Midlands

Wednesday 21st

Stayed on moored up outside Rugeley, rain rain rain.   I decided to do some cooking for the freezer, made a huge amount of curry using Turkey thigh.

                                                                
 Very underrated meat, Morrisons sell a huge leg and thigh for around 4 quid and the meat makes amazing curry. I love being on the boat when its pouring down, soooo cozy.  So I worked on the food and Trev worked on the beers at the Wetherspoons. He took a picture and said another example of Spoons saving an old Cinema which probably would have been demolished had they not bought it.

Thursday 22nd

Set off, not too much rain.   Stopped near a village called Great Hayward to top up with water, and got rid of some rubbish.     Moved on to a part of the canal that is called Tixal wide, apparently the big house that overlooked the canal decided that they wanted a better view so widened the canal to look like a river or lake......ok for some hey!  
Its a lovely mooring other than the public footpath along the side.   Lots of ducks, swans and canadian geese families with sooooo cute little babies.  We have deicded to stay here till next Wednesday.


Friday 23rd

Found a nice but expensive (as they always are) farm shop with a butcher, bakery and deli.
Trev found a pub!!!!!!    I made some sushi, need a bit of practice me thinks!!

Although I will say these were the left overs, the sushi was not too bad at all.


Saturday 24th

We decided to get the bus to Stafford, a town near by.    Not a bad place, a kind of mixture of Chester and a more modern town.   The rain continued to pour down.


Sunday 25th

Stayed put, very busy with boats and people enjoyed the bank holiday weekend despite the weather!!!


Monday 25th

Had a walk along the canal to Little Haywood, we had tea and a scone at a sort of restaurant beside the canal.   The scones cost 2.50 and were stale stale stale............It took all my willpower to tell them what I thought of their offerings, but I refrained.  Trev hardly touched his.

We then walked through the village to Gt. Hayward, stopping on the way for a pint as usual. The pub was called The Red Lion and his beer was - a good one according to Trev.   A short walk between the two Haywards and  we stopped for a drink at the Clifford Arms in the village (can you see the theme running through this blog!) then made our way back to Merlot via the farm shop.

Trev snoring in the cratch area, fast asleep after the mini pub crawl  He! He!

Tuesday 26th

Trev doing some work, finishing off the kitchen floor so I decided to walk into the village to buy fresh fish from a fish shop that opens on Tue and Fridays.    When I got there it was closed!!!! Very annoying, anyway I had a good walk.
Tomorrow we are getting the bus to Uttoxeter, to see what we can find.

Merlot finally resurrected.........

May 12th Monday 20014

Well well well we have finally set off cruisin  after 18 eventful months.   I loath to dwell on Merlot's misfortunes, but it has to be covered.     On January 27th, 2012, we received the devastating call that Merlot had sunk!!!!!!   Ironically we were at a funeral in Norfolk.     What can I say.....best let the pictures speak.

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As you can see utter devastation!!!!!!!

After a week under water as due to flooding the water was still too high to pump out, we, with the help of Sam Matt who own's  Foxton Boat Services, managed to pump the water out and she came up.

Up and out, thanks Sam.....  We then began salvage, a few more pics than onto the repairing her.

 Trying to sort out the mess that was our stuff.

Trev then set about all the work that needed to be done with a little help from our friends, this one is Kev who as you can see has been working so hard, its made him look silly.....

This is Sid our skellington (skeleton)     He sort of survived and will need some TLC, Trev bought him a pint to lift his spirits... ha! ha!

 Trev worked hard and long to relay a parquet floor, looking good.

A local swan checking out all the work, I think he approved!

Merlot looking like her beautiful self again.  Still bits and pieces to do but we are desperate to set off and can tackle all the little jobs in the next couple of months when we find suitable places to moor up and work.This mooring was near to an Indian restaurant located on the A38 called Anoki. Trev went for a takeaway and had a sneaky pint while waiting!

                                                                                                                                                                  

Monday, May 12th 2014

 Setting off from the Marina in Leicester at last, down the river Soar, beautiful and peaceful

Arrived at the first lock just outside the marina and Kev was there to give a hand and say au revoir till winter..

We continued on, mooring up in the town of Loughborough.    Spent two nights here and enjoyed a very very good Pizza at Peter and thats Enough pizza restaurant.



Wednesday 14th

Traveled along the Trent and Mersey canal and moored up outside a village called Kegworth.   We had our first braai using the clever little portable barbecue, Karen Trev's daughter bought for us.  Thanks Karen and Mark.

                            
      We also passed a boat on which were newlyweds on their honeymoon, fortunately we had an extra bottle of fizz which they were very happy to pop.


Thursday 15th

Left early and arrived at Burton on Trent, quite a large town.  We stopped and stocked up with things we needed.   I got my lounger so I can lie in the sun and read., he!he!  We had a sharing platter for lunch at the local brewery, not bad.

Continued along and filled up on water at Trent Lock, continued along Trent and Mersey canal, very pretty but very noisy as the A38 runs right along the side, not good!!!!!      We then stopped at Sawley marina for a look in the chandlers.  Trev got a call to say his sister June had fallen and broken bones.   Get well soon June.    As we continued along, we realized Trev had left our hose for water at the Trent lock...... Much ado but we continued on and eventually stopped outside a village called Kegworth.   The mood was a little less than jubilant, what with the lost hose, noisy canal and no where nice to moor.    We eventually stopped and  Trev walked to an Indian restaurant called Anoki and we indulged.  For a supposed fine dining Indian, it was very average..


Friday 16th

Arrived in a village called Alrewas leaving the noisy road behind thank goodness. Trev struggled with getting a satellite signal so we watched a DVD.  Aaahh the joys of boating life.




Saturday 17th

We needed a hose so Trev caught a bus from the village to Burton on Trent and got a hose, what a carry one!!      We had fish and chips from a good chippie for lunch.
Moved on to Fradley junction, a very busy flight of locks, very pretty. We filled up with water and looked for a good mooring. Our first choice wasn't good as we couldn't get a satellite signal.(we don't watch tv 24/7 but we do like to watch our favorites)


Sunday 18th

Stayed put and did some work on Merlot

Monday 19th

Stayed put



Tuesday 20th

Travelled to Rugeley, a small and very uninspiring town, looks as though its hanging on by a thread.
Did some restrictive shopping, Trev visited Wetherspoons - no change there.   Moving on tomorrow to more rural and pleasant pastures.







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