Writing this as we are being buffered like crazy with ten foot high waves rushing down the canal !!   Very windy here on Audlem Embankment but the sky is blue with shining sun.   Like most others, we had quite a mild Christmas and still no ice on the canal !


We haven’t done much over the holidays except walking, eating and watching telly.   Oh, we did go to the Audlem carol singing last Thursday which was nice but that’s about it.  Not eaten everything in the “Christmas cupboard” yet though but definitely going down although last night we fancied something "plain" so fishfinger sarnies for dinner - fab!


Skype’d with Amy on Christmas Day which was lovely - obviously being in Thailand no Christmas holidays but she does get a few days for New Year so she is going with friends to one of the Thai islands for sun, sea and sand.


Well, hope your New Year celebrations go off with a bang and talk to you in 2012 !


Happy Holidays !


Since last blog we have done … 0 miles and  0 locks
Total since Setting Off ….. 1549 miles and  1234 locks  

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

A Very Merry Christmas to all our family and friends - we hope Santa brings you all you wish for.


Jandai is now Christmassy - homemade wreath on the front; Christmas tree up; greetings on the windows; coloured lights up; holly tucked in here and there - I just have to persuade Dai to let me have the lights on (“my poor batteries” is the eternal cry!!).

think we must have had one glass too many
when we stuck these on the window !

"My Poor Batteries!!"

Cupboards are packed to the brim - in fact, I don’t think I can stick another bottle of wine or port anywhere.   Just got to get the Christmas meat - don’t know what we’re having yet - I’m catching the bus to Nantwich Friday so depends on what I find!!  Still got to fill the cake tin with mince pies but that’s no problem!!

We are today on Audlem Embankment and quite surprised to find it not as full as we expected - some space where we are and above the Shroppie Fly lock it is empty as it is above “Niagara Lock” as we call it - the one just under the bridge with the biggest bywash on the system (lock 12 of the Audlem Flight).  Looking forward to the Audlem Carol Singing event tomorrow night in the Square.


On our way between Adderley Locks and Audlem Locks we came across BW dredgers at work.  Despite a warning of 30 minute delay, their boats manoevred out of our way with no waiting.   Then around the next corner, BW were preparing for the dredgers by building a retaining wall ready for the dredgings to be dumped.

It was so sunny and mild today that we ate our lunch (from the local chippy) in the Square which was lovely!   Dai has fixed up a bird feeding station (mini tree trunk with branches he found down the embankment) attached to a wooden railing but up to it getting dark tonight, the local birds hadn’t ventured forth for the fat balls, peanuts and seeds - sure they’ll find it tomorrow!

They'll come tomorrow !

Whilst we were at Market Drayton earlier this week they gave out snowstorms overnight last Thursday so was expecting to wake up to a winter wonderland.   Didn’t happen!    What did happen is that we had a couple of terrific snowstorms but each time after about 15 minutes it turned to sleet and then to rain!    No ice on canal here yet and with the current forecast, we’re not likely to get any for at least the next week.

Is this the biggest badger sett on a canal towpath?

                                              
                                       Happy Holidays !


Since last blog we have done … 10 miles and  23 locks
Total since Setting Off ….. 1549 miles and  1234 locks  

At Goldstone Wharf

Not a lot has happened this week ….. We waved off Fred and Lisa on Saturday morning as their holiday had come to an end.   We did spend the Friday evening in The Navigation having a few beers and a meal.     Left Gnosall on Monday up to Norbury and then moved from Norbury this morning and are now moored at Goldstone Wharf.


We have been expecting some horrific weather as forecast but, to be honest, yes,  we had a bit of wind this week, but on the whole it’s been ok with quite a bit of sunshine although a bit nippy at times but no serious frosts, just a bit of a “hit and miss” effort last night.    Main thing is that no ice on canal yet - this time last year we’d already been totally iced in for just over 2 weeks.


When we got to Goldstone Wharf this afternoon we went greenery gathering so I can make the Christmas wreath and decorate inside the boat with some holly.   Will have to be getting the other decs out from under the bed so we can start to get into the festive spirit!!


Since last blog we have done … 15 miles and  1 locks
Total since Setting Off ….. 1539 miles and  1211 locks  

Monday was Sunday

---- as Dai’s brother and sister-in-law came to visit us last Sunday.   We had a couple of pints at lunchtime and then Dai got me cooking Welsh cakes by the hundred which he and Glyn demolished leaving me and Linda with the odd one we could grab!!!    So when they had gone we didn’t really feel like a Sunday roast so we had it on Monday instead.  I think this is the first time we haven’t had a roast dinner on Sunday since we lived on the boat !    


This week we have just travelled from Brewood to Wheaton Aston and back to Brewood to meet up with Fred and Lisa again as they now make their way back to Norbury.    Had a good night in the local last night and a good walk this afternoon in the wind.    Dai conducted a Masterclass in bread making before we set off on our walk at Lisa’s request and hopefully before much longer the results will be risen enough to go into the oven.


Succumbed to Tesco delivery over the weekend.    This is first time we have done it although we know a lot of boaters do use them regularly.    It was very easy, straightforward and arrived within the hour they promised directly to the boat.    We had a load of heavy and bulky stuff delivered and will definitely be using them again for this sort of shopping.


Since last blog we have done … 12 miles and  2 locks
Total since Setting Off ….. 1524 miles and  1210 locks  

well, it does look quite spectacular in real life!
a huge tree festooned with fairy lights seen
from mooring at Wheaton Aston

Funny how Lisa ended up doing all the kneading
during Dai's Masterclass !

no prizes for guessing what Dai has on his Santa list !