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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.

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Phew....It's over

 Bank holiday Monday. 

Quite chilly first thing this morning so gone were the T shirts and on with the jumpers. Stallholders arrived to set up, Ian was on gate duty to allow the vehicles on site and he got to have a lie in as today was an 8 am start, one hour later than previous days.  My first job was to check the loos, a discovery made with one of the ladies cubicles, the flush wouldn't stop flushing! All we could do was phone the hire company and get them to return pronto to sort it out.

The site opened on this the final day at 10 am and even before the allotted time, people started arriving. With the sun putting in an appearance the day warmed up nicely. I was rostered down to man the tea and coffee stall and would have done said duty if it hadn't been for more volunteers turning up for the same thing. So instead headed off to the bric-a-brac to do a stint on that. My photography duties were really not needed today other than when the Spitfire flew over at 14.38.

So again we had three flypasts like the Lancaster Bomber but this time, blink and you would miss it. If only it could have slowed down a tad 😜 I did manage a few shots and quite pleased how they turned out considering.




By 5 pm we were all knackered but once the public left, the big clear away still had to be done. Within an hour and with at least 15 volunteers, all the gazebos had been dismantled, the hard plastic beer glasses washed, the rubbish collected, marquee left an empty shell ready for the company to collect on Tuesday and bunting around the site stowed away. You would never have known a rally had taken place.

I can't see me putting fingers to the keyboard for a while as we won't be leaving Langley on FS until beginning of July. We do have Marilyn and Davids return to look forward to sometime in June and then the motorhome will be put away for the rest of the year. Our decision is to go boating and not return until December sometime...stoppages permitting!

5 comments:

Jenny said...

A busy weekend indeed.

Marilyn, nb Waka Huia said...

We are nearly back - at Ingleton tonight, Debdale tomorrow, and then a cleaning day Monday and back to you on Tuesday!

The rally sounds like it was a great success, so well done to all of you.

Mxx

Jennie said...

I am so glad that all your hard work paid off and that the weather was also very kind to you. We have just returned home from 2 weeks in Wales with wall to wall sunshine and blue skies every day - almost unheard of!! Where are you heading to on the boat? If you are anywhere near us (with a car it does not have to be that close!) let us know and we will pop over to see you. Jennie and Chris.

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

Hi Jennie,
The plan is to head to the Leeds and Liverpool via the River Trent. A lot depends on boating buddies of ours as no way do I want to do the tidal Trent on our own! Hospital appointments for them may get in the way so we shall see. I will be blogging again once underway. Xx

Jennie said...

As with all boating plans - they have to be flexible! I shall follow with interest. Jennie xx

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