Slow travel

T30/6/2017 The Canada geese are amazing gosling nursery maids/masters. There are always a couple of adults with the young of the flock. In this photo there are adults at front and back of the little flotilla, with 12 downy youngsters in between. The same nurturing behaviour was observed on the Kennett and Avon (down near Bath). A cool damp (think mild winter in Sydney) day here, as we walked 2+ miles to the station, train to the metropolis of Stockport. There we shopped for yet more essentials for Santiago- from lemon squeezer to shower caddy, bedding etc. Planning for our first social occasion on the weekend, we laid in more consumables, resorting to a taxi for the climb to the canal from the village. And so goodnight.

26/6/2017 Fine late afternoon on the Macclesfield, flotillas of Canada geese cruising past. Earlier a large assertive swan hissed its demand for food at our hatch window. JJ is clearing the prop of weed and plastic, bless him. The tiller vibrates a warning when the prop is fouled.

26/6/2017 It is now 2 sleeps since we moved aboard Santiago,. She has been lying snugly here for 4 months, while we powered through building work. With the use of the hire car until today, we had an orgy of shopping, boosting the northern England economy as we equipped the boat- doonas, crockery, pans, all the essentials for domestic bliss.  JJ is as I write, polishing the brass headlight, while the kettle simmers for a cuppa. We enjoyed a pint in the local, the Miners Arms, in company with other boaters.  An interesting group, and most welcoming to the odd Aussie. Tomorrow we will chug up to the Braidbar boatyard, where Santiago was built in 2014 , and moor there while the gas regulator is sorted- the gas runs at a trickle at the moment, the only problem JJ has identified. The weather gods have forgotten it is summer, and it is cool and overcast. We are snug and happy on the boat, with cousin Marion's homemade damson gin a fine accompaniment.

22/6/2017 5 days since we landed at Heathrow, so jetlag decreasing. The journey over here was better than we expected- firstly getting ticketted through to Heathrow, and second having an upgrade to premium economy for the 2nd leg, meaning some sleep was possible. Thankyou Qantas. We've hired a car for 10 days, visiting Portsmouth friends, then to our cousins in the midlands, and now to Yorkshire, to more family. All of the above live in splendid locations, which is most considerate. A lovely cross country scramble yesterday, past Chartist cottages, the Houseman eatate, along public footpaths, to a pub lunch. The weather Sydney hot, quite dry. So much calamitous news here, with the appalling Grenfell fire, further racist attacks, Brexit negotiations beginning. 44 years ago I followed a brass band to Whitehall, a celebration of the Common Market entry. The Times that day carried an obituary to ' British freedom, which died today'  1 January 1973. The narrowboat received a

8/6/2017 Today we left our misty valley, not to see it till December. A wrench. 3 months of building, and the little house has moved from shabby barn to a real house. Now our last week in Dullie, chasing down the essentials before the gypsy life on water.