On Sunday we went for a long walk with Scooby, through the mud and mist between Flore and Nether Heywood. At one point we went through a sheep field and this little group followed suspiciously behind us at a distance!
In the evening we went to the carol service at Weedon Bec church. It was the traditional nine lessons and carols but it wasn't quite as expected. The congregation was very small (a few elderly ladies and two families). The elderly and rather rotund vicar had (we suspect) been brought out of retirement to officiate. The singing was a bit thin but we valiantly did our best, as did the readers of the nine lessons. The results were, however, somewhat varied and could, we felt, have graced a TV sitcom without difficulty. Towards the end the vicar gave a little homily which was rather shocking in its reference to the current situation in the Middle East and implications about the dangerousness of Muslims and the end of the world. Bizarrely, immediately after this he donned a father Christmas hat which lit up, jingled and danced while we sang a very jolly final carol. We were invited to mince pies (which was kind of them) but we beat a hasty retreat back to Scooby and the boat. Later that evening on the local news we learned that a female bishop was being inaugurated at a big ceremony with, presumably, all the local clergy etc. and we wondered whether that's why our service had been a little under par!
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| Weldon Bec church. A lovely little church that promised much. |
On Monday Jo went home to pick up some things and meet a friend for supper, coming back Tuesday afternoon. Robin and Scooby did the short run to fill up with water and were generally left in charge of themselves.
On Wednesday Verity came to stay and we made it an early birthday visit. Robin made a chocolate fudge cake which went down well (we love Mary Berry!).
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Verity with her cake. Note her canine friend who is not allowed chocolate cake but can
definitely manage some cream.... |
Robin also made come bread for the morning, his pride at which amused Verity!
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| My loaf! |
On Thursday we took our guest on a cruise up the canal to the Buckby locks (the repairs are almost finished and the canal is being refilled with water). Luckily the rain kept off until we arrived. Verity took control of the camera and a good time was had by all!
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| Father and daughter enjoying quality time! |
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| We went past this Dutch barge out of the water. |
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| Robin being totally absorbed by the sight of it! |
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| Jo gets photographed... |
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| ..so does Scooby. |
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| .. and so does this creepy looking Santa Claus on the canal bank (a manikin usually dressed as a tramp). |
At the locks we said goodbye to Verity as she set off home. We took Scooby for a walk along the locks before it got dark. Tomorrow Jo will visit her brother to deliver presents and Robin will take the boat to Nether Heywood marina where it will stay for Christmas. On Saturday, we will head home ourselves to prepare for the celebrations. We plan to return before New Year when we hope to be able to creep North again.
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