We maintained our tradition of travelling from Lechlade to Cirencester on the bus to the large Tesco store. The atmosphere is that of a village hall; everyone speaks, greetings are exchanged as new people board as they all know each other. We were pleased to see that Bert was there in his seat at the back. He cheerfully told us that he was now 95 and a half. Well, the half is important when you get to that age!
Rucksacks filled and carrier bags deployed, we returned to the boat and cast off.
We stopped for supper near Newbridge and stopped for the night by throwing mud weights front and back into the reeds near Tenfoot bridge. We were a bit tired by then; the Tesco bus had been 30 minutes late; Tesco have stopped the Monday buses and of course the Thursday ones are busier and the drivers now have an unrealistic schedule to maintain. I can feel and email coming on................
Friday saw us moored once again at Pinkhill and once again chatting to Tim and Daphne Brown. There was one of the EA men that we had spoken to in the past helping at the lock. He was receiving 'training' to enable him to help out at weekends. He has worked for the Thames Conservators and the Environment Agency since 1967, and was a boatman. As he said, 'If I don't know how to work a lock in safety by now, it's a bit late to be telling me'
Health and safety; the best job creation scheme since MPs began to receive a wage (sorry - salary)
Frances and grandson David are joining us today for a week, the blog may not be updated regularly, it depends how busy we become.
