Stone Farmers Market

Despite having spent more than 4 months in the marina last year we didn't get to check out the farmers market in Stone.  It's on the first Saturday of the month and each time we were otherwise occupied and couldn't go (in Germany, taking Mick to the airport, and January there was no market).  We were glad to see the day was clear so we could walk into town for the market today.

On the way we saw the car Mick had spotted the other day was still down the embankment where it appeared to have crashed.  I noticed Diane mention that she'd seen a stolen car so I assume this is it.  It was a lovely day for a walk and we were glad to be out.  The sun was out too so that always helps.

The market was absolutely buzzing.  It was fantastic and obviously popular.  We were really impressed with the stalls... such a variety.  We bought some bits and pieces as we went and then decided we had enough and anything else that took our fancy would have to wait until next time.  We'll be sure to visit again.  The prices weren't too over the top for a market..... compared to home anyway.

As we reached the marina gate into the field coming back we came across Clare and Roy from nb Foxglove. They were out walking Wish.  We stopped for a chat before heading on our way again. 

Speaking of doggie friends, Mick's bumped into Tony and his chocolate labrador Breeze a couple of times since we've been back.  She was such a funny girl last year, always looking across at our boat to see if one of us was coming out to pat her.  She's quickly worked out again that Mick's a good bet for some attention.

Shopping in a car

Mick went off to finish the bench tops on nb Josephine this morning.  Andy and Jean had some shopping to do and took us along for the ride.  Mick went this morning with Andy to buy some coal and this afternoon I tagged along with Andy and Jean to Asda and B&Q.  It's rather a treat these days to go to the supermarket in a car.  Despite our Ocado delivery coming this evening I managed to buy a few bags more..... things I had no idea we needed until I saw them!  Mick stayed home this afternoon to watch the snooker on tv.... oh, I meant to say "do housework"!

We have a little Christmas tree.  We've never had an artificial one before but seeing this little one in B&Q I couldn't resist.  It has fibre optic lights run by battery and changes colour. Very festive.  The box is small enough to fit under the dinette for next year... whoever has her next year!

We've been enjoying watching the UK snooker championships on tv the last couple of weeks.  We get very little snooker televised on free to air tv in Australia.  I used to love watching with my step dad when I was a kid.  Having an Aussie in number one ranking spot makes it interesting too.  We're watching Neil Robertson tonight.

A problem with wind

There were dire weather warnings last night of huge storms and flooding in some coastal areas.  This seems to be the UK equivalent of our bushfire warnings.

The red sky in the morning proved to be an accurate warning. We didn't have a storm here but the wind was unbelievable. The boat was buffeted about. I took a couple of loads of washing up to the laundry to dry in the huge dryer and when it came time to check on it there was rain being whipped around. I put on my waterproof coat and headed off.  The wind was a bit scary. The gusts were so strong I feared I'd fall off the pontoon! When I opened the gate to get out the wind snatched it from my hand.  The marina surface which is often still and placid was a mass of choppy waves.

I watched one of the share boats come in. They came in the entrance quite fast to try and keep control of the boat. Their couple of attempts to reverse onto their pontoon left them blown well beyond so they went out onto the canal again and back round to the entrance.  This time they made straight for their pontoon and just went in forwards and fast. Wind and narrowboats just don't mix well.

While I was up in the marina laundry the wind got so strong I thought it was going to blow over the enormous Christmas tree at the front of the marina!

Tonight's news is full of tales of woe. The German Christmas market was closed after the roof on one of the stalls blew off, a plane attempting to land at Birmingham was blown side on to the runway and the pilot had to abort the landing attempt. After trying once more they were diverted to Gatwick.  There are waves crashing over roads in some coastal areas. Scotland seems to have copped it the worst.

We had a problem getting the washing machine to go the other day but it seems we've discovered the problem. We get a bit blasé with power in the marina but we can't be leaving everything else switched on and expect the inverter to run the washing machine.  Today with only essentials left on the machine worked faultlessly on a warm wash. Excellent.

A quick visit to Birmingham

I decided to take the train to Birmingham today. It's nice to be able to window shop on my own without Mick trailing along. I feel that I have to hurry when he's standing there waiting.  I was in Birmingham not much more than an hour after leaving the boat!

It's a very strange feeling sitting in the train and seeing the canals out the window.  Even more so now that we're passing places we've been on the boat. 

The Christmas market is in full swing. I had a bit of a browse of some of the stalls at the beginning but I've promised Carol I'd go with her so will leave the rest for another day. I enjoyed my browsing but didn't buy much.... just a warm hat and some new socks.

It was an easy trip back too.... all the connections lining up nicely.  I always enjoy the walk back from the bus at Aston Village.  Coming back it's an extra five minutes because the bus stop is beyond the village hall and around the corner at the next roundabout. 

When I got back to the marina Mick and Andy were out on the pontoon doing the final benchtop cutting.  Mick's thoroughly enjoyed having a job to do!

Mick and the iPad

A quieter day today. Mick left me working and went for a wander into Stone. I had a tidy out of our storage tubs. We'd promised one set of three to Barry for when their pram cover was done. We have one at the back of the boat to store mooring stuff.... rings, chains, pin covers.... and other bits and pieces we need access to when cruising.  It will be a bit easier sitting 4 at the dinette now, with only one having less leg room where my printer is.

Mick has always been a real techno-phobe. He should have his own "grumpy old men" show with all the grizzling he does about kids with phones, texting in cars, computers, computer games and all manner of other electronic gadgets.... he has an opinion on them all.  At the ripe old age of 50 he seems to have discovered the Internet! I never thought it would happen. I think at home he had so many other things to do that he wouldn't even contemplate wasting time to learn anything about it. But, he has taken to my iPad like a duck to water. He has spent hours browsing real estate, cars, boats, trucks, tractors, and now he's discovered the Internet news. He googles things, he has researched cars for when we get home and have to buy me one pretty much immediately, he knows every house for sale in our area. He even looks at the blog at the photos I've taken.  He doesn't have the patience to read it all so I'm still safe to talk about him without him knowing.  He has shortcuts to all his favourites (I had to set them up for him) so my iPad is no longer my own... I have to wait my turn to use it. Who would ever have thought this would happen. Not me!

Busy V pontoon

Wow, what a day it was today on V pontoon.  It was a hive of activity!

Diane on nb Ferndale had her cratch cover off for cleaning.

Andy and Jean on nb Josephine had their new benchtops arrive today.  Mick was happy as a lark doing his "job" of installing them.  He used one of the marina trolleys as a work bench.

Scott from Kinver Canopies came to fit the pram cover on nb Winton's Folly.  Now they have a conservatory!

Jo on nb Gentle Presence had new carpet put in her boat.

I worked this morning and before lunch I was out on the pontoon talking to Mick when Claire from nb Foxglove called out as she walked Wish the border collie.  I asked her in for coffee and we had a good old chin wag.  Will look forward to catching up again Claire.

This afternoon Martin and Cathy from nb Moriarty came in for afternoon tea.  The boaters tea party is on hold at the moment as the marina is open on Mondays between now and Christmas. We spent a lovely couple of hours chatting.  Great to see you both.

Winton's Folly pram cover

I had a phone call this morning from Scott at Kinver Canopies.  Carol had told him to call us if their pram cover was ready for installation while they were away in India. 

Barry and Carol.... here it is!

Porthole perspex

When we did our home made double glazing we didn't do the portholes.  We don't have too much of a problem with condensation on them and the bungs do a pretty good job of keeping it at bay.  The other reason is that they're round so it's not so straight forward and we don't have a timber surround to stick the magnetic strips to.

I'd not seen anyone else with a solution to this until today.  Andy on nb Festina Lente had come up with a great idea.  They have a timber surround on their portholes and he knicked the magnetic strip on the outside edge and managed to get an excellent circle using this method.  It seems to be a great success! 

Social Sunday

Today we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at the Three Crowns.  It was a lovely day again so the walk was welcome.  We had the Sunday roast which was nice enough but not as good as some of the meals we've had there in the past.  I really like the atmosphere at the Three Crowns.  It's a lovely pub.

On the walk back to the marina we stopped for a chat with a fellow Mick met when we were moored in Stone.  He has a boat in the marina called Rose of Sharon. 

We had a wander around the marina then and took in the view from the top of what Mick so fondly calls "turd hill".  There is a bit of a problem with dog droppings up there so you must watch your step.  You get a great overview of the marina though.  As we wandered back down we saw Roly on nb Klara.  We went in and chatted outside their boat for a bit... they were about to head off for coffee at the bistro.  We moved on down the pontoon to say hello to Andy and Sue on nb Festina Lente and sat down for a cup of tea and chat.

Walking back around the marina towards the boat we spied Martin form nb Moriarty.  We went in for more chat with he and Cathy and before we knew it dark was approaching.  Where on earth did the day go?!

Sun !

Yesterday (Friday) was rather a gloomy old day.  Jim and Joan from nb Two Jays came over to visit and we whiled away the afternoon chatting.  I had intended to walk into Stone but with the forecast for Saturday looking so much better I thought I'd wait.

It turned out to be a good decision with this morning dawning clear and bright.  We didn't mess about too long and were ready to go by 9am..... early for us these days!  We headed off along the path by the marina field thinking we might see nb Klara along the towpath into Stone.  Midway along the field we saw her on the canal next door with Bev waving from the window.  By the time we'd crossed the bridge and back-tracked along the towpath a little the kettle was boiled.  Roly was off for the day to watch a rugby match in Wales and Bev was enjoying her solitude with the three cocker spaniels for company.  We had a cup of tea and a chat and continued on our way.  Halfway to Stone we spied a familiar figure ahead.  It was Gil from nb Shoehorn.  We called out and walked the rest of the way with her, chatting as we went.

The bridge hoppers were back on the Stone moorings.  We think perhaps they were moved on about the time we came down the last lock just over a week ago.  It was incredibly quiet that weekend.  Now it's full again, with one boat that we won't mention the name of having now been on the 48 hour moorings for 3 weeks that we know of.  There was not a single space left so useless for us if we'd wanted to take the boat up there to go shopping.  We saw nb Moriarty but Martin and Cathy weren't in sight.  I think they said they'd be coming into the marina this weekend so we might catch them then.

Several boats came into the marina today and I expect tomorrow will be the same.  We quite like our mooring with a birds eye view of the entrance to the marina.  I don't know why it is but the sound of a boat engine sends us hurrying to the bow to peer out and see who it is.  I'm sure we aren't the only ones with such curiosity.  It breaks the monotony of marina life.

This afternoon we did some more washing and then topped up the water tank.  Mick's little brass hanging rail has proved to be a winner.  The clothes dry in no time at all hanging up there beside the insulated flue of the Acorn stove.  We should have done this a year ago! We never leave things hanging there unattended.  If we leave the boat or go to bed we always take them down.  Having had a friend lose her house to fire and two other families in our town have their homes catch alight from clothes on a rack in front of a fire.... we're extremely cautious.

There were decals on the side hatch windows of the boat when we bought it.  The name Parisien Star came from the name of a race horse so that's what was on the glass.  It had no horsey significance to us so we removed the decals and spent a considerable amount of time with white spirit and various other cleaners to clear all trace of them.  You can't see at all that they'd been there now.... except sometimes when we open the privacy screen on the side hatch in the morning and a light mist of condensation eventually appears.  Now and then we see him leaping across the glass.