Moving Stella - 1

We have just returned from a week helping to move our shared ownership narrowboat 'Stella' from Devizes marina to Stockton Top marina near Rugby.
We had the middle leg from Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon canal to Reading, then up the Thames to Oxford and up the (South) Oxford canal to Thrupp.
This was our first night's mooring at Theale, near Reading.




























We had an excellent Indian meal at the Blue Cobra in Theale (The two people in the initial picture are sitting at 'our' table) and discovered it was part of a chain called currytogo.com which allows you to order your curry online and sit back and wait for it to arrive - how cool (hot?) is that? And it's delivered free of charge.

Car Insurance Renewal Time Again

Oh dear. We've been very happy with our current insurer (probably because we haven't made a claim?) but the first of our two renewal notices arrived recently which didn't look too bad. Then I took the trouble to read the very small print on the back which said the compulsory excess had been raised from £150 to £500! - and we haven't made a claim as I said!!!

Time for "comparethemarket.com" and "confused.com" to see if I can better the deal.

Things I have learned...

• As soon as you press the button to get your quote the phone starts ringing and you are 'automatically' pestered by the 'Top 5' insurers on your list wanting you to sign up today.
• Your 'in box' also fills up.
• If you are covered for 'commuting' this only applies to one return journey per day.
• As we are voluntary drivers for the Redbourn Care Group and are paid for our petrol costs, we have to have business cover.
• Normally business cover costs no extra(!).
• If you are retired, the AA cannot cover you for business use (makes sense?) but other companies seem to be able to manage it.
• Needless to say, our current insurer came up with a lower quote online than they had sent us in the post, but I guess I expected that as there's no incentive for loyalty these days - although SWMBO might disagree?

To be continued, no doubt...

Outing 7

Wendover. Audio clip of last ringing of the day below...
We had our excellent evening meal at The Firecrest just outside Wendover which rounded off an interesting day. By the way, the quartermaster got all the advance orders correct and everyone got what they had ordered - I think.
I have to say that, for a non-bellringer, it was a very long day and The Times was read from cover to cover, including the boring magazines!

Outing 6

Aston Clinton.

Outing 5

Ellesborough.

Outing 4

Great Kimble.

Outing 3

Haddenham.




























Rose and Thistle for lunch - very good!

Outing 2

Cuddington.

Bellringers outing - Buckinghamshire

SWMBO's bellringing chums recently went on an outing to some churches in Buckinghamshire. I went along as chauffeur, cameraman, and quartermaster for the evening meal, co-ordinating the orders for the pub basically. This was the first church at Dinton:

































Here's the notice about their 'Flush Fund' to raise money for toilets - what a good idea!



















Stocks for the sinners.

Odds and ends

Can you spot the dragonfly in the middle of the photo - I think you may have to click on the picture to enlarge it! It was about 4 - 5 inches long, and came to the pond for several days running (O.K. flying). Really quite spectacular.














Poppy didn't seem too bothered as she waited for a bird to fall out of the birdbath.














We've just been back to Luton Hoo for afternoon tea again, unfortunately we paid for ourselves this time - at £22.50 a head - very good though!

Where I want to live?

On our way home up the M4 we stopped for lunch at an excellent pub.
We were heading for Chipping Sodbury but came across the much better named Old Sodbury where we visited The Dog Inn.
It is well worth a visit with great beer and a very extensive, well priced menu.
They also have accommodation which may be worth considering in the future.
Just off Junction 18 of the M4.

Salcombe 3

Salcombe from 'the other side'.


















Someone looks a bit exhausted on the way back...

Salcombe 2

As we were exploring another alleyway, we happened upon
The Ferry Inn.



















So, we thought we would stop for a while and admire the view.














Before boarding the ferry to see what life was like on the other side of the estuary.