Back to Thrupp and not a lot more....

Yes, I know it's been a while and we've now left the Thames but life's been busy!!!!! ;-)

After our trip on the Thames we went back to Oxford and took a day out and hired a car to go and see my Daughter Claire, Hubby Dan and the Grandchildren Jacob, Ellie-May and the  latest edition....Amy-Louise who is gorgeous and so contented. I think all the time we were there she didn't cry once!

Suzie with Amy-Louise....awww!

We left Oxford the next morning and cruised back to Thrupp where my Son Dave, fiancée Anna and the grandchildren Ruben and George paid us a visit for 3 days which was lovely. I had booked a mooring with Thrupp Cruising Club and they were very helpful in accommodating us for £25 a week which is very good. This allowed us to take the kids out for the day and not worry about getting a mooring on our return. we had 2 trips out and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lovely picture.....

Yep, me reversing Swamp Frogs!

The boys earning their keep....and they did it with a little
from Dad!

I think the bloke is lost? Lost his sail, lost the sea and lost the surf!
maybe lost the plot too!

After Dave, Anna and the boys went home it was time to say cheerio to some very dear friends...Fred and Lisa from NB Chyandour were moving on to Stratford and onto the River Avon. We will catch up again and in the words of Vera Lynn...don't know where....don't know when....but I know we'll meet again some sunny day! we love you both miss you so much.

We then had a trip back to southampton as it was Suzie's Mum's 89th Birthday and all the family were getting together to celebrate this.

Happy 89th Birthday Mum xxx

I am staying put as Suzie was off on her yearly "Sansu" holiday with her Daughter Sandie and I was staying here at Thrupp. Whilst here I bump into Mike and Heather who we met last year in Addlington and are the proud owners of their new Narrowboat called "Smile and Wave" so please do if you spot them. Sadly they left before Suzie returned but are heading for the K&A so we will meet up for a beer at some stage.
While at Thrupp on my own Andy and Pete Milburn from Milburnboats came down to re site the tunnel horn and light and fit our new roof box with added solar panels. Thank you Andy and Pete. We now have 360 Watts of solar and in the 8 days post fitting the panels we did not have to run the engine at all....happy days!

New box and new solar panels

So, after my week on my own, Suzie returned from her well earned rest we then get chatting to our neighbours Gary and Della from NB Muleless and also had a beer with Maffi from Aardvarks and Maffi's Boat as we swaped moorings so he could  do some painting....lovely bloke. On our last day before moving I had a text from my daughter Claire to "put the kettle on" as they are now a family of 5 they had to change their car and their first trip out was to come and see us which was a lovely surprise (and also a trip to the pub for sunday lunch)

The following day we then moved back to Oxford to re stock the fridge and while there we took the oppertunity to go to the first ever Hayfield Road Street Party and all profits going to NB Venturer, a charitable trust which provides canal excursions for passengers with special needs. Beautiful sunny day with great music, BBQ, beer tent and Suzie had to get involved and started a trend. A lady had 2 poles with thin rope loops attached and was making bubbles and the kiddies loved it. Suzie paid a pound and asked for a go and she was followed by lots of others so more money raised......great fun.

So, Monday morning it was goodbye to Oxford and through Isis Lock and onto the River Thames......fingers crossed for sunshine!

Since the last blog we have done 26 miles and 19 locks this gives a grand total of 641 miles 100 yards, 341 locks and 9 tunnels (tunnels over a 1000 yards only)