Christmas Eve
Well here I am in B'ham. What a place? Why ever they built Brindley Place up to be an entertainment and eating centre I don't know, but good choice. It's a fabulous place and has to be seen.
The shopping centre is better than London. If I had to choose I would say it is as good as Dubai, if a little colder.
Christmas Day
Kim and Jim came to stay for Christmas. Kim cooked dinner and we, between us downed a few bottles of wine. We had a walk around Brindley Place and K&J agreed with me, it's wicked.
Boxing Day
We set off down the Worcester and Birmingham to give K&J a trip out on the water. We went just a few miles and returned after lunch. K&J left a bit late for her mothers.
The day after Boxing Day
Well bugger this as much as I would like to stay I must move on. I set out about 10 o'clock. By the time I finally stopped I had traversed (is that a good word in this case?) 25 locks. The top of Camphill Locks is to say the least very over stated. The BW station is undoubtedly very nice, but it is a really shit bit of canal. I stopped for the night. Would you believe there is only one mooring ring at the water point and that is not central. Who designed this place.
Ashton Tunnel is one to be wary of. Not only did I crush my coolie hat, but took some paint off the forward right hand corner of the cabin. To travel this tunnel take off the smoke stack and stay as close as possible to the towpath, 'tis better to lose some blacking than lose the topside paint, (or is it?)
Thursday 28 Dec
This morning I pottered along to Smallheath. I wanted to see if my grandmothers old house still stood and it did. I always thought it was No 52 but instantly recognised No 50. The swimming baths was also there at the top of Green Lane unlike my Aunts house in the next road at 10 Millward Street which was now a nice grassy hump. Some of the houses were still standing opposite, but not many. All had, had the fronts extended much like my old house in Calne. Still recognisable, but some how smaller than I remember. Having said that the last time I saw them I was probably only 4 foot tall.
The Swimming Baths (note not pool) is an incredible red brick Victorian building. It must be one of the best examples of this type of building in existence. In time honoured tradition the building is no longer a bath house, but the carved brick decoration still shows the 'Men' and 'Women' entrances. The building has a triangular foot print. The main front entrance comes to a point at the corner of Green Lane and Little Green Lane. A clock tower rises from this end of the site. Though no longer showing hands most of the 4 faces are intact. It is a very ornate tower and it will be a shame to lose it, but lose it we will. The community has no real life memory of the baths when it was a going concern. Most of it's neighbours don't view architecture in the same way we do.
I did not have a working camera with me on my visit so if any one in the vicinity would like to take me some digital pics I would really appreciate it. No Kim I am not having a dig. It was as much for me to remind you about my memory card as you to remember. I have another one somewhere, but can I find it. NO! I really need to find a camera shop.
I am in Solihull tonight.
Friday 29 Dec
Very windy today. Knowle Locks were to say the least difficult. Only manage to navigate error free two locks out of five. An' ain't they big?
Moored tonight at Hatton, by the station. What a place, it has nothing in its favour. No shop, no pub, nowt.
Tonight I watched 'Mrs Henderson presents', very good production. Superb performances from Bob H and Dame whats her face. Will Young, promising, but not out standing. Not bad for a first try though.
So finally we have repaid our post-war debt to America.
My father was stationed at a weapons depot during WW2. His job, testing weapons we bought from the Americans. The way he tells it they were not the best weapons we received. On that subject never forget that 'Lease Lend', one of the means used to give us arms, only constituted about 3% of the total. The Americans demanded that we, the UK, should cash in all our investments in the States. How do you lend someone a bomb? Would you be prepared to accept a bag of shrapnel as a return?. Thanks for your help America.
Saturday 30 Dec. 06
The Hatton Locks are hard work, even harder in the rain. I only managed 10 locks today even though I had help for 2-3-4. After a visit to the café at the top a young couple asked if they could help with the locks. Not being one to look a gift horse in the dentures, I accepted. She was hot, hot, hot. Long blonde hair, long blonde legs, hubba hubba! Of course I don't remember him, but thanks anyway.
This must be one of the worst towpaths on the system. Inches deep in water, and very soggy mud. What is the problem? There are many places above the locks where BW are cutting back encroaching woodland and shredding the cuttings. Would it be so hard to shovel the shreddings on to the towpaths? Anyway I am now drying out everything from my hat to my boots.
So Saddam Hussein is dead. This doesn't surprise me. What does surprise me is that reporters and politicians expected the death to some how cure the problems. The problems of this region will not be cured by a simple hanging, certainly not of such a despicable man. Those that have the responsibility for informing us have no understanding of the Middle East.
There were many other charges to be heard against this man so why not hear all the charges instead of hanging him after the first. Fishy don't you think? Do the powers that be in Iraq have something to hide? Possibly, only time will tell. If they were so keen to 'off' him why not just drop a grenade down the rat hole?
Sunday 31 Dec. 06
The final leg of the Hatton Flight was bloody hard in the wind. I was glad to get to the Cape of Good Hope for a rest. The C of GH is a canal pub. Built in 1802, specifically for the canal traffic. Strange then that this pub displays a notice on their front door 'NO MUDDY BOOTS TO BE WORN IN THE BAR'. This is somewhat difficult in view of the fact that the towpaths here are unbelievably muddy and to get to the pub you have to use the towpath. Even some non boaters access the pub using the lock gates which involves the towpath
Well here we are at the end of yet another year. A year when I finally got out of that hell that is Saudi and took up my new life on board the Milly M. From the frying pan in to the freezer, so to speak. I did think that the temperature would be problem, but not so. Yes it gets chilly but then it would do that if I hadn't been in Saudi.
Monday 01 Jan
The weather was very sunny this morning. Not bad for the first day of the New Year. Colin and Joy (from Sleepy Otter) came to visit on their way back from Birmingham. Not really dressed for a trek down a muddy towpath. It's always very nice to see them both.
Tuesday 02 Jan
This morning I set off on my journey. In the first lock, outside the C of GH, I met who asked if we could go down together, well who am I to say no. He turned out to be Brian D Jarret of Russell Newbery, you know the diesel engine people. Brian is old school his boat KYLE has a RN diesel that just thumps it's way along with an ease that makes my BARRAS Shire sound like it's in a great hurry.
We did 10 locks today and moored up next to the TWO BOATS pub. There is a great crowed in there including an elderly man named Chris a double amputee. Chris is a really nice guy. He has a very good attitude to his disability and knows a whole lot of jokes.
Brian corrected me about the C of GH. He tells me the notice about muddy boots is not aimed at boaters, but hikers/walkers who think it OK to use the toilet facilities of the pub and cover the floor in mud from their boots, not even buying beer. Selfish sods. Boaters on the other hand are welcomed with open arms, muddy boots or not.
Wednesday 03 Jan
Up early this AM and we set off at nine. At the top of Stockton locks we met the crew of Nackered Navvy who I know from CWF. Brian was only going as far as Braunston but we shared the work and arrived at the top of Chalcott locks about 12:30. Here Brian and I shook hands and said our farewells, Brian is faster than me on the straight (no more locks to Braunston) and I turned towards Napton to find a ciggie shop. Not far to go, but again the towpath is in one hell of a soggy state. After getting my nicotine input I passed Brian once again at his mooring at the bottom of B'ston locks. In lock 3 I decided to wait for the boat I could see coming up lock 2 which eased my work load up the next 4 locks. My thanks to the crew of PALLADIN who were on the way to Crick to sell the boat. At the top lock I continued on, even though it was dark through Braunston Tunnel (2042 yards long) I love tunnels. Exiting the tunnel I could have moored up but it is in the middle of nowhere so I headed to Norton junction, in the rain, and moored on the water point above the lock.
I watched JUST THE TWO OF US tonight. Only one comment. Yeah just the one. Marti Pellow should realise that a half shaved beard looks scruffy on him and he would do better to remember that we invite him in to our homes. He should make an effort. He looked like an old dosser.
Thursday 04 Jan
I did only one lock before I saw another boat behind so I waited for them to catch up. The German family on board did all the hard work for me. At the last lock the owner gave me a rather nice hip flask. It should have been me giving them a gift, but he was insistent.
I moored up in Weedon expecting to meet up with Nigel Carton, in that I failed.
Friday 05 Jan
Setting off early I headed towards Blisworth. Just before Gayton Junction a chap on the tow path asked me what was the point of having a mobile if you never answer it. Having met a few weired ones in my time I was confused as to why he was asking me. It was Nigel. I stopped for a coffee and had a look at his new project Chanson D'amour.
Saturday 06 Jan
This morning Colin arrived with a tray of eggs, fresh out of the chicken yesterday. We set off about 9:30 on the way to Milton Keynes. I managed to avoid bouncing off the walls of Blisworth tunnel, but only just. Colin said I should put the internal lights on to illuminate the walls. This caused me some problems in that my eyes will not focus in the distance when there is a brighter light close by so I switched the lights off. I have only ever done tunnels with the lights off and the tunnel light on. At 3057 yards it is a long tunnel. It amazes me that this was achieved by hand in 1805. A previous attempt only 5 years earlier failed to finish the old tunnel. At various points along the new tunnel there are connections through to the other workings. Colin thought he saw a motorcycle tank in one of the horizontal shafts.
It pissed down nearly all day. Oh the joys of boating. We stopped off the marina, at Yardley wharf where Colin has his boat moored, so he could pick up some more waterproofs. From here on I had in the past (2005) taken Colin's boat out on my very first trip. Most of this stretch I did not recognise bar for a few places and a rather large mural at the old rail works.
We arrived in MK about 5 pm with the help of the tunnel light and moored up outside the Black Horse aka The Proud Perch previously the Black Horse, go figure. My brother Robert called to find out where we were. He turned up with the rest of my curtains which were sent to his house, the Prop Protector was also in the parcel. What I need now is to find somewhere to get the boat out of the water to fit it. Should I be doing this? No! Ho hum!
Sunday 07 Jan
I moved the boat today to find a place that was suitable for an elderly person to get on the boat. Daughter Kirsty is coming over with my mother, 83. Mooring was a problem it took 5 attempts to get on the wharf at Campbell Park. The wind was blowing off the towpath and I could not get the damned boat anywhere close.
Tomorrow I need to find a connection and get a few bits and pieces from the stores,
Wind is blowing a gale tonight.
Monday 08 Jan
Milton Keynes has changed since I was last here. The main mall has been extended and a new loop added to the south side. MK has it's own 'eye', the MK.I.
I have moored further up the canal. The wind is blowing me against the bank so now the boat is not moving so much. Last night I had to get up three times in the night to tighten the ropes.
Tuesday 09 Jan
Wednesday 10 Jan
I am beginning to like this boating lark. When I first arrived on the boat twelve weeks ago I weighed in at over 15 stone. In that time I have lost quite bit and now am getting comfortable at around 12st 12lbs, how cool is that? Of course this has its drawbacks. Not so much bulk to ease open the gates.