Anderton - Trent & Mersey Canal

Today we visited the breech at Middlwich.  You can see what the locals feel about donating towards it's repair!

We were off very early again and were at King's Lock Middlewich for 0745.  We walked up to see the breech, which is pretty spectacular.  I can't find the pictures at the moment, but will update when the come to light.

After buying diesel from a very unhelpful and uninterested member of staff at the chandlry below the lock we carried on down into Middlewich, stopping off to go to Tesco to stock up and then set off again.

Arriving at Anderton we filled the water tank up and then moored on the first visitor mooring for a well earned rest after yet another long, arduous day.  (And we said we would take it really slowly this year!!!)

How about a bit of seaside?  I just matted this picture onto silver card and then onto the white card base, adding the sentiment which was also matted with silver card.

Wheelock - Trent & Mersey Canal

Still coming down the Cheshire Locks (Heartbreak Hill).  Today we got as far as Wheelock.  This time doing 14 locks in 3 1/2 miles and taking 3 hours.  I feel like a rag doll.  I was promised a pub lunch but it never materialsed (again!)

Still, the weather has been good to us and this is the beautiful sunrise this morning.

I love this picture, it was taken outside the Bishop of York's palace on the River Ouse just outside York.

The moorhen is sat on her nest inside a tyre fender.  This time I used the picture I matted it onto silver, black, pink and then more black card before adding it to a pink card base.

The sentiment I made using a computer and matted that also onto pink and black card.

Rode Heath, Trent & Mersey Canal

The ferns growing on the lock wall were all spread out and looked like stars, very pretty.

We were up and off by 6.30 and then waited 1/2 hr for the tunnel to open at 0800, we were in it by 5 mins past and out again by 40 mins past.  Coming down Heartbreak Hill we met a nasty single hander who complained when I tried to help him and then started shouting and swearing at me, then he had a go at David when he came to my defence.  We just let him get on with it in the end and left him to it. Meanwhile there was a queue of boats waiting to come down.

Today we did 6 miles and 12 locks in 3 3/4 hrs - no wonder they call it Heartbreak Hill.  

Saw a kingfisher today, a very rare sight 

One of my waterways themed cards.  On this one I matted the photograph onto holographic silver card and light blue card.  I created a banner to go behind with patterned paper and plain blue card and added a 3D butterfly to finish it off.

Westport Lake - Trent and Mersey Canal

This boat looks wider than a narrowboat, or is it just an optical illusion.

We set off around 0530 and did the horrid Stoke Locks.  As usual the top lock was the worst, very stiff and awkward.  Why are the locks closest the the CRT maintainance yards always the worst.

By now it was raining hard so we moored up by Westport Lake around 0900.




This is a simple card made with some pretty gold foiled card.  I wrapped a piece of gold ribbon through a die-cut buckle and fixed it to the back of the panel and stuck that onto a white card blank.  The sentiment was made on the computer and the numbers were die-cut in glitter card.

Barlaston - Trent and Mersey Canal

 We left around 0454!! David couldn't sleep.  So we were in Stone by 0645.  I left David filling the water tank and walked to  Morrisons for milk, bread and a paper etc.  By the time I got back he was in Star lock and beginning to fill it.

One or two of the locks were a bit iffy.  I decided not to try and walk across this one.





 I always love going past this back garden.

We were moored up at Barlaston 0945 and then had a great lunch at The Plumes





All the locks on the T&M have a little bridge over the bottom lock which makes it easy to get around the locks, unfortunately when the gates are open they close off the bridge and you have to clamber over the lock beam.

They are pretty though, and this card was made using a picture of one.  The picture was matted onto white and green card and fixed to a white card blank then several colourful butterflies were added as decoration.

Flute Meadow, Br 84 - Trent and Mersey Canal

 This pretty bridge is at Salt (not the one above Middlewich).  It has really pretty stonework.

We left Rugeley around 0545 arr moored up abovb Sandon Lk around 0945, but the TV did not seem to be working so we moved on to Bridge 84 arriving around 1215.  The TV worked here for a while and then stopped again.  David has ordered a new aerial which is being sent to his sister who we will meet up with later on the trip.  Hopefully that will work.

Fortunately we have this new 3 4G Mifi gadget on board and the reception has been excellent.  In fact, much better than on our moorings in the centre of Birmingham.  So we have been able to download the TV programmes we have not been able to watch.

Congrats * Congrats.  I printed the sentiment onto the card blank using a computer then added the die-cut stars using silver holographic card.

Rugeley, Trent and Mersey

A short cruise today because of the weather.  We left around 0630 and were moored up near Tesco's at Rugeley by 0845.  It then rained all afternoon.

At least I had time for a good walk around the charity shops in  town.

This card uses a bought topper which I matted onto more red card.  A panel of dry embossed white card was also matted onto red card and some red velvet ribbon was wrapped around it and tied in a bow.  This was then fixed to the front of a white card blank.

Above Woodend Lock, Trent & Mersey Canal

 One or two holes along the waterline on this shell.

We left our moorings around  0830 and arrived at Streethay Wharf 0845, just as they were opening.  We had arranged for someone to look at the horne and it was replaced by 0915 and we were on our way.  Not bad for a boatyard, normally you have to wait that long just to sees omeone. 

We were at Fradley Junction at 1015 and with the help of a couple of volunteer lock keepers were moored up above the top lock by 1115.





I have left this card blank (with no sentiments) as it could be used as an engagement congratulations card or an anniversary card, or even something else I have not thought of.

The figures are decopaged and the base card is red, to match the dress.

Huddlesford Junct, Coventry Canal

 We had quite a storm last night but the morning was bright and sunny.

After a fifteen minute stop at Fazeley Junction while I went to Tesco's to get a newspaper and stuff we set off along the Coventry canal heading for Fradley Junction.

Passing The Plough at Huddlesford Junction we saw a gap in the moorings and dived in.  That was Sunday lunch sorted. A huge plate of fish and chips for me and a steak for David.  I slept away the afternoon again.


The wild flowers were out in profusion, bluebells and wood anemones inWhittington Wood (we always call in Miles' Wood as a dear friend of ours used to be the Commanding Officer there).  The back gardens we sailed past were also looking good with blossom, bulbs and spring flowers.

Here is an exploding box with a pair of baby bootees inside.

The outside was covered with pink gingham paper, matted onto pink card with a die-cut topper on each side and a rose and die-cut leaves on the lid.

 The box opens out when you remove the lid to show off the bootees.  Each of the four inside box sides was matted with either gingham or spotted paper, again matted onto pink card and 4 die-cut ovals or circles added with leaves and roses.

The bootees were stuck onto the card with glue dots, just to keep them in place, and can be peeled off for use.

Drayton Brick Bridge, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

 The bottom of Curdworth locks, always very pretty but unfortunately, not today - there were no flowers in the flower boxes on the bridge!

Another late start (for us) and a boat in front, so locks against us again but met a couple of boats coming up.




Another lovely, sunny morning though it is now raining, so Spring must be over.

Moored up on visitor moorings before Drayton Manor Swing Bridge and having a quiet afternoon and even managing not to have to go and have a snooze today.

I was asked to make a very special wedding day card for a friend.  I decided on a "shadow box card" and as I had never made one before I had a trial run.  This is the result.

First the front of the card using computer generated sentiment, die cuts and dry embossed card.

The inside is covered in a lovely thick, floral vellum and more die cuts.

Then the box itself.  I watched several U-Tube demonstrations first and it was really quite easy to construct.

I added more vellum at the base of the "box" and then added roses and die-cut leaves.  I was really pleased with it, but realised on closing the card that the rose in the right hand bottom corner was too high and the card would not close properly.

It isn't too much of a problem as I made a box for it to fit into and decorated the lid like the front of the card.

I then went on to make the actual card, which I will publish at a later date as I don't want anyone to see it yet who should not.

Wiggins Hill Bridge, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

We set off today at 0730 (late for us, but whatever).  Set off down Farmers Locks, all but 2 against us.  Hadn't realised until today that you can see the Council House and Museum from Saturday Bridge.

The weather was lovely and sunny after a slightly chilly first thing and mist hiding the top of the BT tower, so the lock wheeling was fairly pleasant.

We did not pass a boat until after the bottom of Aston Locks and that was a single hander who dropped his dog off for a crap on the towpath!

We were absolutely knackered by the time we got to bottom of the Milnworth locks and stopped just after the winding hole on pilings, a bit shallow, but as there were no boats around we didn't get grounded.  And it was straight to bed for a couple of hours to recover from all those locks.

It was so nice to be out in the country again (apart from being under the flightpath for Birmingham Airport), and got to see a proper sunset for a change.

I know it's long gone now, but here is a Mother's Day card made with a Flower Fairy picture, lots of flowers and a yellow bow.  Mind you, looking at it again, with that sentiment, it could be a birthday card or a thank you card as well.

Gas Street Basin, BCN

 Well, the New Year's resolution didn't last long did it?  Will try and catch up while we are away.

The plan, which is changing daily is to do the Huddersfield Narrow, and after 5 attempts we find out today that the Marple locks will be out of use until 24 May, so we are going to try and go the other way around and do Liverpool first, then go over the Pennines on the Leeds and Liverpool and come back over the Huddersfield Narrow.  But as they day, great plans.....


We will be leaving Birmingham in glorious weather, the pub has been absolutely rammed while the sun is shining and it can get a bit noisy with drinkers, especially when they realise that the gate has been shut at 2100.  I am looking forward to some quiet nights out in the country.

We will miss this boat being raised, probably some time next week.  It has really settled down into the silt now so it will be interesting to see how they do it.

I was allowed to go to town on this card!!

Lots of sparkle, lacy doilie, silk flowers , die-cut leaves and a bow.

It is for Elsie's first birthday, but you probably guessed that.