On the move

As we were ensconced at Tixall Wide a couple of weeks ago, getting to grips with the bodywork / painting jobs I've finally started, our friends Mike and Mo on NB The Great Escape pulled in just behind for the last night of an epic voyage with their cruising club. We hadn't seen them for a long time. Mike made tea and then sat and played his oud, while we yarned about this and that.

Meanwhile I'd done the repairs and some painting on a good-sized panel around the window that I'd removed because it was leaking.

Although the window looks as though it's back in place, it's only fixed in loosely, and a tarpaulin is ready to come down when rain threatens. One of the screw-holes that had to be drilled out is now too large and we're going to see whether the good people at Oxley Marine can sort it out as we pass in a couple of days. Then the window can be fixed permanently.

Immediate travel plans were modified following an email from our friends Iain and Glenys, visiting from Australia. They had a fun few days on Erin Mae five years ago, and we've repeated the experience this last weekend. It was great to see them. Now we've finally set out down the Staffs and Worcs canal. It was after lunch before we could get away, so we've done just one lock and have tied up before the hump-backed bridge at Tixall where all the cars sound their horns. I hope the owners of the very splendid house opposite our mooring have triple glazing to keep out the noise.

It's nice to be moving, and it will be interesting to see how we balance the travel with the painting and window work.