Ist morning waking up on the Grand Union Main Line. and what a morning. The top of the boat was icy and sparkling, but by the time Finlay and I came back from our walk, the sun was shining( not for long, though), and it was a "good to be alive" sort of day.

The trip up the flight had not been as bad as we had thought it would be, but friends behind us on Salamander, had a bad time,.no water, dry pounds and it took them 6 hours.

Its quite a busy junction, this one, as it takes boats to the north, south and east.

Skipper Mick was dawdling about at a bridgehole, and I was rummaging at the front under the seats for something or other, when this tinkling laugh rang out and a female voice said " oh thank you so much for waiting" and the reply " I never mind waiting for a pretty girl" !!!! groan. she was pretty and young, steering her big boat, and my old boy, bless him, says " oooh , I've still got it". not sure what "it" is, anyone want some ???

Anyway, I diverse. We trundled up to Weedon, and went for a 2 for £10 meal at a local Marston pub. Excellent. Our chums enjoyed it as well. and we finished off with coffee and a single malt on their boat. better still.

Stepmum and Dennis had given me some easter chick tea lights, but when I opened them, they were so sweet, that I haven't the heart to set light to them, so they are part of the deco, on Trundle now.

Finlay escaped this morning. !!!!!!!

We were walking the dogs, Finlay, and cairns Ben and Tally, and I decided, in my wisdom, to let Finno have a bit of a run wi'out lead. Mistake. Down the steps, he shot, to the rabbit infested cemetary. I followed not so fast , telling Jim to carry on back to the boats, However, Wee Ben, would not leave without his chum, so they hung around watching me try and round Finlay up. Those of you who knew Finlay as a pup, well can you remember when he used to curl his ears up and top of his head( like a set of rollers)? It usully meant trouble . Well he was in the next field staring at me, with his ears curled up on the top of his head. so I played my trump hand and picked up a stick( no not to thrash him although its an idea), but as a tempter for a bit of a game.. SUCKER...., it worked, he came racing back, and was promptly back on the lead.

Now we have moved just around the corner, but a nice young man said are you staying tomorrow, not sure, says us. Well look in next field. It turns out its a bit of a motocross track for the local biker boys. we will move. !!!!!

Buckby Flight of locks. due to water restrictions, last boat through at 1.30pm. until the next day.

Aye up, We're up.

Onto the Grand Union. Hurrah. It wasn't such a bad trip up, some of the pounds were a bit low, but we managed to get through. A boat in front, had a bloke, a woman and 2 youths, but the bloke was doing all the work. and as he left his boat to do locks, paddles etc, his boat was going aground. I , kindly, suggested that he, as skipper, should stay in the middle of the pound with his boat and let the 2 chunky youths do some work. it fell on stony ground, probably thought I was a nelly-no-it-all, but we do this flight twice a year. ! and me thinks he was perhaps showng off to the lady on the boat. oh well.

We neared the top, and along came our chums- M&J+2, to help with the last few locks. what mates, thank you. and wee Ben the cairn was very pleased to see us, and as we trundled along , he kept glancing back to make sure we were coming. yep. we're here, now lets see what the canals have to offer up.

Tonight we are mostly eating Morrisons Steak and Ale slice. mmmmmmm. and yes Melva, I have your comments, thank you. :)

WHAT HAVE i DONE. HELP

messing about with blogger and seem to have set up a new look. yuk !

what have I done ???

Up to the Canal Tomoz. !!!

So, we are at Northampton. Yesterday, we ( 2 boats) were really steaming through the locks, so decided to get all the way to N'hampton, and then the heavens opened.
It had been a sad start off, as whilst at Irthlingborough we had met Sue and Vic on No Problem( their blog is Retirement with No Problem). Lucy their 13 year old border collie was not too well, and that morning Sue came to tell us that the vet was coming out, and, yes, as you can probably guess, it culminated with Lucy going off to sleep. I have just checked out their blog, and bless them, thay have 56 messages from well-wishers. They are such a nice couple.They have young Meg,another border collie, and she is missing her chum. hey ho. all us dog owners know the heart break , don't we. ?

Anyway, our cruising companions decided to do the Rothersthorpe Flight today. I had told them of the impending bad, really bad weather, but was told by M, that her crystal ball said it was going to be ok. Well, I can tell you I have scoured N'hampton to try and find her a newer model, as the one she is using is RUBBISH . Haven't heard from them yet, but I reckon they must have got soaked. We will be off up tomorrow, in the sun and cloud, and will meet them for Towpath Tipples later. yippee. we will turn right at Gayton, so Rick and Val, if you should be reading this, we will be going to the pub at Weedon for 2 for £10. ( last of the big spenders, are we !!!!). so if you want to meet up, let us know.

Well, on our way again this morning, and it was cold and sunny. Apparently we will have snow tomorrow. !

It was Finlay's birthday yesterday and he was 10. He received a teeth cleaning bone from us( that gave him wind), he received a charcoal biscuit from M&J+2( that stopped the wind), and he had a good walk. Obviously, from the way he is sulking on his/our bed it was not enough. !!!

Whippets! me likee.

We are now at Rushden and Diamonds mooring, with absolutely NO FACILITIES, tut tut Environement Agency. We are 2 days away from Northampton, where we will have a frantic shop at Morrisons, I will get my ear-hole investigated( it hurts.) and then 3 to 4 hours later should be on the Grand Union Canal. Hurrah.

Have just met up with NB No Problem( Sue and Vic). They are off on to the Ouse for the summer. she does a real professional blog about narrowboating , with loads of info. Reading her blog, whilst still in Spain, waiting to sell our property really kept us going, I can tell you.

Have made my 1st cake this season in my Very hot and Hot oven. Burnt it, so now it sleeps with the fishes. !!! 2nd cake ( victoria sandwich) has turned out looking more like a frisbee, HOWEVER, it ain't burnt. !!!!

HELLO to PETER.

No, Melva, those were the cairns Ben and Tally,belonging to
the cruising buddies.Do NOT start andy rumours in Spain. We have already been
there. !!! LOL

Yesterday (Saturday) we had a long days cruise , due to the weather being dull and cold,
and made it to lovely Ashton Lock mooring, right beneath the red kites nest.
On Sunday we woke up to ice on the top of our boat, and the
chimney of our friends boat , in front of us ,was merrily belching away. What a
lovely sight. As I took this photo, I
could hear a woodpecker to my right, and the kites calling somewhere up in the sky.
So, washing machine on , and off we all went and what a
lovely day for cruising, what we think, is the most beautiful part of the
Nene. To top it all we were escorted by
, no less, than 8 red kites.
Arrived at Islip at lunchtime, contacted a chum in Spain,
and would like to say a VERY BIG “
HELLO” to Peter. !!!!
Hope you are having a lovely time with Mo and Tony.
Love and hugs from

Jen Jen and Mick
Xxxxxx