Trundle to the rescue

Tonight we are at Northampton, ready to do the Roserthorpe Flight up onto the Grand Union ,mainline tomorrow(Wed.), but yesterday we did a rescue job.






The folks live at Floods Ferry, same as us, but we haven't got to know many people yet. anyway they had a problem with their engine, and had phoned for an engineer, but they needed to be at a lock so he could get his van to them. so first we tried a tow-ing job, but ended up weeving about all over the place. After a bit of thought we strapped them to our side and went along together.( albeit they were facing the wrong way). They are a really nice couple, and I felt so sad that their trip has started out like this. But anyway,after a text today, I reckon they will resume their journey tomro. !









This little tern, had just plunged into the river by the side of us, and came up with a fish for his supper. Its the devils own job trying to get a pic of them as they move soooo fast.





I am going to be writing to a newspaper !!!! At a lock at Irthlingboro, some young folks ( surly and wearing hoodies) had had a camp-out. We were doing lock-stuff when they left and this is the state they left it in.







Theres wildlife galore around here, I took a close up of the rubbish, also, and I took a picture of them crossing at a bridge. so now am off to locate a local paper, to complain about the "youth of today". errr, am I starting to sound like my granny ?

Oundle,

I missed "the Aristos". Damn. I had gone into Oundle to browse the quality charity shops, as you do. and when I came back with my treasures, as you do, Mick informed me that I had missed them. We were moored in the Ashton backwater, out of sight of the lock, and he heard some booming voices " what?", a boat revving madly, then a bang as it hit the front gates. A voice shouted out regally " I need on of those windy things, haw haw haw". ( that would be a windlass). They brayed and shouted there way through the lock, and we haven;'t seen them since, so they must be steaming ahead. !

However, a good result was that after a couple of years of asking in the pet and saddlery shop, they now after great demand stock ......MAGGOTTS ! pink ones, lemon coloured ones, plain old flesh coloured ones mmmmmmm lovely. Mick caught loads of fish. he even managed to save one as its was being chased by a ? a bigger fish. But when mick threw the small one back, the big one( are you following this?)was lying in wait and GULP , little one got eaten.

Had a phone call from Chris! How come she knows when we are about to enter a lock?

Heres the picture as promised. sorry it's blurred, but I was holding a windass, a security key, a phone and a camera. !

Back View Front View

Aren't they pretty ?

Wildlife is great along the river, so for you blogtrotters who know their birdies, here is a pic for you ? I know what it is, but do you?

Tonight we had a cra..... a not very nice bbq at Irthlingboro. My fault, I didn';t want to do any prepping so we bought it all, and it tasted ......................synthetic.

BUT we met some Bikers( not Hairy), who live on their Narrowboat( to be called Smidsy), called Gordon and Lesley. what a nice couple. as a consolation for our 'orrible food she brought us some Ice Cream Cake. aah, how nice. Hmph, and as for that little git Finlay !. I only left one piece for just a minute , honest.I watched him when I came inside the boat and he looked at me as I looked at he, but I turned away to do something and when I next looked he was nosing around the NOW-EMPTY container, whilst licking his lips

A Noble Steed, indeed.

Had to take a picture of this fellow, as he was flying around the field all on his lonesome.

So, monday on to Cogonhoe. Not far from the canals now. !

Entertainment, big wheels and history.

This was the lovely mooring at Elton. It was a full house last night, and just as I as contemplating a swim, we heard a rather regal voice booming out. I will refer to them as Margot and Jerry. I think she may have been a mems'hab( if there are any still alive) or failing that she was def a lady who was used to telling people what to do, how to do it etc. She strode around the lock directing operations( there were 2 boats travelling together), then one of the rather timid lady-travellers enquired as to whether both boats would fit behind us.She was told, witheringly, that yes of course, plenty of room, and " DO GET ON THE BOAT ,BOOMER"(

nice but timid dog). This lady had the sort of husband who gave great guffaws of laughter at his own story-telling. When I hear " Time for a gin, darling?" I switched off. I had got mine in my hand. it was very entertaining. and now we are at Ashton Lock,in the little backater there in pole position, waiting for them to come through. No-one yet. I hope thay haven't turned back. Cripes. !

Chris, when you phoned this am, and I said that we were just coming up to a lock. This was it. Those wheels take some turning, I can tell you. Most of the locks are electric now.

History buffs - If I say "Off with her head". do you know where this is ??? Clue, not that you bright sparks need one, but a book was called " The road to F..............."

So it is now thundering and raining. Mick has his rod out in the hope of a spot of fishing. I am waiting for the posh folks to come along, and Finlay is sulking cos he wants to go rabbit - sniffing.

We are staying here for 2 nights, I think,

we're Cruising !!!

Whey hey, we are on our way. Left Floods Ferry yesterday and now we are moored at Elton on the lovely River Nene. Finlay was yipping, yapping and yowling with excitement to get off and sniff and wee all around the rabbit holes, and then he managed to find a stick, so the lucky little blighter has had a great swim. The river is gin-clear, and I am of a mind to have a swim too.

Mick is about to put his rod out.

We will be heading for the Ashton cut nr to Oundle tomorrow, and will probabaly have 2 nights there. Mick asked if I had enough bread for him ( for his fishing) and I asked if he had enough "bread"for me to browse the classy charity shops in Oundle. A deal has been struck.

Took some pics, but have accidently wiped them off.

Hope all my blog-trotters are well and happy. Thank you for following my ramblings. X

Finlays Finds, Imminent departures

Lodge decking coming along well, although Dennis has had some ribbing,
As he brought a “post-hole borer”, to dig out the holes for the posts, and southern wags here were asking him if he was going down to Australia.Well. Dennis dad was a master carpenter and he taught his son to build properly, and that’s what he has done.!

Really enjoying the lodge, and Tingdene seem( I am hesitant to say this) to be getting
Their act together. There were some errors with the lodge, and because of my persistant badgering and complaining,they are rectifying things. Possibly pleased to get “ that mad woman from the fens” out of their hair. However, only 2 out of 9 problems have been put right, so far. Shame really, Great product,but shabby after-sales. Hey ho.

Finlay is going to get a job !. Rivers-edge clearancefor the Environement Agency.
He is coming up with weirder and weirder stuff. It started off with the normal “ other dog”tennis balls and toys, then progressed to various beer bottles, both European and English( without contents !), vodka bottles( empty), Italian wine bottles ( empty, grhhhh), then we had a tortoise shaped kids banjo without strings, oddly shaped bits of wood, a plant with a big bulb on the end that he ate ,(and it gave him the rangoons), a kids large water rifle/pistol, and this morning a bog seat complete with lid covered in mud( that looked really choice!). He arrives with his treasure stinking of river mud, but then there is a nice place for swimming, so three times in there and he is clean again.

Off to Rebeccas on 16th, to see them all and deliver some furniture and then WE ARE OFF on the 20th july. !!!!!! 1 week up The Nene and then on to the canals. Not sure which way we are going, possibly north, but we are months behind, and think that we may miss a birthday party that we were looking forward to, but will wait and see.

60th Birthdays, etc

Had a great time in Bradford with Chris and Mike and all their chums, ( Hello to Julie? who will be looking over Chris' shoulder when she has a look at this.) Get Back to work, both of you.! Friday had the best Indian meal.EVER. Sat was a great party, Sunday back in Surfleet with other chums. We were too late to get back to T'lodge, for the footy, although it wouldn';t have mattered. So we stayed over in Surfleet.

I am fully aware that I am becoming a "Sunset Bore". but anyway here is another !

I wont be doing any posts now for a couple of weeks, until we start CRUISING. We have to build the decking on front of The lodge, then down to Milford to take Bec some furniture,and when we come back. Trundle will be given a good old wash and brush up, and we will be off. I think we are heading towards the north, York and Ripon and Skipton.

Heres another sunset. ! Well we will have a bit more furniture delivered in 2 weeks, then we are hoping to get to see Micks daughter and family in Milford, and also to take them a couple of bits of furniture that is just toooooo big for lodge. After that there may be some danger that we can set off up the Nene and onto the canals for a few months. However Mick and Dennis are about to start building decking on the front and sides of the lodge, so who knows. It feels really great to be here, but also a little strange to not be trundlin' about. Hey ho.

A friend of ours has a big birthday this week-end. I won't mention any numbers Chris.

Anyway we have been invited to a 60th ........oooops birthday in Bradford, the land of curry.Finlay is off to R and B's for some R & R . So if we do a steady 60 miles per hour, we could get there for 4'ish.

We will be chowing down at the Shama on friday night, before the big 60th oooops birthday party on sat pm.Then I have requested a browse around the sari emporiums before we come home. I wonder if that is still on, seeing as I have mentioned Chris' 60th birthday a few times?