A break in the routine

After a relaxed start yesterday, we set off at nine from Tixall in very mixed weather. A boat was just coming down Tixall Lock as we got there, so Sheila had an easy time of it with the only one of the day. Above the lock, we plodded on through occasional showers. It's not the most dramatically beautiful bit of the Staffs and Worcs, but pleasant enough, with the West Coast Mainline adding interest to one side, and pleasant if undeveloped countryside to the other.

It's just on two hours to Stafford Boat Club, where we tied on the mooring I'd been told to use when I phoned. A visit to the office sorted out power and water access, so we were soon happily established with all mod cons. Graeme doesn't believe in satnav (sees enough of that stuff in his job, I guess) so they had a little bit of bother finding us just from the address, but eventually made it.

After that, it was the usual merry chaos of having the four of them on board. SBC really is the ideal place for this sort of rendezvous, with plenty of safe running around area for the kids, all facilities to make looking after them on the boat as easy as possible and a very pleasant spot into the bargain. Daniel has been very taken with his life jacket, only with difficulty being persuaded he didn't need to wear it in bed. This morning, he was to be seen eating his breakfast with it on over his pyjamas.

This morning, they've all gone off to visit Shugborough Hall, leaving me to chill out on the boat and catch up with the blog. The weather continues very mixed, with sun, breeze and the odd heavy shower, but I'm not complaining.