Little Moreton Hall

We moored up and walked about a mile to the National Trust's Little Moreton Hall.
Blimey, it's wonky!
We had a very interesting guided tour and then headed back to the boat for lunch.

Back aboard Stella - The Cheshire Ring

Thanks to Mary for pointing out that the photos hadn't posted on this blog entry.
Hopefully they will post now? Blogger is being a bit erratic again at the moment...

Waiting our turn at the Harecastle Tunnel.
We only had to wait 15 minutes which is very good.

Hall Green lock with its strange long narrow entrance.

End of the weekend

At the end of their weekend away the girls went to Allington Lock on the River Medway where there was quite a bit of activity.

Museum of Kent Life

The next day the girls went to the Museum of Kent Life -
where they found out all about hops and hop picking!

Leeds Catle 2

Lots of nice photos here!

They've even got a dog collar museum.

Did I mention the nice photos?

Leeds Castle

A few weeks ago, SWMBO and some chums from work went to Kent for the weekend.
I found them a good deal at the Maidstone Village Hotel and they had a great time.
They went to Leeds Castle on the Saturday.

Batteries from Sainsburys

Recently I bought a pack of four PP3 batteries from Sainsburys.

On the back was this rather alarming sticker.

I contacted Sainsburys and mentioned that this might be a bit dangerous as although 99% of us know not to put batteries in a microwave oven, there's always the 'odd' person who might not.

Sainsburys advised me that the sticker is used for high value items which is usually food, and in any case there is a warning on the pack which says not to put batteries in a microwave oven. I couldn't find the warning - and no, it's not under the sticker in tiny print either.

Basically they told me to go away.

Unusual visitor

One evening recently after SWMBO had gone out to bellringing I thought I heard a noise from the lounge. Thinking she had come back for something I went down to see her and discovered a different type of bird.
Here it is sitting inside the patio doors on the carpet, wondering what had happened.

Poppy then appeared and gave its tail a very gentle tap before backing off.

I let the bird (sparrowhawk?) out and resumed what I was doing on the computer. About half an hour later when I returned to the lounge I found what the bird had chased in!

Malmesbury Abbey Gardens 2

This is actually the home of the "Naked Gardeners" of TV fame.
There was a 'clothes optional' day on the Sunday of our weekend visit.
We visted on the Saturday!

As usual, I have lots of photos but had better stop here or you will all be nodding off.

See what I mean?

Malmesbury Abbey Gardens

This is the first glimpse you get of the Abbey Gardens

And then it just gets better...

And better...

And better...

Malmesbury 3

Apologies for the previous post where I duplicated a photo I had already posted!

We and our chums stayed at The Horse & Groom in Malmesbury which was excellent with very friendly staff, great rooms and well cooked and presented food. The beer was good too - just by the way.

While we were close, we took our friends to see the Caen Hill flight of locks on the Kennet & Avon canal. Unfortunately the flight was closed due some emergency repairs so there wasn't much boating activity although the flight itself was still as spectacular as ever.