About Us

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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Saturday 21 October 2023

And it so nearly arrived!

Not left MK yet… still moored outside the marina and this will now be day 4! Best laid plans were scuppered by an email, we should have been gone a couple of days ago heading toward Leighton Buzzard but it all went pear shaped and all because of a bread machine. One bonus, Toffee likes it here, the walks around Campbell Park are numerous and we have been able to keep interested dogs at bay. Her season is progressing and it won't be long before she is the one interested in dogs. She will act all coy, start to act like a tart and invite mating, keeping her on the lead will then be a necessity!


 

So the reason for staying as long as we have....well last Tuesday Ian found a new bread machine on e bay. The seller looked reputable, having a 99.5 percent satisfaction from its customers. But for us this seller was to a let us down big time. Our old machine had failed and not wanting to buy the tasteless bread from the supermarkets, a new one was ordered. Delivery was for Thursday so we decided to wait, the collection point was but half a mile away. Anyway Thursday came and no delivery. Ian emailed the seller and the reply was not favourable. Maybe Friday or Monday was his email back. We were given a tracking number and on Friday it showed to be out for delivery.  It so nearly arrived but the strangest thing happened. On the tracking site suddenly it stated that the parcel was to be returned to sender. What!!!! It hadn't even arrived at the pickup hub. Another email to the seller and this time he denied having any knowledge of why it was to be returned. Long story short, we are now in dispute with him because so far he has refused to refund our money. Thankfully if e bay get involved then we will be reimbursed but this could be a long process. In the meantime another bread machine was ordered from Amazon. More expensive but at least we know it will arrive tomorrow (Sunday). So here we stay for yet another day. Water is becoming a bit of an issue and the two full cassettes certainly are. Good job we carry three on board but it does mean we will have to leave by Monday to reach the facilities at Fenny Stratford.

One good thing about still being on this mooring was Jules Fuel boat came past with Nick now in control of this part of the GU. We were able to top up with diesel, change the gas bottle and buy two bags of coal (we already have 5 on board) Whilst being serviced a wide beam arrived also wanting fuel. Well I think this chap was new to boating because he made a right hash of trying to come alongside. Nick was trying to tell him which way to turn the tiller but he just couldn't comprehend which was the right or the wrong way to point it. I must admit it kept us enthralled. Eventually throwing a rope was the only way he could be pulled alongside.




And sure sign Halloween is coming up



2 comments:

Marilyn, nb Waka Huia said...

Told ya - sourdough is the way to go...

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

Okay, you win. Maybe...just maybe we will give a sourdough starter a go. No promises though!

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