Sitting tight

Although it was calm first thing this morning, the wind has increased as the day went on until it was quite fierce again. It's stayed very mild, though, no doubt because the wind continues to blow from the south. Under the circumstances we were very glad to have decided to sit it out here. Tixall makes an excellent place to hang about, with pleasant views, a choice of wildlife to watch and shopping facilities just a healthy walk away.

The mobile signals are mostly OK, though the EE one tends to oscillate between Orange and T-mobile, with the result that things can get confused and hang up from time to time.

After breakfast we walked into the village via the towpath down to the lock, called in at the Post Office to draw some cash and went on to the newsagent and the pharmacy for some bits and bobs. By the time we were back at the boat it was just gone ten.

I'll need a supply of meds before we get to Norbury, so I gave the pharmacy in Brewood a call. They were happy to confirm that I could get a prescription sent direct to them from the surgery. My next task, then, was to print off a cover letter to Willington surgery and an sae addressed to the pharmacy.

This gave us an excuse for another walk after lunch to post it. It's stayed dry, so as long as you are not trying to steer a boat it's perfectly pleasant out. We've seen the occasional near miss with boats going under the junction bridge and making the turn onto the Trent & Mersey; it's a place to be wary of in a wind. The great danger is that the breeze blows you right across the junction onto the bank on the other side, from where it can a quite a struggle to get off.

The forecast is still very windy for tomorrow, so we've got another day to loaf about here; after that we'll probably make steady progress towards Brewood, getting there next Tuesday if all goes well.