Australia!

Friday 18th

Well arrived at Melbourne airport at 7.35am after a long journey from Birmingham. Stopped over at Dubai for two hours and meet up with Jodi on her way to Perth. Then flew on to Singapore just for a fuel stop although we had to get off plane,then back on within the hour.

Then onto Melbourne and it was so good to see Elli waving and smiling to greet me. 

We stopped off at a McDonald's for a coffee then onto where Mick and Elli live.

Well to say I was gobsmacked is an understatement.  The house is in working progress and we are living in a huge corrigrated shed! I have my own bedroom and M &. E are sleeping in a tent! 

Within a couple of hours we had taken Klara (their lovely black lab)  to Tracy home. A beautiful rustic three bedroom house which M & E used to own and Mick had done a superb job in renovating it. Then Elli and I stopped off in Maldon fo a quick lunch. Back home picked up Mick and set off to Echuca to spend my first night in Australia on a Houseboat called The Mayflower on the river Murray. Popped to the shops for supplies had pizza for dinner. Early to bed slept till 8am.

Saturday 19th after a good cooked breakfast went for a walk around Echuca before Leanne and Antony  (Elli's brother and his wife) arrived to join us for two days on the Murray. After a chicken lunch we headed off,Mick had his lesson in steering the boat but had no problems. We went down stream for about 3 hours and moored up in a lovely spot. I made fairy sand castles until a speedboat went passed and the bow wave washed them all out. So sad.

Had a fab BBQ then played Canasta with Elli till midnight and she beat me by 45 points.

Sunday 20th I was last up! Had breakie then cruised off back up the Murray arriving back about lunch time. Went round the Echuca Discovery centre excellent guide and enjoyable tour. Paddle steamers, not unlike the canal boats, where the first form of transporting wool, and cattle from Melbourne to Sydney. And was the largest inland port in the 1870's . I then went round town brought a lovely top and skirt and ended up in a bar listening to a band and having my first beer in Australia! Dinner on the boat then said our goodbyes to Leanne and Antony. I won Canasta tonight!

Monday 21st 

Left Echuca about 10am and drove back to M & E weather has turned cool. Had a better look around the shed and the new house it will look quite impressive when it's built.  Went down to Castllemain for some food shopping and an adaptor for camera. 

Tuesday 22nd

Got up early 6.30am  (for me anyway) and went into work with Elli to Kynchya. A typical small country town. Walked round shops and brought some jeans and boots as it is much colder than I thought and haven't really brought enough warmer clothes. Elli did warn me it was still cold but I guess I chose to ignore her thinking I knew better.....wrong!

Booked my flight to Sydney for a week and a hotel very near the harbour for October. 

Off tomorrow

Well had a really busy weekend. 

Left nice and early Thursday and got to Burgess Hill by 12.45 good journey. Went to lunch at Red Lion in Lindfield then sat out in Gill's lovely garden for tea an chat. So lucky to have such a great friend. Love you both.

Friday 12th went over to Worthing to have lunch with Mum, Dad, Anne,John and Faye.at The Fish a Factory, excellent meal, and lovely company.  Stopped at Shoreham old Toll Bridge to see all the flowers left after the Air Disaster. Very moving.

After tea with Mum and Dad called into to see other friends before arring at my B & B in Sompting! Kay your a star, love staying with you and Simon the biscuits were lovely. Went out in the evening with all my old pals from Guild Care. Great to see you all.

Saturday meet up with my lovely brother and his delightful wife in Lewes and had a fab lunch together.

Called into see Friends on my way to East Preston everyone seems to be selling their homes! What's going on!  Good meal,one of my favourites Mick, good luck in France.

Sunday 13th up early to go up to Hyde Park. Excellent day Rod Stewart was just great,but Brain Adam did a fab set along with The Coors, Will Young, Leona Lewes and many more.  Got back to Burgess Hill just after midnight knackered!!

 Drove back to the boat Monday, had tea with Ginny on her boat in dry dock. Very strange dark and no movement. Dinner with Kate and family.

Now today I must pack and get the boat sorted for Winter!

Next blog in Australia!

One week to go!

Had a busy week Friday  4th  I had my wonderful grandchildren over ,Molly and Connie , for a sleepover.which they love. Made them work their passage this time cleaning the boar!

Mind Connie paid me back in the night by being very poorly in my bed  yuckkkk.

More washing. 

Saturday Ginny, Kate and I went to see two tribute bands of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Foo Fighters good night but the evenings defiantly getting cooler.

Sunday up early to drive up to Maltby to see my wonderful friends Ken and Andrea. Not seen them since Febuary so quite an emotional visit all round.

However the weather was simply wonderful and we went to Clumber Park for walk round the lake,then back for a fab roast lamb dinner where we joined by Tyler,Heather and Geoff. Lovely to see everyone.

Back home Monday wether still lovely sat up on bank with pals here

Tuesday meet up with Roly and  Bev on nb Klara  great to see then,even if I did manage to go to the wrong pub to park. How silly having 2 Pubs called The Greyhound within  5 miles of each other!

Popped up to Spooms fo 'Me tea' with friends caught up with Tracy from  the Chandlers.

Wednesday 9th must get case out to get ready to go down south and finish my Christmas Cards!!!

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!