A Wonderful Week!

We have been lingering around Thrupp because we were having visitors on Monday. We hired a Ford Galaxy from Enterprise in Botley to go to pick up Bottles elderly parents and his sister who is over from Australia. It was remarkably easy for everyone to get in and out of the Galaxy and it was a comfy drive. We booked them into their B+B then took them to see our boat for the first time. We weren't sure if they would be able to come aboard  as both are in their eighties and boats move about as you board them.  So, we put a large cushion on the bow which they sat on while we swivelled their legs round onto the deck and they were in, simples! We then enjoyed an evening meal together at The Jolly Boatman. The next day we thought we’d take them for a short cruise up the canal and show them how we manage to get the boat through lift bridges and locks. Of course it is rather a novelty for Australians as they haven’t got any canals over there and lots of photos were taken to show the folks back there. Bottles Dad got into the swing of things and joined him on the stern to see how the steering is done.

Although the sun was shining there was rather a cool breeze so we had re-lit the fire  for them. After winding at Enslow we moored up for a mid-day snack,  luvly jubbly! Everything went well and they enjoyed their first ever cruise on a narrow boat. We returned to moor in Thrupp by the Boat Inn. Would you believe it, as we were helping them off the boat to go for an evening meal, Bottle accidentally dropped the car keys in the cut!. So we got everyone back on board while he fished about with the magnet and luckily enough found them, phew! We then went to The Crown and Tuns in Deddington as they are famous for their home cooked savoury pies with various different fillings, served with crispy chips and vegetables. The food was gorgeous, but alas we couldn’t eat all of it as there seemed to be too much, this was our only criticism, as we don’t like wasting food. On Wednesday morning we fetched them from the B+B for coffee aboard then we walked up to Annie's Tearooms for a mid-day snack. Everything is home-made and freshly prepared. The sandwiches came with a nice side-salad and surprisingly Bottles Dad tucked into a cream tea! All good things come to an end and we set off to return them home to Croydon. On the journey up and down the M40 I think I saw about a dozen red kites soaring around. There was enough time and fuel left in the car to take us into Gloucestershire to make a fleeting visit to see our little grandson and his family too.

Thursday we walked into Kidlington to the Ironmongers picking up food supplies en-route. Are these Cowslips or Oxslips I wonder?Then up for one final snack in the ‘Trooms’ to say farewell to Tim and Annie who have been so helpful as they know the local area so well. Today saw us reverse back onto the services at Thrupp to fill up with water etc. While we were there Dick off nb Peruvian Skies had returned from Lechlade and came up for a chat with us. We are now moored at Enslow relaxing and drying the washing in the sunshine. Bottle is not snoring or even asleep, he is just resting his eyes! Well, he has had a busy week hasn’t he?