We have stopped off in Penkridge and stayed in Compton where we met friends Cherry and Neil where we sampled fish and orange chips and had a evening in the pub.

I have not been able to update the blog as our data usage was used up sorting problems with McAfee on our laptop.
After leaving Tixall Wide we have continued our journey along the Staffs and Worcester

Today we arrived at Tixal Wide where the wind was blowing so hard that we had trouble mooring.
Peter got caught side on to the wind that even with a bow thruster he didn't manage to moor facing the right direction.

 Today we left Alrewas to be held up at the locks at Fradley Junction where there was six boats waiting to go through the locks.

Yesterday was the start of our summer trip as we came out of the boatyard after having the windows fitted.
We moored up behind Diane and Peter and headed to a Thai Restaurant.

Today we completed fitting the new windows and we are now back on the cut to start our summer journey with Peter and Diane.

 Happy Seventh Birthday Cassie

 All windows removed and boat sides cleaned off down one side in readiness for the new double glazed thermally broken windows.
Fitting has been delayed because of the number break downs the boatyard are handling at present.

 We know winter is over when the car is taken back to Braintree.
When Hilary was back she visited the Bocking May Fayre with Claire, Darren, Maisie, Poppy and Amanda on Bank Holiday Monday.

Today was a Maisie day where we went to Maldon where we had a hot chocolate with all the trimmings, fed the local wild life and whilst Nana and Maisie went to play on the play ship I played ball with Cassie.

 Today we had an early start as The Maisibert has gone in for blacking at Shobnall.
Pictures show her just after being high pressure washed.

 We have been losing anti freeze from the engine so when Hilary stripped the bed yesterday I took the opportunity to check the hoses to the calorifier only to find a leak on the calorifier it self.
So a £500 later a new calorifier and expansion bottle which meant total re plumb and rewire the immersion heater.
After a lot of water and a couple of leaks I completed the job today.
Moving out of the marina tomorrow and in for blacking.

 When we were back in Braintree last Hilary washed the bedroom roman blinds which unfortunately where the sun had weakened the lining holes appeared.
In Burton on Trent we found Julie Spendlove who is a professional curtain maker/qualified seamstress and she over hauled both blinds for us.

To break up the surface on the new cratch roof I thought about a non slip surface.
For the first attempt I used demerra sugar but all that did was make the boat very sticky when I washed off the surplus.
So I reverted to using non slip sand in the paint and for a first attempt it has turned out well.

 Despite several efforts back in Essex to get our cars front seat repaired but with no success.
We have had to find somebody here in Burton on Trent on Monday Derby Trim Repairs removed the seat returning today to install the repaired seat.

 John had a day off on Tuesday as we took Jackie for a training day from Gayton to Bugbrooke.
The day was broken up with lunch in the Five Bells.

Today we celebrated Claire and Craig's 28th birthday with a meal at the Bocking Club.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAIRE & CRAIG

Yesterday we drove to Newmarket to visit Caroline and James and Andy the dog.
James cooked us lunch and hope Caroline feels better soon.