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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 25 June 2011

Have we been had by a man on a motor scooter?

We were watching Shark tale ( and thoroughly enjoying it) when a man on a scooter knocked on our window and asked if we had seen someone fishing this stretch. I said no we hadn't and he went on his way. Ian turned to me and said I bet it was the bailiff and that I had been reported for fishing in club waters. Oh well if that's the case, there was no way I would admit to having fished today. Anyway 5 minutes later the same man returns.Again he asked about a person fishing and when I enquired as to why he wanted to know, he said it was his cousin and he just had to find him because he needed some money to fetch his kids. He then proceeded to give us a sob story of how his sick dad has his kids and he left work without his bag which has all his money, phone etc, in and could we possible lend him £10 for some petrol so he could bring his kids home. Now I know that everyone reading this will say "Yeah right!" but this bloke seemed very upset. Alarm bells did ring and both Ian and I looked at each other wondering what to do. In the end after giving him a good quizzing and getting his name, number plate and phone number and with an assurance that he would return before 10 am tomorrow morning and pay us back we gave him the money. I 'll let you know if he returns but I'm pretty sure we wont be seeing our tenner again! What are we? Muggins or what!!!

Mirror image of Jade.

Ive done this blog the wrong way round but wanted to get the above story straight before I forgot it. So this is the how the blog  should have been.
Sudden decision this morning. We'll polish the boat. So before the so called really really hot weather materialised we set to just after 9 am, first giving her a good wash then a thorough  polish. But what happened to the really really hot weather? It has been overcast most of the day and the temperature certainly didn't get to 26 degrees. Still one side of the boat is done and the reflection on the side of the boat tells it all.   Posted by Picasa

3 comments:

KevinTOO said...

Hi Ian & Irene,
WOW the boat looks really shiny now... what a reflection!
Also I applaud your trusting generosity, I just hope that you are repaid for your kindness. I've done similar things on numerous occasions and have always beenlet down, hopefully you'll be luckier.
Kevin

Bruce in Sanity said...

Yes you have - welcome to the club! This guy's been working this stretch for several years at least. We were caught in 2008, when the story was he needed to get to visit his sick father in the West Country.

He's very clever and convincing, never asks for too much. If he'd wanted 20, you'd probably have said no.

When he doesn't come back, please do report it to the police, so that they are aware of the problem. Non-emergency number for W Mercia police: 0300 333 3000.

All the best

Bruce

Jo Lodge said...

Ok that is enough polishing you two, otherwise I will give you the polish and dusters so you can do our boat at Droitwich.
Oh no if Bruce is right you have been done, which is a real shame, because we should be able to trust people. I know if he had come to us, Keith would have told him where to go, he does not trust anyone LOL.(I am the exception).
Clive Henderson has just been past on Nanshe and he came up through the Junction Canal with Atlas, it seems all was well, so fingers crossed we should be coming through that way.
We are both looking forward to the weekend and to seeing you both. Jo xx

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