Big Scrap !

No, not us ….. but 2 swans the other night!    We were quietly watching telly about 9 pm and suddenly there was a terrific noise outside which set Foxxie barking.  A kind of  frantic, frightful whoosing.   We looked out the window and 2 swans were going at it hammer and tongue, beating their wings and trying to get one another’s heads held under the water - feathers flying everywhere.    We guessed it was all down to one male defending his mate’s nest from a wanna-be-daddy.    Unfortunately we couldn’t get any photos as for some reason the camera refused to play.    Don’t know what the outcome as they were gradually progressing down the canal and round a bend.   Next morning, mummy swan on her nest and daddy (or was it wanna-be-daddy?) drifting around without a care in the world …. and no loser around for our dinner!

We are now on the Oxford Canal and moored up for the day at Napton Locks as for the first time since we set off, the sky is blue and the sun shining - we even celebrated with an ice-cream this morning after climbing six thousand feet up Napton Hill to see the restored windmill and church.  OK, maybe not that much but pretty steep as apparently you can see 9 counties from the top.    It was well worth the climb for the view, even though the windmill is privately owned so not open to public and, as a bonus, we passed a farm selling free range eggs at £2 a dozen.

Since last blog we have done 61 miles and 23 locks.    Since setting out we have averaged 4.5 miles a day which has took some doing as when we were holidaying it must have been about 20 miles a day!    We are trying very hard to get into the fact that we don’t have to go mad and don’t have to move every day!

pic 1: first violets of 2010 in churchyard at Napton on Oxford Canal - spotted April 8
pic 2: our first visitor on the boat
pic 3: man at work

S

Off We Jolly Well Go !

Yes, our New Life has started and it is now Day 5 !    We are now Continuous Cruisers.
Just how many people can say their dream has come true?

Left Trent Lock at Long Eaton, Notts on Sunday 28 March afternoon and today are at Alrewas on the Trent & Mersey Canal making our way south to London via T & M; Coventry, Oxford and Grand Union Canals.    Don’t know how long it will take - doesn’t matter!    Since setting off we’ve only done 24 miles and 16 locks - there is just no rush anymore.  This is first time we have ever stopped in one place for more than a night - feels very strange!   Weather has not been at its kindest with cloud, drizzle, wind, rain and a sighting of sun this morning.

We managed to get everything stored away except for 3 boxes of falling down water (aka perry); Janice’s Treasure Box and a plastic box of yeast and Christmas Puds (Dai’s fav), so they are stacked in the saloon for now.    Cupboards full of food and drink and Jandai’s got a list to the left because of all the sacks of flour stored under the bed (we make our own bread).  Once some of the food/drink  from home has been consumed, then we’ll have plenty of storage space - might even be able to see what we actually have got.

Today we went to the National xxx which is about 20 mins walk from the canal and were quite amazed just how many different memorials there are as well as the Wall of Names (all service men/women who have died since the end of WWII.     Very recently they have constructed the Basra Wall which is an actual wall from Basra encased in marble with plaques of all servicemen and women who died there.    In fact, we didn’t see them all because it was quite cold and windy and then started to rain.      On walk back called in the village butcher to buy our Easter Day meat joint.   We have had meat from there before and has always been fantastic.   There is also a small Co-op supermarket, newsagent, fish & chip shop, Chinese takeaway, 3 pubs, pharmacy and what seems like loads of hairdressers!

We are wondering when it will stop feeling like we’re on holiday - hopefully never.     Life is now just one long holiday!

Have a great Easter Holiday everyone.

8 more sleeps to go !

...... until we are living on Jandai as continuous cruisers !   How exciting is that ? We left Mercia Marina where we have been moored for last year on Thursday to take a leisurely 2 days to get up to Trent Lock.    Mercia Marina at Willington on the T & M has been a great place to moor and we would recommend it to everyone.
Jandai is now at Kingfishers Narrowboats (John and Mick who built her) to have her bottom blacked and a few minor jobs done.     She will be one year old on April 1st.     We are going to leave the house on Sun March 28 and set off on our new life Mon March 29.    Planning on going south first but no definite route worked out.    
This coming week is another of clearing the house.    It is up for sale but with us now going into spring, not worried about leaving it empty.
8 more sleeps to go !

harder than going to work !

Hi
Well, Dai retired from work after 35 yrs at same company last Friday.    I have been on "garden leave" since mid Jan and officially retire on April 4.    Big Day getting nearer!!   We are now in the midst of freshening up some rooms at home with paint as the house is now up for sale.
I had my "retirement dinner" last week in a hotel near Ascot as my boss and some of my international colleagues were over in the UK for meetings.   It was a lovely evening.    I was given a DVD of "farewells" from some of the people in my department; a barometer and clock on a plaque (going to be pride of place in Jandai"s saloon; an e-reader; champagne, flowers, a book of photos and vouchers for Loch Fyne.
Fantastic leaving presents.
Dai was given a nice big cheque from his company and a collection from his workmates.
We are now planning to move permanentlyl onto the boat by March 31 - more countdown!!
Aw well, back to the painting!!

Ice-y Weekend !

When we got to the Marina Fri night - no ice!    First time for weeks, as we haven't been out since weekend of  Dec 5-6 !    Set off Sat morning just for usual weekend trip from Willington to Alrewas on T & M.    Once out on canal, not long before we were ice breaking!    Not much, not thick but crunching through nevertheless here and there - first time for both of us!    Winded at Alrewas and moored up for night.    Just happy to back actually moving!
Woke up Sun morning to see a layer of snow on top of the ice - ok, not so much snow as white over.   Ohmigod - would we get back to the Marina ?     Doesn't matter for me as I am on "garden leave"  but Dai still has to actually go to work for the next 4 weeks.    Fortified with Big Brekkie of eggs, bacon, black pudding and toast - off we cast!     Oh, and then it started to snow too!!    Proper snow!!   
After about 5 hours of crunching through ice - yes, we were back at our home mooring (and the snow petered out after about a hour)
I know everyone else has done ice breaking millions of times but as it was our first time, here's a couple of photos.

we're now on "countdown" !!

Hello
Both Dai and I are now in countdown to finishing work!!    We have both given in our notice to take early retirement.   I finish on April 4 and Dai on Feb 28.    Now deciding which estate agent to sell our house and thinking about how we are going to empty the house!
We have come out this weekend - first break out of the Marina since Dec 6.    We were frozen in all over Christmas & New Year so spent the 10 days on Jandai in the Marina.   Yes we kept very warm thank you!   Went for walks; read; watched telly; talked and I started knitting socks!    That is when we made final decision to take early retirement and go for our new life of continuous crusing!
Dai has worked at same company for 35 years and me for 20 years.   Dai is physically done in and I am mentally done in !!
So .... next stage starts!!   Wish us luck and hopefully we will be "living the dream" sometime around Easter!
cheers, Janice

Happy New Year - 2010

Hello
you remember we were going to go off for the holidays between Christmas and New Year?    Didn't happen!    Yes, we went down to Jandai on Boxing Day BUT she was iced in at Mercia Marina.    We'll be able to get out tomorrow - or so we thought!    We could have gone out on the Wednesday because the ice had melted a bit BUT we wimped out cos the forecast was not good temperature wise.   Yes, we could get out BUT would we be able to get back in?    We were starting back at work on Jan 4.   

So, in the end, we spent 8 days on Jandai in the Marina.    We went for walks in the morning and in the afternoons chilled out onboard.   Chilled out in the relax sense cos we were definitely not cold!   Woodburner in day and night burning a mixture of wood and coal.   

No more time off work now until Easter.   We are planning to go to Jandai every other weekend - sometimes going out, sometimes staying the Marina - depends very much on the weather!!

Stay warm and safe everyone!