Narrowboat Independence: December 2016

The works at Cow Roast Lock finished earlier this month and it looks like Donald Trump left his wig behind! The Trump wig is in fact the hemp type packing that they use for caulking the lock gates. Or is it vice versa?

Our resident heron checks the quality of the lock repairs

The lock having reopened there's been a bit of traffic through but it's not been busy. With the exception of the weekend 3/4 Dec the weather has not been the sort to make for busy boating.
Rather it's been the weather for doing what we did.
Which was?

Well as you ask we went to the theatre. To see Nice Fish at the Harold Pinter Theatre and starring Mark Rylance, one of our favourite actors, who showed he had a talent for comedy in Farinelli and the King which we saw last November.
Nice Fish was funnier and the whole cast were superb.I lost myself in the whole thing and had a good exercise of the gigglemuscles.

We'd walked through London from Euston beforehand and got to the pub opposite the theatre in time for a lemonade. We crossed the road in time for another drink in the theatre. We should have stayed in the pub! £18.20 for two glasses of wine! Bloody hell I was annoyed with myself for paying it and still feel as though I've been mugged. It didn't spoil the play at all but it certainly means I wont be troubling the Harold Pinter theatre bar again.
However if you get the chance go and see Nice Fish. Just don't go to the bar.

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A walk across Ashridge-another wet day that turned golden as we walked. Brilliant Autumn

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The record sized moon peering through the clouds whilst competing with the street lamp at Northchurch

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Narrowboat June Rose has gone. The lovely June and son, David, have moved ashore to High Wycombe. Sadly the difficulties of life afloat have overtaken June and she has had to give up the boat. So the boat, June Rose has gone for brokerage and the mooring will be auctioned in the New Year and new moorers will join our happy band. In the meantime it's meant space for Les and Jaq to stay for Christmas.

Bye bye June

Bye bye June Rose

We will, of course, keep in touch with June and David

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Christmas is coming!

Only 7 sleeps till Christmas!

The Boaters' Annual Christmas Gathering was held at the Red Lion and was organised (very well) by Mike Griffin. The weather was superb for the weekend and I boated down with Roy on Panther with Ady and Geoff crewing. A lovely run both ways.

Pam joined us in the evening and it's the first one for many years that I've not organised and meant I had a very relaxing evening actually sitting down with Pam to eat the excellent grub!

Out of interest Mike G produced a list of our 26 previous gatherings. They have all consistently raised in excess of £400 for charity and this year was no exception with a mighty £600 profit meaning donations to the Hospice of St Francis, Ian Rennie and a token for June and David for Christmas.

One down point that the list shows is that it is now six years since we had our party at the White Lion Marsworth which means it has been empty and ugly since that time whilst the developer and Council fail to agree on development. When I'm elected Queen-and 2016 has shown anything is possible- they would have 2 years to sort it and I'd confiscate the land and build Council housing on it. They'd get their greedy arses in gear then.

My tree on the mooring from outside and inside the boat

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Over the years Pam and I oft disappear to somewhere for a little walking, card writing and Christmas shopping and this year was no exception.
I also usually stop in Bakewell on way to visit my sister in Oldham using a splendid b and b of which I have written before. As I'm not visiting Lancs this year we rented a cottage for a few days.
My plan is to visit Lancs in January as part of my 70th Celebrations

I shall be stopping at the b and b overnight then.

http://www.onecastlestreet.co.uk/

What a grand break we had. Stopping in Tansley on the way up we lunched with Mac and Julia, Pam's brother and sister in law at the Tavern.
I had an excellent mushroom and Parmesan starter followed by Belly of Pork. All totally calorie free.

To Bakewell and Campion Cottage. After a full lunch a quiet evening. The following day being perfect for walking we set off for Monsal Head stopping for a pint at the wonderful Packhorse in Little Longstone before catching the bus back to Bakewell and Sunday Roast at the Peacock. Great day.

War Memorial and Christmas tree at Bakewell

The following day was far from perfect for walking and we had planned to visit Chatsworth House to see the Christmas decs and have a walk. We had been given tickets for the house (thank you Janice!) and the house did not disappoint. We didn't bother with a walk. Heh heh.

Lord Wall of Cow Roast

The Great Hall

The whole theme was round the Nutcracker Suite with staff, display characters and even ballerina in costume. Pam and I even managed a pas de deux at the top of the main staircase but sadly nobody took a picture.

The Nutcrackers

Dancers silhouetted on the walls

Three of the many trees throughout.

and a dressing room where Pam sorted out this little number.

Mice sawing cheese

This one's got a pneumatic drill

and these are climbing a cheese mountain

Pam has found some nutcrackers to play with

The main stairs where we gave our balletic best

A tree of ballet shoes.........I think the chap who took the other one should have gone to Specsavers

After the most enjoyable tour of the house we went to Chatsworth Farm shop where we know the prices are high but believe you me young man you get what you pay for, The quality of the Lamb butterfly chops we had that evening was astounding. I was fortunate in that at the Boaters' Christmas Gathering I had won a raffle prize of a bottle of Chateau Puech-Haut, 2009. It was absolutely stunning with the lamb and a real treat for someone like myself who rarely drinks.
Now here's a funny thing. On returning to Cow Roast I received a postcard from my sister about her visit with Tom, Martin and Valerie to the Chatsworth Christmas on the Tuesday; the day after we were there. Neither of us knew the other was going-small world, Chatsworth.

My Horse awaits

After Chatsworth where else but the Wee Dram Whisky shop in Bakewell for Christmas treats for the poor and dispirited of Cow Roast. Mind you they weren't poor when they went in.