Monday, 29 April 2013

ST George's Day and the week around it.



 Lyme Regis with my fellow missionaries (shown below with the exception of Ted whom we are off to meet).

Peter, Mike P, Geoff, Adrian, Me, Kevin


And here he is, with  Roses presented by Kev, fresh off a bus from Exmouth.


We are staying in a big house near the sea in Lyme Regis but today, wearing our roses to celebrate St George's Day we are off to the Swannery at Abbotsbury
followed by a celebratory pint and Roast Beef with all the trimmings.



The tie regarded by some as tasteless looks rather good on Peter
Does this remind you of the film "The Odd Couple"?
Nice to see a bit of class about
Elevenses at Abbotsbury


A sparkling day as the lads pose looking
 like an ageing tribute band

Kevin, cluthching our guide to the Swannery is
 confused as he has never heard swans go "Baaaaa"








The swans that aren't nesting take up position on the path
This one is waiting for Peter.
Geoff showing some "stile"
The Swannery is beautiful and well worth a visit at this time of year during the nesting season. Try and pick a day with weather like ours though.

The Beef-30 quids worth and worth every penny
Apart from one bloke in the supermarket car park who was flying the Cross of St George the English as usual are totally ignoring their Patron Saint's Day. Not us. We are off to Lyme Regis to celebrate in style.
Whoops! We nearly forgot Ted
who has fallen in love with a swan





Ted does his Idiot Gnome impersonation-very good too
The following day we go to Branscome-lovely village with good walks and an excellent pub, The Fountain Head- http://www.fountainheadinn.com/-which was flying the St George Cross from yesterday







Followed by a walk round the Cobb at Lyme Regis











The French Lieutenant's Solicitor



Out in the evening for an Italian in Lyme Regis. It wasn't cheap but it was good


The following day (Thursday) after a Mackerel Breakfast
off to Sidmouth where we met Geoff's brother Brian (who taught me to ride a bike over 50 years ago!)

After a planning meeting in the Anchor a walk along the River Otter

I knew Ted shouldn't have had the second one in the Anchor


and nor should Adrian















 A Faewell to Ted Pint then a Chinese Take-away and copious draughts in the evening.
Home in the morning.

Thursday, 11 April 2013


Monday 8th April
I wandered up to the lock this morning and was chatting to the BW (now CaRT) man who was running water through to the lower pound . Being English we talked about the weather (I wonder what foreigners talk about?) and I mentioned that rain was forecast for later in the week.
Pump action
He said "We've got more water than we need already" We laughed at the fact that a year ago we were so short of water in the cut hereabouts that nobody could go anywhere.
The canal was stopped at Newground Bridge
Navigation was stopped for three months and a minimum level was maintained by frequent pumping back above the lock at Cowroast.



Now we are oversupplied with water-possibly because we had plenty during what was laughably called last Summer-but also because the pumping to the Aylesbury Arm is limited since the collapse of Lock 12 thereon.

 http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/work-starts-to-repair-the-aylesbury-arm

So all this water has to go somewhere and here at Cowroast we have plenty. The level of the canal is splendidly high.
The stoppage on the Aylesbury Arm has caused problems for friends of mine who are the wrong side of the collapse. They want to get out to go on their travels during the Summer but more importantly want to get out to come to our St George's Party on 27th April.
There is rumour that CaRT are contemplating a lift out of boats at Aylsebury, putting them back in at Milton Keynes but we wait for more news.
Preparations are now in hand for the St George's Gathering and I know as I write that all my friends are rifling through their priceless collection of boating and associated goodies trying to decide which to auction on behalf of the St Francis Hospice and which to hand down to their offspring.
Last year we made £400 on the auction alone and anything approaching that will be great. Pam and I are also doing a raffle for the Mission in Uganda so we are poncing good quality prizes for that. Pam's aim is to raise £500 and she is about a quarter of the way there. Mike G and his lovely wife Judith kindly coughed up a tenner which has been added to the fund. Much thanks
10th April-2.30 p.m. And the shower is finished-at last. Just need to fit the curtain and a door. Next week maybe.
Spring is here as well. The sun is out and the daffs are winning. Able to start painting outside without the paint freezing on my brush. Marvellous.

11th April. Oh well it was nice while it lasted. Rain all night and dreary morning so no painting today.
But planning is apace now for the Big Adventure Llangollen Summer (BALLS). My neighbours, Roy and Annie, on Panther and I are planning the trip to Wales during late July through to October.

Roy and
Annie (one of the two best lock workers in the world)
(Note who is carryng the most bags)


They have already done the outline plan so my next job is to try and drum up some crew for the various stages. My knees aren't what they were so any help will be invaluable. Most of my usual crew are meeting up in Lyme Regis in 2 weeks time so I will have a chance to do some recruiting. Get them rocky in the local pubs and drop the old King's shilling in their mug-sorted.

Cleaning my teeth this morning I saw my first rabbit this Spring. Good to see him as they are kept company by this fellow. I've seen this mink half a dozen times now but he pays me no heed. I know they are little buggers but he is beautiful.

And as far as I'm aware he doesn't eat marquees and paint brushes. No news from Lord Rothschild yet. Might be on holiday.


I know it's been a while and soooo many of you have asked when will I write another blog. My answer to both of them is here it is. My la...