You Have To Laugh!

Oh no you don't!  You must Not!!  The Captain has officially said that it is NOT funny.  OK?  Got it?  Then I will continue:-

This morning was VERY windy.  I mean VERY windy.  The boat was blown sideways across the canal at a lift bridge but, after a bit of a struggle, the Skipper managed to navigate through.  The lock wheeler opted to continue to walk in order to make things a bit easier.  On approaching Somerton Deep Lock (it's called that for an obvious reason!) the boat was again swept off course.  The skipper struggled to get the boat back across the canal and secure the centre line to a bollard.  He then went to tie off the front rope.  WHOOPS!!

All I can say is that the score is now 15 all. I scored my points on Easter Sunday 2007 at Staines Bridge and I only blamed myself.  The Skipper blamed his useless ******* deck shoes!  Of course the deck shoes that NEVER, EVER let him down, the deck shoes that NEVER, EVER let him slip ........................... are in a large red Biffa bin at Cropredy!!!  (STOP laughing Ken & Sandra - you were told NOT to!!)
It was just as well that the grey combat trousers of that misadventure had been saved and laundered because they needed to replace the wet, green ones of today!
Where was I when all this was going on?
I was on my hands and knees by the top lock gate trying to remove a mass of weed which was menacingly waiting to wrap itself around our propeller.  I was also wrestling with a large piece of tree trunk intent on preventing me from opening the top gate.
Between us, however, we secured the boat and the skipper had yet another shower and change of clothes.  He stated, quite firmly, that we were staying put - lock mooring or not!!

Along comes another boat the other way.  I go to greet the arriving boater.
"Are you going through?" says he.
"Apparently not", says I.  "Do you know of a good divorce lawyer?"  (I WAS only joking!!)

Visiting boater is somewhat taken aback by this request and hesitates.  Taking advantage of his hesitation I say,  "Perhaps YOU are a divorce lawyer?  Even better!"
"Divorce is a very costly procedure these days", he stutters - obviously just wanting to get away as quickly as possible from this totally mad woman.
Together, we emptied the lock and I helped him to do just that.

By that time another boater was coming our way and another had arrived at the bottom of the lock wanting to go up.  The skipper gave in and took our boat through.  At one point it seemed that lots of weed was about to wrap itself around our propeller!  Well, I wonder how that got there?  Surely conscientious lock wheelers would ensure that debris be removed before letting a boat into a lock?  Honestly!!  You just can't get the staff these days can you?

Now - the BIG question is:_

If/when there's a next time:-
Will he fall?  Will he be pushed?  Or ......... will he just jump?

JRAllebone and Ltd Company.  Est 1974

Do You Believe in Miracles?

Yesterday we left Banbury heading South.  This type of lift bridge is numerous on the South Oxford - fortunately many of them are now left permanently up!

When we reached Kings Sutton our friends Sue and Mick were moored up in their boat "Peaceful Waters".  We first met Sue and Mick in February 2008 when they had just bought "Peaceful Waters" from the brokerage at Crick Marina and we were moored outside on the tow path.  We sort of feel that we became liveaboard boaters together with all the lessons to learn ahead of us.

We stopped for a chat and a quick cup of tea!  That evolved into sausage and bacon sarnies and, later on that evening the tea became wine!  Clever eh?

It was so good to catch up with them again.  We swapped stories (as you do!) and shared thoughts and feelings about all sorts of things.  I haven't laughed so much in ages!  AND ..... Sue and I were able to engage in some quality "girlie-talk".  A real tonic ...... without the gin!

Another positive thing!  The Buckby can is finished and is now residing on the roof so no more bumps on the head!

We will move on probably to Aynho today but it is all very grey, rainy and uninviting.  Our friends Anne and John have flown out this morning to join our other friends Ray and Chris who now live in Cypress.  Out there it's 75 degrees and sunny - hey ho!!                                                        A thoroughly miserable looking boater has just gone by!  I suppose we ought to get our act together and join him!!                                                                        It's three years ago today that we shut the front door of 44, Gordon Close for the last time and handed over the keys.  We can hardly believe it ourselves.  John is delighted that he hasn't cut a lawn or trimmed a hedge for three years!!!!!

Banbury

God Bless Her and all those involved there in the retail trade!

John and I do not enjoy shopping but we had an unavoidable challenge facing us in Banbury - we needed to kit ourselves out for a special wedding in May.

John did have a suit!  A very nice suit and he carefully stowed it away in one of his mum's wardrobes.  When he went to retrieve it a few weeks ago, however, it was nowhere to be seen!  We are convinced it has been sent off to a certain charity shop in Shepperton but a confession has not forthcoming!


Arthur Whitcher Est 1902 "Quality Menswear at affordable prices"!!!  Marvellous.
An old-fashioned style shop with an experienced retailer who rose to my challenge - "Please kit him out with everything for a wedding!"


I have forgotten just how well he can scrub up!  Lynn - you are going to be SO impressed!!  I might even have to keep my eye on him!  He's certainly going to put me in the shade!


Getting back to Banbury - the first time we ever came through here was on a hire boat more than twenty years ago.  The wharf area was grim and no way invited boaters to stop for long!  With the total redevelopment of the area it is now really popular and everyone wants to stop!  This weekend, however, it has been very quite - there have only been a few boats moored up in the centre.  We have based ourselves by the town park - easy and exciting walking for Maggie with lots of irresistible holes in a bit of a wooded area!  We are near a foot bridge which gives access to a large Tesco's but it is a bit of a hike.  I know that some boaters are wary about staying in Banbury but I have to say that we always do as we pass through and we have never had a problem - let's hope we never do.

Last of the Self-Pump-Outs

When we purchased "Ellen" we inherited a self pump out kit.  There are very few places on the system where these can be used but Cropredy is one of them so ........................


For anyone who is either queasy or easily upset by domestic turbulence - READ NO FURTHER!


NEVER AGAIN!!  It's hard work and unpleasant when it all works properly.  When it doesn't .........!
Mind you, the said 'kit' and attached hoses were not designed to suck up half a hundred weight of gravel from the bottom of the canal! For anyone who likes a restoration challenge - the whole kit is now residing in a large Biffa bin at Cropredy Wharf.   There is also a pair of size 10 boat shoes!  The operator's clothes narrowly missed going in the bin too - they were only saved by the assurances of the Assistant Operator who promised to wash them.  At this point the Assistant Operator would actually have quite liked to have put the Operator in a large bin!!!!  It would, however, be such a shame to waste such dramatic acting talent - the petulant performance was well worthy of an Oscar nomination.  Sadly, there was only one poor soul in the audience and that was the Assistant Operator who was at the sticky, smelly end of the entire failed procedure in more ways than one!!
HER frustration was vented on the next 4 miles of tow-path.

Now the external hard drive on the computer has stopped working - NOT a good day.  Let's hope things will improve tomorrow!  I had such a good picture I wanted to add to this but, where is it?  YEP!  On the external hard drive!!

Lynne and Paul - you have my permission to laugh!

May 2010 - External hard drive has been mended and this is the awaited picture:-

Wishful Thinking!!!!

Visitors

We really like receiving visitors! 

Yesterday we had a rather impromptu visit from Jane and Ron Cole.  They both had the day off so, after checking our blog to see where we were (!!) they came and found us!  We were still at Claydon.  We all piled in Ron's car (dogs and all) and went to the Brasenose Arms at Cropredy which is dog friendly.  We had  really good burgers and chips in a very relaxed atmosphere and it was great to be with them.  We hope they come and see us again and stay for longer.  Mind you, there is always a price to pay!  Before they left to go home I co-erced them into helping us lock through the Claydon Flight! - in the rain!! Cheeky or what?!

We are now at Cropredy moored up behind Lynne and Paul on n/b "Piston Broke".  

Cropredy is a lovely village.  What is it about natural stone and thatch when they are put together in a building?  The other pub in the village is just that - and part of an old terrace of houses.  It is called the "Red Lion" but, as it is rather posh and doesn't accept dogs we have yet to go in there.  One day maybe?

The Red Lion at Cropredy

We are looking forward to receiving our next visitor tomorrow!  Rodney is coming up.  He will like either pub as they both sell a good selection of real ales!!  However, we will only be going in The Red Lion if  ......... he's paying!!  Brasenose Arms here we come then!!

  Betty is being a really good girl and is getting used to 'this narrow boating lark'!!

She know lots of songs (howling!) - her favourite, however,  is

 "I need you both together on this boat and turn that bl**d* engine off"!

This is repeated several times but ................ we love her and would quite like to keep her!

Nearly forgot!  Our latest problem is that the satellite finder has gone ker-put.  We don't watch a lot of TV but it is the final of "Dancing on Ice" on Sunday and it we can't get TV by then ..... I'm booking into a hotel in Banbury for the night!  A little genius called Martyn has said he will meet us in Banbury on Saturday to sort it all out.  We will see.

Fenny Compton

We have been moored up at the Wharf at Fenny Compton over the weekend awaiting the arrival of a very special guest who, it would seem, has had no trouble in making herself at home!

Introducing Betty (alias Beast) Mealing.

She is the most verbal hound we have ever met! She has come to partake of her first cruise and, at the moment, she's not sure she likes the boat when it's moving! She really lets you know how she's feeling and what she thinks about things!! Her owners, our good friends Gary and Joan have got themselves involved in a residential trip with a load of 9/10 year olds! The things you do to support your own children! Alison, their eldest daughter, is in her first year of teaching.

Actually, I'm sure they will have a great time - we just have to convince Betty that this cruising lark isn't so bad!

Whilst here we have, at last, managed to meet up with Lynne and Paul on n/b "Piston Broke" (just love that name!) We met them briefly this time last year at Weedon Beck and it was Lynne who told me how to set up a Blog. It's been really good having the opportunity to get to know them better and share stories and experiences. They too are going down to Thrupp and, as they seem to travel at a similar pace to us ................................ I'm hoping I might be able to have another (more advanced!) Blogging lesson!

When we first bought "Ellen" in November 2003 Red Diesel was about 32p a litre. How things change!
Another boating friend of ours would say,

"At least Dick Turpin had the good grace to carry pistols and wear a mask!"

Mind Yer 'ed!!

As you can see the decoration to the replacement Buckby can is coming along very well. This is where it is suspended to dry each time fresh paint is added and if each of us had a £1.00 every time we have banged our head on it .............................. !!!!!!! It's not exactly inconspicuous is it?!

(It's definitely more photogenic than the artist!!)

This morning we travelled up the Napton flight of locks. Every time we do this I am reminded of what a lovely setting they are in. It was especially nice today because:-

- the sun was shining

- we had it all to ourselves

and ........ - all the locks were in our favour.

We're not usually that lucky!

At the moment we are moored up on the summit pound walking distance from the lovely village of Priors Hardwick. We have been for a walk this afternoon and must have looked dead shifty because three different people asked us if we were lost and needed help!! "The Butcher's Arms" looks like a really nice restaurant - worth remembering for a very special occasion?

It has now begun raining but we haven't had rain for ages so "fair enough".

In this tough economic climate nobody is safe - even the scarecrows are being made redundant!