"Home" again?

On Friday I arrived back at Napton and just did a little cruise up to a lovely spot before you hit Braunston. On a fine day (which this was) it is a wonderful quiet, rural mooring. I was car hopping this weekend so walked back to get the car and parked it up in Braunston. Saturday was a fine day and I made for Braunston where there was a bit of a queue at the locks. In this month's Towpath Talk there was an appeal from someone who wanted to know the whereabouts of the ex-Challenger, Blackbird. Well I know where it is as I went through the locks with the lovely couple on board. He had just bought a horn like this and was having great fun testing it out. I was impressed and as I need a good source of warning, I later popped back into Braunston to get one! Only met one boat in the tunnel and I seemed to get through very quickly. Did another car fetching exercise.

I awoke to rain on Sunday but it didn't last long and I was able to mosey on up to Buckby Top Lock. A boat came up while I was using the facilities there, so I went into the lock and dutifully waited for a boat to share with me. I waited and waited but it seemed that the weather had put boaters off. After an hour (advised wait by BW) I went down alone meeting a pair coming up at the next lock which I also went through alone. However, when I got to the third lock there was a boat waiting there, as the towpath telegraph had reached them that another lone boat was  on its way. We shared through the rest of the flight. I took a break and fetched the car and then started on the final leg down through Weedon. Lots of familiar boats around and it really did feel like "home". Hello Penny, hello Malcolm, hello Danny, hello all my ex-neighbours up at the church. I moored up by Rick as he is going to do a little more cosmetic work on Olivia and I did the last walk/car trip. Over the weekend I walked about 8 miles Friday, 4 on Saturday and 7 on Sunday.

Another festival (no not Reading)

Since the last blog post I have been looking after my grandson in blocks of two or three days. Nothing seems to get done when he is around but we do try to have a good time together. Poor blighter has had his BMX stolen. It was a good bike so we know we won't see it again. Time to start saving those £2 coins for another one.

I did manage to get back to Olivia and move her slowly from Cropredy to the start of Claydon locks, then through the locks to Fenny Compton, from Fenny to Marston Doles (through the two locks) and finally through Napton locks and onto the moorings there. I cycled from Marston back to Fenny using the bike for only the second time this season (so you know there were repercussions which lasted about a week!!).

Last weekend I was at the Rhythm Festival at Old Warden near Biggleswade. Kate & Paris joined me on the Friday and Lynn on the Sunday. Mike from the Malt Shovel was also there all weekend. It's a small festy with some good names performing. It had three stages + comedy + cinema + funfair and kid friendly activities, etc. I didn't need to camp (as only a half hour drive to & from) but the camp site was roomy and the whole fest was on a very beautiful site. I particularly enjoyed Hazel O'Connor doing Breaking Glass - I missed out on it first time round (as it was the '80s, my missing decade) - she has a great voice; Mud Morganfield (in a rather loud red suit); Missing Andy; Tracie Hunter; Curved Air (that took me back); Oysterband; Blockheads. I was a little disappointed by Jack Bruce; Buzzcocks; Toots and the Maytals (who I'd really been looking forward to but found was very "samey"). On Sunday a small plane took off from the airfield next door and treated us to a really fabulous aerobatic display - looping; going straight up and stopping; tumbling and making a loveheart with a vapour trail. Couldn't decide whether the pilot was talented or mad - so I reckon s/he must be a bit of both. We had lots af rain and on the first two nights it got quite cold. I feel a bit festivaled out at the moment but a couple of nights sleep will win me round. I'll soon be back on board to move the boat a bit nearer to her home ground. I'm not in any hurry as I expect when I get her "home" I won't do too much more cruising this season.

Cropredy Fringe 2011

When I went back on board all the remaining mooring spaces had filled up and boats were starting to breast up. One of the fine days I walked into Banbury ( about 6 miles) to get some exercise (especially needed due to the painful back that I had for two weeks). Although I thought I was already sorted, I found a dress to wear to Pat's wedding, which was the following weekend.

If anyone doubted that it is possible to live alternatively, I was on board for three days without turning the electricity on! Who needs it :-). But imagine trying to live in a house without electricity for that period of time. Had to leave Olivia for a few days while I went down to London for the wedding, which went very well. Paris looked a treat in a suit and all my children scrubbed up well. Even I looked pretty darn smart. It was very nice indeed to meet up with people that I hadn't seen for ages. I now have two step nieces!! Luke and I went to see Fairport at The Banbury Mill on the Monday before the festival. It's good to see them in such an intimate venue. Then I was back home for a day to look after Paris before returning to Cropredy on the Wednesday evening to see Eugene Hideway Bridges, who is always good value. He makes playing guitar look so relaxing.

Thursday though Saturday found the village and the pubs in full swing. Lynn couldn't make it over but I had company in the form of Maltsters: Andy and Mike. Here are the artists I watched over the festival: Luke May, Mama Rosin, Sam Kelly's Stationhouse, Dave Onions, Kangaroo Moon, Wishing Well, Cherry Lee Mewis, Spank the Monkey, Robin Auld, Ahab, Letherat, Mary Jane Band, Sambassadors of Groove and special mention must be made of Ned, The Kids' Bob Dylan and, in particular, his song "Stop Texting". Ned is ten years old, going on sixteen. Look out for him in a few years time.

Fitted a new LED light bulb to reduce the draw on the batteries. I was sceptical about it but am finding it good light. I can easily read and do close work under it and I'm now tempted to get a couple more.

All set for Cropredy

I know I haven't blogged for a while but I get frustrated with the slow speed of my laptop - must get more RAM! - so I've stopped using it onboard. Anyway last week, after having a fabulous time at my brother-in-law's 60th birthday party (wild west theme), I started out for Cropredy. I had somehow wrecked my back - I think through some light gardening activity :-) - so progress had to be a little slower than planned. I didn't have a very good trip up Buckby locks as a couple of the pounds were shallow meaning that I couldn't moor in to the side to prep the lock. Instead I tried to keep Olivia in the entry to the lock but of course her fender caught under the gate and she tipped at an alarming angle before the fender chain broke and freed her up.  My lock sharer was very kind and tried to be helpful but he was also single handed and with limited mobility - between us we were a right pair of crocks. I moored at the top of the locks for the night and next morning cruised through to Braunston. The locks here were much better behaved and the journey through the tunnel mostly uneventful. One of the boats coming through had about three tunnel lights, one of which was so bright that I was blinded for a while after we'd passed. Such candle power is just not necessary! I moored a mile beyond Braunston and decided to walk to Daventry and then get a bus over to fetch the car, which I'd left at Weedon. Despite the bad back, walking is something I can do without any painful twinges so I enjoyed it - walking about 8 miles altogether. The next day I cruised up to Napton where I met 2 single-handed female boaters, Mo and Toni. They were out together in Mo's boat to give it a run. They were funny and interesting and we ended up spending the evening together in The Folly pub, exchanging boating (and other) stories about our lives. They have moorings at Braunston and have invited me over when I am next in the area. I moored after 6 of the Napton locks (opposite the field of buffalo) and the space there is peaceful even though it is the choice for quite a few boats. Next day it was the rural cruise through to Fenny Compton and beyond to Claydon locks. It was rather busy with most boats coming along in convoys of two or three and, of course, meeting mostly at bridges. I did stop for lunch at The Wharf at Fenny and finally moored on the rings above Claydon locks. I walked down to Cropredy to suss out moorings and was surprised to find the Cropedy North 14 day moorings deserted (Why?). The towpath telegraph had been reporting "There's nowhere to moor at Cropredy" and "You'll be lucky" when I'd tell them where I was headed. Perhaps it is because I don't think a mile is very far to walk whereas, perhaps others think you need to be moored right in the village centre. Had lunch at The Brase and then thought I'd better clean up the boat a bit. Really pleased to see that the Geoff Amos bus now passes through Cropredy hourly. Very useful and saves a long walk down to the A361 so I hope the change is permanent.

Widebeams

I like a widebeam. That is, when I had a look around one at Crick Show I thought it was wonderful with its two double fitted bedrooms, human sized lounge, proper bathroom, utility, kitchen and conservatory and so on....and each year I find more and more widebeams moored on the cut. Some are thoughtfully moored with good space for passing boats and good visibility but more and more often I am finding them moored on bends and in narrow parts of the cut making life difficult for everyone else. This week, though, I had the problem of a widebeam advancing towards me from around a bend at quite a speed. I had bushes my side  (and, therefore, no where to go) and there were overhanging trees their side. He tried to cut his speed to avoid both me and the trees but he couldn't get it to slow enough. We passed each other safely but not before all the planters on his roof were swept over by the branches. He took it very well but I couldn't help feeling that with a little more forethought he could have escaped that indignity.

I also forgot to tell you about my very helpful bus driver. I was waiting for a bus in a small village where I found that the timetable had changed quite drastically both in times and destinations of buses. I rang traveline who told me I had a two hour wait for a bus to my destination. As we were talking a bus pulled up so I asked the driver where he was going. The answer was the next village - fed up, I said "OK, I'll walk from there"; "Where are you headed?" he asked and my answer was a further 6 miles. "I have to go that way" says he, "to take the bus back. I'll give you a lift". What a nice guy! If you are wondering why no places are named in this story, it is because I don't want to get said driver into trouble. But driver, you know who you are, and thank you very much.

A family weekend

I had to come back in to work today to tie up some loose ends (There seem to be plenty of them :-) ).

I returned to Cowroast last Tuesday evening by train from Milton Keynes, after leaving the car in what seemed a safe place. On Wednesday I did what for me is a long cruise, doing 7 locks before lunch and 9 after. I was sharing locks with a really nice couple and their lurcher, Rags. I knew I was getting tired when I slipped on a wonky slab and turned my ankle, so moored up at Slapton.

Next day, I again shared two locks with Rags and family, before stopping for provisions at Leighton Buzzard Tesco. A convenient stopping place but I was rather put off when a rat ran across the towpath. First one I've ever seen on my travels. The rain held off although it got quite breezy and I found that Olivia was getting to be hard work to control in locks, etc. (The wind was catching her). I moored at Stoke Hammond where I thought i might be meeting Phil and Jackie. However, the wind had put them off and they stayed at Fenny so arrnaged to meet them there the next day.

Friday was quite rainy and windy again but I set off and was caught up at the first lock by Penny and Richard with whom I also shared Fenny lock. I moored next to Phil and Jackie and we caught up on news and had a cup of tea. I decided to press on to Central Milton Keynes but trying to moor on the 48 hour spot at the Parks Trust was a nightmare in the wind. Each time I got her in to the side and attempted to tie her in either the front or the back got taken out again. Never mind, eventually I got her securely moored. Checked up on my car and she was fine.

I had Kate and Paris out for the weekend. On Saturday we shopped for a suit for P for the upcoming wedding and K and I bought ourselves a couple of items each. Then we treated P to the Build a Bear workshop because he had been good and he had never been there before. He chose a camoflage bear skin and dressed him as a Jedi with the Star Wars theme when you press his foot. He looked good. On Sunday we went to Gullivers (yet another treat for the boy) and we had a great time. Kate and I really love the Moon Buggies and would stay on them all day if they didn't make your calves ache!! No worries about the kids, we are demons. Neil came to join us and was mortified when they wouldn't let him in without a child so we let him have ours :-)...I suppose it's a good thing that they don't allow random guys in - but I wonder if they allow random females?

Yesterday the weather was beatiful and I had cruised as far as Yardley Gobion when I got the call to work, so put travels on hold for a day or two. I don't mind the hold up as I have decided not to go to Upton this year, as I would have to camp and no one else wanted to (They've all outgrown camping!) so would have to be on my own. Camping - ok for me - camping on my own - no, I'm not so keen. Hopefully make it to Blisworth tomorrow but we shall see. Weather forecast is only so-so.

A lovely weekend for a cruise

Headed off towards Berkhamsted and was able to share 3 or 4 locks with Beez Neez, two lads who were heading up to Liverpool. They were helpful and friendly (while, I think, trying to remain "cool") - say Hi to them if you see them on their way. Olivia played up a bit at the last two locks that I shared with them. She just did not want to come in to moor nicely! I think, maybe, there is a bit of flow on those locks which took her bow out. I stopped for a short break at Apsley and then through the next lock on my own. It was one of those nightmare lockings: to start with she would not come in to the side nicely (as above) then she got stuck in the shallows and I had to pole her off, then I tucked her bow into the lock entrance while emptying it and the bow fender got stuck on the gate and, of course, it found a weak link and broke. Eventually we got through. I was able to stop at B&Q at Two Waters and get a D shackle to fix the broken link and with the help of some bunjies (used as a fishing rod!) I was able to raise the fender enough to slip in the shackle. It's a pretty good fix even if I say so myself. Through a couple more locks (Olivia no longer troublesome) and moored before the Fishery Inn. Went to find a fish and chip shop as a treat for my strange and tiring day.

On Saturday I joined up with Vectis and we shared all the way to Berkhamsted. This part of the canal is very shallow in places. I have never seen it looking like it has a beach before :-). I got stuck on mud in one of the pounds and was pulled off by Vectis, then at Berko they got stuck just by the first lock up to the pubs. Luckily they could pole off. I moored up by the pub for the night. I needed the bank, some provisions and so forth. Many of the shops in the town have changed, lots of gift type shops and interior design items. As it was such a lovely evening I went to sit in the castle grounds for a while.

On Sunday I just did a short trip to Cowroast as I needed to get a train back home as work calls for a couple of days. Must sort out those students' results :-).

Heading North again

So my sojourn to London is over again already. I travelled back by train and as I was to meet Pat and Ron at the RA Summer Exhibition I had to put my shopping trolley (!) in Left Luggage - what a rip off - £8.50! More than it cost me for the Exhibition. Never mind, it was worth it. Only about 3 pieces that I liked - a linocut of a retro record player, Tescopolis (well done, you) and Anthony Green's trestle table. Unfortunately that one cost £20,000+ so have to commit it to memory rather than wall space. They (Pat and Ron - not the artworks) accompanied me back to Uxbridge and we had a meal in the nice Chinese there - I had Three Treasures of the Earth (and rice).

Rose came to join me for a couple of days. The first day RAINED so we only did the short trip to Harefield. Rose knew of a nice pub there, The Old Orchard, where we had a lovely meal. I'm not telling you what I had as it was very sinful for an only just ex-vegetarian. Next day the weather was brilliant so up and off before 9am and we stopped at Rickmansworth Aquadrome for lunch, there is a nice cafe there selling organic and fairtrade products. In the afternoon we moved to Cassio Park as Rose could get a tube home from Watford.

Yesterday I stopped just South of Hemel, I call it "Black Cat Place" as a couple of years ago a litle black cat got on board and hid in my cupboard, later frightening the life out of me! It belonged to the boater moored a little way up. [Note to British Waterways, could you put Lock 69a on your repair list; I had to summon the help of a student, a schoolgirl, an 8 year old and her grandmother who had a plastered wrist to help me get the top gate open :-)].  I went into Kings Langley where I sussed out the library and had lunch at a nice cafe called Dallings (or similar). Moussaka and salad to die for but only mediocre cup of tea. I'm back in the library today, sending last minute coursework results through to the office and, of course, blogging. I've got a sticky keyboard so apologies for any typos that I haven't spotted. Also I'm on a timer so think Countdown.

It's another nice looking day so hopefully I'll progress well today.

On top of the world this week

I had to work for a few days so sadly had to leave London behind. When I returned to Little Venice it was really busy with boats breasted up to virtually all of us. I was lucky enough to be signed into The Gherkin building and Rose and I spent a happy couple of hours looking down on the rooftops of London from 180metres (well almost - we weren't standing on the roof!). The highlight for R was when she called her son out to stand on the roof of his flat in Aldgate so that we could see him. He was about a millimetre high!! The aspect of London is so different from upon high, lots of roof gardens, etc. It looked just like a model village. I also saw Tower Bridge open - a first for me which is probably quite surprising, I suppose, for a Londoner. The weather was very unsettled and on Saturday Piccadilly looked like a river when it was rained on heavily for about ten minutes. I popped to Trafalgar Square to see some of West End Live, where (almost) all the London shows showcase 5 or 10 minutes of their production. On Sunday Pat cruised with me from L Venice up to Uxbridge. It was the first time she had left London by such a peaceful route - although her train normally takes only 20 minutes and we took about 8 hours. Back at work for another week and then start the journey back North.

Walking the Thames Path in the rain :-(

Several years ago I started to do the Thames Path walk with a friend. We got from the source to Lechlade but then she was unable to do long walks and it came to a halt. Many times since I have considered getting on with it and several times I have got as far as planning but have yet to complete more sections. It was an unwritten rule that it had to be walked in sequence but this year I decided it was ok if I did the sections out of sequence, as the opportunity arose, so on Friday I went to Hammersmith and walked (mostly in the rain) as far as Millbank, where I popped into the Tate and walked a couple more miles (but not in the rain). I got to thinking that I'll have to do these London sections twice anyway - as you can do North (I thought that was called Middlesex?) and South (erm, Surrey?). I reckon I've walked over 30 miles this week. Little wonder that I have got a blister on my toe!

Having a great time in London

I have walked my feet off over the past few days. Visited Goldfinger's 2 Willow Road today - it looks more modern than its 1939 build date. The tour guide was dressed from the 17th Century which I didn't quite "get" - maybe he usually guides at some other, more suitable property or maybe he always dresses like that (I think this could be true!). Yesterday I went to see Luke's band perfom at a fab little venue near Limehouse, called Jamboree. They certainly entertained the audience and I'd like to say, thanks very much Jimmy and the Lips. Tom, Amy and my niece and her fiance turned up and a good time had by all. Thanks for dropping me at the station, Annie, Cable Street is a very long street at the best of times but seems even longer when you have a tube to catch. Have been trying to get to see Lord of the Flies but it keeps raining at 2 in the afternoon and most evening tickets are sold; I see Two Guvnors is also sold out, as is Alan Bennett talking about the importance of libraries and HOW THEY MUSTN'T be CLOSED. Hear hear - I'd be lost on my travels without the library internet access. Must go - the library is timing me out :-(

A week (or so) in London, a wonderful wedding and a chance meeting

I had an overnight stop at Greenford before arriving into Paddington Basin the day before Rosie's wedding! The weather was glorious and I'd forgotten just how central this point is. I was about half an hour's walk from the wedding venue which was so good for me - no need to worry about buses or tubes just a brisk walk home on a warm evening. On Sunday I went for a wander around St John's Wood, Camden Market and then through Regent's Park. The market was vibrant as ever and had some very nice gear which Kate would love. As I strolled through the park I was drawn towards some music and a festival which I was not aware of - the London green festival. After watching some very talented kids perform at the dance and song stage, I was again drawn to some music which was being driven by a bicycle powered PA. This is where a weird coincidence occurred: sitting watching was Simon from Tortoise who, although, I do read his blog occasionally, I had not seen for five years - in fact we met when I was in my first season of boating and returning from my first trip to London. I had to ask "Are you Simon?" although I was 99% positive that it was. We had a catch up about boats/blogs and other points of interest. I cannot explain how small the world is when I just happened to arrive at the same place at the same time with no forward planning on my part! Tomorrow Lynn arrives and we will find something of interest to fill our day. I'm in the library doing this post so I will return here later in the week to add some, hopefully, more interesting escapades.

Almost reached my destination...

Since my last post I have been to see Laudon Wainwright at The Stables in Milton Keynes. He was very funny and we had an enjoyable evening. In the past I didn't think I liked his songs but Luke recently lent me one of his CDs and I thought it was good. Also on the bill was his daughter, Lucy, who has a very nice voice and has written some great numbers.

The next day I pressed on and cruised Wednesday 18th to Wednesday 25th all of which were decent weather and often very nice warm calm days. On the Saturday I met up with Michelle and her grandchildren on her boat which is currently at Berkhampsted. We had a lovely day. The children went out in an inflatable boat and it was a nice, warm day for it. Lucky really as they got drenched.  Most days I was only travelling 3 to 4 hours - enough for me. I've reached Uxbridge so only another day and a half to reach Kensal Green or Paddington. Last Thursday when we had the first rain of any amount, I only cruised a mile. After all I'm doing this for pleasure not endurance.

Talking of endurance, this weekend (yes, this wet and windy Bank Holiday weekend) I went camping at the foot of Snowdon! Luke and I made a plan to meet Tom, Gemma et al who were doing the 3 peaks challenge. Luke and I started out at 11am, ascended via the easier but longer Llanberis Path and reached the summit around 2pm - Luke, with his long legs went ahead and got there half an hour before me. We decided to descend via the Miner's track as we thought we might meet Tom - and we did - he was virtually jogging up the mountain looking fresh as a daisy!!! Soon after we met two more of his group not far behind him and also looking pretty good. It took another two hours to get back to the road so all done in about 5 and a half hours. I was so pleased to achieve it, having had no fell walking practice for years and I'd last walked up at age 13 when it took six hours!! I'm all geared up to do more now.

Hopefully I'll keep this a bit more up to date during June.

I test out my walking boots!

A short but heavy shower yesterday which included hailstones. I had cruised on down to MK and got the bus back for the car. I had to shelter under a tree while the hail stoned me. Had a quiet evening reading and an early night. I'm obviously unused to all this fresh air. Today I pressed on through a couple more locks and am a few miles South of MK. I had to walk back for the car because it's Sunday and there are many fewer bus routes in operation on a Sunday. I tried out my fairly new walking boots but don't seem to have the sock system quite right so got a bit of a blister. I think I just need to break them in as they fit well and are generally comfortable. Not sure whether I should wear them on the big hill, though. Might just go back to my old reliable if slightly worn & leaky pair. Alas, I have to do a couple of days work before I can continue cruising so if it's going to rain, can it be now please. Just seen the weather forecast, no rain mentioned until about Thursday. So far this trip, nothing unusual or weird has happened to me. Ahem. I'll try to put something more exciting on here next time :-).
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I started out after work on Wednesday and did the first few miles, filling up with water at Weedon and sorting out all needs for the trip. I walked back for the car and parked close to the boat’s mooring.  On Thursday I cruised to Blisworth ready to go through the tunnel next day. Rick brought his boat down and offered to help me lock through Stoke Bruerne. Pete, was also at Blisworth as was Al and it was good to catch up with them. We had a cup of tea and then I got up to go as I needed to walk back 7 miles for the car. However, my luck was in, Al offered to drive me back to the car, so that gave me a great saving of time and energy but was not so good for my exercise (especially my training to climb Snowdon later this month!). This morning I was up and ready quite early. Had a good trip through the tunnel, meeting only 2 boats within. I got into the first lock and there were Rick & Pete (they had come over in my car) and we very quickly got through the locks. I drove them back to their boats and moved car to its next spot which was less than 2 miles from the boat - so just a short walk and then cruised back to where I’d left the car. Did a pile of marking and looked at tomorrow’s pile - it doesn’t look too bad! Lovely sunny evening with a field of sheep opposite - the lambs are getting big already. Onto Milton Keynes tomorrow. I haven’t got the dongle with me as I was hoping to use BTFON but there are not as many hotspots as BT would like you to think so I’ll upload this when I can!!

Last minute jobs....

I was on board from Friday to Sunday trying to tidy up all the paint brushes, pads, jars of suspect liquids in garish colours, huge volumes of used sandpaper and so on. I treated and stained the poles which look rather smart now - and the rain over the weekend showed that they are now much better waterproofed than before. Rick put all the fittings back on including the step up things on the cabin sides, the bow and stern fenders and other random (but essential) fittings. I'd brought the new seats over - one was just the back seat, cleaned up and varnished (rather than peeling paint) and the other was a new seat cut out by Tom and treated by me. It was such a tight fit that Rick had to cut half an inch off. Rick then tried to fix my horn that hasn't worked for a couple of years but we had no luck. However, I do carry an air horn (very loud, so use sparingly!) so that's not an urgent fix. He also tightened the V belt and generally tested things for me. There are still some paint jobs to complete but they can be done during the cruising. Also side hatch doors and engine vents need tidying up but can wait for now. Here are the latest set of photos:

Let the season begin...

I have been busy for the last month or so planning this year's cruising. Why so much planning and so little crusing? Well, that is because Olivia is getting a makeover - gone is the flaking paint, gone is (most of) the rust, gone is my attempt to make a start on priming two years ago. These photos were taken before work started on her makeover (Note: my attempts at priming the bow!).

For a little while she looked worse than ever and it became a little disheartening as progress with preparation was slow. Here she is looking BAD:

I'd hoped we could have started the makeover earlier but bad weather stopped play - however, since starting on 2nd April, the weather could not have been better for prepping, priming and painting. Well done to Rick for working 12 hour days when needed. Here are some photos as the paint started to go on:

Now she looks so much brighter - similar livery to before - blue and dark red - but instead of yellow I have gone for Pearl White. Both well deck and stern deck seats have been tidied up and I'm hoping the broken front fender will be fixed this week. I'll put up the latest photos tomorrow.

 I've still got to tidy up the inside and pack up my trip kit but any day now we will be off to London. Yippee!