Another great Crick

I promised a blog post today, so here's a brief one now. We're still in Crick on a variable data connection, sometimes 4G, sometimes GPRS.

It's been a good weekend as ever, both socially and from the point of view of Braidbar. Mei Long was greatly admired and took second place in the favourite boat in show competition. It's been a while since a Braidbar won, ten years indeed, but we've been second placed in those ten years more often than not. Consistent quality is the name of the game.

We had very good evenings, visiting the Wheatsheaf on Wednesday, the Red Lion on Thursday, the Moorings on Friday and again last night and each other's boats in turn on Saturday and Sunday. We all got along well together and everyone has enjoyed themselves by their own report. In addition, we've another fund of stories of curious encounters with potential customers – I won't risk embarrassing anyone by retailing those here, but of you happen to find me in a pub and buy me a pint, I might be persuaded...

In addition, various Mercian friends came to see us, especially Peter and Katie on Saturday and Jo, Wynne, Bill and Jo on Sunday. We're especially grateful to Jo James for bringing us some post from the marina.

Today has been a day for chilling out after we'd finished the take down and seen the Braidbar four (that's Peter, Susan, James and Donna) on their way. A bit of shopping got done, the engine's had a good run to recharge the rather depleted batteries and get a wash load done, and puzzles and books have had some attention once more.

We plan to stay here tomorrow to repeat the latter parts of that programme, then will wander off along the 20 mile pound for a couple of days. After that, it will be heigh ho for Mercia for a short stay. I won't blog again tomorrow, but should have something to say after we've started boating again. Assuming I can find a data signal that is...

Location:Crick

So far, so good

We've been getting stuff done over the past two days. Cala and Priscilla II have arrived and are snug on their moorings.

We've washed the port side of Sanity Again and brushed all the hawthorn petals off the roof, not for the last time!

Tomorrow will be a bit quiet until the boatyard folks arrive with all the show gear like the marquee.

I'll not blog again now until Tuesday. If you are at the show, come and say hi at the Braidbar stand near pontoon F34.

We're here

I'll keep this short because, as expected, the internet connection here is spasmodic and slow. Today went according to plan and we got here before half ten. The moorings are already fully marked out and reserved and we've gone straight on to ours. We have a stranger boat outside us and four Braidbars in two pairs ahead of us, right at the end of Zone 1, the decent stuff.

There's no 3 or EE signal, some giff gaff but without much data speed and a fluctuating Vodafone signal, wandering from GPRS all the way up to 4G. I've bought some extra Voda data for this month and will use that as needed. I won't blog every day – when we're not boating it's hardly needed anyway – but I will try and get an odd post up from time to time.

Oh, and there is some connection with the marina wifi but it requires a passcode, not surprisingly, which we don't have.

Location:Crick

No signal, no blog

We've winded the boat and tied a bit along from where we were for the past couple of days. As a result, the 3 signal has almost disappeared. Normal service will be resumed asap, at least by Saturday.

Recovery day

As may be imagined, we've had a pretty quiet day today, not getting up in a rush though we both woke quite early. It started out very fine again, so Sheila put most of yesterday's wash on the whirligig. It's since clouded over rather with an occasionally chilly wind. Typically, it looks like it's going to be wet on Friday.

I managed a serious walk to Yelvertoft and back over Crack's Hill. It's a bit more than two miles along the towpath but just 1.6 across country. There are some interesting views from the top, though the least cluttered direction features the extending industrial estate outside the village. I did take a few photos, but the internet connection has gone slow again so won't be able to put them up just now.

The rest of the day has been spent loafing on the boat, mostly inside because of that wind. Whilst sitting out in the well deck to talk to Elanor, I was startled to see the biggest vespid insect I've ever encountered. About an inch and a half long, my first thought was that it was a European hornet, but the abdomen was single coloured, a sort of hairy tan. It flew off when I remonstrated with it.

A similar beast wandered into the boat a bit later through the open bow doors. It was much the same size but had a black and yellow striped abdomen. It was very audible. It also left when told it wasn't welcome. A bit of internet research has ruled out Asian hornets, I think, so the identification is a bit of a mystery. I'm certainly not getting too close to one to find out more.

I think the only other thing to report is that the 3 phone is complaining of being short of storage again, though checking individual storage areas like photos doesn't show any great quantity of usage. It claims to be down to about 10 Mb left out of the Gb we started with. I suspect that it's Android bloatware, putting me off that operating system even more than I am already.

When we get back to Mercia, I plan to buy an iPhone 5c on eBay and get the 3 SIM changed to the nano size needed for that phone. Then, when the current contract runs out in October I'll cancel it as 3 won't offer me all-you-can-eat tethering on a new one, and get another giffgaff deal instead.



 

What a weekend

Gosh, what an amazing weekend that was. After arriving at Crick and topping up the water tank, we found our mooring. Chris and Linda, expert mooring managers from the IWA National days, had volunteered to do harbourmaster and saw us into our space. They are going to be involved from an earlier stage next year, so the days of chaotic mooring arrangements may be over.

In addition, the temporary footbridge, which was quite scary last year, had been scaled up to a much more substantial structure, though at the price of completely blocking the towpath so that walkers had to go up one set of steps and down the other side. Bike riders, push chair pushers and dog walkers were not very happy about this, not surprisingly. The decking was a shiny alloy with loads of small holes through it. In the course of the weekend, a number of dogs suffered as a result with trapped claws. It is hoped that they will modify the plans next year to leave a ground level route past the structure.

As I'd expected, the Braidbar team was particularly good this year, coming together quickly both for the set up and working on the show-throughs. New members Mike, Lauraine, Nigel and Chris soon found their feet and I don't believe I heard a cross word spoken all weekend.

The boat itself was stunning and seriously unusual, with a diesel hydraulic drive, a full height back cabin and superb layout and design throughout. We were rewarded with yet another second place in the Favourite Boat in Show competition, coming just behind the Boating Leisure Services boat which featured a tug deck with double berth under and a perspex panel in the deck over the bed.

Seemingly this got the visitors very excited. One of these years we'll win again, but it's hard to see what else we can do; Integrity is probably the best boat Peter and Susan have ever turned out, Sanity Again not excepted.

Socially everything went with a swing too, starting with a meal in the Moorings for the team and some of the other visiting Braidbars. Various of us then catered on the Saturday and Sunday nights; Sanity Again was host to eight on the latter evening. We ended up with the women in the saloon and the men round the dinette. You can tell it was a good night, all were surprised to discover the way the time had flown by.

As usual, we finished with a meal for the team in the Moorings, generously paid for by the company. Chris and Ian organised a charades competition between courses which went with a swing. I even managed to get "veneer" across to the team I was in, which was pretty pleasing, and Sheila did the same with "lockgates".

We had a bit of a lie-in today, then engaged in some boat shuffling, pulling Sanity Again out of her slot to tie alongside Cala, so that the boat which had been outside us could get back on the towpath whilst someone was there to calm the dog they had on board. Both Priscilla II and Cala have gone now, so that the pack of Braidbars is reduced to ourselves and Mirabilis tied on the far side of the bridge.

We'll have a quiet couple of days, hopefully, before Richard Parry joins us on Friday to share the boating from here to Braunston. Unlike his predecessor, Richard has taken a lot of trouble to get to know the boating scene and take on board the boater's viewpoint, greatly to his credit.

At Crick, poor internet

We've made it and the rest of the gang have mostly turned up too. But the phone signals are worse than ever this year. There used to be an EE signal here, but not anymore. So no blog for a while, I'm afraid. I'll be back as soon as I can!

Back again

It's come to something when I've got a better internet connection in Braunston than I had in Crick, but that's how it is. Both 3 and EE have decent signals here by the Stop House, whereas neither was much use last week.

It was another good show, despite horrible weather on both Saturday and Monday; Sunday was very pleasant. Bad weather does mean that those asking to see the boats are more likely to be serious about it and Sunday was very busy indeed. We had a good few coming back for second and even third looks and some have promised to come to the Open Day in September or have made separate appointments to visit the yard.

Santiago was a great boat to show, not flashy but a classic testament to Braidbar quality. The only thing missing was a cratch, which would have helped a lot during the downpours. As it was, several stalwart owners earned much gratitude by standing holding golf umbrellas over the workers and visitors. A new, larger marquee also earned its keep, even if erecting it without benefit of instructions kept us all occupied on Wednesday afternoon.

I'm sure I don't need to say much about the socialising, which was a joy on every night between Thursday and Monday inclusive.

All in all, we delivered a thoroughly professional effort with a volunteer workforce and never a cross word was spoken.

We got away on Thursday after discovering that pump outs would not be available on Friday, so, having gone into the marina for one, took advantage of the fact that we were in cruising mode to carry on through the tunnel and tie on some good Armco between bridges 10 and 9. The only downside to that was getting covered in hawthorn blossom; the boat looked like it had been to a wedding.

Yesterday we moved on down Watford (no queuing) and tied just beyond the entrance to Welton Haven marina. Here we had a chance to look round Summerborn, the Fernwood boat, with her owners and designers Gary and Julie. It's a classic Fernwood, very nice indeed in a very modern idiom rather than Braidbar's classic timeless look.

We also brushed all the hawthorn confetti off Sanity Again and rinsed the mud off her.

Highlights of today were Sheila's brilliant turn through Norton Junction without reversing, an easy run through the tunnel without meeting anyone and a good run down the locks with Black Velvet.

We've got Ice Breaker ahead of us and Cala behind, so a final bit of socialising is in prospect tonight, after we've scoffed Aberdeen Angus rib eye steaks bought from the Braunston butcher this afternoon.

It's not over until it's over, folks.

Good weekend, no signal

It's been a very good weekend but the mobile signals are dire.

Normal service will be resumed when we leave Crick later this week.

Pluses and minuses

Susan rang yesterday, we can have a mooring at Crick Show after all, hooray.

It will be between 200 and 1000 metres from the other Braidbars, boo.

We'll be able to have a good weekend with our fellow Braidbar Owners, hooray.

We now don't have time to get to Stourport before we set off for Crick, boo.

We do have time to go to Penkridge to get a replacement bump stop for the stern door catch, hooray.

The winding hole at Penkridge is pigging awful in a 70 footer, boo.

We'll be passing another Midland Chandlers at Braunston to get the bump stop, hooray.

They might not have one in stock and we won't be able to hang around while they get one, boo.

If they don't, Peter can bring us one from Poynton, hooray.

He'll probably forget, boo.

But not if we tell Susan about it, hooray.

But that's adding to Susan's already considerable burdens and she's been a star sorting our Crick mooring, boo.

We can settle for just going to Great Haywood to get nice bedding plants for the roof, hooray.

If we don't get there by tomorrow, they'll all be sold this weekend as it's Mayday bank holiday, boo.

We're well on our way with an early start and made it nearly to Handsacre today, hooray.

It rained a lot as we were boating, boo.

But not as much as it said it was going to, hooray.

When I topped up the batteries this afternoon, 'cos it had stopped raining, I got too enthusiastic and had to mop up a load of de-ionised water, boo.

See, everything is a balance and the silver lining in that cloud hanging over you is probably the hailstones...

:)

Back to Braunston

7.30 start this morning, drizzly rain but not cold or windy. A steady plod to Norton Junction and on to the tunnel, through which we followed one boat and were in turn followed by another. The former stopped on the moorings at the top, but the latter, Thistle Do, shared down the locks with us.

We had the flight to ourselves at first, but it all got both busy and chaotic by the time we reached the Admiral Nelson, with boats moving in all directions, sometimes deliberately…

Shortly after, who should we see but Sue off No Problem walking up to exercise the dogs and look for us. With only a little persuasion she borrowed a windlass and gave Sheila a hand with the locks. No Problem was waiting at the bottom, having had her engine replaced under warranty and now much better for it.

We found a mooring by Butchers Bridge and NP was seen boating past shortly afterwards. Thanks again Sue, and have a good trip to the Thames!

The bow locker is now stuffed full of recycling as we haven't seen a recycling bin since Newbold. There is a helpful sign at Crick:

I guess if you are a moorer and have a car that's OK (but wouldn't you take the stuff home with you just as easily?) but for the passing boater it's quite pointless.

/floor

This bit of the system must be the least helpful for recycling – almost all other CRT areas seem to make some provision, so why not around Braunston and Crick?

After Crick

We got away just after eight this morning and had a good run to the top of Watford, Sheila steering. Winding in the entrance to the marina was interesting as always, mainly because there is only just enough room to do it, but otherwise it was a straightforward business, if a bit damp.

We just missed the tail end of the first convoy down Watford and had to hang about for I guess around 90 minutes before getting into the top of the staircase. There were a good bunch of lockies on, though, and they held back the next boat until we were clear of the problem gates, which otherwise would pour water through the leaking mitres and cills into the engine room.

We've tied just before Norton Junction on a bit of piling before Bridge 3, very quiet and peaceful, just the thing for a post prandial doze recovering from our exertions.

So, "what was the show like?" I hear you ask.

It was great, much better than last year, not least because of the weather, which was amazingly warm and sunny for all three days, but also because the whole mood of the thing was more upbeat. We met lots of followers of this blog, too many to record here I fear (but hi, Neil!), many other old friends, both from the Owners' group and from WRG, and had several very pleasant evenings entertainment on our own and other boats and in The Moorings.

OK, Braidbar didn't win the vote for favourite boat again – but we'll do it one year. The winner, interestingly, was the one Sheila had identified as having the best chance, Emily from the Navigation Company, with distressed/recovered wood fittings and the like and a smart Andy Russell grey paint job. Because it's a popular vote, I reckon you need something a bit eye catching like that, rather than just very high quality fitting and a reputation for good design and flexibility and sensitivity to the owner's requirements.

Other good aspects of the weekend for me were the new layout of the main exhibition area, which was more compact and worked much better than last year, and spending more time in the gazebo having longer talks to potential customers than you can have doing fifteen minute show throughs of the boat.

It's Braidbar's 30th anniversary this year, so at close of business on Saturday evening the team surprised Peter and Susan with a cake in the shape of a narrowboat and some French champagne.

One thing missing, though, was the bottle of whisky promised to us by Mr Ludgate, our prize for winning the Canal Boat Christmas quiz. Never mind, we've not drunk last year's yet, so there's no rush Martin…

/blur

At Crick

We've made it, watered up and found our mooring slot. Can't actually use it yet, 'cos they are still building the footbridge right by it.

Started catching up with all the other owners already here, it's great.

Internet very very slow, so won't attempt anything more until we leave on Wednesday next, probably. Hope to see some of you over the weekend!

A post in two parts

First off, the routine stuff, including something I forgot yesterday. On my way through the village to go to the dentist, as I came over Wharf Bridge towards Post Office Road, this dog-like animal ran out of a garden to the right, shot across the road, and disappeared into a garden on Church Road.

It took me a moment to realise that it was a fox, a rangy great dog fox, probably the biggest I've ever seen. I know that we tend to have more foxes in urban areas these days, but this was really quite special.

Today has been a repeat of last Thursday, really, except that we had to start with going up to the winding hole and turning round. The weather has been great, and we arrived at the marina at around one. We've been into Aqua and had a discussion with Justin about putting a Crowther prop on. He came back to us to say that Crowthers can't have one ready for a week on Thursday, but can for the week following, so we've put the docking back to the 5th July.

We then called into Midland Chandlers and bought a boarding ladder, a folding one that can live in the engine room until it's needed if someone falls in. Lastly, we popped into the Marina Office, where Robert gave us a free pump out token because we'd had a problem with the pump out on the way out last Sunday. Mercia really is a good marina to deal with.

And now…

I had an upsetting comment on one of the earlier posts this morning. It's not often that happens, but of course it's always a risk unless you confine yourself to unexceptional stuff about how nice the world is (nothing wrong with doing that, but it's not quite me…)

Anyway, this was with reference to my moan about the way the Favourite Boat competition was run at Crick this year. I've already posted the response I had from Waterways World, and thought that the matter was pretty well dealt with, but someone who preferred not to identify themselves said this:

Excuse me, but do you own Braidbar boats?

What comes across in this post (& others) is a regimented disregard for any other manufacturer. Along with an air of superiority.

As for saying the "best boat" on show votes were "rigged" that's just sour grapes!
MGM deserved to win, so give them some credit without any resentment. 

Let's take these three bits in turn. First off, just to make the situation clear to anyone who doesn't already know, no, I don't own Braidbar Boats, that's Peter Mason, who bought the company from Iain and Luisa Bryceland four years ago. But Sanity Again is our second Braidbar, because we were so pleased with Sanity that when we wanted a longer boat it never occurred to us to go anywhere else. And I've written an entire book about that second build, in the course of which I give my reasons for liking Braidbars, and also try to be honest about stuff that didn't go exactly right first time and which needed adjusting or tweaking.

In addition, I organise (in so far as it can be said to be organised) the Braidbar Owners' Group, which is a slightly anarchic mob of owners and potential owners who keep in touch via a Yahoo Group, and who have two meetings a year, at Crick and at Poynton in September. As a result of all that, we think of Peter and Susan Mason as two of our best friends.

Secondly, whilst obviously I think that Braidbar boats are very good indeed, I'm very happy to admit that there are other very good boat builders, and when chatting to people thinking of getting a new boat, I try to stress that it's important to find a builder whose boats are in the style you want, at a price you think is fair and with whom you get on well.

I'm not sure what is meant by a "regimented disregard" but whatever it is, it's not intentional if I show it. Similarly, any air of superiority is accidental, and I try in this blog to show myself as I am, warts and all.

Finally, that last paragraph is simply untrue. I thought long and hard about the way I wrote about my anxieties about the future of the competition, and quite explicitly said that I thought that MGM were worthy winners, and that I had congratulated the owners of Snail's Pace on their good fortune. My worries were about what happens next year, and they've been adequately addressed by Peter Jones yesterday.

And just to finish; I say in the bit of text above the comments entry box that I dislike anonymous comments, and ask that commenters give their names. A blog is a bit like a personal newspaper, and the comments are like letters to the editor. No reputable paper publishes unsigned letters, and I reserve the right to delete completely anonymous comments.

I would have deleted this one, but thought that the issues raised were too important to ignore.

Do feel free to comment on any of the above, folks, but if you do, please do put your names to it!

It's all gone quiet, and a message from WW

After the mad socialising whirl of the past couple of days, it's gone very quiet and peaceful on board Sanity Again today. Jane got away on the 9.43 for Lichfield, and I duly attended the dentist for my new crown (still feels like someone's glued a pebble into my mouth) and a small filling. Both were done very efficiently, so still full marks to the Alrewas dental practice.

Since then, we've been pottering about, putting the boat back into two person mode, getting a bit of shopping in and the like.

We managed to have a couple of chats with Doug and James before they left on their way back to Brinklow, and also walked along to where Traveller's Joy was tied. Here we had a good old natter with Dave and Tricia. They were some of the first boaters we met after we'd moved on board Sanity all those years ago, and indeed, they were Sheila's first customers for her porthole doilies and window lace.

They seem to be thriving, and it was good to catch up.

The other day I had a bit of a go at Waterways World about the way the Favourite Boat in Show competition was run at Crick this year. I'd been told that they had taken over the whole thing, but I've had a comment from Peter Johns, the publisher, setting the story straight:

Waterways World did not change anything for 2012. The only change was the fact that RoyScotLarch and Collidge & Partners are no longer in partnership and the sponsorship passed to the former. We offered to help by counting the votes but that's all. We are well aware of the potential for ballot box stuffing - though I am very confident that did not affect this year's results. Actually for 2013 it is likely that we will take over the running of the voting in its entirety (still with the sponsorship of RoyScot Larch). We're ALWAYS happy to put our hand up if we think we get something wrong - mistakes always happen, the key is to learn lessons from them, the final outcome is usually the better for it. Like the online moorings.

I've replied to Peter thanking him for this, and I'm glad to be able to put their side of the story.

Tomorrow, we'll head back to Mercia; typically, after the unsettled stuff we've been having for the past few days, it looks like it's going to be a nice day, now that our guests have gone.

Recovering

We had a brilliant evening at The Moorings last night, though many of us felt the need to crawl off comparatively early to get some sleep. Today, we've been taking it easy, doing some food shopping in the morning and winding Sanity Again this afternoon so that we can make an early start tomorrow without waking folk up.

Here are some thoughts about this year's Crick, for what they are worth –

Positives:

• We made one definite sale, another very high probability sale and at least three strong possibles. If they all come through, that's nearly a year's worth of orders.
• The social side of the Braidbar Owners' Group was brilliant, better than ever, I reckon, and we'll do even better next time.
• Lots of potential customers said they planned to come to the Open Day on 8th September, so it looks like we'll have a great time there as well.
• We came second in the Favourite Boat in Show competition.
• The towpath moorings were well organised by Noel from Crick marina, who then broke his leg just before the start of the show. Get well soon, Noel!.
• It was great to meet several blog and book readers.

Less good:

• The weather on Sunday was atrocious, and not very pleasant at times on Monday and Tuesday
• The four day weekend was a waste of time from our point of view; I don't think that the total footfall was any more than we'd expect during a three day show, partly because people just spread out their visits, and partly because a combination of the lousy weather and alternative Diamond Jubilee related stuff kept them away.
• We came second in the Favourite Boat in Show competition.
• The competition was run by Waterways World, with RoyScotLarch, the sponsors, taking no interest in the process. Previously, RoyScotLarch have monitored the voting process quite carefully, but this time, although the ballot box was on their stand, they made no attempt to watch over it. In addition, the PA announcer kept telling people to get the voting slip from the exhibitors and put it in the box, whereas what should actually happen is that the exhibitor gives the visitor a white reminder slip and the voter fills in a new coloured slip at the ballot box. Apparently, there were a lot of spoiled votes in the form of the white slips put straight in the box.

Regular readers will remember that last year, WW decided they could do a better job of the towpath moorings than the previous system, and it was a complete pig's ear. This year, they seem to have done the same with the Favourite Boat competition with a similar result.

Now, I know that MGM Boats are a worthy winner, I've already congratulated the lucky owners of Snail's Pace, and this may seem a comparatively trivial matter. But winning this competition means a lot in terms of promoting the builder, and we should all have full confidence in the outcome. It's always been a bit of an oddity, in that it's a popular vote rather than a judged award like the IWA ones, and the voting system needs to be run in a way that's transparently fair and watertight.

As things are, it would be all too easy in future years for an unscrupulous builder to organise systematic ballot stuffing, and that would really spoil the whole atmosphere of the show.

So once again, I find myself saying "Get your act together, Waterways World!"

Tomorrow, an early start; we hope to make it to Braunston by the end of the day.

End of show

It's been a hard four days, but now it's over bar our meal out tonight. Last night's session was another great evening, though we were all quite quiet.

I'm too tired to compose much rational English just now; we're staying put tomorrow, we've decided, so I'll try and do a catch up then.

Better day today

The weather has been much improved today, and although the visitors were still quite limited in numbers, the volunteer owners showing through the showboat were kept decently busy. We've had the afternoon off, and managed to spend a decent amount of money on the various items we had on our shopping list (shorts, waterproofs, compressed straw logs, all sorts of stuff).

We came back to the boat to do a bit of showing through again; several of the Braidbars on the towpath are being used to show off features not present on Eleventh Heaven, like our study bedroom.

Last night was a hoot, too. We ate on Priscilla, with her owners, Graham and Beryl, and Peter and Susan Mason. Once again, a merry time was had by all, though not as wild as on Dolce, according to the guys from Chance.

Tonight, we're eating on Cala, with her owners, Peter and Gill, and, as it happens, Peter and Susan again.

Last day tomorrow; it'll be very good to get to the end of this marathon show.

/bye

Busy at the show

Well, very busy and massively tiring yesterday. Today, lousy weather, but lots of folk to see round the boat in the morning. By the afternoon, it had really slowed down, and the cold drizzle was getting though to us all.

/XD

We had a good time last night entertaining Ian and Sharon from Bunnies Warren and Sue and John from Islay.

I can't remember all your names, but a big hi to all my blog readers and ebook buyers who have spoken to me over the past two days; it's always good to meet you.

/hihi

It looks like we've made at least one sale already and we're only halfway through the show. And the weather is going to be better tomorrow, we hope.

/please

Meanwhile, we're off to enjoy a meal on Priscilla tonight…

:P

Nearly ready

At nine o'clock, a bunch of us walked across to the marina and made a start on rigging the banners and so forth on the gazebo. Chris was already washing Eleventh Heaven, and he was soon joined by a small squad to help him along. Once the rinse water had dried, the cabin sides and fore and aft bulkheads were polished.

The weather has been threatening and occasionally drizzling, but nothing that we can't handle. If anything, it's felt warmer as the humidity went up.

We're mostly ready for the off tomorrow, which promises to be the best day, weatherwise. The laminated descriptions of the show boat proved to have an error, so we've retyped it on board Sanity Again and laminated them all over again; the little home/office laminator we bought a few years ago certainly earns its keep.

Final job of the afternoon was yet again sweeping hawthorn petals off the boats on the towpath. They look very pretty at first, like organic confetti, but if they get wet, they'll coat the boats in a brown soggy mess.

Tonight, we're all having a session in The Moorings (formerly Edwards); just a bar snack and a drink, so hopefully there won't be too many sore heads in the morning.

/blur