Category Archives: Pantomime

Green Mystery 12th October

Aspley Basin

Today was a day off boating.

This morning I packed up my model for #unit21 and walked up to Queen Street in town to the offices of Dark Horse for a production meeting. The show doesn’t happen for another four months but there was much to discuss.

The budget was the main thing. Next February will be a showing of the show, six scenes to wet the appetite for funders, possible tour venues. The original brief I’d been given was that the set and costumes should have full production values. Normally this would be a tight squeeze on their budget, but right now I was needing more than a shoe horn and magic fairy dust to sprinkle on everything to try to keep the costs down, materials have rocketed in price. When I’d last talked to Amy the director I’d planted some seeds, thankfully they had started to take root.

With Penny the Lighting Designer/digital editor joining us via zoom we had a very productive meeting fuelled by gf Chocolate Hobnobs. Lynda was recovering from the cold that is doing the rounds, I kept my distance and hope that she’s past the stage of passing it on as I’ve got five weeks of hard work coming up.

Several things had arrived for me, UV fabric paint, which I need to try out on off cuts of costume. A very large box which contained two 1inch brushes that I’ve treated myself to for panto. I just needed to walk to B&Q now to pick up some neon green paint for the set, then after doing a couple of samples I can forget about the show for a while.

Meanwhile back on board, Mick topped up the diesel tank, our stern being moored right next to the pump it made sense. Topped up to the top. There is a small chandlers here where he managed to get a few more poppers for our cratch cover as spares. £10 a night including electric was paid so that we’d be ready to go in the morning. The washing machine has been working hard.

Then it was time for him to climb back into the engine bay. A service was needed, but first it was time to trace and reconnect all the wires that had got chewed up when the belt went.

Red, a voltage sensitive relay, which provided power from the ignition to the bow thruster battery.

Orange, the engine temperature gauge.

Green. Green! What is the green one for? There had been a length of green cable wrapped round the pulley that Mick had dug out, but what had it been connecting? And to what? He’s had no luck finding any other green cabling in the engine bay. So far it can’t have been anything critical, but it would be nice to know what it was.

Next followed the oil change. One less job to do today was changing the alternator fan belt! Just after Mick had pumped all the old oil out I got a message from Kim on NB Idleness saying they were about to come down Lock 3 and Lock 1 was going to be unlocked for them.

We would be breasting up with Yan and Kim and because of their old dog we’d suggested that we should pull out to let them have the bank side mooring to help with his arthritic legs. Of course shortly before they arrived another boat pulled up onto the water point opposite and when they were just pushing off NB Idleness was just pulling through the bridge slowly. Instead of a two way do-si-do it was to be a three way one. Idleness through first, then the blue boat into the bridge hole (pausing to remove their bikes), we pulled out, Idleness pulled in and we tied up on the outside, job done.

I walked the mile to B&Q a very large one on Leeds Road. Mick had also made a request for a new fuse for the bowthruster. So that was another 0.75 of a mile to Halfords for one, then back to the boat via Sainsburys picking up a bag of cat litter and some pizzas for tonight. The rest of the shopping we did on line to collect in the morning before we pushed off. So despite doing no locks today I still walked 5 miles, but I have pretty things to show for it.

0 locks, 0 miles, 5 miles walked, 1 meeting, 2 alterations, 1 budget to be fine tuned, 2 wires reconnected, 1 green mystery, 9 litres oil, 1 filter, 1 fuse, 1 bow thruster able to charge again, 3 boat do-ci-do, 1 full tank of diesel, 2 pots UV, 2 pots Neon, 2 x 1″brushes, 1 key to be left, 1 producer, 2 pizzas.

She Swallowed A…. 29th September

Gurnett Aqueduct to Clarence Mill

I’m growing concerned for my safety.

The other day She was complaining that a fly had flown at speed into her mouth. Then a day or two later as She drank her cup of tea she suddenly spat it out, a large spider was lurking in the depths of her mug! So far I’ve not noticed any birds being consumed, but they may have chicken tonight. I’m keeping my distance, just in case.

If you don’t hear from me again I’ll have been sent in to sort things out!

Slow progress at times along the summit pound today. The levels have been down up here, but this morning it only looked to be an inch lower than the overflow at the aqueduct. At one point we were passing another boat to find both of us were sat on the bottom!

We pootled our way through Macclesfield, familiar local boats from our winter up here five years ago. Bridge 43 is another roving bridge with a high wall concealing an accommodation bridge nestled up alongside it.

The off side vegetation was getting a strim as we crossed above the houses. Then we hunkered down under the big wall that holds the top part of Macclesfield away from the canal.

The site where a culvert had problems a few months ago is only obvious now by the new mortar in amongst the stones of the canal bank, a new top to the dry stone wall and a large pile of aggregate hiding behind. The canal was closed for sometime earlier this year.

At least it hasn’t taken as long as the wall by Black Road Bridge. This used to hold someone’s garden up off the towpath and has gradually disintegrated through the years. At least this towpath closure is sturdier than the one in Wolverhampton that people just ignored.

Passed the Hovis Mill the 1 day moorings were just about full, we’ve very rarely seen boats moored here as it’s been hard to pull in and you are requested not to run your engine. The pontoon moorings were full, the end boat being NB Rosie out for a cruise from Teapot Hall.

As we pootled along we discussed a topic that people often ask. Which is your favourite canal? Well our favourite mooring is above Bank Newton Locks, the curley wurlys on the Leeds Liverpool. But is our favourite canal the Macc? A lovely flight of locks, little industry, great hills and views, a reliable coal boat to look after you, the beautiful bridges. It might just be our favourite.

A strange noise could be heard as we reached the far side of Macclesfield. Raaaag aaaandd Boooooonnne! As we moved round the tone of the call changed, Rag and Bone through a loud hailer was echoing around the streets.

Then Clark Lane Bridge curls the towpath back to the otherside, at Kerridge someone has built themselves a little porch.

Then as it started to rain a little bit more heavily we came round under Greens Bridge to the sight of the Adelphi Mill. Today lots of room on the visitor moorings, but we were after pulling in at Bollington Wharf, their service mooring empty.

A chap was having a couple of containers filled with red diesel and chatted to Ann Marie. Then it was our turn to fill up Oleanna’s tank, the price higher than we’d paid at Hawne Basin a few weeks ago, but that’s hardly surprising. This morning Bollington Wharf had had a delivery, the price per litre having risen by 8p. Last Saturday they’d had a bit of a rush on with four boats queued up for a top up. Brian arrived and sorted out five bags of coal for us, positioning them on our roof mats as low as he could get them. If you are ever on the Macc this is where to come for a top up of diesel or bits of work that need doing. Last year they mended a gas locker hinge for us whilst we waited. There is also NB Alton that does a fortnightly run along the summit pound, so they will come to you. They certainly looked after us the winter we were here.

The bright colours of the diesel pump and day boats cheered up a thoroughly wet day. Nice to have a catch up too.

We pushed off and now hoped for a space on the embankment by the aqueduct. This was chocka block, not even a nudge around would have made enough space for us. But luckily round the bend in the shadow of Clarence Mill the newish bollards were empty. We pulled up and claimed them.

Whilst finishing battening down the hatches for the day, an alarm sounded. Not the sound of Mick pressing the button to stop the engine, it was a different pitch. ‘That’s not meant to happen is it?’ ‘No’ The engine was over heating, just as well Mick was about to turn it off. This first happened on the Thames a couple of years ago, a loose pipe connecting the calorifier to the engine. It had come loose again , therefore there wasn’t enough water in the cooling system.

We managed a shopping trip down to the Co-op to stock up on chocolate between showers and then just left Tilly to explore the wet outside for the remainder of the afternoon. She did her best to get really quite soggy. I revisited the budget for #unit21, still need an updated price on a couple of things. News came through from Chippy that sight lines had been checked with a mock up of a tower made from cardboard and that my paint order had been placed. So at least I’ll have lots of lovely colours to play with.

Could this be our nosy neighbour from this evening?

Later in the afternoon Mick lifted the engine boards and sure enough the pipe was loose again. He checks this and tightens it on every service. The next service is due in 40 hours. So maybe an in between services check is required.

It turns out that there is at least one train driver who keeps a note of passing boaters in Stoke. Thank you Michael for your email. We’ll keep a beady eye open for you when we’re next on your patch and wave until you see us. Michael’s boat was one of those stuck in Goole this year, hope the move up the Ouse wasn’t too wet and windy for you today.

0 locks, 4.58 miles, 88 litres, 0 panic buying, 1 feline visitor twice, 2nd time being very nosy, 100kg coal, 530grams dark chocolate, 500grams granulated sugar, 1 rag and bone, 1 alarm, 1 loose pipe, 1 wet day.

https://goo.gl/maps/FSxo8jMVoL7MvKnU8

First But Forth. 28th September

Bosley Bottom Lock to Gurnett Aqueduct

With no other boats having arrived last night we didn’t feel under pressure to be at the locks waiting for them to open at 8:30 this morning. The alarm was set for 7 but then we had a fairly normal start to the day. This did however mean that we wouldn’t be first up the locks. Three boats came past, two before 8:30 and vanished up the bottom lock.

Yesterday afternoon Mick had walked up the flight and closed quite a few gates that had either blown open or been left, so we already knew the locks would be set against us.

Old trainers came out of the cupboard as rain and mud were a high possibility this morning. With the temperature being low we also risked our padded waterproof trousers, an intermediate waterproof covering for legs needs to be found for such days.

Last year we climbed the locks in a group. A single hander in front a boat mover single hander behind, all done in the sunshine a well oiled machine by the time we reached the top of the twelve locks. Today we were on our own with constant drizzle, but thankfully we still got the wonderful views.

Every now and then I could see someone ahead, were they coming down or going up? They were going up. The pounds between locks 10 and 12 were both very low, but with umph from the engine then neutral Mick managed to get Oleanna over the bottom cills. After about five locks we did encounter our first downhill boat, a single hander with a volunteer helping, apparently there were two more boats making their way down.

At lock 6 you get the great view to the Cloud, no pretty flowers today.

Looking up ahead to Lock 5 the lock seemed to be being emptied. Next time I looked I thought I could see the stern doors of a boat. Eer Hang on! How could that be? Mick gave me one of those looks! Next look up there was a boat heading towards us.

I zoomed in on my camera. I had been right that a boat was coming down and one was going up. The road bridge masking the fact that I was seeing two locks and not just one.

After all the rain yesterday and drizzle this morning I’d been expecting a muddy towpath. This must be where the aggregate is being used as a new surface covers part of the towpath. Quite a relief as in the past parts of it have been quite a boggy mess, today it was all dry underfoot.

We picked up a volunteer at Lock 3, he set the lock above and then waited for the next boat coming downhill, Lock 1 sat waiting for us with it’s gates open.

Plenty of volunteers on hand at the top, although they were all having a good chat. We disposed of rubbish as the last couple of feet filled the lock, then left it open for the fourth boat of the day to head down the flight.

Now on bridge duty with the key of power in hand I pushed the buttons at Royal Oak Swing Bridge.

Turned the key in the lock of Broadhurst Swing Bridge. Returned it. Then gradually turned it trying to lift the white handle to release the bridge with each fraction of a turn. Eventually I found the position it worked, the handle lifting easily, the bridge swinging effortlessly. When I pushed it back there was no need to turn the key to release it, it just came straight out.

Where to moor for the day, hopefully before the rain started in earnest. After Leek New Road Bridge the world opens out, hills as far as the eye can see. Even today in the drizzle they looked wonderful.

It was slow going, shallow in parts, especially where you didn’t expect it. At Gurnett Aqueduct we pulled in towards a space, but grounded as another boat came past also looking to moor up. It took quite a bit to push us off and then reverse with major umph. A second gap looked more appealing despite the mooring rings being in very unsuitable positions. Extra rope was required and a mooring spike driven in as far as the concrete trough would allow. This would do us for the day.

By the time we’d done all the chores Tilly was not impressed with the very VERY wet outside we’d managed to tie up today. The stove was stocked up with coal and this became a more attractive place to spend much of the afternoon.

Panto has most definitely woken up today. Emails zooming between Macclesfield, Bristol, Kent and Chipping Norton. Working speakers, cinema screens, sight lines, cloths which hopefully have finally been ordered today. Tilly of course decided that the outside wasn’t too bad after all, but returned frequently for ‘thank you for coming home’ Dreamies just as I’d got all my plans out on the table. Tracing paper isn’t too keen on muddy dripping wet cats!

12 locks, 5.05 miles, 1st in line, 4th up, 4 coming down, 2 hot legs, 2 low pounds, 2 swing bridges, 0 held up, 1 boat up near the hills, 1 damp day, 1 excessively wet afternoon, 2 crinkly paw prints, 1 flying cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/LfT5NY8XBcBbG1BK7

The C Word. 27th September

Hall Green Lock to Bosley Bottom Lock 12

No rush this morning, mainly because it was raining! We laid in bed with our Saturday newspaper as the temperature outside dropped, it was cold. Other boaters were out and about. We heard the click click click of the lock paddle gear being wound a few times. On one occasion this was soon followed by shouting, the sound of an engine that got closer far too quickly to be passing moored boats and the approach to a lock! We peeked out of the window to see a boat very close to us. Then the name came past as the chap at the helm carried on shouting to the boat that was leaving the lock to leave the gates open. It was the ramming boat from the Staffs and Worcester the other day. Inside Oleanna we both used the same expletive.

We pulled back and filled the water tank as the rain eased off and eventually the sun came out. Hooray! We have a schedule to keep to and need to do around 4 hours a day, come rain or shine, so it was better that it was shining.

Today we pootled onwards, the long pound all nine miles of it heading towards Bosley Locks. Currently there are time restrictions on the locks to help conserve water on the summit pound so we’d not be able to pass up the locks today. Our aim however was to moor on the River Dane Aqueduct so as to be ready for the flight in the morning.

With a zoom meeting arranged with the Production Manager of panto we needed to keep going and not stop for lunch, which suited Tilly better.

Soon we were going under the first of the lovely bridges. Oh those curves!

A first glimpse of Mow Cop, maybe next time we’ll actually walk up there if we can find enough puff.

Bridge 87 not only has the lovely curves, it also is built on a skew and for some reason the stonework seems to be more eroded than on other bridges. Maybe the stone came from a softer layer.

Ramsdell Hall and Tilly’s railings. We’d thought of carrying on to moor here yesterday, but chances were that it would have been full when we got here. Of course today it was far too early to stop at such a nice mooring.

The curvy bridges come thick and fast, all lined up, framing the view up the canal and themselves.

Billy Tights Bridge still makes us wonder how it got it’s name. He sounds like he should have been part of Mr Kites performing troop on Sergeant Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band. PS this used to be a swing bridge.

Lamberts Lane Bridge 77 is the first snake/roving bridge. Not quite as pleasing as those in Macclesfield and Marple but a good preview of what’s to come. The great white wall of Congleton then shows it’s face opposite the visitor moorings.

Today a large bough of tree lay across the towpath and into the canal. Last nights wind must have brought this down. Already parts of it had been sawn up and stowed on the bows of surrounding boats. Thankfully it doesn’t look like anyone had been moored beneath it.

Over the aqueduct to bridge 76 another snake bridge, followed by a busy stretch of moorings below the pub. Bridges after bridges follow, criss crossing road and rail high above us.

A long straight stretches out in front. In the distance we could see a boat heading away from us, then one coming towards. The water point had a couple of work boats tied at the end, a large pile of dark aggregate looked like it was going to be loaded for towpath works.

We passed a boat with a snoozing cat in the cratch, could that have been Betty or Olga? Shame not to have seen Ben to say hello.

At Crossley Hall Farm, where the painted cow used to sit, I was glad to see NB Blanche on it’s mooring. Boatwif’s blog of a few days ago had suggested the boat no longer moored there, but they must have been out and about. A great shame the cow has gone though.

Coming towards us had been several boats over the last hour or so and we half expected there to be a few moored below the Bosley Flight. One boat faced away from the locks at the end of the moorings, the rest was empty. Just where to pull up? I suggested we should sit at the end nearest the locks, claiming pole position for the morning. The views still pretty good.

A while after we arrived the hire boat we’d followed through the tunnel yesterday arrived, shouting to make themselves heard over their engine. They were getting ready to climb the flight. Mick popped out to give them the bad news that the locks were closed. ‘WHAT!’ was the reply. He then mentioned it was to do with saving water and the lady calmed down a touch. They’d been wanting to reach Macclesfield before winding to return to Stone, if they waited till the morning for the locks they wouldn’t have enough time to get back to base. After a while they ascended the first lock winded and headed back towards Congleton a pint at the pub to console themselves.

Time to get ready for my zoom meeting, which got postponed by an hour. Mick made himself scarce as had Tilly so that there were no distractions. Finally I had a meeting that could/should have happened at least a month ago. Details of the set finally being discussed. Currently there is nowhere for me to do a weeks painting booked. One possible in a village nearer Banbury than Chipping Norton, ideal if the boat was on the South Oxford this year, but not so good when she’ll be much much further north.

If anyone knows of a dry, reasonably warm space with lights and water near Chipping Norton that I could use for a weeks painting from the 18th October, please shout out. I’m clean and tidy and would make you some sausage rolls as a thank you!

PS The C word today was Curve

0 locks, 8.78 miles, 44 bridges, 1 wet start, 1 dry day, 1 full water tank, 220 curves, 3.5 hours! 2 pounds low, 5 sets of gates closed, 4m or 4.15m? 4 or 5 D rings? 1 problematic sight line, 1st in line for the morning, 1st top bought, 0 other boats.

https://goo.gl/maps/nhhizBxX962sT8Py6

Just Like A Car Park. 23rd September

Roseford Bridge 94 to Swivel Bridge 108

We had to wait to pull out this morning, boats coming in both directions, there had already been about eight boats go past heading northwards, most now familiar as we keep leapfrogging them. Eventually we pushed off and arrived behind NB First Dawn a BCBM share boat at Deptmore Lock. We helped lock them down then bring another up before it was our turn.

The morning was lovely, sun with a touch of cloud, the boat ahead had similar ideas to us, if there was space at Tixall Wide we’d stop for the day, if not we’d continue to the Trent and Mersey.

Passing Stafford Boat Club, NB Festina Lente was moored online, we’ve never met them but said hello as we passed, nobody heard us. Then the odd pram cover on NB Malakarti came into view, this was one of the last Steve Hudson boats to be built and the original owners discovered that their Huskies got seasick, so it was sold on fairly quickly. It is one of the boats that we got to see a lot of during Lockdown 1 as it was moored on Nantwich Aqueduct all the time.

Once past Radford Bridge I was onto slightly unfamiliar water. Our first cruise along here on NB Winding Down I’d had to jump ship for a day to head to Hull Truck for a read through, leaving Mick and his sister Kath to carry on to Stone. Another occasion I’d just broken my ankle, so was confined to quarters with Tilly, Mick single handing above. This is also a stretch where I seem to get busy below as it’s a good break between locks. On one occasion Mick remembers wafts of stew coming from below at 9:30am as I popped things in a slow cooker. Another time he thinks I was doing some work below. So maybe today is the first time I’ve actually been up top.

The sign to RCR was familiar but not the Stafford Riverway Link, the lock down to it currently being worked on.

I’d never seen the homemade train by NB Abba.

Milford Bridge is a roving bridge, with almost full curving lines, but still not as pretty as the Macc bridges. Across the River Sow Aqueduct I did a Gyles (Gyles Brandreth on Great Canal Journeys), ducking my head to avoid the view.

Soon we arrived at Tixall Lock, the cream paint of the lock cottage glowing in the sunshine. We helped NB First Dawn down, as the weather was so nice they had decided to carry on to the T&M, we’d also leap frogged several other boats that had passed us this morning, maybe there might be space for us at Tixall Wide?!

Our approach to the wide summed up what the stretch of popular moorings would be like. Some boats moored nose to tail, others having gaps both in front and behind. On such a popular mooring if we pulled into a big gap we’d certainly have pulled up to the next boat and not plonked ourselves in the middle. We’d also nudge up if we found ourselves left with git gaps after other boats had moved on.

There were two possible gaps we might have squeezed into, but it all felt like a giant car park for boats, did we really want to squeeze in, we know that the view is lovely, but! It didn’t take us long to decide to continue onwards leaving the masses.

There was space just after Swivel Bridge so we pulled in mooring at the end of a piece of armco leaving space between us and the bridge. Tilly was given 4.5 hours shore leave. We think she liked it as she didn’t return for two hours, then missed dingding time!

The whirligig was put to good use with two loads of washing drying and I sat down to get my head around what paint I needed to order for panto. Quite a long list and one I need to try to prune a touch before emailing it onwards. One thing that I discovered is that you can at last get Bio Glitter from a well known theatrical chandlers. I’ve avoided using glitter as it is so bad for the environment, but this year I’ll be adding a little bit of sparkle to the walk down set.

2 locks, 6.15 miles, 1 train, 1 Gyles, 1 car park, 7 git gaps, 2 tight squeezes, 1 mooring on our own, until late afternoon, 2 loads washing, 4.5 hours which turned into 6! 1 grounded Tilly, 2 many colours, £8.83 glitter, 5 chums, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval, 1 failed rugby tackle.

https://goo.gl/maps/bQQGSuUCbDp8gVv16

Glad We Didn’t Come By Car. 22nd September

Otherton Marina to Roseford Bridge 94

We’re getting slower at getting up in the mornings. Today fishermen were coming past with their kit as we had our cuppa in bed. A match was being set up around us, comments from a passing boater to one of them suggested that they’d be starting at 10:15am. With this in mind we made ready, pushed away and had passed the last chap shortly before the call went along the line to start.

The canal had been busyish and at Filance Lock we met our first uphill boat, a single hander who’d managed to gain assistance from a dog walker. Filance isn’t friendly to single handers, there’s nowhere to tie up to below so this chap was grateful for the assistance. Oleanna however quite fancied being in the lock before he left, no matter what Mick did she wasn’t having any of it. Oleanna gave NB Arden Tilly a little kiss as she went by.

Penkridge Lock had a boat coming up, they’d been hoping to be able to wind and use the lock for their return. However we were there waiting to make use of the water. The locks are far deeper than the Wolverhampton 21, between 8 to 10ft deep compared to around 6ft 4″. The water certainly rushes out of them at speed.

Below the lock we pulled in and moored up. A few bits of shopping needed and we’d heard that Wednesday was market day in Penkridge. We’ve not stopped here for ages, the walk into town felt a touch like that of Market Drayton, only shorter. Some lovely houses.

Market Square was just a car park, the market must be elsewhere. We carried on walking through town, all the cars heading in one direction. Just off Stafford Road near the River Penk the traffic was backed up, they were all going to the market.

The market has it’s own site and car park, we were glad we’d walked and wouldn’t have to sit in a jam in a car to find a space. The market is big with a one way system, a little like Ikea, we were trapped until we’d walked all the way round. There was the usual fare of tat, but also good stalls that caught our eye.

Hardware, pies, crafts, plants, fish (smelly), socks (not so smelly), veg, dog trests (none for cats!), towels, cat statues one of which had the same expression Tilly has when she visits her pooh box! A pretty good market, but very busy. Have to say we did walk past the Covid test and jab centre quite quickly, I really hope no-one with symptoms comes for a test in such a crowded place.

With a black pudding pork pie and a spare hose attachment we left the market behind and headed to the Co-op for other bits of shopping.

After lunch we set off again, still some distance to cover to keep up with the schedule. At Longford Lock we pulled in behind a boat that had sped past us a while earlier.

With only one top paddle working the lock took forever to fill. Extra weight was needed on the gate beam to get it open whilst comments were made about the state of the locks. I walked round to go and lower the working paddle whilst the chap brought their boat into the lock and the lady waited to close the gate behind. He then hopped off and proceeded to drop the one working paddle, which hit the bottom with a metal thud! Then he ran to get back on his near full length boat that was still very much in gear. He didn’t make it in time as the bare bow hit the bottom gates not once, but twice!

After all his complaints about the locks, he most certainly wasn’t doing anything to help. The general rush the two of them seemed to be in wouldn’t help them any, in fact they were likely to end up braking something that may slow them down quite considerably!

The bottom gates opened as the chap at the tiller opened another can of Carlsberg.

Under the M6 bridge another fishing match sat. I wonder how much fishing they actually get done with so many boats about. But they all seemed quite happy and most returned a hello.

At Park Gate Lock we’d caught the speeding boat up, doubt they slowed for the fishermen, well they’ve the Four Counties ring to do in a week, they were hoping to reach Stone by the end of the day!

The basin here is now full of boats, Bourne Boats now builds their boats here. The old Midland Chandlers closed last year, but in the last three months a new chandlers has opened, Park Gate Leisure. The chap said they were gradually getting on their feet. A peer inside the door and I could see all the basics, plus life jackets. They also sell 13kg gas bottles. Sadly we didn’t want anything today.

Running around the locks and biffing gates certainly wasn’t making the boat ahead go any faster as we caught them up again. Comments here as to there only being two working paddles, one at each end, were made as their boat entered the lock in their usual style. I have to say I did take note of their number.

Now it was time to find a mooring hopefully away from the motorway noise. At lunchtime I’d received a message from the panto production manager saying that the company who were going to print up the cloths hadn’t received the artwork, had I sent it? Well yes and it had been signed for on delivery a month ago. My heart sank, yes I have scanned copies but nowhere near the quality needed to enlarge them to 25 times the model! Just before we moored I got confirmation from my agent, who happens to also work for the printing company, saying that my art work was safe and sound. Thank goodness!! Finally now it looks like the cloths will be ordered!

Tilly had a fun few hours outside whilst I made some apple crumble flapjack and then got on with hunting down neon tops for #unit21 again. After an hour and a half I’d had enough of looking at young ladies in scanty tops on vinted, here’s hoping some of them offer to drop their prices and nothing else!

5 locks (thankfully still in one piece), 4.46 miles, 1 vast market, 1 hose connector, 1 small pork pie, 2 boaters in a quandary, 1 shop, 1 contract copied (house or boat?), 1 trip on Winding Down, but which 1? 0 help from blog! 35 fishermen, 1 big rush, 1 number taken, 1 tray too big, 2 much flapjack, 0 well what a shame!

https://goo.gl/maps/bqQStjqcf4bch51m8

A Productive Day. 14th September

Cast Iron Roving Bridge

Rain. Well it had been forecast.

Just about all our neighbours moved off all sporting their wet weather gear. We on the other hand sat indoors to stay dry. We’d most certainly chosen the best day to ascend the locks into Birmingham.

Tilly ventured outside when the rain dulled a little, but still nothing had changed to alter her opinion of BUMingham.

During the morning we heard a low deep engine coming. Was it a trip boat or could it be a coal boat. The bow came into sight, it was NB Roach. I waved to the chap on board as Mick made his way out of the pram cover, we were after a new gas bottle and he had some on board.

With quite a few boats moving about he wasn’t able to stop straight away. Another boat hailed him too for some coal. He gradually reversed back into the space behind us and tied up. £35.50 so not bad and we’d rather stock up now as there are still rumours of shortages further north. He’s heading for Worcester then onto Stourport for next Monday, back up to Stourton Junction hoping that the lock in Kidderminster is operational after a big fire and subsequent pollution in the canal there.

I spent the day working. All of a sudden emails were flooding in regarding Panto. These needed attention and the props list needed up dating and forwarding to Jo who is already working on the show.

Our super powerful torch comes in handy at times

Then it was time to put the finishing touches to my #unit21 model. Adjustments of lines on the floor a bit off here and there to make the overall proportions look better. Then it was time to take some photos to update Amy on the model.

I updated the technical drawings ready to scan and send to Graham for a new price. Different covering materials were sought out and samples requested so that projection can be tried out. A very productive day for me.

Mick spent his time lighting the stove and generally keeping warm, he also walked to Sainsburys for a few bits.

Tilly, after a couple of checks on the outside, retired to bed for just about all of the rest of the day. A very productive day asleep I think you’ll find!

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 boats left, £35.50 gas, 1 day behind already, 1 soggy day, 1 model finished, 1 big torch, 1 happy director, 4 new samples, 1 panto set builder, 0 production manager, 1 updated props list, 1 bored cat, 1 cosy boat.

The Pie Diet Advantage. 11th September

Black Boy Bridge 69 to Kixley Lane Bridge 72

Topics of conversation this morning on the Geraghty zoom, breakfast parties, the B&B at Wigrams Turn and living with someone who isn’t there. We have a sound engineer in the family who is currently busy at the New York Open working for Eurosport.

We decided to nudge on uphill a bit today. At bridge 70 we passed the Kings Arms a slightly more expensive pub for food than that of The Black Boy. Here bridge 70 has been half painted cream. With the effort to reach the centre line I’m surprised they didn’t finish the job.

After about a mile we could see Knowle Locks rising up the hill ahead of us. We’ve been down them before once but never gone up and it would be a first time for Oleanna on the flight.

The locks are positioned so that if there is any wind anywhere in the UK it will also be here, ready to push your boat off course. Jackie from NB Mad Hatter had suggested the other day that it was safer to open both gates making it safer to move from lock to lock. The walk round the wide pounds between locks makes it just that bit far to walk back and forth to open and close gates or set ahead if there are only two of you, so I was relieved to see blue t-shirts about the flight.

Two volunteers walked up to the bottom lock, one lady left to wind a paddle, the other walked uphill. I opened the bottom gate, Mick entered and sat by the off side wall. The lady was about to lift the opposite paddle. Mick suggested it would be better to lift the same side paddle, to which she replied ‘Oh you only need to do one paddle on these’. Did she know that Knowle Locks are counter intuitive? Or did she not know that opening the paddle on the same side as your boat normally makes for a smoother passage up a lock? It was the latter! I managed to open my paddle quicker bringing Oleanna back to the side she’d started off at.

The next lock was being set for us and a gate opened ready for Mick to transit across the pound. After closing the gate I walked up to the top paddles for the lock and started to wind the same side paddle. It was a little bit stiff, but no more than any at Hatton or Stockton. The volunteer asked if I wanted him to do it, well, thank you, but no thank you. I love doing locks, especially if they are a bit of a challenge at times, with it being Oleanna’s first time through Knowle I wanted to work the locks even more and would have felt deprived if the volunteers had just taken over. He understood and left me to it, having a chat instead.

Above the lady waited and waited before emptying the third lock. In fact she waited for the lock gate to be open on our lock. I walked round the wide pound and could see she was really struggling with the paddle. I offered to wind the paddle, my long reach windlass and diet giving me more of a pie advantage to lift the stiff paddle. It rose, the lock emptied and the volunteers moved on up to the next in the flight.

I opened the bottom gate then very quickly realised that the wind was now a factor and rushed round to the other side to open the other gate as Oleanna was being blown right across and might even miss the entrance to the lock all together. We managed to rectify the situation.

Fourth lock and both gates were waiting open for us, phew! The number of volunteers on the flight was at least six and we were only their third boat of the day. Another volunteer headed to the top lock and started to empty it as Mick crossed the pound between the third and fourth locks. Water started to pour over the by washes, so much for saving water!

At the top lock we now had three volunteers, two at the bottom gates and one at a top paddle. Mick pointed in my direction requesting that the same side paddle be wound first, the chap on the other side stopped and waited before Mick gave him a nod when the lock was about half full, Oleanna sat comfortably to one side of the lock and rose.

By the top lock was a blue gazebo, the Knowle Society had joined with C&RT to have a stand at the locks today as it is the first day of Heritage Open Days. This runs for ten days each year in September. It’s well worth checking the website for possible places to visit. Three years ago we visited numerous places in Leamington Spa and Warwick that you don’t normally get chance to see and the year before in Preston we got to walk round the Egyptian balcony in the Harris Museum.

We pootled on a short distance to near Kixley Lane Bridge, this would do us for the day. Once Tilly had had her initial explore and we’d had lunch we walked into Knowle for a touch of shopping.

The first building you come across is a very jolly house. Yellow walls, red front door, green window frames and the garage door is bright blue around the corner. It could nearly be a house painted by @lucyknit, but then again it’s a little bit tame for her.

A village cricket match was on going, the nearest thing Mick would be getting to test cricket this weekend! We called in at Tescos for a few things and then found our way to Knowle Parish Church. Here today you could climb the tower (part of Heritage Open Days), but only until 3pm and it was 3pm. We had a look around inside.

The original church was consecrated 1403 and was saved during the reformation by the villagers pleading that crossing the River Blyth to reach the church in Hampton was often impossible due to flooding. Through the centuries extensions were built, an organ loft, south aisle and the tower increased in height.

The first bells (three) were hung in 1687, these were recast for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubliee and by 1931 the church had eight bells.

In the soldiers chapel there is a fine stained glass window but the walls caught my eye more. Here stencilled artwork covers the walls in an almost William Morris style. Stained glass windows from various eras cast coloured light throughout the building. My favourite by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, a Pre Raphaelite window depicting George and the Dragon.

5 locks, 1.56 miles only, 7 vlockies, 1 paddle, 0 pies, 0 life jacket, 2 gates, 139 for 8, 3pm, 1 Saturday newspaper, 1 sound engineer in NY, 2031 leaves finished, 1557 to go.

https://goo.gl/maps/UQwCsqzexpdW2gV47

Cutting The Tea Cosy. 7th September

Radford Smelly

An hour of shore leave was permitted whilst I had breakfast this morning and wrote out a shopping list. Tilly came home bang on time, it was my time to head out before it got too hot!

A new route into town was called for. I walked along the canal until it ran alongside Radford Road when I dropped down onto it and walked in the shade for a while. At the junction of Willes Road there is a handy Sainsburys Local, it didn’t have the right sort of yoghurt though. I then followed Willes Road over the River Leam, today is the right sort of day to see Leamington shining in the sunshine with bright blue skies.

I found scissors and took a chance at a pair meant for crafting, rather than dress making, hopefully they will stay sharp enough for long enough. A hunt for black tissue paper came up trumps in the end, but a plant spray bottle with a pressure pump was nowhere to be found. I want one of these so the pram and cratch covers can have another spray of Wet and Forget before it’s too late, it’ll also mean I don’t get trigger finger! Think I need a garden centre.

As a child I wanted a dress the colour of that sky

Bobbing in and out of air conditioning had been worth the walk as it was now getting really quite hot. I chose to walk back through Jephson Gardens mostly in the shade then followed a path through Welches Meadow where there was no shade. Thankfully back at the boat it was still cool inside.

Mick gave me a whatsapp video tour of the house, before going upstairs upstairs to rummage through my scenic art bags so that I could select any good brushes for painting panto. I really wanted my foot wide roller cage to make basing in and glazing scenery so much quicker, hopefully it will fit the pole Chippy bought for me last time as Mick wasn’t too keen to bring mine back on the train with him. Once my brushes had all been auditioned it was time to re-read panto.

The final draft of the script had landed in my inbox, a few cuts and additions to the props list were needed. I suspect Jo’s Aunt has already knitted the tea cosy for the Dame to wear! This has been cut and replaced with a washing line full of underwear pulled out from beneath the Dames petticoats. Oh well, we’ll just have to take turns in wearing the tea cosy ourselves!

During the afternoon the temperature most probably rose to 29C and chilled medication was called for. As soon as I got a Solero out of the freezer it started to melt, it soon disappeared before I re-read Act 2. Tilly spent quite a bit of time inside this afternoon, but as the temperature dropped in the evening I allowed her to have an extra hour before her dingding. This could have been a mistake, but thankfully she came running before the mad cat woman had to show herself.

The new scissors were tried out and at the moment they are doing very well, a good length of blade and sharpness. Watching the news and Silent Witness got me through at least 600 leaves. Only another 2988 to go!

0 locks, 0 miles, 5 mile walk, 29C, 1 virtual tour of the house, 1 roller cage, 1 long handle, 6 brushes, 1 tray, 3 sets of linen, 1 helpful neighbour, 1 free chilled medication, 2 acts, 3 cuts, 4 additions, 1 sunset, 600 leaves, 0 new blisters, result!

Orphans. 6th September

Radford Smelly

Mick and I compared views as we had our cuppas in bed this morning, his from the back bedroom in Scarborough, mine across the canal as boats started to move off.

As you all know Mick does very yummy cooked breakfasts, but this morning I made myself a pre-Mick breakfast, mushrooms on toast. Yes Mick cooks mushrooms, but not in a white sauce, he shys away from making bechamel sauce. Well he’d enjoyed his pizza last night, so I enjoyed my mushrooms, my excitement also meant my photo was out of focus!

My list of jobs to get done whilst there is that bit more space on board is really quite long, just where to start? I decided to see how my scissors coped with scalloping the edges of the panto leaves. Mum’s dress making sheers are good, but too big for cutting curves. Most other scissors I could find were nowhere near up for the job. The smallest pair, embroidery scissors were wonderfully sharp but too short and get stuck on my thumb. If I was doing maybe 100 leaves this would be fine, but for over 3000! The woman who has numerous pairs of scissors needs another pair.

At midday I checked in for a zoom meeting about #unit21 with the director. The current cost of materials has been a shock, nips and tucks a necessity. If only we had £5000 more we could build a false floor and have flexible neon in it, instead we are looking at some vinyl flooring with the neon lines painted. Some experimentation is needed but I’ll need some UV light to see what works. Looks like I’ll be experimenting whilst at Chippy.

It was far too hot outside after my meeting to head into town, I closed all the curtains and decided to get the remainder of the felt cut into triangles, a job I need all the dinette table for, so best to get it done now.

Checking the gutters and roof out in problem corner

In Scarborough Mick managed to meet a builder, not the one intended, this chap reckons we need to replace guttering and tiles at the back of the house, not a surprise really. After ringing round numerous plumbers has also managed to get one booked, in November!

Over the last couple of days Tilly and I have been pestered by a couple of swans. They are beautiful creatures but lurk outside boat hatches expecting slices of white sliced to be thrown out for them. Their smoking habit of 40 woodbines a day very evident as they try to attract your attention! For those who knew Josie in Bempton, they sound just like her. We do our best not to encourage their demands.

I’ve also noticed three ducklings, a little bit older than toddlers. They swim back and forth with no sign of their mum. Orphans. I’ve chatted with them several times wondering if they are old enough to survive once the cold weather hits, have they learnt enough life skills to survive. Looking around the boat for something to give them porridge oats was the only item on the menu other than very frozen peas. I scattered a handful out of the hatch and they were very much appreciated. A few more sprinklings and I felt I was helping them to survive.

After cutting out another 1000 or so green triangles I spotted that the ducklings had returned, quietly sitting hoping for a few more Scottish Rolled oats. I put some in a bowl so that they were easier at hand and sprinkled a few more onto the surface of the water. They tend to sink after a few seconds so the ducklings had to be quick.

Is it Woodbines or do you prefer cigars?

Looking up I suddenly realised that I now had two extra beaks demanding oats from me! The slight orange from nicotine staining on their white feathers and their long necks that I’d always been warned about as a child ‘They’ll break your arm!’ made me recoil inside the hatch.

Then the penny dropped. I’d been taken for a mug. The ducklings and swans were all in it together! Pulling at my heart strings, dishing out the porridge oats. Had I been conned? Or were the ducklings child labour!

0 locks, 0 miles, 0 step off the boat, 5 curtains drawn, 2 blinds, 12 midday meeting, 1 hot long Tilly, 9 hours very few taken, 2031 triangles, 5 blisters, 3 orphans, 2 Mafioso chain smoking swans, 27 C, 0 BBC1!

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna