Outside the Gaol, Reading, Kennet and Avon Canal

One of the two "turf" locks on the K&A.  A bit daunting when you first come across them, but fairly straightforward.  They must be a real pain for single handers as the bottom locks gates will not stay shut.

We left at 0615, the weather forcast was for rain after lunch.  One one of the river stretches (though they are mostly river stretches now) we saw a deer poking its head up above the bullrushes.  It was quite calm and just watched us watching it as we sailed past.

Fobney Lock was almost sleepy after the rain, just a little spray walking past the bywash to get back on the boat.  An then it was through the Brewery Gut in the rain.  We moored up on the main stretch and I walked around to see if there were any spaces by the Gaol.  Surprise! Surprise!  There was only one boat there (and I am sure it was there when we went through last time).  By now it was pouring with rain.  So David lit the fire, and I went off shopping (of course!)

A simple Sorry! card.  The dog was die cut along with a read heart which I made look like it had in its mouth.

The Sorry! was printed straight onto the white card blank with the computer.

Stonely Green Bridge 10, Llangollen Canal

Surprising what you can find on lock gear!

The morning was spent in Chester, we caught the bus just past the bridge at the top of Hurlston locks.  David bought a very expensive box of chocolates and then we came back.


So, we set off at 1 o'clock and stopped at Stoneley Green Bridge at 3 o'clock, having travelled just over 3 miles and done 2 locks.  Enough for one day.

Don't know what this card is for really, could be a birthday card, or a thank you card, or a retirement card, or a new home card, or most things really.

I just matted the picture onto blue and then silver mirri card and stuck it onto the front of a white card blank.  Three blue gems were stuck onto the bottom to give it a bit of a lift, and that was it really.

Above Hack Green Locks, Shropshire Union Canal

 Red sky at night....  Let's hope so.

Left early and managed the locks just before the Tea Junction was ready to set off and got to Hack Greek by 0915.  Such a lovely spot.  But again, peace and quiet but no Internet connection.

Made for someone to say sorry for his temper.  The bear was a digi stamp which I coloured and cut out.  I made a black panel and added a torn piece of stripy paper before adding the bear and sentiment.  The card base was pinky.

Inside I printed the message on the computer and printed it directly onto the inside of the card.

Gas Street Basin, BCN

 Last night I perpetrated the ultimate sin on a boat.  I managed to drop a "wet-wipe" down the toiled bowl.  Consequently the macerator died a death.

So it was round to Sherborne Wharf and to beg Richard to fix it for us.

Bless him, he managed to fix it for now, but we need a new toilet.  So yet more expense!

Coming back from the boatyard we saw that the bridge at Brindleyplace is being repainted from the contraption slung from the railings.

To say "thank you" and "sorry" to Richard, I made him this card.

I printed out the pig in the Khazie four times and coloured them with pencils and markers.  I then decoupaged them, using sticky fixers and glue (I glued the hinge side of the door down and used the sticky fixers on the open edge.  I then cut out the pig with a tab on the left hand side and stuck the tab to the door with double sided and then sticky fixers on the right hand side.  The topper was then matted onto gold and green pearlised card.  I was really pleased with the result.

The sentiment was matted and stuck down with sticky fixers too.

Inside I grovelled my apologies!

A side view of the card showing the layers.

Gas Street, Birmingham

One of a series of photos entitled "Sod the Boaters!" - or - "BW don't give a damn (in my words s***)!" - or - "What health and safety?"

One of the locks in Blackburn where you have to climb over (or under if you are little and fat) the whatsit to get to the paddle gear. Not easy either way. The white handle is for opening the gate - also not easy. This time I had help from a very, very helpful BW Temporary Summer Lock keeper. Very helpful, as I said, but didn't have a clue. It was his first day!!

The moorers had a barbecue last night. Lots of guests, food and drink but it was sooo cold!

A gentleman who had said something wrong to his lady asked me to make him a card to say sorry. Hope this helped.

I covered the left hand half of the card blank with some lilac paper, cutting the right hand edge with a Martha Stewart punch. Then I added some floral lilac paper on top, also edging the right hand side with the same punch. I stuck two silver photo corner peel-offs on to the two left hand corners.

Then I added two prima flowers with floral brads for centres and some diecut leaves to go behind them onto the right hand side of the card. I added a dot of glitter glue to the centres of the two brads.

Finally, I typed up the sentiment and the lady's name on the computer and printed it out before matting it onto silver, lilac and more silver miri card.

Hassall Green, Trent and Mersey Canal

A short travelling day today. We set off at 0700 and arrived at Hassall Green at 0900. We had intended to stay here, but as we got to the lock we were suddenly 4th in a queue!!



David had reviewed Lock 57 for Canals and Rivers a couple of years ago, and we were intrigued to see how they were going, so we went for lunch. The review was framed (along with several others) in the hall. The food was lovely, the service, though, was very slow and they forgot my main order! Still, we got some lovely jams and cakes in the shop and ice creams too.



About 45 years ago, whilst on holiday in France I came across this particular Lemonade. Of course, we had to keep ordering it because it sounded rude. Whilst in Poitiers last year I saw it again and thought I could make a card from it.

Well, this is what I came up with. A photograph matted a couple of times and some peel-off letters.

The person who received it didn't get the joke - so maybe it's just my juvenile sense of humour!

Gas Street

Damn!! I managed to miss the skinny dipping early Sunday morning. David said that he was quite a large lad. Damn! Damn!

I caught the end of the Veterans' Parade on Sunday and managed to catch this. I thought it was only the French Army that set out to make their soldiers look silly. Here they have put the tallest and the smallest next to each other. The poor girl was almost running and taking extra long steps to keep up, but still couldn't keep in step.

Alan bit off everyone's head while he was here last week and he asked me to make a card to say sorry. They are his words.

I got some clip art and printed it onto shiny brown paper, stuck it to cardboard and cut it out before adding it to the card with sticky fixers.