Minor disasters involving stove door (again) and chimney hat

crossing the Tame Aqueduct near Fazeley Junction

Tonight we tied up at Curdworth, just south of Curdworth Tunnel, and have just come back from eating at the White Horse. I had a pleasant gammon steak; Jan had Hunter's Chicken. I also sampled "UBU" which I hadn't come across before. Very tasty, 4.5%, and £2.75/pint.

Oh no! The glass in the stove door has just cracked! How has that happened? I've just lit the stove - the first time after it had been refitted. And now we're miles from the boatyard!

But back to last night. It was very windy, with a lot of rattling from the back doors. I'll secure them next time it's as windy. In the middle of the night there was a sudden gust and a loud clatter on the roof. I said that'll be the chimney's coolie hat. And it was. In the morning it had vanished. I fished with my Sea Searcher magnet, but found nothing. Something else to get from a chandler's.

We set off towards Fazeley. This was to have been our destination yesterday, but the stove door delayed us. Not to worry, as today was a "short" day anyway.


Fazeley Mill

At Fazeley Junction we made the tight turn left onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, with the impressive Fazeley Mill on our left. Almost immediately we tied up alongside Kew, the blue top boat of our friends David and Mary, whom we had arranged to meet. They came aboard for coffee, and Mary brought some delicious freshly cooked - still warm - flapjacks.


Mary and Kew outside their house - what an amazing location!

There is more to say about today, but, as usual, there's not enough time to say it.

Into the heart of inner city Brum tomorrow.