Back at Hambleden

We hope that your Christmas was everything you expected and are now looking forward to a New Year.

After spending a very pleasant few days over the festive period with our son and his family, eating and drinking far too much, we're  now back on Still Rockin'.

The temperature has plummeted and has been well below freezing during the night and well into the days too.  I hope that all our boating bloggers are in a safe place if the canal is frozen where you are and that you are able to reach the services you need.

Our circular walk yesterday afternoon ...

Only about two miles, over the weir and Hambleden Lock along the River Thames to the Flower Pot pub and back, just enough to enable us to stretch our legs and blow the cobwebs away.  It's always good to come home!

Merry Christmas!

We've been looking back at 2016

I've created a 'Smilebox' video but unfortunately it was too big a file to load onto 'Blogger' but if you would like to watch it please click here (hope it works for you)

So I'll post the stills instead - play some nostalgic orchestral music while you watch, I chose Unchained Melody ...

A good weekend

We were away from Still Rockin' this weekend, George's sister and her husband came to collect us on Saturday morning  and took us to Virginia Water which is part of Windsor Great Park (The Crown Estate).  As you'll see from the photos below it was a misty, dull, grey day but we spent a lovely few hours there wandering around the lake.

Sunday after a hearty breakfast we walked to the Basingstoke Canal near Mytchett/Frimley.  The day was overcast and rather chilly.

The Frimley miniature railway behind the Basingstoke Canal information stone

 Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre moorings and facilities

A happy George by Mytchett Place Bridge.

We had a fabulous weekend, lots of chatter, laughter, food and fun!

Molly's Holly

We have chosen to bury our lovely Molly's ashes in a small garden at the marina (with the owners' permission of course).  

We spend a lot of time on the Thames and will pass this way several times each summer.  We also hope to winter moor here again in the future.

As the garden already has holly growing in the hedges we chose a variegated holly with lots of character just like she had. This particular spot in the garden gets all the winter sunshine too.  Molly like most dogs, loved the sun and she used to follow it around the living room furniture on the boat sitting at very odd angles over cushions and the backs of the sofas!

Measuring the hole for depth and uprightness

Giving her lots of water

I'm sure she'll like it here.

A perfect day ... except for the spiders!

Well, yesterday I became as old as George once again but that's ok because in March he will once again be older than me!

As the title suggests It the most perfect day ...

After opening my presents and cards we went for a walk, the sun was out and it wasn't cold ...

There must have been more rain somewhere up river and this morning two sluices were open on the lock weir creating a vast amount of turbulence and noise!

It's a lovely walk along the Thames to Henley and it wasn't long before we shed the scarf and then our jackets.  The temperature (by George's apple watch no less) was 13C but it felt much warmer.

... and the spiders ...

you can probably see the silk threads being blown horizontal from these fence wires.  

We've experienced this phenomena on our narrowboat Rock 'n' Roll back in October 2013 whilst cruising and today we had to walk through the cobwebs, they and some of the spiders were caught on our face, on our lips, nose and eyes and especially in our hair!

It was sooooo peaceful as we walked

Looking back at the temple (folly)

... and forward into Henley.

We had a look around the shops (lots of independents as well as some high street brands) and eventually went into 'The Catherine Wheel' a Wetherspoon's pub for a couple of hours relaxing and eating a meal which was lovely as then there was no cooking for me back at home.

From Henley we caught a bus and continued past Hambleden Marina and on into Marlow to collect a delayed birthday card which had been sent Post Restante to the post office there.  Another walk around the shops until it was time to catch the bus home again.

It had been a good day ... what made it perfect?  I had a phone call from our eldest grandson Adam in New York where he's studying for a year to wish me a happy birthday.  How good is that?  Couldn't be any better at all!