We have been back in Essex catching up with friends and family an tonight we have been out to celebrate Sacha's birthday.

 This weekend started with spending the day with Caroline and James in Burton on Trent.
The last two days we have spent with Diane and Peter at their house taking in the views.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY RITA

Today we drove to Great Heywood to see Rita on her birthday after a walk to Shugborough Hall and back Rita supplied a fantastic tea.

Today I fitted and tried the two triangular panels to widen the cratch and prepare for the hard top to be fitted at a later date.

Today Cassie and I had a long walk just before the showers started.
We have settled into marina life and hope to discover some long walks on those sunny winter days.

Today we drove to Fradley Junction to catch up with Rita and Scooby at lunch time when we had homemade soup and rolls.
Then we had a walk around Fradley Pool with Cassie.

Whilst back we have had a couple of Maisie, Nanna and Granddad days one being a wet day in Maldon and today a wet day in Colchester.

 The last couple of weeks we have been back in Essex returning to attend Maisie's fourth birthday.
Claire showed her expertise in cake making.

 Today we parted company with Diane and Peter after cruising with them for three weeks.
Last night Peter cooked us a fantastic curry and we had a few drinks
We are now on our moorings in Mercia Marina and now ready for winter

 We passed through Stoke on Trent heading for Alrewas before the tail end of a hurricane hits the U.K.
Stopping off for a refill of diesel from the boat moored at a farm where they had two week old piglets.

After getting our new data allowance which I had used nearly all last months data on uploading music to the cloud.
We have now travelled down the Macclesfield Canal and enter the brown waters of the Trent and Mersea to head back to Mercia Marina.

Today we completed the first part of journey by reaching Bugsworth Basin on the Peak Forest Canal.
Tonight Yvonne and Dave  came to visit and we completed the day by having a meal in the pub.

Friday night we moored in Higher Poyton where Maria came to visit, so it was a meal in the pub and a chance to listen to a local band.

 Yesterday we passed through the Harecastle Tunnel to go on to the Macclesfield Canal.

 We have had a couple of long days travelling through Stoke on Trent where Cassie went to bark at a swan and promptly fell off the boat.
We passed Festival Park where The Maisibert was put into the water.

 Friday night we met up with Peter and Diane travelling to Branston where the famous pickle originated.
Last night we had a meal on board The Maisibert and Cassie made herself comfortable with our guest.
This morning we had an early start as we planned to moor just outside Rugeley, it was cold misty morning.

We have been back to Essex to celebrate Hilary's birthday and catch up with friends and family.
Claire put in a lot of effort to make Hilary's day go with a bang by making  a flower arrangement with cup cakes.
We finished the day with a family meal at Prezzo's.

After some long days we are now moored just outside Willington after passing through Burton Upon Trent.