pretty skies

Ick

Was a bit poorly last night, so sent myself off to bed at 8.30 with a cup of tea.  Very wibbly today but doing bit better now.  2 big hugs from the lovely Mike (ex owner of TR) and seeing a duck nesting in the middle of a tomato plant cheered me up and got me through the day!  The good thing is I have no choice but to just get on with it, so that does help strangely, however for the first time I really would have quite liked to be tucked up on the sofa, with my blanky, pots of tea and a bunch of 80's films!

Good steering action today even if I do say myself and enjoyed round 2 of the Blisworth tunnel, amazing.

We are now moored up in Cosgrove, back into Stoke Breurne tomorrow for the weekend.  Looking forward to my Saturday off to chill.  Was hoping to have a curry, shall see how tummy is fairing!

I shall soon be posting about my Greenflly campaign, small but perfectly formed!

Rxxx

Cat with a K

I had the pleasure of meeting another gorgeous Kat last night!  The guy moored behind us in a working boat has a cat called Kat!  Brilliant!  She was comedy, so was he in fact!

We are moored in Weedon tonight, which tickles me, as we passed through last week we saw a building with stating the place as ’ Weed on’  in two words! Teeheee  I know, juvenile! 

Good lordy has it been hot hot hot!  Jus thow I like it!  Although working in heat is not easy.  On Sunday had a tricky flight of locks, oh think I may have told you this, god I am terrible with days!  Yesrday I was in the kitchen and boy was I sweaty!  I kept having to pop outside for some air and I had seemed to give myself a full on cooking day.  I was very pleased with my caeser salad though, how does a cold meal involve so much oven usage though I ask you!

This time next week it shall be my birthday!  A boaty birthday how cool.  Feels strange to be around people you don’t know on my birthday, but kinda cool, not sure I would want big birthday bob’s celebrations this year anyway.  We are full next week too so should be a good one and looking forward to heading back down London way!

Grrrr to the man who took over my locking today as he obviously thought he could do it better, as I had a sticky paddle, he just said stop there, took my windlass off me and proceeded to wind it for me.  I had a few, well one primarily choice words for him, in my head only as my boss knew him.  One way to rile Rosie is to take over as you think you can do it better, Grrr!

Funny day today, chilly and cloudy, no storms that others seem to be reporting though.  We were up early doors to go through Branston Tunnell, which was great.  It is so windy and bendy!  How can tunnels not be straight!  Glad I wasn’t driving and probably so was everyone else!  Apparently a mistake was made though in the building of it, quite a mistake!  Just 7 locks today, and none tomorrow and then another tunnel day for me on Thurday at Blisworth, Cosgrove on Thurday night and Stoke Breurne on Friday and the weekend, then our decent into London village!

I ahve been thinking that I would hate to leave this life in October, I love being by the water, on a boat, surrounded by people, chatting to new people everyday.  Anytime I feel blue or stressed, it is gone before I know it, because a random has said hello to me, I have seen a baby duckling propel itself along the canal, Kat has made me tea and James had made me giggle or the sun sparkles on the water.  I need to find another boat related job!

Back to work, dinner time.

Tara Rxxx

Scratchy

Wow what a scorcher!  It has been a beautiful day, gorgeously hot and sunny.
   I was slightly struggling by 5 I must admit.  Only 12 locks, but they are toughies and did I say how hot it was!
Stroke of luck it was my night off though, so after a de sweated in a cold shower I pootled down to the canal side pub and had myself a pint and a read of my book in the evening sun, bliss!

Interestingly (to me!) this part of the Grand Union, has sections to the left of the lock, which used to be single locks on the canal, they are now blocked off but the water runs threw them and at some point they made wider locks which are the ones used solely now.  Very interesting.  Even more so, is that the bridges are very small indeed, we ahve to take down our chimneys and lie flat if on roof!  This is apparently because the locks used to be single locks only, the bridges were made for that purpose too, but never changed!

We also went up a staircase locks today, of only two locks, but still pretty cool.  I won't bore you with the in's and out's of staircases, cos I'm nice like that!  I understand they are cool to few special folk!

We are in Long Itchington tonight!  odd I know!  What a name! We are at the bottom of Stockton Locks, ready for tomorrow, decided against doing them today, as it got hot and late.  Off through to Braunston tomorrow, ready for the tunnel of Tuesday morning.

I am sitting on the roof in a vest top loving the warmth!

Oh have to mention my poor boss, who threw himself into the canal today.  Well not threw exactly, but fell and not canal exactly but lock!  I am trying to be the mum and look after his wounds, it is quite a hole in his leg!  Well at least it was him first, jolly decent of the boss to be the first fally in victim!

Happy not being cold in the nuddy night
Rxxx

Crackered

Tired
Pooped
Sentenceless
Lotsa locks
Pesky Grand Union North end Paddles
Busy Week, Great Week.
Lovely Guests
Warwick
Rainy
Aqueducts
Bendy Tunnels
Happy Happy Happy!

Tucked up in wee cabin in my comfies on with some M&S nibbles a glass of vino and Alan Sugar all ready to entertain me!  In a purely 2d sense of course! *shudders* at the other possibilities!

Write proper tomorrow will.
Rxxx

Log Flume

Had a fabulous day today.

We travelled from Stoke Bruene through the Blisworth tunnel, which is 3000m long and took us 45 minutes to get through.  It was incredible.  It was almost completely dark, our lights didn’t light it up much, but behind us were two narrow boats and could see from their lights more of the incredible work involved in creating it.  It was made by hand which is amazing, and as we travelled through I thought long about the brave and amazing leggers who carried out back breaking work to get the old working boats through the tunnel.   We are spoilt and had an engine and everyfink!  I did start to get a little claustrophobic about half way though, well I was fine but could feel it coming, my lungs were closing a bit and I could really feel the lack of air.  I just kept thinking how this was only after 45 minutes and people worked tirelessy in there for days, weeks, months.   

 Looking at the water behind us with boats travelling along reminded me of the log flume at alton towers!! 

Kat and I were giggle fest today.  One of those days where everything seems hilarious and the slightest thing makes us split in two in hysteria.  Think we are very well loosing the plot.

After a very early start, there was a long pound until  the flight at Buckby, which was a toughie! Deep locks and very heavy gates.  Was kerknackered by the end of it, with an early start, motoring at 7.30am.  We didn’t moor until 6pm, so a longun!  But the giggling got me through and a yummy dinner thanks to Kat.  Spinach and Ricotta roulade, yum scrum!

We are moored just shy of the Braunston tunnel, yes I know another tunnel, does the excitement never stop!  Just 6 months of tunnels and aqueducts would keep Kat and I happy!

We are booked to go through at 8am again and then we have the fun of travelling through Braunston on the day before the big working boat fair thingy, apparently already moored 4 a breast !  I don’t think we are going to be very popular trying to get our big ass through!  Will be fun though.

I am decked and off for sleepies.

Nighty night

Rxxx

Wonky

A lady on the canal side pub yesterday, when asked by the skipper if she was drinking gin and orange (it was 10am!) she replied, no no just orange, I can't take alcohol, it makes me wonky!  Priceless.

We left our dubious mooring spot yesterday morning and meandered our way along the Grand Union through some fairly ropey parts of Milton Keynes (if there are any non ropey parts that is!).  I missed through the fabulous train murals on the side of the canal, not sure how I was outside all day.  Obviously too engrossed in my brassoing!  There was also a nice park area which apparently has a medieval village, not sure we saw that, although did see a pile of old stones!!  I had a good session of steering yesterday through some tricky windy areas, with bridges on angles and other wide beams coming the other way!

We moored in Cosgrove last night, lovely little place.  It has been a beautiful shiny day all day, but unfortunately once we moored it started raining, so didn't manage my walk to go find the fox family that I was told about!  Thank you to the lovely Arthur (don't really know his name, but his boat's name is Aurthur, so I have named him that!), for helping me out, by moving your gorgeous boat so we could get a mooring spot.  I reward him with Kat's delectable chocolate cake.  Clearly not all of it, that would be foolish and he would have had to have done far more than move his boat for all a Kat's chocolate cake!!

We are now in Stoke Bruerne.  A nice little flight of locks into Stoke Bruerne itself, I am on kitchen duty today, but popped out to give Kat some help and our lovely guests did too, so a group effort!
it is very pretty here, I have been briefly before, a long while ago.  It is wee but nice.  I dropped into the canal museum this afternoon, which was great, really interesting. I love all the canal history.  There were some amazing people doing amazing things with the canals.  My respect goes to all those ex leggers out there!

Right, I am off to make sausage and bean casserole.  Hoping for a cheeky pint later.  I have been such a good Rosie.  No boozio since last Friday!!! I definitely deserve some pint action!!

Over and out for now
Rxxx

Who where what

A whole week with no Rosie's Dream............boohoo.  Not quite sure why this has occured, has been a funny week though.  I missed you RD!! I am back now though, phewf I hear you all cry!  

Due to this big whole, I shall give you a run down of the week gone by..................

Little Venice, Rain Rain Rain Rain, Cocktails, Sushi, Tube trains, Sister fun, Rain, Engine trouble, soggyness, Scrabble, locks, The Grand Union, Sun, 2 special friends visit, playing with Shadow the dog, seeing the Mikron theatre production Beer Street, Rain, dinner at the 3 horseshoes, a little too much wine, steering through bridge holes, talking to Mr greenfly,  Rain, scrabble, fish and chips, the canal boat pet duck, scrabble,  lying on lock gates, closest call yet to falling in, saved 2 young ducks from their lock fate,  Rain Rain Rain Rain Rain Rain!

In a nutshell anyway!

Best overnight spot of the week:  Cassiobury Park, gorgeous spot, lovely people we met and a stunning moon.

Biggest lock day:  12 hours boating in the rain!

Wettest day:  Sunday, hands down, damp and soggy people and boat!

Biggest giggle day:  Girly sisterly afternoon in london on Saturday.  

Sadest day:  Tuesday, realise those who should care for you the most, don't always.

Happiest day:  Today, realising I have made a great new friend who makes me giggle and that I live in some of the beautiful parts of the country!!

We are in Leighton Buzzard this weekend, not loving it have to admit!  This week we have been to, Little Venice, Rickmansworth, Cassiobury Park, Winkwell, Tring, Slapton, Leighton Buzzard. 

We are on our way to Warwick this week, really looking forward to seeing that part of the world and most excitingly, 2 tunnels!!

Promise to be a better blogger this week!

Rxxx

Donkey Kong

What a total donkey I have been this week!  Levels of spacness, which are impressive even for me!  These include - Forgetting to put water in the steamer and wondering why the beans were burning!
           - Falling out of the boat, twice, and throwing my sandwich onto the roof
           -  Throwing my loaf of bread onto the floor from the oven hitting the coffee pot  and smashing it!
          -   wondering why I couldn't turn the paddle on a lock when I was going at it from the wrong side.
 There are more, they just blend in now!

An end to a good week and the start of an even better one.
We have no booked passengers next week so I have a few mates coming to stay on the boat with me, so excited to show them my lovely life here!
We are in London tonight and tomorrow, in Little Venice, its great here.  Not actually left the boat yet though!  Tomorrow I shall brave London proper, not just the canal and ducks!

6 cygnets and the ma and pa outside the kitchen window at breakfast this morning!! So cute, just wanted to cuggle one!  I did have a little cuddle with a pussy cat yesterday which was lovely, but then a dog walker came and it scarpered!  I need for cuggle quota!

Lots of cool little moments this week and they have all fallen out of my head!  How daft, that is the point of this thing, so I can remember them!  Ah well, they are in there somewhere I am sure!

Sitting in bed with wine, my blog and a smile on my face.  I keep thinking today how lucky I am and how much I love it here, it makes my smiles everytime I remember, where I am and where I was not that long ago. The hurt may not completely dissapear, but it sure can feel better when you follow your heart!

Nighty night
Rxxx

D for....................

I am sitting on my bed, listening to the sound of crashing water from the weir at Teddingon.

We were in Hampton Court last night, well, not so much in Hampton court, as moored up outside bit metal gates!  We spent most of the day there so our lovely ladies could go for a gander at le Palace.  We then took the epic journey all the way to Teddington!  We managed to make it seem longer, by going the wrong way to get water and pump out, then going back past Hampton Court to Teddington!

We head off tomorrow to Balls Bridge? Pauls Bridge? Something like that!  Laarndon innit!

Then on Friday morning, we head off into Little Venice.

It will be great to see London from such a different view.

Tomorrow on the locks sounds fun, as we have to go through this here lock at Teddington at a specific time, as we go on into the Tidal Thames!  Ooooooh!   Then I get a nice little flight of locks on the Grand Union I think.  

One of our guests has her birthday tomorrow, so I made her a birthday cake today!  It was great making a proper cake again, although not one of my best I must admit.  Icing cakes on the move is not the easiest!!!

Had a busy one today, super cooky, I made:

Shortbread, Bacon and Feta Quiche with Bread rolls and Salad (salad was hard work!), Cherry and Almond cake, Prawn and Avocado Salad, Cottage PIe, Pavlova and of course the birthday Carrot cake for tomorrow! I love days like that, much prefer being full on all day.  Although no sitting down time, so feet are all worn out now!  At 6oclock I realised I hadn't been out of the boat all day, so had 5 minutes on the wall outside!

Odd moment of the day:   One of my guests giving me a big hug and telling me I am like a granddaughter to her!!!

Highlight of the day:  Tiny fluffy Cygnets at the kitchen window.

Ooooooo Ooooooh, yesterday I saw another kingfisher!!  Go me!  I am now officially 2 nil up on the kingfisher spotting score board!!

Right I am busting for a piddle, so off to sort out that problem!

See you in London baby!

Rxxx

P.S D for ..... Dunce, Debbie or whatever you fancy.  The post it says so.

Slippery When Wet

1st proper day back after our week off and it is piddling down!  So, a long day out locking in the rain, wind and cold, delightful!!!  Actually it was fun, I think we started to get delirious and there were lots of giggles and rude jokes going around, fun day, but could do without the sopping wet clothes and muddy bedroom!
It is still pouring, I can hear the pattering on the roof.  I have decided, shockingly, that even though we are outside a pub, I shall stay in my dry warm room in my comfies!  I have even shocked myself!  With that and the decision to abandon hair straightening, what is up with me!!!

I have a lovely fabulous week off seeing my special people, chilling out and having fun.  Loved it.  I was looking forward to coming back, the real world is very fast and noisy!

Highlights of week off:  Seeing great friends, drinking without school night guilt, sleep ins, the most incredible 2 hour bath!, Bloody Mary and Fajitas night, Sunnyiness, cementing how much I love it here.

I rejoined the boat in Godalming yesterday after a mission of a journey back from Reading.  We left this morning after a somewhat delayed start due to boat brokeness, however a nice man came and fixed us, so off we poodled, Pyrford bound.  A bit of a trek but we must get boat fixed first thing tomorrow here.  No stopping today so a good 8 hours motoring today, phewwf!  Locking in the rain is tough, I am somewhat surprised that I didn't fall over or in today at all!  Bon Jovi was right indeedio, is really is bloody slippery when wet!

Highlight of the day:  Seeing a man dressed as an elephant walking slowly through a field being photographed!
Wildlife highlight of the day:  Baby highland cattle in the canal.
First time moment of the day:  Seeing a swimmer in the canal - seriously rather him than me.
Giggle of the day -A little head and tea joke from my boss!  Still makes me smiles after 4 hours! You had to be there!

I think I need tea, a sarnie and the apprentice!  Spose I should unpack too!

Thanks to all my lovelies for a great week last week, miss you all.

Over and out
Rxxxx (4 today, generous)