Locking weather

We've been out so little so far this year that we ignored the forecast and came out anyway. Our reward after a day of dodgy weather including a couple of hailstorms was this sunset at Radford.

Tillerman Toad

Picked a copy of this up on a whim at the little shop at Foxton last Saturday, thinking I recognised the name of the author. And lo and behold, the author is indeed the same Peter who works in our marina:

It's a very affectionate reunion with the characters of Wind in the Willows, brought into the 21st century and with a healthy dose of narrowboats for canaloraks like me (Badger is enjoying his retirement on nb Sett Free - geddit? - when the action starts). You can get a copy here:

It's charming and funny and I am filled with a black and twisted envy because if only I had the wit, imagination and talent I could have written something this good too.

Bloomin' well done, Peter.

Napton mists

I am so pleased we got moving yesterday. A static weekend on Caracol would have been fine, but then we would have missed these glorious mists at Napton this morning.

Nice weather for ducks...

Woke up early on the parallel universe that is Planet Boat; early morning constitutional with Annie the Dog was very pleasant, but by 8am the rain had started in earnest. So we went by car to Foxton, to mooch around the museum and drink coffee. Then back to the boat to set off in much better weather after lunch, just on-off showers, to Napton and a very agreeable 'alf or thereabouts at the Folly.

Speaking of Ducks - here's a gratuitous post of one I did earlier: P hasn't cracked his head on the front door lintel since I made these and fitted them and I am very pleased with myself indeed:

Happy Mother's Day!

Oh, how I wish spring would... err... spring

Not even slightly canal related

...but look what I won on my Skills for Success training course last night. I am absurdly pleased with myself.

Afloat again, thank heavens

...and on a mission to fix the damage done by the long-fixed leak from the chimney. Once we stopped it getting any worse, I think we stopped noticing the damage that had been done before we got Caracol. So after a quick trip to Napton and back on Saturday (before the low overnight temperatures froze the canal again), we spent Sunday morning doing this...

and this...

It rained and rained and rained

...but eventually it stopped and now the sun is up it's all much nicer. The field where Annie takes her morning constitutional is still flooded...