Tuesday 11 July 2017

Time to Relax

Hi

Well our Keith and Carol have been and gone, We had a great time as we pulled into Barton Turn Marina we had lovely visitors moorings right outside the pub, Yes a pub on the marina it also has a shopping esplanade containing Butchers, deli, various ladies shops (non that actually sold ladies} three eating places and a cinema So as you can imagine it was a hectic few days, We did however manage to fit in a trip to the National Arboretum  memorial I always go when in the area just to visit old friends Kieth and Carol both find it quite moving. no matter who you are even if you have never had anything to do with the forces I can guarantee that a member of your family will be remembered in there, there is everything from Land girls, trawler men, Miners, Fire service, Ambulance service, Police every walk of life is represented in some way well worth a visit to  reflect just how many people look after us and the great nation,

We are now on the homeward leg, we have rested up over the weekend in Rugeley  where it is only two mins walk to Morrisons, Tesco, and Aldi with the town inly five mins walk its a boaters stop over there are boats coming and going all day all picking up essential supplies.
We had a day away from the boat today we visited Lichfield Cathedral However to get there we travelled on the bus. not such a daunting task I hear you say But I do believe a way of gaining world dominance in formular One racing, all we have to do is send all our up and coming drivers to the Ariva school for bus drivers each one of these racing drivers in charge of a bus of thirty people have scored highly in the academy of maniacs. Our "driver" today was a dower Scott who was intent in breaking all records from Rugely to Lichfield to do so he when at a hair raising speed between stop as this was NOT an express there was quite a lot of stop this entailed the "driver" coming from 60pmh to a dead stop in a matter of 100yards, After the first emergency stop I realised the most of the passengers were regular travellers on these buses because everyone held on to the seat in front like grim death and nobody stood up to get off until the bus actually STOPPED, this of course saved them from being catapulted through the wind scene On finally arriving at Lichfield (5 minutes early)
I thanked the driver and asked did he do Rally Car at the weekends. He did say something in his native Glaswegian tongue but to an Englishman it was lost in translation but I got the drift.
Lichfield is a lovely city with quaint arcades and shops wonderful building going right through the ages But we were there to see the Cathedral it isn't the biggest in the country or the most spectacular but it does have a charm in its compactness. Today however they were getting ready for a performance tonight. it is a performance by a Deaf Percussionist She plays is quite famous and apparently her performances are legendary BUT I went to see the cathedral and as half was blocked off being prepared for the evenings entertainment and the fact that this lady was actually practicing. Now don't get me wrong I am not one for complaining BUT there were people n there who just wanted a bit of peace and solitude I wanted to relax and reflect in a place of calm Not to listen to a drum kit get the shit kicked out of it!!!!!
Anyway the rest of the day went well we even found the tackle shop and got some Maggots, Weatherspoons provided us a very nice lunch then it was time for the return journey, waiting at the bus station the Ariva stage coach pulled up the doors opened and YES you got it the Dower Scott Driver as I placed my bus pass on the scanner our eyes met and I got the message "if you coming was bad see what I can do with this trip"" it was only 3.00pm so the bus was quite empty all I can say is Phewwww Noreen of course blames it all on me for having a go in the morning I accepted her criticism and bowed my head in shame

Tomorrow we set for Stoke on Trent  and eventually home

God Bless


Barton Turn Marina

Barton Turn Marina

Lichfield Cathedral

National Arboretum Memorial

The Masonic Garden of remembrance at the Arboretum
Barton turn marina
The Waterfront Bar


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