One, Two miss a few = Thursday

Having had three full days 'on land', I'm beginning to feel like I can go out in 'normal' society once more without looking like a mad boat-woman!  It's not a problem when you're only socialising with fellow boaters (because we all have similar challenges!), but on my wedding day I'd like to feel like a queen not a wicked step-mother!  I shall become one to Barry's children Jamie and Tom, hopefully there'll be no wickedness ...

Don & Irene, Sandra's mum & dad at lunch at The Dog & Doublet

     

A few pictures of the Dog & Doublet

  and the hay field - 'cause I like it...

The next lock up from the pub

Barry has been working hard getting jobs done on the boat bless him - fancy leaving him on the boat alone, what a dreadful first mate I am!  My mate Dave came gave him a helping hand yesterday on the end of a paint brush, and I'm informed they got lots done in between a few beers!

Barry took the boat back to Tamworth to do the painting etc. It's closer to amenities and hardware shops there, and will be able to pick up Jamie from the station tomorrow. He stopped on a quiet section of the canal on the way back to do some grinding work, very thoughtful.

  One of the pretty little gardens beside the locks on the way back to Tamworth

Fazeley Mill 

The familiar Fazeley Junction

Dave starting a bit of painting - Thanks for your help Dave

   Nice chilly start to the day with quite a heavy dew

A couple of old working boats heading through Glascote Locks

The autumn colours getting richer every day

Our English wedding day is likely to be an surreal experience; we're having a Humanist ceremony (http://www.humanism.org.uk/ceremonies/humanist-weddings) which will be unique and personal to us as well as humorous (how could it be anything but with Barry partaking?!), and the sun's showing promises of shining down on us as we stand on the roof of Northern Pride for the ceremony.  Our guests will be an array of family and friends from across the country; we're so looking forward to the madness and merriment that we'll all be experiencing together.

We'll be back on the boat together on Monday, my 50th birthday, for our final few days and to safely moor up, before returning 'home' to Gisborne, New Zealand.