Nov 6th

Normal 0 false false false st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* 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;} We have had a very lazy week really � when all said and done, we are retired and are allowed to relax from time to time!  Strangely though it feels a bit decadent! However, although we have done a lot of relaxing and watching daytime TV(!) we have also been out and about a bit too.   Our Kingfisher has continued to visit us every day this week, much to our delight.  However he hasn�t been to see us today and we are wondering if it is because another boat has moored right opposite us, which might be putting him off.  Still there is still time for him to pay us a visit � he popped in yesterday evening quite late, it was actually getting dark and we could only just see him perched on the bow post.   We are currently moored in Market Drayton in Shropshire, which just happens to be where Clive�s mum�s family hail from and some of them are still here!  We had a lovely evening on Tuesday when Clive�s cousin Jean and her husband Glynn took us out for a meal at The Four Alls.  It was really great for Clive to catch up on all the family news and reminisce about his childhood visits to Market Drayton � he and Jean haven�t seen each other since they were children.   Jean and Glynn came back to the boat for coffee and more chat and we suddenly realised it was after midnight � some people have to work unfortunately so we had to call it a night, with a promise to catch up in a few days time as we are going to be in this area now for several weeks.   Yesterday we went for a walk up into Market Drayton town centre.  There are lots of black and white timbered buildings and the whole place is steeped in history.  For example, Wednesday is market day and this dates back to 1245 when Market Drayton was granted its market charter by the Abbot of Combermere.   Mind you I think that the wares on sale today have changed somewhat from those times, apart from the locally grown vegetables of course.  There is also a cattle market held on the same day.    A lot of you may not know that Clive was named after one of Market Drayton�s famous sons � Sir Robert Clive, probably better known as Clive of India.  He played an important part in founding the British Empire.  Having fought for the southern part of India where all the spices were grown he finally gave Britain control of the spice trade.  One of the commodities which then became affordable here was ginger, which perhaps explains why Market Drayton is also famous for its gingerbread, which has been baked in the town for over two hundred years, using closely guarded secret recipes!  I am reliably informed that the best way to eat gingerbread is to dunk it in a glass of port���mmmmmm!  Sir Robert Clive is also fondly remembered in the town for climbing the tower of St Mary�s Church! Many of you will be aware that we have a three year old granddaughter � Gareth�s daughter.  She actually has two granddads called Clive, which is amazing in itself as it is not a common name � hence her name (with an �e�) Indeia!   We wandered around the town for a while, Clive was trying to find the little row of cottages where his aunties Ada and Violet used to live � but it has all changed since he was last here, about 40 years ago!   We have been moored here in the marina at Market Drayton for a week and should be moving on today � we would except that we have to pay our electricity bill to the lady who runs the marina and she isn�t in!  However we will definitely be moving on tomorrow, though probably not very far.  Watch this space.