The intrepid canal-boaters have come home. They arrived back at 11 a.m. looking slightly dishevelled and rather tired but very happy and keen to do it again.
They got as far as Bollington, near Macclesfield, by Tuesday when they had to turn round to ensure getting back to Congleton by this morning. Daughter reported that turning round was a feat in itself as their boat was 70' long. In her innocence she had not appreciated just how long 70' is until she first saw the boat and almost collapsed with shock. Neither had she forseen how hard navigating 12 locks in a row can be, especially with a severe hangover, well 3 hangovers as the 3 grown-ups had partied a bit the night before.
She came home with several bags of half-used groceries, bemoaning the fact that they had left a jar of mayonnaise, half a dozen eggs and the butter on the boat. She also came home with more washing than I've seen in a long time, all muddy as it rained a bit last week. The washing machine started its first load at a quarter to 12 and didn't get a rest until half past 4 and I worried about the effect of gravity on the clothes line. I'm sure the metal post is leaning even more than it did before. She's got a fair bit of ironing to do tomorrow.
Laura said she hadn't missed me but she had missed the cat. The cat had missed her too and, after much leg-rubbing and fuss, curled up in her suitcase and purred like a buzz-saw. I admit defeat, how could I compete with that?
Anyway the peace and quiet of last week is now just a memory. Of course, I hadn't realised just how LOUD my daughter and granddaughter speak, well, I don't suppose they speak any louder than you and me but I haven't had the "volume" turned up until now. I'll get used to it.
They got as far as Bollington, near Macclesfield, by Tuesday when they had to turn round to ensure getting back to Congleton by this morning. Daughter reported that turning round was a feat in itself as their boat was 70' long. In her innocence she had not appreciated just how long 70' is until she first saw the boat and almost collapsed with shock. Neither had she forseen how hard navigating 12 locks in a row can be, especially with a severe hangover, well 3 hangovers as the 3 grown-ups had partied a bit the night before.
She came home with several bags of half-used groceries, bemoaning the fact that they had left a jar of mayonnaise, half a dozen eggs and the butter on the boat. She also came home with more washing than I've seen in a long time, all muddy as it rained a bit last week. The washing machine started its first load at a quarter to 12 and didn't get a rest until half past 4 and I worried about the effect of gravity on the clothes line. I'm sure the metal post is leaning even more than it did before. She's got a fair bit of ironing to do tomorrow.
Laura said she hadn't missed me but she had missed the cat. The cat had missed her too and, after much leg-rubbing and fuss, curled up in her suitcase and purred like a buzz-saw. I admit defeat, how could I compete with that?
Anyway the peace and quiet of last week is now just a memory. Of course, I hadn't realised just how LOUD my daughter and granddaughter speak, well, I don't suppose they speak any louder than you and me but I haven't had the "volume" turned up until now. I'll get used to it.