Month: December 2014

We continue our little Winter holiday on the boat. We knew it would be a testing time as the temperatures plummet to -4 and both the marina & canal all freeze over . .

There’s Adagio all warm & cosy … chimney smoking.

With Nottingham just an hour away, we took the chance to re-visit Plumtree and Keyworth – where we lived for three years (1990-93). We took lunch at the Plough in Normanton on the Wolds – http://theploughatnormanton.co.uk/ – with excellent food and Jaipur beer! We also wandered round the city centre, looking at the lights, the Christmas Fayre as well as re-stocking tobacco at Gauntleys  We then went back to Cropwell Bishop to walk on the disused canal and Hoe Woods – a regular trip with our first dog – Buster! Lots of mud but a good trip.  We ended with a visit to the Cropwell Bishop Creamery for some Stilton.

unlikely they’ll ever fully restore the Grantham Canal owing to the ground where gypsum deposits have always caused leaks – here’s one of the wide locks.

and someone found what little water there was – Swamp Dog!

strange men in the woods

and some Stilton to take home.

We are up on the boat! Last year we went to Cuba … this year our holiday is in Yelvertoft on the boat, yes, two weeks. At least we’ll see how we fare with two weeks of winter survival.  Well, it was 6 degrees inside the boat when we arrived but an hour or two later and it’s up to 20+.  The Squirrel stove – on, gas central heating – on, tree lights – on, dasher – on, dancer – on, prancer – on … .