Vintage Vinyl and More Red Wine

Beautiful Morning on the Shroppie

Dear Friends

It's a sunny Sunday here on the Staffs and Worcester Canal and today's towpath mooring is by a sweetly scented hedge, entwined with flowering brambles and star studded with elderflower. Carl is tapping away in the bilges, fighting the never ending Battle of the Rust whilst I am tapping away on the keyboard in the shady, cool cabin - I think I definitely have the best job today!

Sunny evening 

What a glorious week it's been, a perfect combination of long summery days and cooler nights. The clear night skies have found us leaning out of the hatch with the ship's telescope, peering through the eyepiece, to catch a glimpse of Jupiter and her moons. Simply stunning! We've lingered on the Shroppie this week, spinning out the days and enjoying sunny afternoons of idle chatter with our cruising companions. I even got the ukulele out one afternoon for an impromptu sing-along in the shade of the willow trees. Fortunately, their enthusiastic singing drowned out my wrong notes, so I think I got away with it. (Red faced emoji!) As soon as the music started, Tricky went off in a huff and jumped aboard the Naga Queen, with a look that said "Oh no! Not this racket again!" 

Shroppie Skies

Our jolly foursome caught the bus into Newport on Tuesday and our rucksacks soon filled up with treats - a bottle of Australian Shiraz, a pack of Waitrose smoked haddock, strawberries and some of Jasper's finest brown bread. Tucked in by the indoor market, we found a music shop selling vintage albums and we browsed the titles with delight, finding some old friends amongst the dusty plastic covers. Just seeing those iconic covers brought back the excitement of choosing an album, the anticipation of taking it home and then playing it over and over again until we knew every word. You needed a steady hand to place the needle on the record and woe betide anyone who fluffed it and dropped the precious stylus on the deck. Even when technology advanced and that nerve racking job was automated, you still dreaded hearing the chilling sound of the needle skipping across vinyl, leaving a forever hiccup in your favourite track.

Setting Off

Later in the week we chugged into Brewood and moored by the steps. We drank our coffee on the bench there and chatted to anyone who happened along while we waited for Richard, the Russell Newbury specialist, who was coming along sometime that day to sort out a fuel leak on the Naga Queen. It was a lovely morning, so Pat and I left the men to their oily rags and wandered into Brewood. We turned right off the main street and took the scenic route to the Co-op, so we could have a nosey into the gardens along the way. We were peering into the magical courtyard of Blacksmiths Cottage when the lady came out and offered to show us around. What a treat! It was the tiniest space, lush with greenery and pools of trickling water. Roses and clematis were woven in amongst the many unusual containers. There were old tin baths and coal buckets, painted blue or green and dripping with a trailing geranium or variegated ivy. A pair of laced working boots, covered in moss and planted with vibrant petunias stood by the gate, perched on an old chimney pot. A very pretty garden and how very nice of the owner to invite us in. The men were still deep in the engine room when we returned, but they emerged triumphant and the Naga Queen struck up her throbbing heartbeat, ready for the off again.

Iconic Shropshire Union Bridges

I'm sad to be leaving the Shroppie behind - we've met the nicest people along the way, Sharon in the Shop on the Canal at Nantwich Marina, Dave the groomer, who clipped Tricky just in time before the hot weather came. Chris and Andy on We'ary Tired and their hunting cat that kept bringing home live mice. The lovely couple that run 'Bethsaida Covers' from a pair of working boats on the Shebden Embankment - Tony was very diplomatic about the shocking state of our cratch cover but the bottom line is that the cover has shrunk and no amount of wishing will make it fit again. The bad news is, we need a new cover. The good news is, they can't fit us in until April so we have time to save up And last, but not least, we got a close up view of a kingfisher hvering over the water then diving in to catch his breakfast. Such a beautiful bird, I'm exhilarated every time we see one. Goodbye to the Shroppie - we'll be back soon.

Another Sunny Morning

We decided we wanted to get to the market in Penkridge on Saturday so we set off at 6am to be sure of getting there in time. Tricky sulked all day as she thought it was a ridiculous time of day to be getting up! The skies were overcast as we chugged up towards Gailey, and, as we descended the locks into town, I felt the first spot of rain. We got a good mooring in the basin before Penkridge Lock but the drizzle turned into a steady shower and my feet squelched in my sandals long before we got to the market. Tricky has a very annoying habit of wanting to drink out of every puddle she finds - it matters not how many clean fresh doggie bowls we find for her or that we carry a cute little water bottle for her that dispenses water everywhere except into Tricky, she is adamant that only puddle water will do. After a very damp tour of the market, we were glad to get back to the boat! I was just dropping off for my afternoon nap when Pat popped along to say they were moving on, and when I looked outside, I could see why. There was a bit of a party going on in the bows of the boat in front of us - as soon as we opened the doors, I could smell the unmistakeable whiff of a spliff! When I looked behind us, there were a dozen preteens dangling their legs over the parapet of the bridge and throwing sticks and grass cuttings into the water. Time to get out of Dodge!

Graffiti on a grand scale

The highlight of the week for us was meeting a group of young people paddling along the canal in a double canoe. The lovely leader gave an order and they all stood up in their wildly rocking boat and saluted us, calling out 'Aye Aye Captain'! It was so unexpected, but what an absolute delight! As we passed the rest of the team, waiting for their turn to go out for a paddle, the pack leader again gave the command and we got a repeat performance. I'm smiling still just thinking about it.

Taking the salute

Paddlers on the Staffs and Worcester

So my friends, that's all for this week. We'll be cruising back to Burton this week to get the sign writing done, I hope this lovely weather continues.

Love from

The Floating Chandlers

Ps A gleaming trio of vintage Jaguars was on display at the Classic Car garage in Brewood. Any car that needs two fuel tanks is definitely out of my prce range!

PPS A lovely old boat, Bucyrus, passed by blowing perfect smoke rings from his exhaust pipe. It was strangely fascinating. 

Pensioners Selfie

Making hay