Free wifi...love it

I'm sitting in the pub using their free wifi while drinking a nice pint of Stowford Press. Since my last post we did have some horrible weather - wind and rain - so I took myself off (in the car) to Wightwick Manor at the edge of Wolverhampton. A nice house - only built in Victorian times but in Arts & Crafts style. Lots of nice bits and pieces of furniture, William Morris fabrics plus many pre-Raphaelite paintings. Worth the visit - particularly as it's free with the Art Pass. Another day I popped in to Stafford for some food shopping but also went to their art gallery which is in the same building as their old court house which they have kept and added some figures - defendant, barristers, judge, witness, etc. - made out of cardboard. Brilllliant. I treated myself to some "on ear" headphones in shocking pink - I never could get on with the "in ear" version.

By the way, I'm off Strongbow now! My new favourite is Stella Artois Cidre. How very continental. I'm not far from Lichfield at the moment on my way back down South. Met another single handed boater and she collects details of all the single handed women on the cut and keeps us all in touch. A good idea. We never need to be stuck somewhere without some sort of support network.

Hey the sun has come out.......

I'm online at last...

Hi all,

I am still struggling with my BT internet connection manager which appears to now be out of date - although I have topped up my "bundle" to get access!! I can't get wifi access to update my software as the software allows me access to wifi. Ridiculous. Anyway, Lichfield public library comes to the rescue (as it did 4 years ago) - support our public libraries. Yay.

Rant over, now for an update. When I arrived back at Hinckley last Thursday we were having blustery winds, so I didn't go anywhere that day (but did manage to do some marking - always good to get some of that out of the way). It rained virtually all night but by Saturday morning it was rather pleasant weather (sunny with a breeze) and I made my way towards Hartshill. I stopped just before The Anchor pub. I walked back for the car (about 5 miles) and found somewhere to park it for the night. The Sunday was another awful day with squally rain all day until 3pm. I took the car to a forward position, did some shopping and walked back. I even lit a fire - mid-June and needing a fire - don't you just love our weather. Did a bit more marking while listening to radio 4's Bloomsday productions. Wasn't Ullyses a bit raunchy? I might read it now :-). I noticed that my batteries were reading 10v instead of the normal 12v - rather a worrying development - although the starter battery seems fine, so it seems to be the domestics. I cruised through all the Atherstone locks and moored just below them. I managed to use the shower by leaving the engine running so that the pumps didn't drain the batteries completely. The other little thing I achieved this week was to light my oil lamp - I've had it a while but didn't ever use it. It gives off a good light plus the bonus of a little heat.

From Monday the weather improved and I was able to cruise good distances. On Monday I stopped at Alvecote Boat services (re batteries) but they are closed on Mondays! I then passed friends, Phil and Jackie on Longfellow, in Tamworth. The last I heard they were in Rugeley and I hadn't expected to meet them so soon. Never mind perhaps we can meet up on my way back. When I moored up near Whittington, I got the bus back to Atherstone and brought the car back to the mooring. Next day I thought I'd try Streethay Boatyard but couldn't moor anywhere near so cruised on to Fradley, where a nice man checked my batteries, alternator and other electrical doings - his verdict was u/s batteries. While there he also spotted a diesel leak. There's always something with boats. Anyway, Fradley had no engineers available so the nice man rang Great Haywood repair yard who could see me the next day, so off I went again, overnighting at Handsacre (nb: nice local fish & chip shop). At this point I noticed that my front fender was hanging off so effected one of my eccentric repairs using baling string. Off again next morning arriving at Gt Haywood about 2.30pm. Mark checked out the batteries and I had to buy two new ones. I shouldn't complain as my batteries had been with me for seven years (and were probably older than that) and I had never ever looked at them. I now realise that I should have been checking the water levels on them (like we did on cars in the good, ole days) however, no-one told me about that! He found the diesel leak but hadn't got the replacement part needed so he suggested I bring Olivia back on Monday when another guy can look at it and replace the part. On the plus side, I found a really nice place to moor and, for once, could sit on the deck with a cider in hand, reading "Cider with Rosie" and feeling quintessentially English. Cheers.

I'm now on my way back to Whittington for the car and Lichfield Library is conveniently on the way. I don't know when I'll be back on the blog but am keeping my eyes open for pubs with free wifi :-).

A week of two halves

I'm going back a week or so here as I've been back on land for almost a week. But two weeks ago you might remember that the weather was rather hot. I'd picked up the boat from the boatyard with its fabulous new hot shower (it used to be a hot-cold-hot-cold-cold-cold shower, when it wasn't leaking) and was joined on a trip by Mo and Toni that I had met last year. They live on boats in Braunston marina. We had a great trip up to Hillmorton on the Monday, after which we had some nice refreshing drinks in the hot, hot sun followed by a meal, courtesy of Mo. Next morning we found my friend, Pete, moored nearby. He had promised to drill a couple of holes for me which he duly did. I'll tell you another day what the holes are for - but only if it works :-).

We cruised up through the locks and to Tesco for provisions and then onto Newbold for the night. Another beautiful hot day, another couple of nice, refreshing drinks and another meal, courtesy of Mo. I could get used to this.....only I couldn't because the next day Mo and Toni were having to turn back. On the Wednesday I went on to Hawkesbury Junction and that night we had heavy rain. On the Thursday I started up the Ashby mooring not far from Hinckley. When I moored up it was too early for dinner but I was hungry so decided to have an apple. What a mistake that was - biting into it I had the most peculiar sensation - and found that my crown had broken. It had not only fallen out but its pin had broken too. I rang my dentist in the hope that they might get me in the afternoon of the Friday, giving me time to get the three buses back to my car and then get back to kettering. Blast - they only had morning appointments. However, by a stroke of luck they knew the dental practice in Hinckley, rang them for me and they said they'd take a look. It was 4pm and I was two miles from the address, so half running, half walking I arrived at the practice about ten minutes before closing time. They had a quick look and made an appointment for me the next day to fit a temporary crown. It all went well and I now have a temporary - I'm not sure how temporary it will be but if it sees me through my niece's wedding that would be good.

As this was the Jubilee weekend I decided I'd better go and fetch the car on the Saturday as Sunday and Bank Holiday buses would be virtually non-existent. So that was another non cruising day and, as you will all remember, the Sunday was a complete washout so that was another non-cruising day. Never mind I made up for it on the Monday and Tuesday, cruising further up the Ashby and visiting the Battlefield visitor centre.  Then , as usual, work caught up with me and I had to abandon ship and get back to work for a few days. I'll soon be back on board and hoping for fine weather (some hopes). At least the wedding went well, the wind dropped and it was fine all day. Hurray.