Last night we had our annual get together at Prezzos in Witham.

 Just spent Christmas with all the family, starting Christmas Eve with Claire, Darren Maisie and Poppy.
Christmas Dinner with Phil, Ray, James and then Elaine, Craig and Sacha joined us for the evening.
James stayed with us for Boxing Day.

 This morning was a frosty walk with the dogs by the river and this afternoon was a cold play with the girls over the field.

This weekend we went to stay with Jenny, Mel and Bella calling into see Judy and Graham on the way there and catching up with Helen and Colin on the way back.

 The last week we have taken all our favourite girls out.

 After a delay due to the weather the last two days the roofers have been here to replace the flat roof at the cottage.

We have been back in Braintree for a while now and today we had Sunday lunch cooked by Darren.
It was great to see Maisie and Poppy and Maisie showed us the clothes she bought with her birthday voucher.

 Today was spent getting ready to return to Essex tomorrow but Cassie thought she would stay on her bed no matter what.
This evening we had a meal in the Restaurant on the marina with Dianne and Peter.

Today our October trip finally came to an end as we cruised back to the marina.
Before we cruised back into the marina we stopped outside to wash the boat when Peter rang to say that some vehicles had been damaged by fire and he had been across to check our car which turned out to be ok

We had a very early start today as we have to get through Bishop Meadow Lock in Loughborough before it closed tomorrow for repairs.
After approximately eight hours we moored in Loughborough just before darkness descended.

Today was Peter's birthday and had planned to celebrate in Burton on Trent.
But just as we arrived we were notified of a lock closure on Monday that would prevent us getting back to the Marina.
So after several hours of extra cruising we celebrated his birthday at Ragely Boat Stop.

Today Peter's mum and her friend Bobby came to visit us today to celebrate Peter's birthday.
So it was lunch in the William iV in Alrewas.

Today we visited the Arboretum  in Alrewas had to wait for the buggy we had booked but the trip around was worth the wait.

 We are now moored in Alrewas and will be staying for a couple of days to allow Peters mum to visit.
After taking the dogs for a walk which Cassie didn't deserve as she decided to jump of the boat and visit the café which was full of people at Fradely Junction, we are looking forward to a nice day tomorrow.

 After another misty start we stopped off in Rugeley for shopping only when we left we caught up with four other boats with us being the fifth.
In front of the convoy was a hire boat travelling at tick over speed, after 3/4 hour following they finally pulled over to let us pass.

After leaving a misty mooring Friday morning we headed to Stone staying a couple of days before cruising to Great Heywood.
Today we cruised to just outside Rugeley to pick up some diesel  before heading to Fradley Junction tomorrow.

Today we left Stoke on Trent in the bright sunshine with the tree's in their Autumn colours.
Tonight we are once again moored near the Wedgwood factory and once again red sky at night.
Even when you are moored in the country at night you realise you are always not far away from civilisation.