Enjoying a sunny Saturday

We’ve had another glorious day weatherwise, with bright sun, not much wind and a frosty feel to the air. The leaves are now almost entirely off the trees so navigation will be being made more interesting by the leaves-on-the- prop phenomenon, no doubt.

The main event of interest this morning was the emailing out of the Mercia Mercury with our quiz in. It’s a bumper edition this month and does a brilliant job of keeping us up to speed with developments; building the boardwalk, introducing new staff member Josh and progress towards getting planning permission for residential moorings here, not to mention some of the Christmas festivities.

We had a pleasant stroll round the marina this morning; after lunch Elanor came across and I joined her and Sally for a trip to the flood meadows of Burton, the ones that run behind the library and Meadowside centre all the way down to and beyond the Stapenhill Bridge.

These are much more extensive than I’d realised from Elanor’s description, with a good mix of areas where Sal had to be on the lead (I don’t think that the rugby players would have appreciated her joining in the game) and places where it was safe to let her off for a charge about and thorough rummage for bunnies.

We took about an hour to walk round, coming back past the river for Sal to have a paddle, then went back to Elanor’s to pick up some post. Back at the boat we had a family natter session before Elanor took Sal away for a rest.

Tonight I’m planning another culinary adventure; I bought some oak smoked garlic in Betty’s yesterday to try with the chicken I’m going to roast. I’ll let you know how it goes…

Meanwhile both Elanor and Sheila report that conversation is much easier with me these days; I’m getting used to the aid in my ear, though currently have to stop myself from absent-mindedly poking at it as if it was an itchy lump of wax.

/floor