tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128672542024-03-20T05:42:42.518+00:00The Khayamanzi Narrowboat WeblogWelcome to the Khayamanzi Weblog owned by Andy Edwards. Read the exploits of life afloat and my travels around the British inland waterways of Great Britain aboard my floating home Khayamanzi - a 55 foot narrowboat and with 'first mate' Simba - my border collie cross German Shepherd!
*People wishing to see developments of Little Foxwood Model Railway can find the links on the right below my recommended websites.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger656125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-7184840701298188622010-01-09T14:06:00.000+00:002010-01-09T14:06:49.599+00:00The Big Freeze 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSO973mihk7pybM7lvIVnYEokjbznHHNPRvrrfKKGvI03YAp3Qud_iFaINpj9ICHNlgzPu5m6rWgOIb96LDTOZ05ZpwmjgGgn78XQJX3sjOBIFb4XqRvc_dXQZOpl7OEx0lt_wqw/s1600-h/P1050440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSO973mihk7pybM7lvIVnYEokjbznHHNPRvrrfKKGvI03YAp3Qud_iFaINpj9ICHNlgzPu5m6rWgOIb96LDTOZ05ZpwmjgGgn78XQJX3sjOBIFb4XqRvc_dXQZOpl7OEx0lt_wqw/s320/P1050440.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHMdXY7rq96I46Hvh8vhjKX_MSDD8i1rsv7V7KF_znXgLxf2T_fMPM4jdXVXH6h82hH947jOvArWi1YcSwbdXvSy_7LKmUmkz5XKQ_VqPe9X_qYd5GO6nCGQLppPleKcB9_V2Yw/s1600-h/P1050438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHMdXY7rq96I46Hvh8vhjKX_MSDD8i1rsv7V7KF_znXgLxf2T_fMPM4jdXVXH6h82hH947jOvArWi1YcSwbdXvSy_7LKmUmkz5XKQ_VqPe9X_qYd5GO6nCGQLppPleKcB9_V2Yw/s320/P1050438.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYU-Qtiiy38Z7x0yuHN7af0JJFM0h_YHFR8AVCF4MqdjTlW4jl-tmrvWFNlMrPa6ZJ0ipqHxQ6m_lJEZ91xnAuFYaLw27PJyT-AdnJVWFV1qhEhAhFsV901xck6a5bkVOXrI9EA/s1600-h/P1050435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYU-Qtiiy38Z7x0yuHN7af0JJFM0h_YHFR8AVCF4MqdjTlW4jl-tmrvWFNlMrPa6ZJ0ipqHxQ6m_lJEZ91xnAuFYaLw27PJyT-AdnJVWFV1qhEhAhFsV901xck6a5bkVOXrI9EA/s320/P1050435.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWnFaF1dgET_MJlPjpejL664-B1b5BQpIK3ykLJUfOU2XmjGAx6uWlSeA4sZEx7CxQYFkvUEOMw6DOaKJF38a-7rxo889d5NffkcrblizetDhxcXXUvlJMWbETcfpeZTKLTvLAw/s1600-h/P1050426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWnFaF1dgET_MJlPjpejL664-B1b5BQpIK3ykLJUfOU2XmjGAx6uWlSeA4sZEx7CxQYFkvUEOMw6DOaKJF38a-7rxo889d5NffkcrblizetDhxcXXUvlJMWbETcfpeZTKLTvLAw/s320/P1050426.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOf-lGRoVGAUdmUa_gYUwpBPPkOmOg1Y5vm0Fqd9Wq9M4R6g4273NIPIxovZpNfBL2Em9CzEyKfe66YUiiND9IO1Ik9Z6X1LzGXblWRU90uGTO2klC5CuHo4bIfq4iytULP9i-g/s1600-h/P1050422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOf-lGRoVGAUdmUa_gYUwpBPPkOmOg1Y5vm0Fqd9Wq9M4R6g4273NIPIxovZpNfBL2Em9CzEyKfe66YUiiND9IO1Ik9Z6X1LzGXblWRU90uGTO2klC5CuHo4bIfq4iytULP9i-g/s320/P1050422.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFlDB9UIFTpDqrfvM-8Zyb8DJjLz6_oXoQmTgJ3qrQahV40a2VZLRlhK4rU1WB091OTgzKdEQFZf99FpbF68tMZY2ITmDigbw4uiDz3JmlPKTbFNl8wJuYn8I6g3E-zyZFHZB8Q/s1600-h/P1050420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFlDB9UIFTpDqrfvM-8Zyb8DJjLz6_oXoQmTgJ3qrQahV40a2VZLRlhK4rU1WB091OTgzKdEQFZf99FpbF68tMZY2ITmDigbw4uiDz3JmlPKTbFNl8wJuYn8I6g3E-zyZFHZB8Q/s320/P1050420.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn-uU28zkefxNLzTerzWhWO2OnMdfdriavg2KfmX3cwe_4Rw6zMIrozftjuXvAfehnMH0pTDsLePVdPSf9_qQKj5sjGQ6CNSL35K-jDUduUT-P5arPiahZAV1egsdmwOIuJtdog/s1600-h/P1050416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn-uU28zkefxNLzTerzWhWO2OnMdfdriavg2KfmX3cwe_4Rw6zMIrozftjuXvAfehnMH0pTDsLePVdPSf9_qQKj5sjGQ6CNSL35K-jDUduUT-P5arPiahZAV1egsdmwOIuJtdog/s320/P1050416.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Thought I'd post a few pics on here of the snow around my parts just for future posterity and interest!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-6143716865448270272009-12-24T13:25:00.001+00:002009-12-24T13:26:15.191+00:00A very merry Christmas to you all!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrTdH1SGcxR7xgqZ8tMKuC9Lu1vLC2LBaC6y3a0DhlzYSlnDOujULmOXqkInQ61xTJsiQsoSkc5viBw07voE6UuK8F8LED-r-SlKeISIHWtPeymwa-XSLsDh3Mvq_VKbgVf51Rg/s1600-h/merry_christmas002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrTdH1SGcxR7xgqZ8tMKuC9Lu1vLC2LBaC6y3a0DhlzYSlnDOujULmOXqkInQ61xTJsiQsoSkc5viBw07voE6UuK8F8LED-r-SlKeISIHWtPeymwa-XSLsDh3Mvq_VKbgVf51Rg/s400/merry_christmas002.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><strong>Although posting has been somewhat infrequent lately, I felt I would take the time to wish all readers a very Mery Christmas and a Happy New Year.</strong></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I am now enjoying my annual visit back down to London for Christmas and appreciating the space and comfort of 'bricks and mortar' even more! Went last night to see 'Wicked' in the West End. A very different show; enjoyable with stunning lighting and effects and a very deep storyline - not a children's show really. We plan to see another show next week but not sure what yet. Tickets are already booked however for me to take my father to see 'Phantom of the Opera' on Monday 28th December as he would like to see it - it's part of his Christmas present but he does know about it!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Most of my regular posts are now via my Facebook account as I can do it easier and upload pictures then and there taken on my mobile device. Any regular readers who wish to keep up to date with my ramblings and boring life, please ask to be a 'Facebook friend' of mine - you may wish to identify yourself as a reader from my blog or I may deny the request!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, have a great Christmas and 2010 to you all.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-10620195607355060602009-12-15T17:32:00.003+00:002009-12-15T17:54:04.241+00:00Weekend walksBetter late than never! This is the weekend post. The weekend saw some lovely weather on Saturday but the day was too busy with coal runs, cleaning, Christmas card writing, present buying and wrapping etc. On Sunday the weather was not quite as good but I did manage finally to go out for a walk and investigate the new towpath along the Oxford canal outside All Oaks Wood. A jolly smart job too as these pictures show. <div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415519372866640162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XhAr0hQQJzCcqg5YCeRgrRs5ibZFMJ4LrJfm7CWgcskl9Ko10KACYNRCaI23NyheQBOiwLZgFQqFM_-j3OeTt_oOqKHg4tVl8qK1WZOYynstb6H7XBmKiJHXQF_1aYbyyjHHpQ/s320/P1050390.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415519368187778418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5L01JIGgLmHSD19ybEv_JIv-TZR5T6NiuBWSUfdFg8iB_AYXev2sXMGBr71YgJEX29LznXDL-9UFZaKimO9NWce8xC8yhT-cnBdXfTFRUmv8JBoy77YzGZMOz1lyGPMce6hOug/s320/P1050388.JPG" /></div><div>The evening saw a glorious sunset over the marina.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415519378508973346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RHAGwEwcTAGihUoVwiR3WFGOEnjgZOOl_0RNh44LpRBLlpRc5OE7eFTu1TvTY7gRlriCGPGyN7K4tvrI0ak8udsN8M53DT4l0yNc3u8qvgV7F4kSz_lgUEuuE6AqNIfad75saA/s320/P1050392.JPG" />Friday saw an internet crisis. My Ticalli modem packed in - it refused to switch on and no lights lit. I phoned them expecting a new modem to be sent out immediately. 40 minutes later and the guy in the Indian call centre informed me he would have to escelate it to the next level. Apparently the process is that another guy would ring me back and go through the same checks in case anything had been missed, then an engineer would be sent out to check it and the line, then a new modem would be sent out to me. Not surprisingly, I told them not to bother and rung Orange. They signed me up and told me my new equipment would be out by Monday and working immediately. Monday came and went and no equipment. I phoned and was told it was due to be sent out for connection on 21st December. I hit the roof - again!! I am now running through my very slow Orange dongle until my new equipment can be sent out and got up and running - is noone competent in this world any more!!??<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-83802486945138872552009-12-05T17:11:00.002+00:002009-12-05T17:25:00.784+00:00Feeling Christmassy!<div> After the stress of surviving Ofsted last week followed by the school discos last night, this morning was a relatively lazy day. I had to pop in to school this morning at 11.00 for an hour as we took part in the Tree O'Clock attempt to break the world record of the most number of trees planted at the same time across the country! Our effort planting 2 trees hopefully helped!</div><div> </div><div>I then came home and began catching up with the many tasks oustanding on the boat: pump-out, water, (I haven't filled up for over 2 weeks!), hoovering, cleaning, washing etc.</div><div> </div><div>I then decided it was time ofr Christmas to start so I put up the lights on the outside of the boat:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411801181266360018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnSzFVQi8mtCn194s9giGPyiWKU7TBMDvFNaijv84E4ATLaxMMF3Coegi61KZGZd_29bTVUnfof22UrX6xoZ0BQ4wQ_IC25bzPpsrhJejm5IvP_xjmsx9IwTHiDQ8Cpju7mpwoA/s400/P1050386.JPG" /></div><div>My little fibre optic Christmas tree was looking very sad so I decided it was time to buy another one. A quick visit to Homebase confirmed they had sold out so I decided to see what 'real' ones they had! I fell in love with such a cute little potted Norway Spruce - only about 2 foot high. £20 later and I had a tree, some lights, one strand of tinsel and a few baubles - doesn't it look fine!?</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411801178296195202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPiAKqqEpMCqvDewdnAXDHWS59howBILPwLdSdpQrTGpYL0hGgfRZloa5Ei-End1ZpFP1U7OXY-1dejIWVYOB_5rqcOzHN62f3ZZdDT0GoAL4bL376jwz6smGnHO2Pl_K89Wd5w/s400/P1050385.JPG" /></div><div>I can now start feeling Christmassy as I begin the endless cycle of Christmas concerts and shows at school this coming week.<br /></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-35070064549432345312009-11-27T19:59:00.003+00:002009-11-27T20:22:00.406+00:00OFSTEDSo I got into school this morning at my normal time of about 7.45. Got my toast and a cup of coffee. My paths crossed with the Head at around 8.00 and the conversation went as follows:<br /><br />"Good morning - hey I had a dream last night and I never usually knowingly dream!"<br />"Oh yes, what was that about?"<br />"Well, I dreamed of school and I never normally do that either!!"<br />"Go on?"<br />"It was wierd, I dreamt that Ofsted phoned today and said they were coming in on Tuesday and it was so real, I woke up believing it!"<br />"Oh don't - we don't want that and anyway, they might not give us that much notice."<br /><br />The day continued until half way through my maths lesson at around 10.30 when an ashen faced Headteacher beckopned me outside through the glass door.<br /><br />"I'm not kidding you, I promise," He said, "Ofsted have just phoned - they're coming in on Tuesday and Wednesday next week!"<br /><br />I was more spooked by my premonition than by the 'O' word!! To say I was shaking for a while was an understatement.<br /><br />....but it's true - You can imagine the rest of the day, (well, those of you in education certainly can) Total panic as conference calls were had with the lead inspector, Timetables and staff lists collected and emailed through, Staff meetings were held and the Pre Inspection Briefing was scrutinised and copied for all relevant managers. Not to mention, the beginnings of endless lists being written of all that needs to be collected over the weekend.<br /><br />The weekend is now officially a write off. In school all weekend to panic quietly until found gibbering incoherantly in the corner of the staffroom.<br /><br />It's a strange sensation; I personally don't care about the outcome, (incidentally, I didn't dream that part unfortunately!) I don't care about the findings or subsequent action plans but I do care passionately about allowing our staff, parents and children to be part of something that is at least 'satisfactory' ideally 'good' or even 'excellent'! The whole staff give more than 100% to this school and their children. Every lesson is delivered with passion and enthusiasm, every child is cared for and nurtured, and the thought of someone who hasn't taught for years potentially condeming it as not good enough is so stressful words cannot explain.<br /><br />Visit a school just pre an inspection and then support the current politicians and their new and whacky theories of teaching. If there is anything that squashes a creative curriculum - it's Ofsted: Christmas rehearsals, exciting DT lessons, the positive staff/pupil relationships - all out the window until the doom is over, our fate sealed and we can, once agian, begin to pick up the pieces, dust ourselves off and probably 'coast' to the end of term!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-68132644124070731492009-11-22T14:30:00.003+00:002009-11-22T15:26:59.131+00:00Nothing to report!I'm sure many of the so called and self appointed blog experts would slate me for posting a blog entry with such a title that immediately denotes the importance of the subsequent text but hey I never have and never will conform to the 'conventions' imposed upon us in this mad world we live in! I am a non politically correct, non conformist, say it like it is blogger - and proud of it!<br /><br />I simply felt that having not posted anything for such a long time, I ought to post something! As the title suggests thre is nothing to report however. For the last 5 weeks, my entire Saturdays have been spent in school catching up leaving Sunday as a manic day to catch up on boat chores. Getting home at 6.00 or later in the evenings and then spending an average of between 3 - 5 hours working, (I got to bed at 2.00 in the morning one day last week,) means that there hasn't been a lot of time for anything else right now!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-50700307333494557942009-11-01T15:05:00.007+00:002009-11-01T15:21:40.163+00:00Railway videos<p>More for my own interest I have uploaded a few videos of Little Foxwood with three trains running. I spent much of the day in the village today as the wind and rain prevented anything outdoors happening. In fact, the wind has been howling all day and is extremely severe!</p><br /><p>I've tidivated bits and added bits and then decided to take some mobile phone video of it all running to see how it came out. It's not great but it gives an idea!</p><br /><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dybZM54igEizai37cg2-4jq31ifDmrGDbUNP9KFdMTjpF8ibt9pPVTU_V_4q6woYeNdPzGZvETcqwY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyuMfug8TnjNvuDRQqciRMfRXcwAHpsB3k52iTYGvQpo6xcA2roRy_CCZXfG1YUnH-VIRsV84SM5SQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p> </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzaSItkBF349Pb2asEo8AIfqRHQXOrGmk30iYLPPgc_UPELts0swF8J9sCTyNuO14tOj15G7WEe1Qw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-62979546982666380782009-10-31T20:22:00.002+00:002009-10-31T20:48:10.560+00:00Netbooks!Ever since seeing the launch of netbooks, I have wanted one! I am a bit of a self confessed gadget freak I have to admit and the thought of having a fully blown laptop small enough to take to school and on courses as well as when I go off to London or camping and not have to unplug, de-wrire and carry my full sized laptop with me, was something I have aspired to.<br /><br />Last week, I saw one in action and had the chance to play with it and was very impressed. I have now bit the bullet and bought a very nice little Samsung NC10 netbook.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398867027507797970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsRBe3bQnBK6OC9zl-AFySNGl43KCdx9cxTW3PUW9Bf-Syu_J-X87_AMcDXJfKj38fZm92VmV4g4aV9B07hUqHEsjaBBMO1T4KG_hPAaCb5ica079-6mduaujdHp9ezGu0qgCTg/s400/samsung-nc10-netbook-black-front.jpg" border="0" />I have just about set it up and with the 160GB hard drive, I have been able to load most of the applications and files/documents that I need so I can now carry everything with me everywhere I need it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-46659335243938062382009-10-29T18:29:00.003+00:002009-10-29T18:45:50.270+00:00Wonderful walking!Just returned from a fantastic few days of walking in the Yorkshire Dales. I love it there! No boating holiday this half term, the need to simply 'get away' and clear my head was just too much. We left on Saturday and returned today having conquored Penygent and Whernside and almost reached the summit of Ingleborough but the wind and fog was just too much and we weren't able to stand as we approached the scree slope so gave up and returned to base.<br /><br />Believe it or not, the views here are stunning as we descend Penygent!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398091087645324562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xzJhMX2kA4QRuPvje5U83bWx5t3TlVDCvMw0xdF0j_OgwTpfoy4RQqqwF4RQlv3Onoyx2Eux2WPe_yOJjtvoDodUyho-F5Vy9FYpVgc7GofZ-Epc69rfRtZxDMa3KaNHNF3R6Q/s400/P1050367.JPG" /> ....and here on the summit!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398091087312082898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxPXq5gM2aHACtiMDg0GJarlfEovYXrSSkikC-SDt8bFt-bcdKuer54Wgm__dwfDUdHtIosMxNoxzESKs5eo_dpjHRZtdyWu8m88bPO5rQzHrNE4W-5gUSx_mwLhZBKB3a0il9g/s400/P1050361.JPG" />....and here as well - this time on a beautiful scenic drive!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398091078609566482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwnL-HQeOwK2ogmw81PBvQIEWerc8wteH_0pPzEoJORUXIDEJXO8cZtXnCM19WHHmGCcnz5vCqdNFzY63zve-46DTudY7DotB86tNaTL02sUzIG6f8pT2JccK2g0_C65onSXPPg/s400/P1050328.JPG" />However, with this view to return home to each evening it more than made up for things!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398091077025709074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3QMYOjZKTFnPeJjgsWKYt0B4uMwOKw5uCWObmrrXbpfyRd7gnFSOPzDPthu23vjQb4T9wiQSKGrZDTE_vxlNU9JdT6O4kmuw29WaENpePCnIbm7toDF4TvoRkUmKShNXi55c1w/s400/P1050272.JPG" />We did stumble across this. A fascinating project of Hydro Electric Power in Settle. They have an excellent website and blog <a href="http://www.settlehydro.org.uk/">here</a>. We stopped and took loads of pictures as we happened to stumble across it at the very time the 'screw' was being installed - very exciting!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3ymPJMMj0QH9CKto6cPlYig4cZhO_zHpZ8sqjuAEvf7fHAsVsHnYGHdxPhuVjZV-ut2fdV6kEPTI7pP-IeZQAlaipss0NRNge2Zs4xDPOD61wyRiePVkBPA0CmkRjz9kT3uSaw/s1600-h/P1050340.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398091085462447490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3ymPJMMj0QH9CKto6cPlYig4cZhO_zHpZ8sqjuAEvf7fHAsVsHnYGHdxPhuVjZV-ut2fdV6kEPTI7pP-IeZQAlaipss0NRNge2Zs4xDPOD61wyRiePVkBPA0CmkRjz9kT3uSaw/s400/P1050340.JPG" /></a> We also stumbled across the most amazing pub/hotel/restaurant. <a href="http://www.hartsheadhotel.co.uk/">The Harts Head Inn at Giggleswick. </a>The food was outstanding and so reasonably priced that we returned each evening for our evening meal. Highly recommended if ever passing through!</div><div> </div><div>Tomorrow, back to school for prep!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-19664379162013687932009-10-10T19:21:00.003+01:002009-10-10T19:36:46.297+01:00Counting down!I know I've only just gone back to school from the summer but after a week of late evenings including one where the day lasted from 7.30 in the morning when I arrived in school to gone 10.00 in the evening when the Governors and Parent association meetings finished and having had no break whatsoever in between times - I feel I need a holiday! This week promises to be almost as bad with parents evenings on 2 nights and a course on another so I am looking forward to the half term in 2 weeks time. <div> </div><div>Half term is a non boating affair this time with a caravan booked for a walking holiday in my favourite place - the North Yorkshire Moors.</div><div> </div><div>In preparation for this, today I went shopping. A visit to <a href="http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coventry">Go Outdoors </a>in Coventry allowed me to buy a new pair of walking boots...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039569416000306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YdprxqDSM-sG6Ol9or_4ptkg3cjUq71oasQnlWs_gKNyN2lmrLlA-Aa1Jw0PFI-088TAEgFuKBCgwDaxDNcxWk8i0xoom3xMZVC6PRQ7f5SLfSnSFgTmyloC6rmDwwOWyE_FSw/s400/product_main.jpg" /></div><div>...and a new sleeping bag!!</div><div> </div><div>I also popped in to <a href="http://www.castletrains.com/">Castle Trains </a>in Warwick to get a few more bits for my growing colliery scene in Little Foxwood.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039576652824610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBNS9VtBySLTmVSCSPE9AAqv8Det3P-NRYW5kxZfgZgrDCmIgMVRfUo6tLWJP9FntljJC6xonSl6iQhBt6R6rUSK0JbBXQ_tzTB2hvvrlS3FFV3Abu7AbJjTxYTsWSZhUS-CjBw/s400/r9628-6320.jpg" />Once finished I shall post some pictures of it.</div><div> </div><div>Tomorrow - a huge pile of marking to get done as well as all next weeks planning!<br /><br /></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-52112474335964811532009-10-04T16:18:00.003+01:002009-10-04T16:28:32.719+01:00BBQ and trains!Still recovering from a serious lack of sleep from as a result of our annual end of season BBQ here at Brinklow. The evening was a huge success and a great time was had by all. A good couple of hundred people attended and over £100 was raised for the Warwickshire Air Ambulance through donations. As usual Eric, one of the harbour masters, sang and entertained us accompanied by Pip on her drum and Ray on his harmonica. Wea were also treated to some awesome singing by Pete and his brother Dave.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388764842765654066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-LkiwVw7hvnbRSGWHdbmUL_zMdzvgTmALb9Qb1pnYf7UseeAo7bqQfFd-Gkq10mV4kG1RP4TD8IgwoNLDaGTu2wOb91qDQ9xDB3wlYBqDdGjNoxUdUul-nkS16Dex6h04eyeRg/s400/P1050196.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388764845035699026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzL9CVdA7yPzCLInInR3TZeqhcc-_0XYSSxTAXPPYQZlO5Ob9NX-D_rx53PANd6WWYUtltVISCAQjns-LsdAVpG1dGUPErVK3LSM7qrxeUsmvYKX8V9vnbuFrWzAgln3MxUhLNg/s400/P1050207.JPG" /> <div><div><div><div><div>My City of Sheffield that blew up the other week has now been returned from Hornby - fixed under warranty and sounding better than ever.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388764856009689810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxog6K5q4T1O6Vr5Se7NdtQLs-XAB_UQE4F11AYlWslniaGXYVDZ8fm90WbBrkQXyHphFoIeEhwSO-x0SJ7LMnpqNM9Wxc1Un1W137KBT4z09QCSuir7enAoRwvR2RmjRvPQHeqQ/s400/P1050247.JPG" /></div><div>I also have the first parts of my colliery that have arrived. Here is the headstock ready to be positioned and that scene created once the winding house and other bits have all arrived.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388764850894988834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CXjYgl9ENjnprzMyDcwJzsJelwNR9oOep7v6wCgqyV1invwHcJ8zblU17n6_vy7LWcjDhR-0QJrXShGMfaz206kll7pKigvnstIL2lQtbkRutpbrSj5B9tNSUxJpLSuohtIXhw/s400/P1050246.JPG" /></div><div>....and a couple of general pictures of some of my local rolling stock.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388764972414393234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMuOMVctW4tNsRXPpGuQ8UTUS6mw8IrkZtxOL4GcOI_veVrIk4mOcCgxFb85LxAiw05akcYdoM08wZ3LqnQvcKcHAEexxy8B8ecR6NvhcQ1BLnPd83PU0n6OnO8L3CLDm5jW92w/s400/P1050257.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388764864109708066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6eVb5eFR8El8JKTN5JJg6bnAul_NptJvZJhh8b-CFq7DmLnrZk84QQkya0N_u_G3G65OqSpZtDOfOn1F-br3L8eqfZxDROokT1uZM8_Q788VI7-snTWv1no1c18mmV8SYXtRSg/s400/P1050249.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div> </div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-73449695738918972832009-10-02T20:46:00.003+01:002009-10-02T21:14:32.035+01:00Education, education, education!In the absence of anything 'boaty' to report on, (well, anything boaty and interesting at least,) I shall diversify this post to something education. Discussions this evening on 'The One Show' turned my thoughts to the topics of, 'who rules the classrooms these days?', 'should parents be held responsible for their chidren's actions?' and 'why is there so much youth crime?'<br /><br />Well, one thing led to another and I have now joined the large number of educational professionals who have turned ta t'internet to express views and opinions and engage with others on relevant issues.<br /><br /><a href="http://headucate.blogspot.com/">Headucate</a> is the latest blog offering for teachers, social workers and others involved in the education and care of children - a profession that is rapidly expanding to include everything from surrogate parenting through to local policing!<br /><br />The name 'Headucate' comes from the encouragement of educational professionals to think through and reason on educationally related issues and consider ideas and theories from the head rather than simply as emotional 'heart tuggers' or political 'vote winners'.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-22118623961745416602009-09-20T15:46:00.002+01:002009-09-20T15:52:55.990+01:00Stunning weather!This weekend the weather has been stunning! In fact, most people at the marina think it's been the best day of the year!<br /><br />Friday evening gave us an amazing sunset and sky...<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383561275185582322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpL5N6DrkN2x0ID4XyAeE8_zgm-Z7ElEdA0JgovGgrWh_xIzQQy9Hpu0iS0x8p_FfjgvyMsxZqzguX95cphiyEOcXIgismPLVChrzET6DFcpi4VnS3IJpJQyCVgOFpw3znxbqmg/s400/P1050150.JPG" /><br />....with the rest of the weekend looking like this....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZBcuxs_ZRSp3z-9-owXQa89Gf-kM11HBDorWilDUGBJ6vIU21gnZZ3tZvoOyOshE1eOsBGJbFfUyvf_Uwc676AWsT1ItKEuhCO7i_1u8J2VwLqdG0dkH58zeWS5OdnLQbgSdgQ/s1600-h/P1050155.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383561264755194114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZBcuxs_ZRSp3z-9-owXQa89Gf-kM11HBDorWilDUGBJ6vIU21gnZZ3tZvoOyOshE1eOsBGJbFfUyvf_Uwc676AWsT1ItKEuhCO7i_1u8J2VwLqdG0dkH58zeWS5OdnLQbgSdgQ/s400/P1050155.JPG" /></a> Still, cloudless blue skies with a very hot sun meaning a mass exodus of boats leaving for the weekend with a few venturing out to chance it for a week or more and equally as many people visiting their boats to simply sit outside or by the pond and use their boat as a base to enjoy the rolling countryside and the incredible array or colours beginning to be present in the surrounding trees and hedges.<br /><br />As for me - I mowed the grass, (we have our end of season BBQ coming up soon and so we want to keep on top of the grounds,) and spent some time in Little Foxwood. Talking of railways, yesterday I had a loud bang and real smoke coming out of my City of Sheffield! Somehow the sound module managed to blow up. A quick phone call confirmed that it was still under warranty and so I took it back to the shop to be sent back to Hornby for repairs.<br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-53595161429589591682009-09-17T21:02:00.002+01:002009-09-17T21:11:08.109+01:00Becoming a habit!Not an everyday sight on my way home from work but I have to say it's becoming increasingly common!<br /><br />Driving home from work the other day and I had to brake hard as my peripheral vision caught sight of a car on its side in the canal just up from All Oak's Wood.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382529777273392034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-p806yATrjEcxFylLNghJ0-kOANrKebUnrBGfsCRsfvgU0IjmDWlwvaepLAK575aS65Rr3NIHVqoSGffNuESMFMElVyXow6EgoqxHHRqYnYWLTqM3f18K5N1MzKWUAoVN0ZWiQ/s400/IMAG0006.jpg" /><br />You can see how it got in by looking at where I parked my car to photograph it. Obviously stolen and festooned with 'Police Aware' tape the 2004 Ford Focus <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zetec</span> was obviously crashed and then pushed into the canal in an attempt to get rid of all evidence. Let's just hope the little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">delinquents</span> didn't succeed and are soon rounded up, (probably only to receive a little telling off by some pompous and out of touch QC!)<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382529767660252578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-ajhZ8Mja7-STXVMwvD9SwQtXs2CVdd-6gcmefl_k6myUupMwYqPn3Hx7WcFGi1_3GbIvLz0183VR2dk0nw2GnW4SUpgfP0ZBbqadYsUXZvphXWP55hpxKlkgUX3jtwcjPhVWA/s400/IMAG0005.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382529759304957618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0CuHYb2QR4OfUk82jCyQUXIdRDZ4edUMD_Ag4zDq6gV6LGNJoCgp9lbRHdwKUcYUCTimMjGR2fidJz8XxoXL0986m23G-lIkzTbvXfYNTX-8n8uWE836KVdP1oXfPhJuyzSn0g/s400/IMAG0004.jpg" /> <div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382529755215618450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5HAThmy1rSvAsIwE8bWf40cIzsHeef91nDoqtHJpuKJNV46dWhvVIFeb8U8cFgADWLgG6Zj3VZIpumyhyphenhyphenfcuILP0vAKqPqyAWFLhLWHh1n9u7a0rLBsvRX66-KKOEk-37nqwMA/s400/IMAG0003.jpg" />It was gone by the following day so someone must have received the bad news about their pride and joy.<br /><div> </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-88306705907056182692009-09-04T21:28:00.002+01:002009-09-04T21:55:52.303+01:00Fed up with quangos!I don't know about anyone else but I am utterly fed up with Government quangos that have no purpose! My brother mentioned the frustrations of a rediculous canal related one in his last <a href="http://www.nbk2.blogspot.com/">post </a>relating to the Ashby Canal.<br /><br />Here's my contribution relating to an educational one - The General Teaching Council, (no link given as they don't deserve it!) Huge amounts of money have just been spent setting up a Code of Conduct for teachers; a sort of playground charter for the people who manage the playground. I have just emailed them to ask them to clraify their status and the following extract sums up my frustrations.<br /><br />I have scoured their website and contributed to the consultation of the 'code', (all of my comments were completely ignored incidentally,) and I am still totally at a loss as to what exactly the GTC does to enhance the professionalism of teaching. It would now seem quite evident that the GTC is yet another pointless Labour government initiated quango set up to further undermine the professionalism of the status of teaching in any way possible with little, if any, positive benefit to teachers or educators. Furthermore, subscription towards our own demise as a profession is forcibly taken from our salaries and registration is compulsory. I would suggest that the implementation of the new ‘code’ actually has implications that could soon be tested through the human rights courts and certainly leaves the readers and enforcers open to the widest interpretations that will inevitably lead to enforcement abuse.<br /><br />I understand that the GTC has to fight to confirm the validity of its existence, indeed in this current economic climate the creation of any employment is an admirable notion however, having given the GTC evaluative time since its conception, it would now be quite apparent that its existence and worth is, at best totally pointless and at worst highly corrosive and detrimental to the last vestiges of teaching as a noble ‘profession’.<br /><br />The biggest mistake the GTC do is to stamp 'GTC' across all the mail they send out to teachers - it gets put straight in the bin without even being opened - including my membership card! When they were set up, there was such an outcry amongst teachers that we all refused to pay our subscriptions - they now have a law that simply extracts the money from our salaries and there is nothing we can do about it!<br /><br />I know there is a medical equivalent and has been for some time - perhaps someone from the medical profession could tell me how it is perceived for them. I guess I would have doubts as to the validity of that one too but that's not my field so I can't comment; all I know is that the GTC does nothing positive for my profession whatsoever!<br /><br />RANT OVER!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-51654420922403701962009-08-27T18:00:00.003+01:002009-08-27T18:26:00.407+01:00London calling!Monday saw me travel down to London to my father's house to spend some time with Fleur and catch some shows - our favourate past-time! I arrived on monday and early Tuesday morning my father travelled up to Rugby to spend a few days with my brother on K2, (I will leave his blog to tell you about that trip!) Tuesday evening saw us in town watching Sister Act - the musical.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374689826041504322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtph6qSWQihpFQaO-_Uw7VPskDVJS3Ox9UbAA3i7r62CvJ8uS5KArhIwgWX7VPaxyDwsxYwjUpmmOpr1oMvAMV-EpYtsulknD1cy4sViv7-i70OVACLBvJy3el9CQjbg0dx_HJOQ/s400/sisteract.jpg" /> <div><div>A good show but not the greatest! I think Fleur enjoyed it more than me. The humour was less funny than in the films and at times quite slap-dashed but the acting was good, the stage set was spectacular and it was very entertaining none-the-less.</div><div> </div><div>Last night we made up for it however! For all the theatre going we do, neither of us had ever seen Phantom of the Opera so we saw that last night!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374689821694274418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx7eR-exkMwsRfZk08Z2FAgauy-hsoJLsZIiuZp50XPasqL8HLHAbx8ETY_7hjJakXElOUEGsGDcmffImTSqCjTkOilBqwjX0rKv0GlzdsINoLlQZiAC7ioqsF-LpiAVOY9465A/s400/phantom-of-the-opera-6.jpg" /></div><div>WOW! The most mesmerising show we have ever seen. A 100% standing ovation at the end and I defy anyone to watch it and not be on their feet by the end. The storyline is, of course, fantastic, the stage scenes incredible, the effects amazing but the acting was phenomenal with such passion and energy - a total must see for everyone before they die!</div><div> </div><div>Today we had a day off before tomorrow evening we go to see Stomp!</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374689833570122594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0DktlmnC_XSgdXd1pdUA4tA42Rqp9OZFvmNN7KoucJOTMucmYzk0_IZooit8hf-B1g1gHO-qP-4hIqcdOtmLcMGsFzsm8SeyRZmf9pwfWihcAPJCiATJA-bgw8gawtmkFpl-aw/s400/stomp.jpg" /></div><div>There's the possibility of seeing Les Miserables on Saturday but we're not sure yet if that will work!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-70325251017209712142009-08-20T16:49:00.003+01:002009-08-20T17:05:31.028+01:00Back to Little Foxwood!With the greatest apologies to my boating readers, (watch the ratings plummit again!) now I'm back home the railways will probably and generally take my blogging centre of attention once more I'm afraid. Today was a rare day that I didn't go in school at all. Partly because my brother was coming up to visit K2 and I wanted to see him and partly becuase the sun was attempting to shine once again and I've had a really good few days at school this week already. Instead, I spent the entire day in the railway shed. Some of the earlier buildings had the lighting wired in wrongly the result of which is that the bulbs have started blowing as they have had too much power fed to them. Today was the day for sorting that out. It looked drastic and there was a time I thought I had wrecked the grocers totally but I now have lighting again on the mainline station and in the grocer's shop as well as a dimmer installed onto the lock keepers cottage as at night it locked as if it was on fire! The trains are running well currently and the allottments are coming on nicely.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372073974609960146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_vljQwj-vXIOQ1b5_ZWZgGjVCNSOL_dWInZ0xFl5nUWD5NdbLPkPhwhUs5_WbS8moJc156adv-LjkLXA5awrV0BpWG9t04OHwZOWpvgZHi9sCXKIrJVJu83zy72S2qEH0qlW8A/s400/P1050099.JPG" /> <div><div><div><div>I have taken a few general pictures simply to keep this updated. First a mixed goods train passes behind the farm workers cottage with the entrance to Foxwood allottments to the right.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372073999793431938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ihfncdejW4f6V20EdOirOkP_3EFyeS9C8oN0agYXY5fGJ_lT3t_y2ju4mizMKSX09GIJXP4XkMLhLqxOSO2ZR_nSO0SQ6tktkz8F28EQBEU2a9ZGDxJFDLplCjmyprLcXyoH3w/s400/P1050109.JPG" />The Post Office and general stores with the ever watchful local bobby keeping an eye on things.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372074034875559330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_2pEM-F05YwRsPKNZYqW5VWEVWTWKILSDPGSBQYgKIVjfOAWuZEzVtqFeDMHa-cBpaZzp2UuGl4hPX_j4oj2DlDTAXwkuCcLZFjMzjUwe02WL13piVj30RP77QBq8ggXgUtmFg/s400/P1050111.JPG" />The daily milk churn collection taking place at the farm gate.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372074073172087266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKLxBNtwXGyI_t7m5fKB-zJI86cEgiaMZ5NOZe6z4Sw-6rK3q_7HbVGDgWPWWKdZxxXjKlpAoFbxk-MwtrJ4CbEqWG9Td6maPg0qWGfdwJSPBeevaFjMvCeJ_psOaXo8c6eaPkg/s400/P1050117.JPG" />....and the postman collecting the mail from outside the newly re-lit grocer's shop.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372074096855293138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD36xgrIEG5NnqGLtEQalKy3Viz04y0NOYb_4PKaUrDkUt6j-VmTgIqbvsyJWfGoDaht8V-NyoDUfVB4L59IA-_y97CA7JxJSRnAi0RGDGRQ2O_y4zImOF-Mr2ZCuC-bd9M2N8Q/s400/P1050118.JPG" />I plan to go back at some point when it's dark to check the lighting properly. Tomorrow, I may go into school again or then again - I may not!!</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-62300952344946425522009-08-13T20:50:00.004+01:002009-08-13T21:03:41.871+01:00Home at last!The final holiday cruise post! Off this morning at 09:00 to tackle the remaining Atherstone Locks. Fine progress until I reacher lock 5, then we all ground to a halt. The pound was out of water! <div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369538409296389746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorJQMEMCr7z1nk1SJrCCMqXr89E8gZfg3cVHUsJGG_amIR9d5IeTz1WT7RIn1fAODw6P-CrL0iPO_n1UDHhkelFBS5MBqLX5bKRGjmshDAwyHbFOTv-mWx4cs0azBSwhLPefm3g/s400/Day+027+(2).JPG" /></div><div>There we all were, breasted up and stuck ont he bottom - back on the Rochdale it seemed! It was OK, however, there were at least 8 BW officials mending a bridge just above the lock:</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369539454762829602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5se5b0jxBPfblsWCzKUe_s4z70ldAWco8dKlDEpoC2veSC5xcPQzJ7EcYG759sG7Oa1CsOOFy7r2joX_SlIcdO366UtobS76XCZF2PyUbZ6e6EAZVhHgke_qnte-HaQUaHxR2FQ/s400/Day+027.JPG" /></div></div><br /><p>"Oh no Gov. - we don't know nothing about the water, we just mend the bridges!" Eventually a BW man did turn up and an hour later we were all able to move again. The reason? As usual, one boater coming down stream was told by BW that a boater had left the paddles up - here we go again. This is not true! Actually the lock keeper, (remember him? The chap witht he MBE for his dedication to the lock flight,) was on holiday sitting in his cottage and refused to come out and do anything and had clearly not told anyone how to manage the flight so as to keep water flowing. Now either his job is on the line and he's out to prove a point or BW have never trained their staff in succession management!</p><p>The rest of the trip back to Brinklow was slow due tot he intense amount of extreme traffic around and the very slow hire boats - at one point I was in a long line of 5 hire boats!</p><p>Still I'm home and the landline is getting the batteries back into top condition. Tomorrow I start the shopping, washing, cleaning etc as well as take my truck to the garage to have 4 new off road tyres put on - ouch!!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-67845893405175579902009-08-12T20:12:00.003+01:002009-08-12T20:30:02.026+01:00Almost home!Set off this morning at 6.00! The rain and rib injury I sustained whilst falling in the other week kept me awake. I wanted the get back home ASAP now so it seemed to make sense. I love slipping my moorings and creeping past everyone else still asleep! A very uninteresting day really. 6 boats queuing at Fradley but by the time I left the locks there was 8 behind me.<br /><div>Is this the smallest traditional narrowboat in the country?<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369159374128161538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-GXpFdpodJXrFG1nczpmbU8KqjgySDclBkg6xDz2Zqx_dsBW5PSl54SdNT_C_yfjMbGbJkO9g0TFKbY74PwCQthauefVlXF8khF8YvsatobCmoZDW3Fc0vZ9Fr6qZBDZV7yzxQ/s400/Day+026.JPG" /></div><div>On to Glascotte Locks. Not to be outdone by <a href="http://www,grannybuttons.com/">Andrew Denny</a>, I too got a guided tour of the fascinating history behind the lock cottage and even managed to get more than just a foot of the owner who is proudly holding his latest brick collection addition; I am proud to say, it's a London brick! I must apologies to Lesley who was very confused about this 'Mary Celeste' floating in the lock when I eventually emerged from the lock cottage - sorry for holding you up!<br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369160811188851058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KZwlj3c0Qi5Cp2DOR17vYiRtIgNccCqFzwiw8A5PPz9gH10_uV01r9fVmhg4X4Y_kzCkhAtZYjmVSRX0QpENvjhnGfEzGQe1xotEGLEOdDu9SGvnYOsyXLzmHPRFowZFZ9u9_w/s400/Day+026+(3).JPG" /></div><br />Anyway, I pushed on finally mooring at 7.00pm at Atherstone ready to tackle the flight tomorrow - I may even be home tomorrow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-40030925129931906242009-08-11T18:12:00.007+01:002009-08-11T18:41:30.079+01:00A stunning day!Now my posts of late haven't often had a title like that!<br /><div><div><div><div><div>The weather today has been stunning. Blue sky, puffy little white clouds, a gentle breeze, hot sun and cruising through some of the most gorgeous countryside there is - the Trent & Mersey between Stone and Great Haywood.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368758305876059810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_4qSOt1NI7D8dcEfVYk13ji1KU_aQuw_TIuTcTz-4NsDEjcqnZL_fwmWHCtR92ZtwO5nsCQe1LQtczATIss0VxWp4p5sJmAZFDCe4SiBN0gEWTj9XhlDXEHDKD7TyMtrHHdGig/s400/Day+025+(4).JPG" /></div><div>Passed the boat of Terry and Monica Darlington of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Narrow-Dog-Carcassonne-Terry-Darlington/dp/0553816691/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250011832&sr=8-1">'Narrow dog to Carcassonne' </a>fame whilst travelling through Stone;<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368758295052004018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO41vFEkraAu4R76P-OOs6YouHwegMYk0umQbDNuS75Gio1ckV-16ULHBzjWscEp3u57tLptujZaydnk_N0Fg48KbXYkmMZ481vWJwOH6Z4gY4RZeCYUCKCWw9u3Ttqok8T2_StA/s400/Day+025+(2).JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>....but far more interesting and exciting was seeing Jo and Keith from NB Hadar and having a long chat with them as I worked through the top lock in Stone - or rather they very kindly worked me through the lock. I only just about managed to grab this shot of NB Hadar unusually appearing very shy!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368758315833304930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVg9qesYHGVKKqHDiuNQ8CeBQQAkg9LcDEBvaCo_H-dmK00UtWs_Adhh8unNoWd-ZlbquKtc8THIipDvjjcd_EFtS5MBeUgvSQOfJvKUHYkaDjDVjn0ePo2q0ySEXT8b1QdEkFg/s400/Day+025.JPG" /></p><p>And on towards Great Haywood, giving Richard Fairhurst; editor of <a href="http://www.magazine-stand.co.uk/magazine/hobbies-leisure/boating/waterways-world?T=1250012210&JTID=29720537&OGID=112&network=GAW">Waterways World Magazine</a>, a cheery wave as we passed each other going in opposite directions.</p><p>As I passed through Great Haywood, I saw this glorious sight parked up alongside the canal.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368758309771159554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9St_Kt3pzmcPLF1Y2ggl3H2s13s8tPc6l-U7Z0k8Tw08lWmHzsUbpps51WhZtz6yXHcxD_4IgGsTPebc-c_OETlEvU5ORfTSwiZ1_EcSvBJnxp_qCveYfar24ruX6PSGZC9c2Q/s400/Day+025+(6).JPG" /></p><p>I think Toad of Toad Hall got it right! I could do that you know - there is something magnificently elegant about these living waggons!</p><p>Finally mooring approximately 3 boats below my friends with the garden shed, (they seem to have found the throttle now,) at Shugborough. A beautiful spot.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368758310889642626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Vo1C5-d86JivYawhxfHiso2ptF4cZ6E85nzTMChEdQKglU-NUzv9vQfAutyHVoHwaMehcA_ZTGprC2OOnWABU_6dIp3k8SQ8peB13Y01HR7ZLnLZ59uem_dUpeSzdISYjZ1ciQ/s400/Day+025+(8).JPG" /></p><p>Listening to the Buzzards screaching as the sun streams through the open side hatch.</p><p>Tomorrow on through Rugeley towards Armitage and then Fradley.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-73877781742902139492009-08-10T19:51:00.003+01:002009-08-10T20:05:04.900+01:00Crew lost!Set off this morning after a full fried breakfast and headed towards the end of the Macclesfield. En route, it was a pleasure as always to meet the crews of <a href="http://narrowboatcaxton.blogspot.com/">NB Caxton</a>:<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368410190477941458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WvwR8_TsLM-eQrDaRc8ghnvDwMzBJDuW03it4o2R93zwPW5d41roZY-TAnBU0d2CpAueB3ffZKMVQGOw1qfJld_ObVYJtEFj5IdKCE80iVQDOoJhIo0nTYJHteRrgXqzDhWeSA/s400/Day+024+(2).JPG" />and <a href="http://contentedsouls.blogspot.com/">NB Matilda Rose</a>:</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368410198563774274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBs1AgXTNOcvyzsNbP0h2ZC4Yoe8pnTWNeikwItjyx1gZQbT99USBor-4qPW2zpFVbC6yBsybnAxHvcXmY1lOnbkYr7RcJzfDhln9gF57QLAEkmFpLbH_ByC2VEIi-oqTnS9lEA/s400/Day+024.JPG" /></div><div>Eventually we arrived at Harecastle Tunnel as boat number 5. The BW tunnel keeper promptly instructed us to double breast up with NB Page - NB Page turned out to be our new 'friends' from yesterday!! How ironic. Anyway we made polite conversation and they reciprocated which broke the ice and determined an uncommunicated truce. We also discovered that they moor in Rugby and work in the town moving their boat every 14 days around the area - Ummmm! I wonder if the girls also attend one of the local secondary schools - I know almost all the deputies and heads of them!!</div><div> </div><div>The passage was navigated without incident and the inside of Harecastle seemed positively cavenous after Standedge!</div><div> </div><div>The arrival of Khayamanzi at Westport Lakes meant that my father 'jumped ship' but his friend Clive who had ferried my father's car up, (following?) came on board and helped crew me through Stoke to my fianl mooring hre at Barlaston just above the Plume of Feathers. Clive has now left me and I'm back to the rest of the trip on my own.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-8694689243916863032009-08-09T19:57:00.005+01:002009-08-09T20:24:51.855+01:00Oh boy! What a day!!Firstly the weather was fabulous! The sun shone all day and got positively hot at times. The scenery was incredible as we wound our way between rolling hills and quint villages like this <div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368040483192018498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SiKIKgIczOqYh9tJAUkKpG9TXDYQzADf2kOklh_SXWjrJpWRyk0Zqkw29-GkxNKGrsrw0FDohe5rj7CWZXuOBbfQ9zlilRqCirs1tQocIfgwHPLu11BCFK3VDfld2RXzNwpC3Q/s400/Day+023+(2).JPG" /></div><div>....and that's when things started to go wrong! Just as we were waiting to pull out the mooring pins a string of boats rounded the corner. Not wishing to be rude, I waited for them to pass, and waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually they passed us and I made cheery conversation about the weather through gritted teeth as it was clear that not only were they going excruciatingly slowly, they were bridge hoppers on the move with the 2nd boat even towing it's garden shed!</div><div> </div><div>The continued on tick-over with me having to pull into reverse at every bridge as the steerer performed a lively 'back deck dance' attempting to see over his array of logs and flowers all over the roof. After a couple of hours of this, my father went off down the towpath and politely asked if we might pass at some point when convenient. "Wot, aint we going fast enough for yer?" came the Neanderthal reply. My father commented that it was a little slow for us and that we wanted to get through the Bosley lock flight today, (we were over 5 miles from the flight at this point!) "So do we" he replied and turned away from my father and ignored him. I picked my father back up and we continued following his 'shed' that was swaying back and forth across the cut. Here they are just in case anyone has the misfortune to ever meet them.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368040488887014018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfx5KcEpfO5NpqV1RWyMPII02tuTy-gklI0_mqrAzSqdoykV_qz1msnDYCHd5eloKFgb082O9IVpftsbSgh64UFxMkZGrvYuT6I3qL8j_bWEPCzw42-QImqEJdXkOQQINJko2hA/s400/Day+023+(4).JPG" /></div><div>And by the way - both boats were travelling in convoy at the same speed with frequent yells between the millions of teenage kids that clambered over each boat.</div><div> </div><div>Then the unthinkable happened! Amidst much revving and water sploshing, we realised they were grinding to a halt. I closed the gap as we looked to see what was happening and saw a swing bridge ahead. They set off crew who dutifully opened the swing bridge to let their 3 boats through, (2 if you don't count the shed!) and then this....<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368040484526931490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-WUX6hvzNen4pn7EM8Vyv_Osihat1zn5-EW6P6ctoNhYGIxSwC3Bzufpr4Exe_ZZ0FTICazdc3BzktA3TSovHQAAshvlpIgZ2efUy7OlFDv2UC9qshIoz_l2yUNdF-o_k3kCgg/s400/Day+023+(3).JPG" /></div><div>Look carefully! Yes - you see correctly. The 2 giggling teenage girls swung the bridge shut behind them narrowly missing the front of Khayamanzi and I just managed to snap them running giggling back to their boat as they saw me reverse hard and my father jump off the back to go and open it again!</div><div> </div><div>I am getting more and more disheartened at the pond life creeping on to our canals and I have had the most serious discussions ever this holiday about selling up and moving back to a house - watch this space.</div><div> </div><div>We continued on tickover keeping our mouths shut, (except a cheeky 'thank you' called out by me to the girls!) until we got to the start of Bosley Locks. </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368040496649766226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlrfLw8z9Tv9LnCsf45t0EgNAUM1hU6-xoEiO0x1oU0UlMdzhB9J1OoUUYgBtnAOqzIvZiQ-xrxj9tI2Dmkt3TZZv9GCAnIgqKCUpL_NUTQERxIVYN2urnfHPtNfgcfHNa4fu0Q/s400/Day+023+(5).JPG" /></div><div>Lock 1 completed and we saw them moored up waiting at the next lock. "You're not going any further" says Mr. BW man - "Lock 5 has come off its hinges and it will be a couple of hours to get it sorted" - Great, there we were stuck in a short pound with a bunch of single celled organisms that would challenge even the mighty <a href="http://mortimerbones.blogspot.com/">Bones</a> and who had by this time, spilled out the entire contents of shed and boat onto the bank, found some chairs and water pistols so that the 'adults' could sit on the chairs whilst the teenage kids ran up and down screaming, shouting and squirting each other. We, however dodged the wasps that had been somewhat angered by the fact that the boat behind drove his pin into their nest! 2 hours passed and we were finally able to continue. The backup of boats enabled a good distance to be put between us and our new found waterway 'friends' and we eventually got out the locks with much fun and camaraderie between us and the rest of the boaters behind whilst strategically being 'busy' whenever we found ourselves coming up behind the 'shed pullers'. We moored up in a lovely little spot at 7.00pm having travelled one of the shortest distances of the whole trip in one of the longest times!</div><div> </div><div>Ah well, tomorrow - Harecastle and Westport Lakes, drop off father who returns home and then onwards Brinklow Bound on my tod!</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-60981542285966498652009-08-09T19:41:00.002+01:002009-08-09T19:56:59.061+01:00Saturday 8th August!The trouble with blogging a day late on the canals is that I can't remember a single thing! No telephone signal at all yesterday - what bliss! So the first post tonight is yesterdays! <div><div><div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Turned onto the Macclesfield to relax and enjoy the scenery of this beautiful canal.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368036720140510274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalt1oYz3LXgOBv6hnZndthxwVbdkHEhPddyZsmQQCuTZmHl3Aux5eDCuuxXYnqi1APnhEpEltT5AUpHTieYHlg3YY1re8PJMMNVfb94obTfRCdsky9-Ml99UOeSLNFdS5Y88ToA/s400/Day+022+(24).JPG" /></div><div>Staleybridge is a beautiful place! Loads of lovely visitor moorings and such amazing flower displays. With the Tesco's right alongside - it was a boaters dream and too good an opportunity to miss so a shopping stop was in order before continuing.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368036706785202866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFBxJTUHZYPpOvQpPQQ1G4Pgh0Wdk_051VWETdCKknlkc90ZeWgUyWktkrsvGQVs2DkM1b1ssR7Qg-PbOkv-ESvqpgRWjw02czSMEjLFXWquGoWv-2KlvG9Tze0STOetOmBbSyg/s400/Day+022+(5).JPG" /></div><div>We continued on enjoying such lovely views as this;<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368036718602212818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPP7nObLFy7q8FkZSE8r4yZCPsEd-cesmZuuG-eEHfUbwJFLdUg-gVIwn_BO2zU5zN5ykxtsAU0r6wmHSrDVDetowcu2SP8a07AZkShh1SyFDh5J8fxhlQzrT_JiWkAo5g960byA/s400/Day+022+(22).JPG" /></div><div>and this;<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368036712909052130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIO-WuNOi6kdAawh5L96PeCPyQxvKsK8ecg4iZPT2Ck9UdjfuAgVynk40mlOGl9oiV6qGDbe1Bp8yINMPiQbbRYJpIS1RYhuzFuURnXm5lyPaBIaySZbY9CzEoyBnkh3NjRmyEg/s400/Day+022+(15).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>Oh no - sorry, that was some kind fellas high visability jacket that I spent half an hour pulling out of the weed hatch!</div><div> </div><div>And here's the proof!</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368036711231757794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2qhcLJDCLuldmGgI6F2mlxDKaWZDrCIXcX5TIvSEwexZfsYuuzRo0BzMwAxlBub1gvsqOMScuuUg5gEcDvcoCCQ8wr_XfR0UB9oTNM9mBTSEXyd3NoohecYkWlsQjUsWf6p7_g/s400/Day+022+(14).JPG" /></div></div></div></div><br />Nothing else exciting happened except that we moored in the most beautiful place and in enough time for a lovely BBQ!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-62761832093208246342009-08-07T18:39:00.004+01:002009-08-07T19:07:22.866+01:00The Standedge Tunnel Experience!What an amazing day! <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>First a picture of the tunnel office last night.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278129749081042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfSRlbJhqpVOEOeaLCvxKjImeai1gnScQAEL6P18Q1568UlN-ePegnp94IaBLYdOrEhTBQE74h_67P0hy1sxqN0FRKox6cIqTz3U9eoPEsQ9mET31QG30cAgt6MVP6T5KlqWjfg/s400/Day+021+(11).JPG" /></div><div>We were ready to set off for the tunnel from 8.00 this morning although our passage wasn't scheduled until 10.00. Just as well! The other 2 boats booked in first were apparently too smokey as they were hire boats with old Lister engines. As a result, we were pushed through first! This was great as it meant we had more time the other end to head on further. We filled up with water, removed the cratch cover, removed the navigation lights, signed 2 forms of disclaimers, kitted up and were off.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278369940353346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGAwWiyuGXbUGH_qHyNILgfk_nL0xCtuU-eeRGWn9SEB6jzQOxeYEU7Jc3vy377lBs8ONU1N1KCRLW2XegOD8Qos_h-FE1tadWvx5m1NgTSzgEKC0wqG4Uu9KGRxTjuwS7yWjNA/s400/Day+021+(26).JPG" /></div><div>Just entering into the unknown with our first class chaperone, Terry, on board safe and sound and my little meter sitting on the hatch in front of me confidently monitoring levels of O2, Methane, CO2 and various other gases letting out reassuring bleeps and flashes every so often!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278373325394994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQoA1rDkwfah6IHCT_gXwy1D0YloN66zplWcjzWjBXsYZqtgS5CZFmP1sFeXb47xVIdqk5fY_Wqw5HJQfaeoDSvhRRh72S07Pdbbr5jvzCXGnF6rmBVCkFuhCHRs6DDwlPT1Pqw/s400/Day+021+(54).JPG" /></div><div>All was going well until the steam train went through in the adjacent tunnel!</div><div>From there on, we couldn't see a thing! In fact we had to stop in the middle at one of the emergency monitoring stations and switch the kettle off to allow the steam and smog to clear. We couldn't even see the front of the boat let alone the rocks sticking out everywhere!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278138415047666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEUNboLrH0dWbZN0_rV4hvxOUAQ7cwjaejl9Hrd-pZRJRtV9fkRm39yrdHAh8V63CdCgXqwth1gr5lGdW40CzGJTuoKY_BcoBvjFR3vq2OlIsJ_pfQtzv92O6LyUdTJDJuB_CHQ/s400/Day+021+(16).JPG" /></div><div>....and here's Khayamanzi viewed from the adjacent redundant railway tunnel.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278119870076898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVOIJprO6rvM9VYWRbbnJ86oB3Lc7NV9L25vmTnKqxY4fCs5jddur5E-XoNe1RdCAkzLB0rKz8YI7SWOXgGu3euDHgKpKod-gcoBdkuujBfLie8T8_P8RWMhm2jCaaaDiTBtAlQ/s400/Day+021+(5).JPG" /></div><div>It was fascinating to see the marks where the old navvies drilled and filled with gunpowder to blast away the rock as well as the 'leggers' plates marking down the distances. Much of the view was this although it should be said that this was one of the wider and higher sections where I could take my eyes off the walls to grab a picture!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278377258155490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MtPe1tWAo9Hvy7QVHiCfJce2w7Z-KV5ZtCPbkzwQT3Ow9dUHi8aIM4Qw-rGSTyqtkQ0j_rKVpyVfLoEqWfyKrh_AG88JCjYD1FJQ6MoLNhk-0yZaUzcSq77sBK-UVGOrxAg-Uw/s400/Day+021.JPG" /></div><div>The support van was travelling in the adjacent tunnel and the 'shadow man' kept poppinghis head through to check all was OK while Terry had to radio through at specific points to check in. Eventually we popped out the Diggle end and into bright sunlight where upon we could re-assemble the boat and wash the sooty footprints out of the carpet.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278136315207554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNzwKiWf8a0OLlG2HWg75LYJPvniGFEGWtK3fZHGSFLxvD9WNxnyhnPy38LM6IXjunOuAWH8xjeZ3rE7jx4uSy97JSIP1-XXXzYkQdxKBl15FhpVAHnV0Imjptjpj385pBFx2GQ/s400/Day+021+(21).JPG" /></div><div>The lock flight down from the end of the tunnel was through some stunning scenery.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278147777461570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSMJdcNyipIdwiaKk_qqAzRpA4n8e_Y8iZN3-zWjUfcugGCVkPBfJGsHdjg2URd32kzXaiNtmAkCUptMcLT8HdLF8xUq7o1kRnKVouRpP7J4dd2UvmL5x8bfE4Kz_dMJbXLg9zw/s400/Day+021+(22).JPG" /></div><div>It was a pleasure to meet an active team of Huddersfield Canal volunteers who were not only helpful and cheery but were undertaking a sterling task of repainting the locks and we quite willing to stop and help us lock through. </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278374913044706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuBSUsSV_GeJOA5FeQFEZiU_kvosjUHDqnc4yg3aleUFXEa6zqEl8KGJqIY9erakWu2mf2Ab3QXdZW3JACiWtGUbimwRl5SKRGryXpRFja_uZyCw5egugAJh-7UOci3k9XAC5nA/s400/Day+021+(63).JPG" /></div><div>The rest of the journey was uneventful with a final mooring just below lock 11W and before Stalybridge. Tomorrow off the Huddersfield and through the Northern Peak Forest Canal to the Macclesfield and more familiar territory.</div><div> </div><div>I have to say that the Standedge tunnel experience is one not to be missed although I am a little disappointed that I didn't get a single scratch on the boat to show for it!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12867254.post-35196128226443320222009-08-06T16:33:00.006+01:002009-08-06T16:51:54.319+01:00A much better day and a sentiment shared!This morning at 9.30 am a knock on the door heralded the arrival of the local photographer and reported from the local rag. Shortly afterwards another knock saw the arrival of 'Nick'. Nick was the BW man who was so pleasant and helpful. In fact, Nick and Colin helped us through the locks to the summit and the tunnel entrance and could not have been more of a contrast to 'Rick' yesterday! They were pleasant, fun, helpful and so hard working. We kept them plied with drinks, cakes and chocolates and they kept us plied with tales of BW's total inneficiency. It appears we share the same sentiments and frustration relating to lack of funding here. Apparently this morning the dodgy old photocopier in the Leeds office finally gave up the ghost after many years of service and several weeks of strange noises. They made a phone call to request authorisation to purchase a new one and were told 'no' flatly - what hope is there to purchase a new set of lock gates then? <div><div><div><div>Off we went through the very stiff guillotine gate that was the scene of so much frustration yesterday.<br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366875479620344914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQjwBJ8rd9oMEFcrbad-up-psvfQQKwzgFyLTeBhNbhXxJIrmDUu0AjThfM_-DpEuWdIm-esAdImFuNPRZD6b0T1DZrUa5ZrNUp3AKWv6a7X6hWQSSY7w9LYXIYBmF1Hxj-51EQ/s400/Day+020+(3).JPG" /> <div><div>Anyway, the sun was shining, the day was warm and dry and the scenery was stunning. Progress was slow which gave us time to enjoy our surroundings and the conversation with Colin and Nick.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366875485258718418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4rAvvjeAYc3aAO6Q3lOoUNeu8M0eLrPmGCUtDS4ehYF0-250bCcoOBl5zMZdfb7AZv7FDYkrdk2HHf8yNDJiGJa_LQYSMczFFmbdx8nNPHMzPdZUwNZy9Tc4yh-A_RypsKqH0w/s400/Day+020+(6).JPG" /></div><div>Eventually we found ourselves at the BW owned reservior which was low although would have been much lower but for the quick thinking of Colin a week ago when the rain came down!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366875488803959266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IitzEEcU0Gy69EAqFPrtUIIRFgzMdlPVbOj8sX3h2I7Cw4zXSaMZ-38sZWXvRfrzVHkljksqfN9yMDFNDgmkXBr0YZ3XDFC-LzO8aaPoivu-subso2iwxJNJXau4Xar3dhHYpg/s400/Day+020+(10).JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>The final lock on the summit was a welcome relief to all concerned and the final gongoozlers were in place to watch any minor error of judgement - fortunately, there was none!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366875493704429314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5avv_rv-4GZlDACDeth9_Gpw6wpVAq4B-9rAI4jMinZui-xQLV-MFBC9u6UWdbOWVaBAAqdlV-1Ak8I55g1a7LVFqzV0EIdhEQZ7HOnTO_9LbIDQgQiLLKq8_X272Yvn-bf9pw/s400/Day+020+(14).JPG" /></p><p>We were 'deposited' on the waiting area with the other 2 boats who are travelling through tomorrow.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366875492635971730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoxPOa5cWw8EI_Thm2keSQ_h6hIHVEmkeCzn9EsRI3CuzX-cUtL47FonuaQNgg_bZESrMLNF1g_XDj9l_OZuW-8hz-Pb0-o7E9DUq3ifvCLIB4WXKLSv2_LeG4Y5mj1D3aYmp3A/s400/Day+020+(15).JPG" /></p><p>Apparently we can move down to the visitor centre any time after 4.00 so we plan to go as soon as I've finished this post! We did walk down and pay a visit to take a few pictures.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366876479552284402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguPncVBIimRSaKBSTpRAXBaHI-XJvQydi8_5azy07Zc22Vt8G55eGrYr2AlaTiOFm06jhJheCCw9RVoIHVqjJqeXI2W6R1rGSJZu1TjtnbAgQotaIcW_nvLa5yPGs6rq0bGiBtQ/s400/Day+020+(17).JPG" /></p><p>All being well, tomorrow evening should be about the trip through the tunnel and onwards through the exit locks to wherever we get to moor tomorrow!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2