Place of comfort?

Pork Roast and Thai Festival.

Hello folks.

Since we came home, I have been very busy, so I apologise for not posting earlier.

On arriving back, I needed to blitz the gardens and get rid of the weeds.

On Sunday 5th July, it was Warwick Open Gardens and the raised beds were no where near their best for the visiting gardeners.

The only bed which looked lovely was the Wildflower bed.

Even our garden needed to be weeded, so from the Wednesday evening to the Saturday afternoon, I worked on the beds to make them look tidier. Thankfully the visiting public seemed to love the Arm and they did not seem to worried by the fact that the gardens were not at their best. We got to meet and greet many new people, who did not know the Arm existed.

Saturday 11th July and it was time for the Pig Roast organised to thank the volunteers who have helped to make the Arm what it is today. So volunteers and guests arrived at 12 noon.

We had a fabulous turn out.

The Pig Roast certainly went down well.

Tom Lewis on Narrow Boat Moonstone. supplied the music and the sing song.

Everyone enjoyed the afternoon and thankfully the weather was very kind to us.

Sunday 12th July.

Warwick Thai Festival day and although the clouds were ominous, we decided to take our rain coats and head up into the town.

We got their early and saw the stall holders setting up.

The food stalls sent a wonderful smell around the market square and we were both looking forward to lunch.

The local dignitaries were out in their official capacity enjoying the event.

The BBC Coventry and Warwickshire radio car was also in town.

Amongst the food stalls were the craft stalls as well and so it was hoped for a wonderful day. Keith and I ate early and we were glad we did, because at lunchtime, the heavens opened and it threw it down, so we decided to head into the Museum, which we had never been into before. It was well worth the visit and it meant we did not get totally soaked. The walk home however was a tad damp. On returning to the boat the sun appeared again, so hopefully the Festival will be a success.

As you can see it has been a busy time for us since coming home.

Back Home.

It has been a busy few days for us.

We spent last weekend at the Braunston Historic Boat Rally.

Keith and I had the pleasure on the Saturday of going on the parade on Nuneaton and Brighton the Narrowboat Trust Boats. Colin, Ray and Barry made us very welcome and so I made them a Lemon Drizzle cake, which went down very well with a cuppa.

We had a fabulous time in the organised chaos.

Richard Parry CEO of the Canal and River Trust was there to help unveil new plaques.

Also at the event were Timothy West and Prunella Scales. Doing more filming for their Canal Journey series.

It was lovely to see them both looking well, although both did look a little frail.

We had a fabulous weekend catching up with so many people we know and all were so happy to see how well Keith is.

On Monday we left Braunston and began our journey home. The weather was very hot, but with us not being in that much of a hurry we took our time.

Monday we moored at Bridge No.18 between Calcutt locks and Stockton locks. One great thing about the wall to wall sunshine was the solar panel kept the batteries nicely topped up.

Tuesday we descended the Stockton Locks, mooring up at Long Itchington. It was blooming hot, but keeping on the move actually meant we made our own breeze. Lunch was had at The Two Boats Inn and I have to say it was a lovely meal, which was washed down with a pint of Bombardier. Well worth a visit.

Wednesday morning and the sun was out early and blimey it was hot, hot, hot. We decided that we would make a run straight through to Warwick. So it was onward to Bascote Locks, then Fosse and finally Radford. As we approached Warwick the heavens opened, giving us a much needed cool down. We arrived back at our mooring in the Saltisford Arm at 1.15 pm. It was lovely to be home.

Our garden was riddled with weeds, so after catching up with folk in the arm, I started the job of weeding our garden. On Sunday It is Warwick Open Gardens and the arm is taking part, so I am going to be busy weeding all the beds.