Feb 27th

Normal 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} It was glorious this morning when we woke up.  The sun was streaming in through the porthole in the bedroom and it felt warm!  After breakfast Clive decided to finish off cleaning the outside of the boat � he had only been able to give the starboard side of the boat (that�s the right side of the boat for you landlubbers!) a cursory clean  the other day, but as it was the side up against the bank this time he could get at the bits he had missed.  He also had a bit of time to saw up some of the wood that has been drying out on the roof, so we now have a full basket of logs.      We finally set off  at 11.30  and neither of us had coats, wooly hats or scarves on!  Clive had his gilet on and I was wearing my new hoody � it really felt like Spring at last.  We really enjoyed our cruise in the warm sunshine, it made a very pleasant change.  We even opened the front doors and the cratch cover and left the rear hatch open to give the boat a real blow through to freshen it up.  However there came a point when the wind had changed direction (or rather we had!) and there was a bit of a nip in the air for a while and we had to put our gloves on, but then it warmed up again a little while later as we came around another bend.   The signs of Spring are everywhere now and we soon passed a field full of gorgeous little Spring lambs � bless!  The are so sweet!  The other thing we saw quite a lot of today were Bulrushes, or to give them their proper name; Giant Reedmace, in fact if you want the Latin name its: Typha latifolia!  (oh I�m such a show-off!)  They are quite impressive lining the banks of the canal, but at the moment they are seeding and some of them look as if they are covered in cotton wool!  We have also noticed that the buds are beginning to open on a lot of the shrubs that line the canal, it is going to be really beautiful very soon, especially when the blossom comes.  I can�t wait.  I have mentioned before that although one is always aware of the changing seasons it is much more evident here on the waterways, I think because we are living so close to nature, it�s more �in your face� so to speak.  I love it!   One tree however is never going to open its buds again, unfortunately it is quite dead.  But I think there is something quite spectacular about the silhouette of a dead tree so I couldn't resist taking a photograph of this one as we cruised past it.  It almost looks like lightening - don't you think? Our aim today was to reach Crick as we knew there was a post office not far from the canal.  As I mentioned a few days ago, Clive needs to renew his passport and having completed the form and got the necessary photos taken he just needed a post office to complete the task.  We were just passing Crick marina ready to pull in and moor up when we saw a familiar figure � Bruce the folk-singer from Welford who we met at Bridge 61!  We passed the time of day with him for a while as we moored up, then we set off up to the village.   Now tomorrow afternoon, as far as Clive is concerned, something very important will be occurring � two Six Nations Rugby matches!  It is imperative that we have a good TV signal so that Clive can get settled for the afternoon to watch both matches � so as soon as we returned to the boat from the post office up went the aerial � oh dear!  No signal, well a pretty crap one anyway, but no BBC!  That wouldn�t do at all, we had to move, so Clive cruised a little further down the canal, under the bridge and moored up a little further along after another couple of boats and would you believe it, one of them was Molly May II!  However we knew that Pat and Peter weren�t on board because they have gone off to Abergavenny to celebrate Pat�s big birthday.  Now I know which birthday she is celebrating because she told me, but I�m not telling you � that would be rude!  Anway, we hope she has a lovely birthday and that they both enjoy their little break on dry land.    Unfortunately the new mooring was even worse this side of the bridge so that was a waste of time!  We have therefore decided to get up early tomorrow morning and head off as soon as possible, get through the Crick tunnel and start checking for a good signal as soon as we can find moorings.  We will keep checking and moving until we find a spot with a good signal then moor up for the duration!    What am I going to do with myself all afternoon � I could practice my saxophone, but that might just annoy Clive a tad!!!