CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Time to prepare for the Cowroast Lock Moorers' Christmas Gathering which will be held on Saturday 7th December at a venue not far away......

This do is always on the 1st Saturday in Advent and marks the opening of the Christmas social scene for most of the boaters I know. It also marks the end as they don't get invited anywhere else which is understandable.
 Before then I plan to decorate both the boat and the shed and am indulging in the annual ritual known as "These Lights were ****ing Working Alright Last Year!".
I have found the lights for the shed and by the skilled application of grey tape and knicker elastic have got them working though yet to erect.

No! ..............My tree is missing. As tasteful a piece of 5 quid tat as ever left Tesco but it is the right height for inside the boat and came with 12 volt lighting attached. And I could put it up myself which is a painful yet festive thing to do.
(Do you know about the proctologist who got bored on holiday and decided to look up some old friends?) Anyway I digress.
I shall have one last look tomorrow and if no success will pine no longer and buy another Christmas Tree..

Thursday and the Official Switching on of the Independence Mooring Christmas Lights was done by Norman the world famous Gnome though he had to be lifted up to do it. He was worried about them shorting out but that's a perennial gnomic worry. I had hoped to get the very talented One Erection but Norman said he'd do it for nothing.

Afterwards Norman and I sang Silent Night very loudly and treated ourselves to a mince pie though Norman being the s....elfish little bugger he is said he wanted shortbread. And he prefers Wee Three Kings cos he thinks it's about Elfred the Great, Elfered the Unready and William the Dwarf from all of whom he claims some descendency. Anyway the lights look good to me and the chap moored opposite approves so everybody that matters is happy.

The missing tree turned ip today. Exactly 24 hours after I'd splashed out on a new one.


The weather forecast is a bit alarmist which seems to be normal these days with every seasonal change being heralded as the worst.......since records etc. I only have one rule that I'm sticking to this year and that is if the canal is iced over I aint taking my boat to the party. The British Waterways Board used to have icebreakers who not only sorted the canal out when froze but would also go to parties throughout the year introducing people to one another.
I bought some more raffle prizes today. People are very generous in supplying same but I thought this year I would do a Hamper containing various goodies in the hope of selling more tickets to raise funds for the Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted. The whole affair is coming together nicely and the weather forecast is promising.
Saturday
We set off later than planned to travel to Marsworth. There are reasons for this delay. One of them is called Roy.  Another is called a very fine bottle of Dalwhinnie. A third was a very good curry in the Akash last night after drinks in the Lamb with Pam. A very pleasant evening/morning.

Anyway we got going about midday and here you see one of Santa's little helpers letting go for'ard. It's when he lets go back'ard you have to worry.

Before Tring Station bridge there is a bend where the canal shallows and the trees overhang the cut. I have always called this Kingfisher bend for obvious reasons and today was a real treat. Roy called me up on the radio (he was in front on Panther) to say there was a kingfisher posing on a branch so I got the camera ready and slowed down to a crawl. This beauty was facing me as I came up to his spot and turned round as I passed. Not the best quality of photo but it's never easy when you're trying to take a photo whilst steering the boat with the tiller arm wedged between the cheeks of you stern end. Anyway it was a delight to see this most beautiful of birds out in the December sunshine.

Every one of the seven locks down to Marsworth was against us so progress was comparatively slow with only one, albeit expert, crew member. Well done Ady.
The weather was with us all the way-two years ago we did it through ice and it was "challenging". At Marsworth we wanted to moor past the junction with the Aylesbury arm so we decided to turn one boat (Panther) and tow her backward to the mooring which worked very well especially as there was space for only one boat before the Vicarage Road (Red Lion ) Bridge.

The evening went well. 38 turned up and  it was a very convivial get together. The grub was good, the raffle prizes were plentiful and of a high standard and we had an impromptu auction of a Buckby can and dipper by Ron Hough for which one of our company generously coughed up 105 quid.
A total of 466 pounds was raised in the evening

 This brings the total for the year raised to £882** for the hospice and £200 for the

School in Gulu, Uganda (which Pam visited in March. )

http://paminuganda.wordpress.com/

Additionally Chris and Gill Weber donated 25 pounds as part of gifts made to mark their 40th Wedding Anniversary. 
**This figure is likely to be adjusted upwards as I have spare boxes of Christmas Crackers to sell.

 The Red Lion did a very good job on the food and the pub was very festive in its decoration.
The raffle which normally seems to last forever went much faster this year with Pam selling 226 quids worth of tickets.
I was very pleased with the whole event and even won a bottle of Barolo-my favourite.
I hope to return to Marsworth and the Red Lion for New Year but let's not get ahead of ourselves. If you want to know what makes God laugh you tell him your plans .
I don't know much about canal art (actually I don't know much about anything) but apparently the Ron Hough mentioned above as having painted the Buckby can is the DB's in the world of Roses and Castles.

Auction Time

 
 

The evening closed with a rendition of Goodnight Irene but as I was the only one that heard it and I was the only one singing it  there is no need to mention it.
Back to the boats in good order and apart from a flat battery and hence no lights on Independence a sound nights sleep beckoned.
The morning came suddenly but apart from a little fuzziness in the cerebellum I was up and churched by

Roy takes me through the bridgehole (Ooooh Matron!)

9. 30 pm and ready to move by 11ish. Roy expertly towed me back through the bridge to the junction with the Aylesbury Arm and we set off back up the seven locks to Bulbourne. Progress faster because we have Annie with us and it makes a big difference. We were accompanied by Santa Claus all the way much to the delight of all children and some fishermen. Unfortunately the sun was shining directly inot our eyes so Santa adopted a pair of dark glasses which gave him the look of a cross between a Mafia boss and a Jihadist.

Some fishermen responded positively with the cheery banter for which they are famed. Especially today when according to most they had caught nothing (I paraphrase) and could Santa either go away or send some fish (Again I paraphrase) Such fun.

Chris on Eulalie tows Ian and Maureen on Tamora back to the Aylesbury Arm junction before they return to Aylesbury, the Mecca of Bucks. He seems to know what he's doing. It's a shame that as the years go but fewer boats come down for the Gathering. Maybe we ought to organise a mini rally in the Spring.......

Sweet as a nut

Ho Ho Ho

Annie and Roy peer into the sun before releasing Independence to turn for home

 

All safely back at Cowroast and feeling pleased with the outcome of a very enjoyable weekend. If the rest of Christmas goes as well then I shall be a very happy chappy.
Thanks to everybody for making it such an enjoyable and profitable gathering. 
Until next time.......

Goodbye Ollie and Good Luck

The start of the week saw Ollie off to his chalet in France to begin his stint as a chalet maid. Actually he's chef which is good as he is an excellent and innovative cook. You just wouldn't want to wash up after him.
Caz and Florence and Joseph joined us at Carluccios for a farewell snack and very jolly it was too.

 Carluccio's is the only restaurant where I consistently choose a veggie dish-pasta con fungi-marvellous. The others all went for a selection of pasta and there was some rubbish talked about having over-ordered. There was no evidence of such at the end. Florence was particularly impressive demolishing a spinach tortellini. Popeye would have been proud. I think I was over 30 before I bothered with spinach!
Just got to get Joseph to overcome his aversion to mushrooms and all is well. Mind you that's all he dislikes

 Well, in the food line anyway....the picture above would suggest cousins messing up his hair aren't top of his list although why Ollie seems to be looking for bits of spinach in her hair  is surprising as he is over thirty and doesn't touch spinach or indeed anything green. Must be a late developer in vegative things. (As opposed to the Kodak nightworker who was a late developer in negative things)

A rare photo when everyone is looking at the camera-even Miss Wrigglebottom!

Ollie is off to Geneva in the morning to meet the rest of his crew and staff from other chalets.
Thence to Morzine for training before being let loose on the skiing holidaymakers of Chamonix. They will not starve.
Pam and Joseph are flying out to stay in Chamonix after Christmas . Joseph has been made Group Leader on travel arrangements which aint bad for a 12 year old. I sense the departure day cannot come quickly enough.

Pam and Caz shared a bottle of vino whilst Ollie read his book about his lager "My Little Peroni"
Then a ride home singing carols very badly.

We all wish him bon voyage and good luck!









Enough for now. Must get ready for next weekend when the Cowroast Lock Moorers hold their Christmas Gathering The forecast is turning cold and windy with snow, ice, frogs and locusts a possibility. Nothing new there then. Until next Saturday then mes amis.

Another Trip Dowm Memory Lane

This time to Huntingdonshire-or Cambridgeshire as it's called nowadays- God knows why-to collect a satellite dish from a man in St Ives. Secondhand for 40 quid. The dish not the man I don't know why. I've been moored at Cowroast, either in the marina or on my current online mooring, for over 30 years and never got a decent tv picture either through the traditional aeriel or satellite dish. The last satellite dish went in the skip accompanied by some irreverent language-never got a thing out of it. Anyway whilst I watch very little television I thought with Winter fast approaching I would try again.
So in the company of Mike C, on a rare appearance in the UK, I set off for St Ives. My second boat, Llamedos, was kept upriver at Huntingdon  for 5 years (1978-82?) so I fancied a drive round some of the old haunts.
First thing that has definitely improved is the journey. The road to Huntingdon being at least half hour less than 30 years back.
St Ives seemed much bigger and busier than I recall with a proper supermarket and all. After collecting the Satellite Dish we went into St Ives centre.  The Town Square was chockers with cars but we got a spot eventually and wandered down by the river where there is a beautiful bridge. I remembered an excellent pub "The Oliver Cromwell" from days gone by and it's still excellent with no noxious music, barmaids to die for, a good range of beers (sodding car!) and a fish pie most scoffworthy.  The entertainment was provided by the local swans who having harrassed the traffic on the bridge then sauntered down to the pub for a gander or whatever the swan equivalent of a gander is.A swander perhaps.........

The Bad 'Ole Baste

The Oliver Cromwell

Mike C leaves and barmaid looks longingly through window

St Ives Bridge

Looking north from the bridge

Houghton Mill

Cromwell was educated at Huntingdon Grammar (now a museum) and lived and farmed in St Ives. Antonia Fraser in her biography of the Bad Old Baste as my Irish Mother referred to him tells the tale of how one Sunday afternoon the young Oliver fell in the River Gt Ouse at St Ives and was pulled out by a young curate who was visiting the Cromwells. Fraser tells how many years later Cromwell was leading his troops  across Huntingdon Bridge and saw the now aging priest at the side of the road. Reigning in his horse he enquired "Do you remember me Sir?" to which the priest allegedly replied "I do and I wish I had put you back" History does not say what happened to him,if anything, but my mum would have agreed with him.
After that to Houghton Mill, The Hemingfords, Huntingdon itself where amazingly the house and boatyard still remain in a state of disrepair, Offord Cluny (where the pub is the Swan-should be the George (gettit?) and St Neots. Good times remembered and a pleasant day out. Oh and what a tv  picture. A major success. Just got to wait a couple of years for a decent programme.....

More deer (deerer?) await at Ashridge  the following day. Might be muntjac, might be Chinese deer-I dunno never did O level Deer but got very close to what I thought was half a dozen and was getting closer when a bunch of yellow hazard jacketed people came tramping through the woods and scared the wotsit out of them. They took off at a hell of a lick and suddenly there was a herd of about 30 to 40 who had been there all along. They'd probably been watching me all the time thinking this noisy sod thinks we don't know he's there.
Anyway too far away and too slow to get a decent photo so here's my best efforts.  According to the wonder that is Wikpedia the muntjac is the oldest deer at between 15 and 30 million years old. Amazing that they could move so fast.

Wednesday and off to Bristol to pick up Ollie who is home for a couple of days before starting his new job in France. I have combined this small removal job with a trip to Chewton Mendip in Somerset where I have stayed at the excellent Copper Beeches many times before and yet am allowed back. I am joined by Adrian for the trip and we are meeting Peter B who is travelling up from Exeter. Apart from being a very good B & B Copper Beeches is also a 2 minute walk from the Waldegrave Arms-as fine a pub as you'll encounter. We three met there at lunchtime and after a light lunch headed into Wells, the smallest city in the country and deserving of a longer visit. A future venue for a cultural visit no doubt.
In the evening after Ady had his afternoon nap we adjourned to the pub where we allowed ourselves a third pint to accompany dinner. I started with smoked salmon and finished with homemade faggots. Very balanced.
Thursday and off to Bristol. We aren't due to pick up Ollie till after 3pm so a trip to SS Great Britain is planned. I've been before with Pam and Joseph but still enjoyed the experience-there is a lot to learn.

And here's your chance......skip it if you're bored....
The wrought iron steamship was built in 1843 in Bristol, under the supervision of Brunel for the Great Western Steamship Company. The Great Britain set the design standards for today’s modern shipping and eminently demonstrated the industry and inventiveness of the Victorian era. Almost single-handedly Brunel shaped the future of mass passenger travel and international communications.

Originally conceived as a paddle steamer, her design was quickly altered to take advantage of the new technology of screw propulsion, and her engines were converted to power a massive sixteen foot iron propeller. When launched in 1843 she was by far the largest ship in the world, at almost 100 metres she was over 30 metres longer than her nearest rival, and was the first screw propelled, ocean-going, wrought iron ship. Weighing in at a massive 1930 tons, she was designed initially for the Trans-Atlantic luxury passenger trade, and could carry 252 first and second class passengers and crew of 130.
Whilst her first few voyages demonstrated her technological ability, they were not a great financial success, attracting far fewer passengers than anticipated. Her career in this trade was thus short lived, and after she ran aground on the sands of Dundrum Bay in Northern Ireland in 1846, her engines were so badly damaged that she was sold on.
Under Gibbs Bright and Co, the ship prospered. The new owners took advantage of the increase in emigration caused by the Australian gold rush, and re-built the ship as an emigrant carrier, taking people to Australia. With a new upper deck added and a new engine fitted, she could now transport 750 passengers in three classes.

Over the next 24 years and 32 voyages she carried over 16,000 emigrants to Australia, and was known in her time as one of the fastest, most elegant and luxurious emigrant clipper ships – the ‘Greyhound of the seas’.

The average time she took on the return journey to Australia was 120 days - very competitive for the mid-19th century. Passage on the ss Great Britain could virtually guarantee that a passenger would arrive on time, well ahead of any sail powered rivals.
As meat went off easily on these long voyages, large numbers of live animals were carried for food, giving the ship the appearance of Noah's Ark rather than an emigrant ship. On one voyage in 1859, the ship carried 133 live sheep, 38 pigs, 2 bullocks, 1 cow, 420 fowl, 300 ducks, 400 geese and 30 turkeys. Passenger diaries record the ship as smelling and sounding like a barnyard!
Between 1854 and 1855 she was chartered by the Government to carry troops to and from the Crimean War, and over the course of the conflict transported over 44,000 troops.
Following the war she was rebuilt yet again before being chartered by the Government for further troop transportation duties, carrying the 17th Lancers and 8th Hussars to the Indian Mutiny.
In 1861, for a marginally less serious conflict, the Great Britain also carried the first ever English cricket side to tour Australia. The tour was immensely successful with a 15,000 crowd attending the opening match at Melbourne. The tourists played 12 games in all, winning 6, drawing 4 and losing 2.
And bad news could often follow glad news, such as when the onboard newspaper the ‘Great Britain Times’ reported death of the pet koala bear belonging to the ship’s carpenter. Apparently the marsupial died of ‘pulmonary consumption’ on 25 October 1865, much to the sadness of crew and passengers.
One of the ship’s more eccentric captains, Captain Gray, climbed each mast at least once a week and interrupted one voyage to Australia to claim the uninhabited island of St. Martin for the Empire. He held a banquet that evening to celebrate.

Photographs courtesy of the ss Great Britain Trust and some bald bloke with a camera thingy

By the late 1870’s the Great Britain was showing her age, her engines were removed, and she was converted into a fast three-masted sailing ship. In this unrecognisable guise, the once proud ship transported Welsh coal to San Francisco. On her third trip, however, she ran into trouble around Cape Horn, and was forced to run for shelter in Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Damaged as a result of this, she was sold as a coal and wool storage hulk in Port Stanley.
In all the Great Britain had 25 accidents entered in her logs – ranging from collisions with other vessels, running aground, lost spars and mast damage, to losing that eccentric Captain Gray in mysterious circumstances.
She remained in Port Stanley through the First World War, with coal from her hold helping to replenish the battle cruisers Inflexible and Invincible before the decisive battle of the Falkland Islands on 7 December 1914, in which the armoured cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst and light cruisers Nurnberg and Leipzig were sunk.
By 1937 the Great Britain’s hull was no longer watertight, and after being towed a short distance from Port Stanley, she was beached and abandoned to the elements.
Attempts to rescue her in the late 1930’s and 1960’s failed, but finally in 1970 an epic salvage effort refloated the ship, and she was towed back home across the Atlantic to Bristol.

Despite spending nearly 100 years suffering in the harsh South Atlantic weather, the Great Britain was able to float up the River Avon herself! After covering over a million miles, Brunel’s 155 year old iron hull had stood the test of time superbly.
Following yet another refit, this time costing in the region of £11.3 million, Brunel’s ss Great Britain was re-launched as one of the world’s most important maritime museums in 2005. For further details visit www.ssgreatbritain.org.

.........................I'll be asking questions later

Afterwards in order to kill some time Peter insisted on going to a pub he knew, the Rose of Denmark, where I had one of the best and most imaginative Ploughman's ever-Salami Milano, Smoked trout and French Goat's Cheese. Most pleasant. Afterwhich we bade farewell to Peter.

To Ollie's where his highly trained team soon loaded the car with an enthusiasm that suggested a gladness to see the back of him. Nice to see Nat and Jo cheering as we reversed at high speed down Lancaster Road doing the statutory wheely whilst the neighbours pelted us with fruit and sped off for downtown Berkhamsted.  Home by 8 via a tincture at the Lamb and dived headlong into Pam's excellent Cottage Pie.Job done.

A Footnote to the last posting. Avid readers will recall the last post was about my visit to Norfolk to commemorate 40 years since buying Broad Wave for 850 quid from the defunct Clifford E Allen yard at Coltishall. Adrian has done further research since our trip and has found the following link ;

 http://www.broadlandyachtbrokers.co.uk/used-boats/used/7/

which shows a splendidly refurbished Broad Wave 40 years later up for sale at 24k plus. I think another trip is called for. Such fun. 

But before then we have the Feast of Christmas. First Sunday of Advent tomorrow followed by Cowroast Boaters' Gathering next Saturday. So much to do and so little time.......until then, a bientot