The Holiday is over.

I am glad to be here returning to duty Reader.  We had a great time in Devon with all the family, we are a very friendly bunch which is just as well when all eight of us got in the hot tub together.
Copious amounts of gin were enjoyed and not just by me, I don't know how but it appears I have raised three gin loving daughters.  The first cocktails were served at 10:55 one of the days, anyway moving on....

David competing in a tournament of Skimming Stones with sons-in-law.

The view from the house we rented.

So we collected WaL from the marina at Wigrams Turn on the GU canal after lunch and after driving back from Devon.  I drove and although I felt fine as soon as we arrived I felt very very tired and slept the whole way to our mooring that night, David skipped the car there too and in the evening we met Boaty Chums John and Louise from NB Ploddin' Along (Who are lapsed bloggers).  
We went  HERE   to The Rose at Willoughby, which is a stones throw from Braunston if you are thereabouts.

I could have done with my selfie stick here.

 
Supper for me was scollops followed by veggie Moroccan tagine and peach crumble, oh my.

The next day was a bit slothful in character although I did polish all the chrome mushroom vents on the roof.  Frankly they didn't look much different to pre polishing, but they are done anyway.  Yonks ago another boat owner we chatted to at Fradley junction in a new boat called NB Meriel advised smearing oil onto them in the autumn which we have done each winter and it seems to have done some good.  I did the portholes on one side too but now typing this I can't remember if I did the other side after we cruised for 40 minutes to the Winding Hole (Otherwise known on this boat as a turny round place).  45 minutes back again found us in the same spot.  We moored up in the sunshine, congratulated ourselves on a excellent days cruising and relaxed in the sun.

A farmer in a truck on the other side of the canal struck up conversation with David (Or started shouting at him, take your choice) and told us of Lapwings that had nested in his field.  I was thrilled as I had spotted them the evening before. He was a charming chap (Aren't all farmers?) and invited us to go see them for ourselves.  Four chicks or rather four tennis balls of fluff hopped across the furrows but I couldn't get a shot of them.  Lapwings are unseen where I come from so much excitement from me.

Tell tale fluffy wings

A Wagtail which confused matters

Beautiful birds, but you can see how hard it was to spot the babies.

This nice farmer had created a pond and put up an owl box, no owls as yet.

On a side issue, tell me, are we on the North Oxford Canal here (North of Wigrams Turn) or the GU?   


Because this was on the bridge we used to go see the Lapwings.

Supper was BLT's, mine was without the bread with extra avocado and tomatoes.