BSA Bantam

I spent some time on the bantam last night fixing the front forks. The new stanchions have solved the problems with the front fork. Mark Paris gave me a hand which was rather lucky as I needed to make a few adjustments - we had to saw 4mm off a nut, and he had just the gear. Unfortunately I don't saw very straight, but Mark has the most amazing sander on the wall in his boat and that straightened up the wonky bits!



It is beginning to look more like it should do now!

Busy Busy

I had a good cruise up to Cropredy to the Fairport Convention, and a splendid cruise back, although I flaked out for 36hours after a late night during the weekend! On the way up, and back, I stopped in Heyford and met some great people. On one of the last nights a boat called Goshawk moored in front of me came to give me a bottle of wine and said he enjoyed my column which I thought was rather kind. I was going to open it and share it with them, but they decided I should save it (I have) and we should sample some of their other wine - this time Strawberry. The owners of Goshawk brew their own, and they really are rather good at it! We had a lovely evening sharing stories, and I particularly enjoyed hearing about their antics - they seem to have done rather a lot of cruising in their 6week break!
Here is the label on the bottle they gave me:



Another couple of boats were moored nearby Paneke and Guilt Free inheritance who sat outside fine dining for most of the time they were there. I walked past them several times when exercising the pooches and they always made me smile. I rather missed them when I had to move on.

Boots and Molly were so tired after messing about in the fields around the canal that they dragged their food bowls into their beds:



I am off on holiday soon, but I have only planned some of it...

The boys are having fun!

Somerton Deep Lock

I love this view, and last week, on our way to Banbury, it looked fabulous in the mornings light.

Is the car the camera?

Some time ago I went through the process of buying a camera. It took quite a long time, so long in fact that when someone asked me about it at the bar Mr Paris said 'will someone just buy her the bl**dy camera'.

I have finally decided that I would like to get a VW Passat or a Skoda Octavia.

Now I just have to find one. I hope it doesn't take months!

Cars

I THINK I have come to a decision about the car... a nice VW Passat. Just have to find one....

Cropredy

It actually looks like I will make the festival at the weekend! I have a long weekend ahead of me, which means I will be able to arrive in Cropredy on Thursday night or Friday morning. Lazy Days have said we can breast up to them for the weekend which is really kind. Poor Maffi isn't coping well with his crutches and keeps falling over, so I have taken him on my boat to give him a change of scenery.

I am hoping the towpath won't be too muddy so Maffi can get out and about. I think we will be too far away from the village for him to be able to enjoy the music in the local pubs, but we are hoping to be able to borrow a wheel chair which might help manoevering during the weekend. If not he is happy to sit on the boat and fester. Either way, we are both looking forward to the festivities!

Signwriting Mark II

Well, at least I spelt it right!

Foul Humour

Today is bad mood day.

I have broken my car.
I have lost the key to the petrol tank on my motorbike.
I have a sore toe; a very sore toe.
My waterproof boots aren't.
I need a hair cut - NOW!!!!!!!

The list goes on.

However, it is always good to look on the bright side... so... in no particular order

My dog knows how to sit
I have 9 ok toes
My mum is feeling better
I can send my boots back
I have a job
It's nearly the weekend
My friends 'girlfriend' is going to visit for a long weekend
There is more water outside than inside the boat
I own my boat
My friend is moving into his new house today and can sit in his own chairs

Yeah, I don't do so bad.

Dear Granny and Grandpa

Dear Granny and Grandpa
We had a lovely walk in the rain today but Cows are not my favourite.
Lots of Love
Boots
xx

I don't get it

The mooring tender system is meant to be fair. If that is the case WHY do I keep seeing Agenda 21 moorings coming up in the same place? This section has been empty for years, then a few years ago a mooring there came up, then a few years later another, then two in two months. Isn't that drip feeding the moorings?! It all seems strange - not to mention the moorings I have noticed that have been empty for sometime.

A couple of people I know enquired about them, the first time BW didn't know they existed, and the other person who enquired a week later was told they would be tendered.

I still haven't seen them come up, and that was a few weeks ago now.

I am not particularly bothered, but I find myself getting more and more disillusioned with the tendering system. As yet I can't quite put my finger on it, but I am sure I am not alone.

Don't get me wrong, I am not having a go at BW, I am puzzled and a bit confused. I am almost inclined to throw my hands in the air and say what does it matter, but that isn't the attitude is it!

Wonderings of a New Car

I have decided that it is time to get rid of the car I currently have, which is 10 years old, and get another one. I did look into the scrappage scheme, but it would seem I can get better value for money by buying a second hand car.

When I was looking through the BBC news site earlier I noticed that one of the cars, a Renault Clio, is one of the best sellers at £2,837. This is pretty good, but when I go onto the website for Renault, I can't find it. Indeed, when it comes to scrappage offers all I can find is how much it will cost by monthly installments - something I won't be doing - and they are 10K more than the above!

Buying a car makes my brain fry, but so far although the scrappage scheme sounds good, I cant see how it would work for me as I dont want to spend the earth on a car. Second hand cars aren't worth very much at all which means one gets more for ones money second hand than ever before... or that is what I think anyway. It's a shame, I like the idea of a brand new car!

Four Leaf Clover

Not just one...



not just two..



not just three...



but we didn't pick any more! 8ch seems to be able to find these rare things in huge numbers....

Boat Chase

I thought Miss T sent me this, but I realise now that it was Kate Saffin... who is equally exceptional and finding the bizarre and obscure! This is no exception!

Canal boat chase ends in capture after eight days