What ya doing down the engine 'ole girl!

How remiss...We met another blogger yesterday and I clean forgot to give them a mention. A very brief encounter as it happened as I was on the way to Haywood lock when a head popped out of the side hatch and said he read my blog. Found out his blog was called  jemma the dog one I must read in the future but didn't actually get his name. Nice to say hello and thanks for reading my ramblings.

After leaving Stafford boat club Dennis took the lead and apart from being at Deptmore lock together we didn't meet up again until Hatherton.

Seemed we managed to get another boat in between again and from then on they were but a distance memory. All was going well until we got to Penkridge lock.  It has particularily tight approach to the lock and what with moored boats, overhanging branches and the tight left hand bend it was here we met a complete idiot! He was determined to go into the one remaining space to moor completly oblivious to the fact I was approaching. Seeing his bow I off course moved over to the space to get out of his way but did he turn to get onto his side of the canal...no he did not! If only he had given a sign.. some sort of hand signal would have done to show he wanted to moor. A few choice words were said I can tell you and in the end he had to reverse back so I could pass on the wrong side.

Had my grumpy hat on from then onwards until....OMG look who we are passing..... Marilyn and David on Waka Huia Well, that was it...we had to stop and say hello. Last time we saw them was in New Zealand and the second thing I said to Marilyn after expressing delight in the meeting was "So what about the haircut promised!". This figure emerged from the engine hole in the process of doing an oil change. Blimey, girl, I didn't know you had it in you. That pumping action of yours to remove the oil...forget using the engine for propulsion, reckon you could do just as well.

Kettle went on, my banana cake brought over and eaten, then cheesy scones were hastily made by Marilyns fair hand and placed into oven (which had a good hefty kick to the door to close properly after David accidentally stood on it), coffee drunk, scones out of the oven and buttered and then the 12 made were devoured eagerly by us all. Delicious they were too. Then it was onto the towpath for the promised haircut, first me and then Ian.

In all 4 hours elapsed before we finally said our farewells. But what a fabulous 4 hours catching up with all the news. So with Jaq yesterday and Marilyn and David today I wonder who we will meet next?

Setting off we joined the queue waiting at Filance lock. From then on it was slow going until after Gailey. With no boats in front anymore and a text from Dennis and Margaret saying they were at Hatherston, we continued until we finally caught up with them by 6.15 pm. For us normally moored by about 3 pm, this was a long day but oh so worth the late finish.

Losing that weight of hair seems to have gone to my head!