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and on Saturday were heading down south to see family and friends.

However Christmas Day he was just so sleepy, Jon took the decision to call 999. Barry was taken by ambulance to Stoke University Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He has had surgery to remove the cancer but we are still waiting results. This will happen tomorrow then we have lots of decisions to make.

Life on the boat is not an option at this moment in time,although his speech is returning,his right side has limited movement.

Our wonderful boating pals Ray and Gordon managed to bring our boat up from Braunston to Stone so I have had my home here, I can not begin to express my thanks to these guys for giving up their time and missing out on New Years Eve. Thank you.

Both Kate, Jon, Faye and Ryan have been wonderful. Thanks to Ryan I am driving around in a lovely little blue Fiat 500. 

Again without their love and support I would be all over the place.

Blogging does not seem the same now,so I think the news will be hit and miss.

Thanks again to all my wonderful friends and family for their kind words and ongoing support.

Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2015 and get all those things you wish for done!