alafloat

 

The leaving of Li

verpool

Tomorrow we leave Liverpool, we have a 08.00 start actually it a 07,45 start as we have to be at Mann island lock be 08.00. With much disruption along the system with with canal closures and lock closures I am facing the the trip with a little pessimism But as I keep telling people “thats Boating”

Last night we went to mass at the Blessed Sacrament Shrine strange church the facade looks like a government building DRAB no features no inclination of it being a place of worship. I have no idea where the congregation come from as the church is in the centre of town in St Johns and there is no social housing as I have found for Miles. I would say a 1/3 of the congregation at the Saturday vigil mass have shopping trolleys may be as Aldi is just around the corner its a place to pop in after completing your shopping whatever it is packed though the body of the church is very small it has a very friendly atmosphere.

Walking up there at 17.30 you have the day trippers heading off home and the night revellers just arriving the first road crossing is just outside the the dock and standing there with another 100 souls waiting for the little green man it was like standing with the seven seven tribes of Israel, you get the feeling of togetherness obviously you get the local idiot here they do not ride chariots they mow people down with motorised scooters but there again you get the swearing and gesturing in a dozen Languages all meaning the same and even that gives a sense of togetherness, Around 19.00 the city and the waterfront take on a new atmosphere changing from a city of museums, historic building, and culture to a city of Stag parties, drunken revelry, and just everyone standing having a good time as Buggerlugs is moored 15 yards from Albert dock main gates (though 12 ft below on the water ) we escape most of the screaming, shouting and attempted singing. And by 23.00 everyone is tucked up in bad but not always their own if the crowds in the day time are like the seven tribes of Israel the the night time must be Sodom and Gomorrah'

Today we have the Grandchildren arriving today its now 06.45 and I am just about ready to start prepaing for the onslaught apparently Pippa wants to go go for a girly shopping trip with Noreen so I will take Zac on a boys trip on the ferry across the water to see the submarine. Maybe Maryanne can get her head down whilst Evie has her nap, well thats the plan but as we know children are never predictable and we have to stay flexible.

By time our guests depart it will be time to prepare Buggerlugs for an early start. I am working on two days to get to Scarisbrick Marina which is our next port of call the water levels look ok so it should be an uneventful but maybe this time when negotiating the swing bridges through Magul we can get through with taking and cars for a ride

God Bless 

Stay Safe 

From the pen of Buggerlugs

22.00 from Buggerlugs Mooring