Saturday at the BCLM.

Hi Friends and Followers.

Saturday 8th October.

Woke to a drizzly looking start, which did not bode well, so the only thing to do was sit in bed and have the first brew of the day and listen to the radio.
By the time we got up, the rain had stopped, but the skies were very grey when I took Paddy out for his walk. We went through the lockable gate and headed down the towpath to the junction. This was quite far enough as far as Paddy was concerned, who did what he had to do, did an about turn and headed back to the locked gate. I have been ever mindful of keeping Paddy on a lead, after there were reports of poisonings going on. Two people we know have lost dogs due to being poisoned around the area, so Paddy was kept on his lead and was not allowed to snip around in case he should pick something up.
Back home, breakfast was eaten by all on board, which was welcome news to Marmite, who always sits on the step of the back cabin waiting for Paddy and I to get back, because she knows it is feeding time then.
I then got on with making up the fire, cleaning out Marmite's tray, getting rid of rubbish and washing up.

10 am we headed off into the Museum and walked to the top of the site, where the vehicles are kept, because on the first weekend of the month, they have some of their museum vehicles out and about on the roads of museum grounds. They had motor bikes and cars out, which drew a crowd. I was glad to of photographed them all before the crowds drew. We took a ride on the tram down to the bottom section of the grounds, where we got nattering to the staff and volunteers of the museum, who are all so lovely and always make us so welcome. 11.30 am we were back on the boat cooking bacon sandwiches and cups of coffee. Keith ran the generator for an hour to top the batteries up.

After lunch we headed back into the museum and yet more nattering was done, followed by a pint of Peaky Blinders at the Bottle and Glass Inn. It is amazing how the time flies when you are having so much fun. Before we knew it, it was time to head home to a nice warm boat. We had noticed the temperature had begun to drop during the afternoon and no sooner we climbed down into the warm cabin, rain began to tiptoe along the roof.
5pm the animals got fed and we donned our donkey jackets and headed out to the Chopsticks Chinese Takeaway. The last time we had a Chinese Takeaway was way back in 2004. We were one of the first customers in there and so did not have to wait to long for our food. I dished up the delights hidden in the back and we set to eating the feast before us, which looked like more than my stomach could manage and that proved to be the case. I did not quite finish my food, but oh boy I had a darn good go at it. Oh my goodness the meal was amazing and not dear at all.
Whilst we have been visiting the Black Country Living Museum, it has made me think about my family history and I suddenly realised today, that my Grandfather was born in the Black Country, because he was born in the Dudley Workhouse. I am not sure, but I think my great-grandfather was also from the Black Country, which makes me feel proud.
Sunday we will be doing it all again. But maybe not the Takeaway.

Pop Back soon xx

Busy time of year.

Hi Friends and Followers.

Wow it has been all go since my last posting. Whilst we were at Merry Hill we went to a boat gathering with folk from Hawne Basin, Wythymoor Island and Longwood Boat Club. Each boater brought along food, either cold or cooked. Gazebo's went up, beer arrived as did the folk and we all had a wonderful time.It was nice to catch-up with people we knew and make friends with those we had never met before and hopefully will will do it again.
Once we left Merry Hill, it was back into Birmingham. We moored on the Ozzell Street Loop for a few days and again caught up with people we knew. Shopping was done at the market and lots of photographs were taken. I do so love Birmingham.
This morning it was time to say "Cheerio" to Brum and so we set off for the Black Country Living Museum.

We had a nice run from Birmingham up Smethwick locks. It is a shame the toll house is all burnt out though. Our jaunt ended just around lunchtime at the Black Country Living Museum.

Keith went and got us a portion of fish and chips lunch, which we split in half. We then went off for a wander around the museum, nattering to the people we have gotten to know there.

As the afternoon wore on there was only one thing to do and that was to have a pint in the Bottle and Glass pub.

Perfect Day.

Hi Friends and Followers.

How was your day?
I dare say someone to send me a message to tell me. I do love to read and answer your comments.

My day began with the usual morning cuppa and whilst out listen to the radio. We do not bother with the TV when out. At 8 am I was up and out walking Paddy along the embankment, along with the Canada Geese, which spend their time leaving message on the towpath. I know many people are not keen on the geese, but they do make me giggle with their head movements and chuntering.
9.30am we locked the boat up and walked down into Merry Hill Shopping Village. Now whilst we have moored here before, neither Keith nor I can remember visiting the shopping village. It is fabulous in my opinion. It is large, airy and loads of room to stroll about without bumping into people and them in to us. We did a bit of retail therapy in Primark, because Keith desperately needed a couple of shirts for best. He has pretty much used all his shirts for working in now and the two better looking shirts are donkey's years old, so we got him two new ones along with some socks. I bought a new mattress cover, as our old one has definitely seen better days and I have washed it to within an inch of its life, so it was time for a new one. Having done Primark and wandered around other shops, we had a brew at Greggs and then a further wander.
11.45 am we headed for the Odeon Cinema to watch 'Dunkirk'. We had seen the reviews for the movie and seen clips on the TV and thought we would like to see it. Keith gets in as a concession now, so he is chuffed. I still have to pay full price, but hey ho. We settled in with a bag of sweets. The 15 minutes of adverts came first and then they showed the new movies coming up. The finally the film began. It was most definitely worth going to see and we were most certainly not disappointed. It is worth seeing it in the cinema for the sound effects. It was also thought provoking and made me think of how it was at Dunkirk all those years ago and how scared those men must have been. You may know that Harry Styles from One Direction is in the movie and I thought his performance was excellent. He has a talent for acting, so I hope he keeps it going. Movie over and emotions in tatters, we walked back to the boat to get rid of the shopping and then headed to Wetherspoons Waterfront Inn for a Curry and a Pint. This for me was a perfect day.
My perfect day has ended with the second running of our new generator, which is behaving perfectly.
I wonder what tomorrow has in store.

Pop back soon xx

Time to leave.

Hello Dear Friends and Followers.

Yesterday (Tuesday) we spent another wonderful day in the BCLM. If you pay to get in, your ticket covers you for the whole year, so you can go in as many times as you like in that year. So having paid to get in, it would be rude not to make the most of it. We have gotten to know quite a few of the people who work and volunteer their, so it is always lovely having a good old natter with them. We have also found ourselves helping out the general public, who think we work there. I actually feel very at home at the Museum, it kind of gets to your soul.

Today we were saying "Cheerio" to the BCLM for now. But first we went shopping in Aldi. You walk out of tunnel car park and turn left and walk up the hill to Aldi. We took our trolleys and hiked it up the hill. We had a shopping list, so kept the shop to a minimum as we had used very little. After getting back to the boat, I stashed the food away whilst Keith got the boat ready for the off. Before leaving we pulled over on to the sanitary station, to top up with water and empty a cassette. I also got rid of rubbish, so we were all sorted for a while.
We set off at 10.20am waving "goodbye" to the museum. We went down factory locks and almost demolished the splitter on our exhaust. Normally when we come down the first lock the pound is down and we have never had a problem, but this morning the pound to the second lock was well up and we did not quite clear the bridge, which was new to us. Thankfully I managed to push the splitter back into shape and no one would be any the wiser.
Our cruise today was fabulous all the way. Whilst cruising through Netherton Tunnel, I did some hand washing, which I then spun in the machine. We then continued on to Brierley Hill, Merry Hill. It has been some years that we have been to this neck of the woods, and it was really lovely to see the canals again.

When we arrived at Brierley Hill we moored in the waterfront, meeting up with Marion and Ivor Chambers. As we were both there for the same event, we both reversed onto the embankment and moored up. 

Once moored up there was lots of catching-up done, before the rain drops began to fall. There is a promise of Hurricane Maria paying the UK a visit. Of course not with the dangers that other places have faced, but we are supposed to get some strong winds and rain. Having all retired to our boats, it was a chance to catch-up with e-mails and some dishcloth knitting. 

We are both looking forward to our stay here and hope to do some retail therapy whilst here.

Pop back soon xx

Ploughed on to an excellent weekend.

Hello Dear Readers.

Wow what an amazing few days we have had.

On Saturday morning we were up at 5am, we left Drawbridge at 6am in the dark and headed off for Birmingham.
It was quite eerie in the dark, but the Little Owl kept us company.
After a fabulous morning's cruise we arrived at Neptunes Wharf, Tipton at 12.30 pm and moored up. After some lunch we walked to The Black Country Living Museum to find lots of Historic Boats moored in the Museum and more outside.

The weather was a little overcast at times, but thankfully the rain stayed away and the general public were coming in to see the boats and enjoy the living museum.
We had an amazing day chatting to friends old and new. Saturday evening we joined Allyson and Derek on Birmingham to have a Chinese Take Away with others. It was a brilliant evening, with lots of chit chat and laughter. The food was excellent as was the company.

Sunday dawned and some of the historic boat owners were already leaving with their boats. They obviously had places to be early in the morning. We were up by 8am and the sun came out. After breakfast we walked to the museum to get in an early natter with boaters. The museum was soon alive with people wandering around looking at the boats and the museum. Keith and I decided we would have the Fish and Chips from the museum chips shop for lunch and we also decided to go and queue early, so at 11.30 am we stood first in the queue. The door for the shop opened at 11.40am and we were the first through the door. On the Saturday they had people queuing for two hours, so we were not going to get caught out.

After our fish and chip early lunch, we went to the Bottle & Glass for a pint of their best beer and sat outside to watch the world go by. It was an amazing time, made all the better by catching-up with friends. We will definitely come to this event again. At 4pm a lot of the historic boats were on their way and everything was winding down. We eventually got back to the boat, where we were met by mog and dog, who wanted their tea. I was still stuffed from lunchtime, so did not bother with much.
it was early to bed for us both as we were both shattered.
An amazing weekend.

Pop back soon xxx

Lapworth Flight and Bricks.

Hello Dear Friends and Followers.

Last night we were treated to a beautiful sunset at Kingswood Junction. Whilst out with Paddy for his last wee's I heard a Little Owl calling, but there was no response, so I am guessing it was all alone. There is nothing more wonderful than hearing an Owl.

This morning we were treat to a beautiful misty, sunny start. It looked as if the water was steaming.
We set off at 8.40am, with the Lapworth Flight ahead of us. Another boat beat us to the first lock, so we had to follow on behind, which did not prove a problem, because they were setting the lock for us and I was setting the locks for a boat behind us. We arrived at our friend Jacky's cottage below the top lock at 11.20am. We were there to collect bricks, which will be the ballast in our hold. Jacky was busy with her garden gang, who are redesigning her garden, so Keith and I got on with moving 11 cubic foot of bricks on our sack truck. I lost count of how many journeys we made back and forwards, but it was all done and dusted by 11.55pm. We have loaded the bricks in the hold and stacked them, so they can dry out, because of the weather yesterday they got soaked. We will lay them under the shutts when we get back to our mooring.
Having said our "Goodbyes" we were off at 2pm, I did the last lock and the first of two lift bridges. The second lift bridge was worked for us, which was a bonus, because I was feeling everso slightly shattered.

Our cruising day ended at 4.45 at Drawbridge, Solihull, where we had fish and chips at the Drawbridge Inn, before a nice hot shower and feet up.
It has been a long day, but a satisfying one.

Pop back again xx

On the road again

Hello dear Friends and Followers.

Yes we are on the move. We are heading for Birmingham. Before leaving Saltisford, Keith had to go and collect his medication from the chemist. Yesterday he went and had his free flu jab at the surgery, but his medication was not ready, so he had to go back for it this morning. Oh I have not updated you. Since I last posted we have celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary and Keith's 65th Birthday. For our wedding anniversary we went and had a meal out at Chopsticks in Warwick. For Keith's Birthday we went to Stratford-Upon-Avon for the day and then a meal out in the evening at Chopsticks, because Mr India was closed.
So back to the here and now.

We said "cheerio" to our mooring this morning at 10.30am and set off for Hatton Locks.

When we set off it was very overcast, but dry which was a bonus because rain had been forecast.

By the time we got half way up the flight, the rain began to fall. At first it was just a drizzle, but by the time we got to the top of the flight, it was pouring down. We did the flight in 2 hours 45 minutes, which was pretty good considering the weather and with some of the locks against us.

When it rains and you are wet, the best thing to do is make Bacon sandwiches. I had lit the back cabin stove first thing this morning, so if we did get wet, we could dry all our stuff out. It also served to keep a kettle boiling and of course the cooking of the bacon.

At 3.05pm we arrived at Kingwood Junction on the Stratford Canal and moored up. A good days cruising, even though it was wet.
We are now drying out nicely in a snuggly boat.

Hold Finished.

Hello Dear Friends and Followers.

Another week is drawing to a close and another step closer to the C word.
I have days when I have a job in mind and no matter what I am determined to do it and today was one of those days. I was determined to get the hold finished this morning and so at 9 am having done all the jobs on and off the boat, we set about finishing the hold.

Keith got on with lagging the water pipe as I cleaned and scrapped the base plate. Once scrapped off, I hoovered.

I then had the job of brushing used engine oil over the base plate, this will help to stop rusting. Fortunately the base plate is in really good condition and it will most certainly outlive us, especially as it is 15mm thick. Once I had oil coated two sections we could put the shutts back down.

We worked our way towards the bow, clearly one shutt at a time, oiling and replacing the shutts, it worked like a dream.

By lunchtime, we had the job done. We are all ready to go and collect bricks which will go under the shutts as ballast. We are hopeful to get underway on Wednesday all being well.
Lunchtime was a chance to sit down and enjoy another portion of the cottage pie I made yesterday. My Sciatic nerve has been complaining about the work we have done in the hold, so I will give it a rest for a day or two, so I am fit for moving on Wednesday.

Pop back soon xx