Narrowboat Independence: Up London and stuffz

How long does it take to write my blog?
Well given that it requires an internet connection and I'm on a steel narrowboat with my dongle hanging by the porthole
( oooh! ) it takes a while. The writing is easy; just the ramblings of a man who's lost his way-or mojo as we Cowroastafarians call it-but the photos take forever to download...or is it upload?. I don't know the difference and life's too short to find out.

This posting has lots of photos because I've been a bit snap-happy so the photos took forever to....er .....load

I've had a good week; weather with 30+ degrees and a grand weekend.
Last Friday saw the first of a three day flower festival at Berkhamsted Catholic Church-The Sacred Heart- and it was a great display

Here is a link to all the pictures

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B-7LWN0zuo_oNHo2TjlLMVlyY2M?usp=sharing

and here are a couple of pictures to give you a taste.

Talking of flowers the Canal and River Trust "Boats in Bloom" Competition is underway so I'm submitting a picture under the waterside gardens section.

It's coming together....

I don't seem to have the plague of rabbits of two years ago which is good although I can only surmise that if Mr and Mrs Rabbit aren't about it's because something has moved them on. Mr Mink perhaps and whilst Mr Mink is a nasty piece of work when it comes to other wildlife he doesn't eat my lettuce, beans, flowers etc.
Of course the sodding glis glis are always about. I'd planned on sending this chair to auction having found it too big for my latest layout. Stored in the shed....I should have known better

Another few bob the Rothschild family owe me because of their idiot ancestor importing glis glis.

I'm trying to get a bit more order into my life-not for the first time-in that I have all sorts of unfinished tasks that are never properly addressed as I skip from one thing to another or sit staring into space bemused by the list. I thought I'd have a go at a book. Based on my favourite jokes and vaguely round my life-nothing too deep-and I was going like a storm but suddenly found I couldn't be arsed. Which sums me up really. So. Discipline.
An hour a day writing blog or book. (today the blog wins)
An hour a day walking-today my knee is so painful I can't stand long enough to wash up last night's dinner
An hour a day housekeeping-see above
An hour a day boat/grounds maintenance (ditto)
A day a week taking photos of historic boats for another competition-some hopes.

The lovely warm weather has buggered off-it's blowy and rainy today and the boat is rocking gently which I love. So perfect for writing this blog.

Looking at the blog stats (blats?) I note that last month the number of "hits" in the States outnumbered those in the UK! I can't think why this should be but the following pictures taken at a party on the Thames on a beautiful Summer's evening might appeal to anyone contemplating a visit to the Capital from over the Pond. If austerity is biting or terrorism is discouraging visitors it wasn't apparent that weekend.

London was rocking, vibrant and welcoming. And full of tourists.

We'd been invited to the party to celebrate friend Catherine's 60th birthday (and her and husband Stan's 30th wedding anniversary)-I hope I've got that the right way round. Some how I seem to have failed to get a picture of Stan but lots of Big Ben

Pam has a deep detestation of the Viking Cruises advert so this had to be taken

Strutting our stuff

The appalling HS2 will cost one of these every mile. Such a waste of money-both projects.

There is a gap between Pam and the ship. I call it Cutty Sark Chasm-you probably wont

Two of the loveliest yet most frightening ladies in my world

I think my mask is best!

A "thank you" from Catherine

A lovely evening. Thank you Stan and Catherine.

We stayed in London overnight at the London Bridge hotel adjacent, obviously to London Bridge and Southwark Cathedral;scene only a fortnight ago of a terrorist attack. You'd never know it.

In the morning we had a leisurely hotel breakfast and headed off to Soho and Ronnie Scott's to see the excellent Selena Jones.

http://salenajones.com/sample-page/

We had lunch there although Pam had to cancel her main course because she had too much breakfast. I'm so glad I'm such a moderate eater and was able to cope with one of the nicest plates of roast lamb I've ever tasted.

Afterwards to the Three Greyhounds to meet Ollie for a drink in the sunshine and watch some of the characters wandering around. More beggars than I remember but they soon went away

It was good to see Ollie. He, Jessica and Natalie were off to Glastonbury this weekend. I'm sure they had a great time. At least the weather was kind.

Monday 26th and I'm off too High Wycombe for I am a sinner.

35mph going up a hill in Amersham so I'm on a Speed Awareness Course. I've put the date above because it is my second time on the course and If I get done in the next three years I will have to take the points, pay the fine and the increased insurance premium. I'm not proud about being done again. I know I am not a fast driver and my offence was a lack of concentration on a quiet Easter Sunday afternoon. I have to say the courses are worthwhile and on both occasions I've come away wiser. Anyway the reason for putting the date is that I would have sworn it was only two years since the previous time. It was in fact three years and three days! Just crept in. Whooah Lucky boy! OK, Slow down now.

Mind you there are so many cameras around now that I don't believe there is a driver on the road who given time wont cop a ticket.

Through the hatch this morning. These cygnets are growing up fast

I found this picture whilst shed sorting. It shows my hat from Niagara Falls and the Maid of the Mist.....which wasn't running the day we went-but I bought the cap anyway. Gives me a nautical air I think.It's certainly a reminder of a marvellous visit to Canada staying with friends Daphne and Duane and being treated so well.

I promised last time to publish a couple more old pictures and so many of you contacted me so here we are.
(actually the two that contacted me just wanted to borrow money, nothing about pictures at all)