Home Alone

Well I am on day 5 now of being on my own as Mark has gone home to do work on his mini, and jobs on the house.Im still in Guildford and loving it the shops are great along with my neighbours, spent a boozy night on NBLargo with Mary and Brian and their lovely very elderly boat puss Sammy. Went to a cheese and chilli festival, so many tastings and  great entertainment but was so hot felt sorry for the birds of prey in the falconry display. Nice visits from my neighbour Terri and yesterday a work colleague popped up for lunch ( only 40minutes from home) Decided to downsize my jeans collection just to appease the Captain so only have 13 pairs now, don't know how I'll manage. While washing down the boat this morning a lovely well to do elderly lady came and sang me a song ( so random) unfortunately I didn't know it so couldn't join in. Mark back tomorrow and I'm going home for a few days joining him somewhere on the Thames on Sunday......x Lou

Spent 3 nights at The New Inn at Cartbridge had visitors over from France Andy and Sarah and their gorgeous children Isabel and Freddy, far too much to drink all feeling pretty rough the next day. Said our goodbyes to the French contingent and moved on to a beautiful spot next to Sutton Place, which on googling it found out it's a huge mansion set in 300acres owned by a Russian Billionaire ( once owned by Paul Getty ) I thought we could sneak up to the house at dusk but glad we didn't as there were sensors along the road and CCTV everywhere including gaurd dogs on patrol ! .Arrived Guildford, great shopping, Had a visit from James and Molly ( Marks son and girlfriend ) nice meal out and more alcohol. The trip down to Godalming was just beautiful and so is the town itself met a nice lady called Kate who let us use her mooring ended up staying 3 nights back to Guildford today in 33 degree heat  wish the river wasn't so murky could def gave done with a dip .

You cannot be serious!!!!

I have noticed lately that the boat seems to be listing slightly to port, on investigating the reason for this I have discovered that Lou has no less than FOURTEEN pairs of jeans on board!!!!!!!! Bloody hell, I mean...is that REALLY necessary??

Here's some of the evidence

As if that wasn't enough; I think I found her knitting ANOTHER pair😮!

                                                           A Jacuzzi Boat ... Genius

The Wey Hey !!

One final shop round Windsor in the morning, then headed of to the River Wey which has cost us a fortune in license fees, it is very pretty though. We had to nip back home on Saturday for a friends birthday and Pete and Shirley from NB Selena Rose very kindly lent us their mooring near Weybridge while we were away. Travelled back Sunday by train and picked up a Chinese takeaway in Addleston on the walk back to the boat. Set off this morning in torrential rain got absolutely soaked but it didn't dampen our spirits passed beautiful countryside and the most amazing Mill sympathetically converted into Apartments, we are now moored up drying out and going to pop to the Anchor Inn ( we are right outside ) just to recce it for guests arriving Wednesday, well we might just have one drink 🍻🍷cheers ....Lou x

The Drinkers arrived

                                                            Rod and Carol

Boat of the day !

                                                       Yes it really is a boat !

Royal Windsor

Another beautiful sunny morning and sadly had to leave the lovely mooring at Hambleden, sailing down the Thames we passed so many huge mansions aparantly we passed George Cloonys place he couldn't even be bothered to wave,  went through some lovely locks, all manned thankfully and found another great mooring spot opposite Windsor race course and next to the Olympic rowing lake, very hot and sunny just had to have Gin and Tonics to cool us down. The Surprise arrival of our friends Rod and Carol on NB Slimline Tonic made for a nice social evening along with another couple Jackie  and David on a Tupperware boat. Left the mooring this morning and arrived in Windsor about 12 noon. My faith in human kindness was totally restored today when a couple gave Mark and I a voucher for a cream tea for 2 worth £25 for a French Pattiserie which was delicious.... what a result !!😊

Goodbye K&A, Hooray Henley!!

                                                   Going through the Oracle in Reading

                                                  Definitely boat of the day!

Onto The Mighty Thames

I have been a bit lax with my blog so will condense it and bring you up today (5th July)
We left Hungerford and made our way to Kintbury where daughter No 2 ( Rachel ) visited , bringing with her her lovely French boyfriend Adrian, After Kayaking and a few drinks we ate at the red house nice but pricey and treasure hunted in the lock on the way home, (one windlass caught by Rachel)They left the next day vowing that they now want to live on a narrow boat 😊.
From Kintbury we went on to Newbury and visited The lovely Tina on "NB Go For It "at our old home Marina, Ham Manor, Thanks so much for the homemade Jam and chutney Tina.
Tackled Woolhampton lock and swing bridge which would have gone smoothly had a knob not moored up outside the pub with only a stern line on,with the bow drifting out He was lucky Mark only clipped his boat. Met a really nice couple Shirley and Pete on NB Selena Rose locked down a few locks with them and they have very kindly let us use their mooring at Weybridge.

Went through the Oracle at Reading I loved it just so weird going through a shopping precinct, and then said goodbye to the K&A  and onto the mighty Thames.
What a contrast just so exciting its huge with such a diverse range of craft  mainly enormous Tupperware boats and beautiful Dutch barges. The houses are something else one of them on the market for £47 million ( booked a viewing for tomorrow ) Going through Henley was fab but at £25 a night to moor we chugged on to Hambleden where it's only £6 a night it's a beautiful evening we are quite rural and I'm looking forward to more of the Thames tomorrow xx Lou