Hi
Well I do hope that someone is reading this although its great therapy for me, its like writing a diary though I have never been disciplined enough for that, I have tried many a time but after a few days it becomes boring. however just like this it does give you a chance to reflect on what you have done and importantly what you have not done.
My Birthday was a brilliant weekend We moored in a place called Trentham just outside Stoke on Trent (if anyone 10 years ago said I would celebrate my 70th in Stoke on Trent I would never have believed them) all the kids and Grandkids came they they all stayed in the hotel in Trentham gardens which is a very nice country park supplying all our needs for a big family weekend
I have said it before that God gives us Grandchildren as compensation for getting old. Prior to my birthday I have never felt 70 but after a weekend with three full on grandchildren I Did
In my engine room I have two of those boxes you can get from IKEA that have many little draws. Mine has a rather a large bottom draw that I have filled with nothing but junk, old discarded keys, a wrist badge of rank, 7.62 shell cases, a SS gunners badge, champagne cork, Rabbit snare, whistle, paint brush, half pens, You get the picture well when Matthew was very young he always made a be line for it and would spend hours rooting though and asking "whats this" now me being me I would always give a story for each item Now Pippa has found the box and is doing the very same thing though she is very astute and I must tell the same story every time for each item otherwise I am told off for deviating from the original.
We have left the Midlands now and well on our way hope, To escape the Midlands you have to take the boat down what is called Heartbreak hill this just a section if the Trent & Mersey canal Noreen and I did 40 locks between Stoke on Trent and Middlewhich It also entails going through the notorious Harecastle Tunnel which is a 25 min trip in complete darkness. Now before entering the tunnel you must check all your equipment lights, horn etc Ti my horror the head light would not work I tried everything but soon realised that it was a dead duck I do carry one of these large rechargeable lamps that I normally keep with me at the back "just in Case" well its time had arrived to step into the breach it was hurriedly strapped to the cratch beam convincing the safety officer who allows you into the tunnel that everything would be fine Knowing full well I had no real idea how this emergency set up would work as you cannot test a lamp functionality in day light
So off we go now to test the light you have to go at least 50 metres into the tunnel before you can set it here we go with Noreen on my instructions twitching it left right higher Lower we managed between us to get a light I could steer by with every light on the boat on and me steering with a small torch in my mouth we made it Now in the past with the correct lighting I have managed to knock off a chimney however with this improvised lighting we made it without touching the side once. On exiting the tunnel we had the biggest high five every boaters waiting to go through must have thought us two old crack pots instead of two very relieved boaters.
This weekend are on the River Weaver, We go down the lift tomorrow on Friday Maryanne will bring Maurine (Noreens friend ) who will be staying with us until we reach Manchester that should be next Friday where we will then pick up Thomas as its the second week of the School hols
It could be that I have now reached that 3 score years and Ten that I have nothing to rant about Maybe just Maybe I have reached that mellow time in my life BUT I hope not its good to get things off your chest, clear the air and to try and see the funny side of everything maybe that's my military black humour but if you believe that everything has a reason then why not find a funny side.
Noreen have also decided that before we return to Fettlers we should take another trip into Liverpool so today I have booked our passage for the 11th Aug we have been to so many places we are now required to do revisits this does mean that I know the way and don't get as lost.
Please take the time to write a comment as I said it is therapy for me but to know that someone else is enjoying it Now that was a bit presumptuous expecting that you ENJOY reading it
God Bless
Buggerlugs
Well I do hope that someone is reading this although its great therapy for me, its like writing a diary though I have never been disciplined enough for that, I have tried many a time but after a few days it becomes boring. however just like this it does give you a chance to reflect on what you have done and importantly what you have not done.
My Birthday was a brilliant weekend We moored in a place called Trentham just outside Stoke on Trent (if anyone 10 years ago said I would celebrate my 70th in Stoke on Trent I would never have believed them) all the kids and Grandkids came they they all stayed in the hotel in Trentham gardens which is a very nice country park supplying all our needs for a big family weekend
I have said it before that God gives us Grandchildren as compensation for getting old. Prior to my birthday I have never felt 70 but after a weekend with three full on grandchildren I Did
In my engine room I have two of those boxes you can get from IKEA that have many little draws. Mine has a rather a large bottom draw that I have filled with nothing but junk, old discarded keys, a wrist badge of rank, 7.62 shell cases, a SS gunners badge, champagne cork, Rabbit snare, whistle, paint brush, half pens, You get the picture well when Matthew was very young he always made a be line for it and would spend hours rooting though and asking "whats this" now me being me I would always give a story for each item Now Pippa has found the box and is doing the very same thing though she is very astute and I must tell the same story every time for each item otherwise I am told off for deviating from the original.
We have left the Midlands now and well on our way hope, To escape the Midlands you have to take the boat down what is called Heartbreak hill this just a section if the Trent & Mersey canal Noreen and I did 40 locks between Stoke on Trent and Middlewhich It also entails going through the notorious Harecastle Tunnel which is a 25 min trip in complete darkness. Now before entering the tunnel you must check all your equipment lights, horn etc Ti my horror the head light would not work I tried everything but soon realised that it was a dead duck I do carry one of these large rechargeable lamps that I normally keep with me at the back "just in Case" well its time had arrived to step into the breach it was hurriedly strapped to the cratch beam convincing the safety officer who allows you into the tunnel that everything would be fine Knowing full well I had no real idea how this emergency set up would work as you cannot test a lamp functionality in day light
So off we go now to test the light you have to go at least 50 metres into the tunnel before you can set it here we go with Noreen on my instructions twitching it left right higher Lower we managed between us to get a light I could steer by with every light on the boat on and me steering with a small torch in my mouth we made it Now in the past with the correct lighting I have managed to knock off a chimney however with this improvised lighting we made it without touching the side once. On exiting the tunnel we had the biggest high five every boaters waiting to go through must have thought us two old crack pots instead of two very relieved boaters.
This weekend are on the River Weaver, We go down the lift tomorrow on Friday Maryanne will bring Maurine (Noreens friend ) who will be staying with us until we reach Manchester that should be next Friday where we will then pick up Thomas as its the second week of the School hols
It could be that I have now reached that 3 score years and Ten that I have nothing to rant about Maybe just Maybe I have reached that mellow time in my life BUT I hope not its good to get things off your chest, clear the air and to try and see the funny side of everything maybe that's my military black humour but if you believe that everything has a reason then why not find a funny side.
Noreen have also decided that before we return to Fettlers we should take another trip into Liverpool so today I have booked our passage for the 11th Aug we have been to so many places we are now required to do revisits this does mean that I know the way and don't get as lost.
Please take the time to write a comment as I said it is therapy for me but to know that someone else is enjoying it Now that was a bit presumptuous expecting that you ENJOY reading it
God Bless
Buggerlugs
