Langley Mill Rally

Over a hundred boats attended the rally with many getting into the spirit of it all by decorating the boats with flags and bunting. Ian was the official electrician and spent two days just wiring the marques, stalls and the all important toilets. Luckily for him the only mishap was when the Reverend wanted power to his mike for the church service on Sunday only to discover that the lady who had allowed the society to run the power from her house had switched it all off over night. Ian then had to wake her up early that morning to ask her to re connect them.


I ran the bric-a-brac stall and Margaret, who was also doing the lucky dip, was there to give me a hand. Ian and I was also roped in to running the dog show. After a bit of persuation I managed to get Christine to judge the show for me. (Actually she had no choice as I announced to all that she had come especially from her veterinary practice in Leicester, where she is a vet nurse, to judge the contest.) If looks could kill, as one would say. Anyway she did a grand job and all doggies and owners went away happy if not a little deaf from all the barking!!!


At night we had some fantastic entertainment. We had a musician, Martin Taylor, on Friday night and a comedy duo on Saturday night and all the various boating clubs put on a 15 minute entertainment slot on Sunday night with the Erewash society singing a waterway ditty on their turn. Ian was roped into this , much to my horror because his singing voice is enough to crack any mirror. It all went down with much hilarity and merriment and everyone went back to their boats that night just a "wee bit tipsy"


Most boats left to go back to their moorings on Monday and Tuesday and it all seemed very empty and quiet after that. We all helped with the big clean up and after spending another week at Langley Mill we left to start our journey on June 2nd with our other boating companions Margaret and Dennis Cakebread on Icing.


At the moment we are back in Sandiacre waiting for the River Trent to go down so that we can make our way to the Trent and Mersey canal and then onwards to the Lancaster. Joining us at a later date will be Dave and Heather Fox on Bracken.