Although we did see a magnificent Gandalf-inspired face-warmer the other day, but it was on a walker and this beard count relates strictly to boaters (I still haven't worked out what to call the drivers - any ideas?). But anyway, in the 48 hours or so since I last saw you - in between it pissing down so much that the canal level rose - we have also had some magnificent sunshine, albeit confined to one afternoon and right now, when the morning sun is honeying the dark greens of the hillsides and glinting off the backs of the midges that will be biting me later on. It is very beautiful here, raining or not, and perhaps because we watched a bit of The Fellowship of the Ring yesterday during a particularly earnest downpour but tis place really does look a little bit like Middle Earth. For those who don't believe me, there will be photos of where we are currently moored at the bottom.
Photos also of some of the members of my massive family: This stay in West Yorkshire has been a very lovely chance to see them. On Friday my nephew Jay and my sister Michelle came to stay over. They arrived in....well you don't need me to spell out the weather..and spent the evening drying off by a very hot wood fire on the boat and eating biscuits. I also felt it necessary to get out the damson gin for the old but never tired medicinal excuse. (Jay and Alan weren't allowed...).
My first experience of four on a boat - including a seven year old - was surprising only in that it was so easy. Especially when you consider that my sister and I are, well, sisters. We surprise ourselves sometimes (and our parents, who brought the miniature Deb and Shell up) with how much we like having each other around. Weirdly the boat didn't feel too small either. Bloody Tardis, this boat (although having said that, don't think you can go bringing your vanity case and giant ghetto blaster. If my sister can travel light - well fairly light in that she didn't bring a waterproof the ding dong - anybody can)*. Saturday saw two of my aunts, who live up the road (we have staged something of a Brummie takeover of these two small towns in the last few years) come to visit. My aunts (and let us not forget, my mum also) are Birmingham born but Irishly-raised and have a special knack of entering any given situation and being completely hilarious. That is all I will say in explanation of the photograph below of Jean (right) and Marie (left), except to say that it was spontaneously posed, they were keen for me to put the caption "ladies in search of a man" under it, and they are both gorgeous. Now I only await the visit of my nan Josie (the fount of the hilarity-gene) and my other Aunties Eileen and Carol. And soon we'll be moving on.
Onward to Manchester, in fact. We plan to be there for this weekend presuming anyone is actually around. If they aren't, we will perhaps save the intimidatingly named (and rightly so, I am told) 20-lock climb of The Summit for another day, and stay to enjoy what my father will no doubt refer to as “Walsden's Three Day Summer”.
Oh, and please enjoy the Newbold family portrait (Clockwise from the left: Dad, Alan, Jay, Michelle, Mum and me) in front of the boat. We hadn't even had any shandies.....
Ta-Ra-a-Bit!
* “Ding Dong is Jay's new term for a halfwit, or dullard. I think it is rather good and will be doling it out liberally in future!
Hiya,
Just spoken to Al on the boat-mobile telecommunication devise and have arranged to meet you on some towpath near to Manchester and on the way to Cheshire in a week's time! I'm so excited! And I'll come another weekend and help you do some locks (you'll be sick of them soon). North of England is bloody hilly you know!
And as I'm excited I decided to log on and catch up with your gossip. Great photos of the Yorkshire bunch! And I was glad to see James has blogged you too.
Must do some work - it gets in the way you know! Enjoy your way-of-life.
Lxx
Posted by: Lou | July 16, 2007 at 01:04 PM
Hi ya, i too have spoken to al, using either telepathy or a phone, i forget which - anyway i can't make this weekend as i'm away but herself has been informed and sould be in touch
xx
toast
Posted by: toast | July 16, 2007 at 03:05 PM