Mr Fixit

I only have one electrical gadget in my boaty kitchen, a moulinex hand blender and whisk thingummy.   I have had it for years.

On Sunday in the middle of blending leek and potato soup it gave up the ghost.  Today I wanted to use it again, to puree a mango and whisk cream, oh bother!
Mr Fixit came to the rescue again, after dinner the table became his workbench and soon it was in bits.

By the time I'd finished the washing up, it was back together again and working!  Well done Sir, and saving us about £25.

Today at Audlem

3.5 miles, 15 locks

Planning a Breakout

Friday dawned bright and sunny and the forecast was for it to be getting warmer and a thaw to start.

So we began to make plans to be on the move again. We had tickets to see The Hobbit at the Festival Drayton Centre in the evening, so we enjoyed a long walk round the lanes to Tyrley locks and back along the canal. Planning to use the services here in the morning before setting off towards Audlem.
It was a great surprise when we came out of the cinema at 10.30pm to find heavy snow falling and a thick carpet of sparkling snow covering the town.  It was quite magical walking back up to the canal in the moonlight with the snow still falling. The canal was beginning to get a covering of snow too, maybe we won't be off tomorrow then!
Saturday morning and there was ice across the water and still plenty of snow, but we moved along to the water point and the boat yard, filling up with water, coal and gas.
But no further............. 

Back to our spot by the aqueduct and watching the birds again.  We have seen plenty of blue tits, great tits and long tailed tits, and a camera shy coal tit and nuthatch.
During the evening it started to rain, in fact, it poured, with a bit of thunder and lightning thrown in for good measure.
So this morning much of the snow was gone, leaving very wet, muddy towpaths, the river overflowing and flooded fields below us. But it meant we could get away, which is what we did, after we had been back to St. Mary's church for the morning service.

It was such a good feeling to be on the move again, the sun was shining, and a fine shower of rain was falling too!  A load of washing was soon on, and we made our way away from Market Drayton and down the Adderly locks.

looking down

and back up

We moored above the top lock at Audlem, and we'll tackle them tomorrow.  The sun was still shining and the rain had stopped so we enjoyed a walk down to lock 3 and across to Kinsey Heath. 

Underfoot everything is wet, wet, wet, but for working locks and moving around them that is better than ice and snow.

4.5 miles, 5 locks

Creating Things to Do

Finding things to do while we are stationary here in Market Drayton is necessary to keep our minds and bodies busy.  

A walk into town for a newspaper, exercises Jumble and gives good value with reading material and the puzzle pages which get shared out between us.

The feeding station fixed up with fat balls and peanuts gives entertainment watching the antics of the blue tits, great tits, and long tailed tits from the neighbourhood.

Sanding down and varnishing the table and wood surrounds of the kitchen worktops has improved the look and condition of both.

Time spent sewing, crocheting and knitting provides warm lap covers while working on them and the projects are growing.  The patchwork quilt top is complete with over 1,000 hexagon shapes, just the side panels and backing to sort out now.

The jewel granny squares blanket is bright and jolly, increasing daily.

With socks and mittens knitted in wonderful patterned wool, never knowing how it is going to turn out.

And so the days pass.............. 

Winter Wonderland part 2

There hasn't been a lot more snow, though it always seems to be sleeting when we go out.  This morning we walked up to the Parish Church of St Mary's, Market Drayton, where we enjoyed sharing a different type of service, focussing on ways to transform unjust structures in society. Thought provoking stuff, looking at the work of Christian Aid, Stop the Traffik, Make Poverty History amongst others.
We met Malcolm and Stephanie, fellow members of the BCF, and will be seeing them again tomorrow for a meal together.

This afternoon we enjoyed another snowy scenes walk...........

Tyrley locks

snow dog on the picnic table

snow drifts on the roadside

snowy vistas

and icicles

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Well there was snow overnight but not as much as forecast.

But it has been snowing much of the day, we made a short run along the canal to the services, filling up with water and emptying everything that needed emptying, then reversing back to this spot high up on the embankment just off the aqueduct.

Big flakes falling all morning

The wind is blowing too, making a pretty effect on the trees and boats.

Getting deeper.

Under the aqueduct.

Christmas card pretty

Jumble enjoyed his walk this morning getting quite excitable, amongst the big falling flakes, behaving more like a puppy than the 12 year old he now is. Once back we tried to get him to give himself a shake before coming back inside.