Hi, Your comments are always most welcome
Hi Sue and Vic.
Looks like your weather is better than ours. We are on the Thames, which at this moment is flowing very fast, so looks like we maybe stuck here for a day or two.
Keep enjoying life and I will pop in when I can.
Hugss Jo x
Jo,
Yes the Thames we heard was on red boards.. you take care down there. We are OK here, and we don't intend going further upstream where our river is flooding until it is well down.
Bout time we got some calmer weather me thinks.. will be the longest day shortly and the days will start drawing in for the winter... Hey, and I ain't got a tan yet!! 
Hi Sue & Vic,
Do hope you are enjoying yourself at Ely. If you remember Shotley Shuffle was stuck there for 6 weeks. You have to grin and bear the wait while Phil & Chris do their own thing. I know one afternoon we hauled the boat into Bridge Marina awaiting the engine being put back into Shotley and then Phil was called away on a breakdown! So it was haul ourselves out again and moor up again on the river.
Arry and I are hoping to visit Ely on the 14th for a couple of nights if we can find a reasonable berth. Lamb Hotel want to charge me £80 a night b/b with £5 for Arry!
Anyway remember enjoy your boating
Love Kate & Arry
Kate,
Hey it is so lovely to hear from you... Gawd we were just talking about Shotley yesterday remembering how you were here all that time.
You are making me smile tonight.. cheering me in fact. Yes I know, whatever in boating, time is of no consequence, and for sure you were an inspiration of that when out with Shotley.
OK, yes I know... With a wry smile I will be MORE patient, I know Chris and Phil are manyana...
14th, you say.. hey what 14th and what are you traveling to Ely in??
Sue
Dear Sue & Vic,
Lovely to hear from you.
14th of July is when Arry and I hope to visit Ely. I think Arry would love to chase the ducks there again.
Did you notice a little narrowboat pass you last week called Coleen? We met them 3yrs ago while down on the fens and since then Alys and I have had short breaks in Liverpool and York. We are going to see the Tall ships in July.
Anyway Alys and Colins daughter is hiring a boat from Bridge Boats on the 7th of July and returning on the 14th. She would like to meet me so thats how the idea came from for me and A to visit Ely via train. So a day visit became a 2 day one, its just finding somewhere to take A as well thats ensuite for those night visits!
I am sure the visit will be an emtional one for me but its something I want to do, have to face our demons sometimes.
As Viv from Monarch says we didn't just lose a husband we lost a way of life too.
Last year I went with Viv on Monarch to Brauston for the historic boat rally, we both cried buckets on the way. Do you know on the way back down Atherstone flight I was awaiting for at lock 10 for Monarch, its a long pound and I thought I hope this has all been a bad dream and Shotley with the union flag is going to appear round that bend but of course it was Monarch!!
Coleen moored up at Langley Mill for the winter and I helped them up and down part of the Erewash. Don't like walking over the double locks though.
Does that lady with the 2 Labrador still walk past everyday, one Lab is curly coated. She works at the catherdral and as a narrowboat moored just before the pub at Ely? Boat is called Lady ----------.
Do hope to see you when I visit Ely.My eldest grandchild said to try to book up on the Lamb via internet as it might be cheaper. Oh the power of the internet!!!
Now you pair take care and the woofs of course. I wonder if Lucy will have trained Meg to repel Arry and his advances! Yes he still loves every dog on earth even little Betty who bites his nose.
Love Kate and A xxxx 
Its me again, have booked up hotel for Arry and me at last.
By the way it was the 14th of July 2005 when we left you on that lovely island mooring for the old lock. Do you remember it was so hot when we arrived the day before from Bedford and Pat dived in the water to cool off and the three of us thought he had fell in at first!!
Oh happy days
Love K & A
Oh Kate, Yes such fond memories... Of course I remember 'Our Island' and each time we go back there we always laugh at the antics of Pat diving off into the water with those shorts on! Fond, Fond Memories, and yes I did know it was July 14th, I remember the wave, there is a pic on the blog...
I am off to see Elton John on 13th and back the 14th.. but not via Ely.. I come back to Huntingdon or St Neots, cant remember, need to look.. are you still in Ely on 15th Kate?
I really really would love to see you again...
I know you spent some time with Viv, The Lady .... is not there at the moment, I think they gone out in her, she was moored by the pub when we first got here..
I don't remember seeing Coleen, but I don't look up a lot when boats go by these days..
I am sure your visit to Ely will bring back happy memories Kate.. Take care hun xxxxx
Hi Sue,
I can remember you going to see Elton three years ago when you were moored behind us at Ely.
I am staying 2 nights in Ely, from the 14th to 16th. So do hope to see you both.
Would you do me a favour? Would you explain to Phil and Chris what happened to Pat so when I see them I won't have to explain. Mesothelioma is such a dreadfull disease and we haven't reached the peak yet.
In February D.A.S.T. ( Derbyshire asbestos suport team) had an action day in Derby, (other cities did too) and hundreds of balloons were realeased in memories of loved ones lost.
Mizz my younger daughter is hoping to get into the London marathon to raise money. She has been refused 5 times so next year should be her turn. This year she is in the 10 Spire race at Chesterfield and the Great North run in October but she dosen't want to be sponsored till she does the marathon.
I am very lucky that I have such good friends, we call ourselves 'The Ladies who Lunch' (just think of the Beryl Cook painting) They all work but on their days off we go off visiting National Trust Properties. We went to Spain last year and we are off again this September. We did cause a stir as we wore yellow T-shirts saying we were Ladies who Lunch on Tour!!!
In May we had a few days in Wales and the sun shone!
I actually drive them mad on days out as I know where the canals are so I am on the look out for that other world. On the Wales trip we did stop at Trevor and had a look at the aquaduct, would you believe a canaltime was goin over it!!
Am going to York with elder daughter, Rachel in July. She has never been. Later that week we should have been going to London to court to fight for compensation for Pat but we have settled out of court now so Rash and I have are having time together, no grandkids!
The firm in Atherstone admitted liability for Pat but said I was better off fiancially with him being dead than when he was alive! This is because when Pat was alive I got £50 a week but of course I get more now. But knowing that I didn't have to go to court was wonderful I could actually feel the weight going off my shoulders.
I would now like to go on a hotel narrowboat holiday where I haven't been but they don't seem to go down the G.U. towards London. Want to take Arry too.
When I helped Coleen down the Erewash to Sandiacre Arry came too. Colin and Alys were amazed how good Arry was. He sat on the back of the boat as good as gold as usual. When the boat went past some youths fishing on a lock mooring I said to Colin that his street cred would have gone up with having an English Bully at his side!
Do hope you soon get the gearbox sorted out. Ain't it annoying when you can't cruise when you want to?!!
Lov Kate & Arry xxxx
