Back on the Northampton Arm

The lovely Tithe Barn in the centre of Wellingborough

There were some lovely old yellow stone buildings around the town.  It was once a centre for lace making, then shoe making, also had a brewery. Now none of these exist.  The local town museum was an interesting place in an old swimming baths built by the local Brewer for his staff to use.

This very tall factory tower which dominates the sky line as you travel the Northampton Arm is the Express Lift factory tower. Lifts were tested here. Its all that is left of the factory now.

Yesterday we left the River Nene and returned to Canal life. The pace seems a little more slow and peaceful. Although the river was pretty too. We hope to continue exploring the river another time, hopefully when there are not so many lock closures.

When we stopped for lunch  it was so warm we gave the boat another wash over and Ian fixed up the table Dad had made for the front of the boat. Thanks Dad it looks great.

This fellow was swimming by the lock entrance, a grass snake, harmless but I still felt brave taking his photo.

A beautiful sunset to end a glorious warm day.
Thank you Lord.

Today we turned onto the Grand Union Canal again and headed up to Weedon where we met up with friends Robert and Marion for lunch. Our first visitors to our new home. It was lovely to see them and share family news. Here is Tacet up on the canal embankment we were down in the village, looking up across the churchyard.

Ian and Karen

Northampton to Wellingborough

The Carlsberg Factory in Northampton, giving the town a distinctive malty aroma. We quite liked it.
Moorings here were very quiet with Morrisons and B&Q very nearby. Not much boat traffic about. Could be because of lock closures further along. More than we had anticipated!




Having been to church Sunday morning,(we found Kingdom Life Church across town, and enjoyed the worship and teaching there) we set off down the river.

This is the first of the guillotine locks at Weston Favell. The guillotine style bottom gate is electrically operated. They don't take long to empty or fill, but the gate takes a long time to open and close, but at least there's no winding!






Especially for the children in Reception Class at Maynards Green here are some pictures of Jumble.

I'm sorry some of them are sideways, I can't seem to get them to stay the right way on the blog page. (Maybe someone will be able to help).
The last one shows Ian fishing, no he hasn't taken up a new sport, nor was he hungry. I'm afraid I did a silly thing this morning whilst taking down the chimney before some low bridges, I knocked it off the roof into the canal. Despite searching with the magnet and poles, we couldn't find it. Oh dear.
To try and win back some favour, this afternoon I did some baking. The oven seems pretty good so far, this is how I got on.

First tray of Anzac biscuits, oops they've spread a bit.

 Second tray, that's better.

Chocolate and Cherry Muffins. They'll do.














So in Wellingborough we will do some more exploring tomorrow. Here's the view from my window today, sounds like Preschool doesn't it........ Lots of swans!

 Ian and Karen

Northampton

Yesterday we spent some time exploring the town of Northampton, including the local museum, which told the history of shoe making in the town. Today we visited 78 Derngate a house that was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for a local model engineer in 1917.  It had some really amazing design work going on. www.78derngate.org.uk  Photos were not allowed inside so here is the front door.

This afternoon was bright and sunny so we gave the boat a well needed wash and polish.  At least the roof, front and back decks and one side.  The other side will have to wait until we have towpath on that side.  It looks much better. Ian has managed to fit most of his tools away now in the boxes he made and found a few other hideaway places on the back deck. 

Thanks for comments left, I'll try to get some photos of Jumble in the next few days.

Ian and Karen

Rothersthorpe Locks

Day 3 of our journey.

We started the day with a trip into Weedon village to the shops and a look around. Love the stone houses, thatched roofs. 

Old shop front with stained glass advertising

Loved the name - Twinings Cottage

The church is a pretty sandstone and we stopped to listen to organ practice on our way back to the boat. 

We popped in to see Les on NB Valerie as he was moored opposite us. Thanks for the tea and chat, Les. It was good to meet up with you.


We got underway at mid-day and arrived at the top of Rothersthorpe Locks on the Northampton Arm at 3pm.

It was rather windy at the top but sunny. The 17 locks down to Northampton kept us busy for the afternoon and we moored above Becket's Lock at 7 pm.


Ian and Karen

Bells and Batteries

I am writing this blog listening to the bells at Weedon. They are lovely, must be practice night tonight.

Tacet coming through Candle Bridge, Blisworth

Explanation of why Candle Bridge is so named.

We had ordered some new batteries from Whilton Marine Chandlers, so this morning we headed off to the bottom of Whilton Locks.  Ian got a bit wet steering. Karen was dry inside unpacking boxes. We have managed to get almost everything away. 

Arrived at Whilton about 2pm so after some lunch we picked up the batteries and fitted them. Altogether this took about 2 hours as a few alterations had to be made to fit them in.

The sun came out, so we had a pleasant evening cruise back down to Weedon where we moored opposite the church for the night. 

Some of our lovely gifts in their new home on our boat.

Ian and Karen

Home is where our boat is.....

 This morning we left our Sussex home after a busy 2 weeks packing and storing its contents. It’s been hard work, tiring both physically and emotionally. Thank you for those who have helped with cleaning and meals.

We had a good journey with Mum and Dad, arriving on board Tacet soon after midday. It didn’t take long to unpack the car, there are already some boxes on board which Ian brought up last Friday. I’m not sure if we can fit everything in!

After lunch together, Mum and Dad left to travel back home returning with the suitcases and some empty boxes. Oops I think you took Jumble’s bed back too!

Will we ever get all those clothes in! I am sure Ian doesn’t need so many!!

Had fun unpacking some of the cards and presents from so many kind friends and family and taking photos of them in their new home. Will upload those later. Thank you for all your good wishes, kind thoughts and prayers, we are blessed to have so many good friends.

Ian and Karen




Sorry some mistakes, things happen on this laptop I'd not intended! Karen

So-long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Goodbye.

This has been my last week working at school. so lots of good-byes to say and thank-yous to
share. After 15 years its not easy saying good bye to so many friends, colleagues and children.  Often emotional and a little sad but still looking forward to living on Tacet. Thank you everyone for all your kind words and messages.

Flowers from the children





Watercolour  from colleagues.

Ian had a treat today. A friend took him for a drive in his 1930's 3-wheeler Morgan.

Alan had just got it back on the road again.

 What good friends we have.

Ian and Karen