Slightly Sheepish

The snow and frost seem to have disappeared for the moment, but whatever the weather is like it doesn't stop the sheep from doing what sheep do. They are very hardy creatures and always carry on reward-less.
There are quite a few fields of sheep along the banks of the canal. As we were cruising along towards Braunston the Medieval ridge and furrow mounds were nicely highlighted in the low winter sun.
I think sheep are my favourite animal and are at their best roasted with a little mint sauce!

Christmas Day

We got up as per any normal day, checked the weather forecast on http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ and it said that there would not be any frost for the next five days.
As we had planned to meet family in Banbury, just before new year, we decided to leave, at about 11:30 we were on our way. it was slow going although the ice had been broken up it still slowed us and with moored boats slowing us even more it took a long time to get to Braunston.

On the approaches we noticed Piston Broke so a quick sound of the horn and two heads popped out, of different places and invited us to stop for a drink. Well never one to refuse a hot drink, especialy after three hours in the cold at the tiller, we moored up.

After tea and coffee we invited them to call in later that evening, we then returned to our boat and had dinner.

A very enjoyable evening was had and it was surprising to find that our life experiences were very similar, so we put the world to rights, like you do.

Just checked the weather again, as the canal is freezing over, now they are talking of rain, sleet, and snow and freezing temperatures, we maybe staying put.
Wish they would make their minds up.

Hillmorten

It's good that we like it here at Hillmorten as we are into out fourth day of the canal being covered with a layer of ice over an inch thick in places. Just one boat has scrunched past us today with most of the paint scraped from it's sides as a consequence. We walked up to the local shops this morning and after a warming lunch settled down by the fire for the rest of the day, reading books and blogs!
This is  Boatswain supervising the coal delivery from his snug little bed on the roof of "Gosty Hill" yesterday, what a sensible little dog.

A nice pair of ducks reflecting on warmer times.

Up early this morning before the sun had risen, no particular reason just the way it is, I wake up and have to get up.
Wozie slumbered on and eventually rose, breakfast was taken and just afterwards a gentle knock was heard, Gosty had arrived during the night, 'coal' was delivered to us and a couple of other boats, time for breakfast and then he delivered diesel, by this time it was late morning and they were behind schedule so we helped them down the locks and saw them safely on their way.
The morning was bright and sunny and no need to rush back to the boat, just enjoy the wild life and the sunshine.

 Well laden

Doesn't he look splendid

One of our neighbours and his bully mate.

Winter Solstice

We were rather desperate for water, as we had overlooked it in making sure we were in the right place last week for Fernwood to visit and then Foxton Boat Services the next day.

Having looked at the weather forecast for the week we decided, last night, that we would get up early and do a quick raid on Tesco and be away to Hillmorten.

Also getting low on diesel so called Gosty Hill, he was waiting for diesel but hoping to be at Hillmorten tonight.
So setting off, with difficulty, we made our way through the ice, it does make a terrible noise and scrapes the paint off, we travelled through the ice but it seemed to be getting worse, we made the decision to stop.

Just as we tied up another boat went through and it seemed to making better headway than us, so change of mind, we decided to follow, it was during this manoeuvre that Wozie slipped on the ice and fell in, after the initial shock she remembered that she can swim and 'doggie paddled' to the side, where I helped her out.

We eventually got to Hillmorten, filled with water and went up the locks, Gosty Hill has not made it yet, will just hope he arrives tomorrow or the next day.

What a way to celebrate the solstice, ah well spring must be on its way and the days will now start to get longer.