Bobbing About

----- like a cork in the surf!    At least that’s what it’s been feeling like these last few days with the gales and winds.    We are all on our lonesome at Coole Pilate - there was one boat here when we arrived on Monday but they left a couple of hours later.    Only a couple of boats gone by and one of them was a hireboat from Overwater Marina which is only about half a mile away from where we are now.


Saw the New Year in watching firework display in Audlem which, for a little village, was quite spectacular.   Foxxie has never been fazed by fireworks and this was no exception - she sat with us watching them all.


We had visitors last Friday - Dai’s brother Glyn and Linda - so we spent a couple of hours in the Shroppie Fly sampling some very good real ale.


Spent a bit of time reflecting on 2011 - as you do - and share with you some of our thoughts:

• Bottle cupboard still as full as when we set out one year and 278 days ago
• Not killed each other yet
• No illnesses or emergencies
• Met some great people, some of whom have become firm friends
• Sleeping more in tune with the seasons
• Had a great “holiday” moored up in Long Eaton catching up with family and friends for just over 8 weeks
• Dai still not grasped the concept of “hunter” although his “gathering” is quite good
• No life-changing dramatic events like there was in 2010 ---- expect for Amy going to live and work in Thailand (and I miss her so much, thank god for Skype and Facebook Chat)

Since last blog we have done … 2 miles and  2 locks
Total since Setting Off ….. 1551 miles and  1236 locks