Alton's Winter Schedule 2011/12

Sat 3rd to Tues 6th Dec:-         Oakgrove (Macc Br49) to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge   return

Sat 17th to Tues 20th Dec:-     Oakgrove (Macc Br49) to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge return

Wed 21st to Fri 23rd Dec:-      Road deliveries to Congleton, Kidsgrove, Middlewich, Nantwich, Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester Piccadilly etc.

Sat 31st Dec to Wed 4th Jan:- Oakgrove (Macc Br49) to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge return

Sat 14th to Tues 17th Jan:-     Oakgrove (Macc Br49) to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge return

Wed 25th to Fri 27th Jan:-      Road deliveries to Congleton, Kidsgrove, Middlewich, Nantwich, Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester Piccadilly etc.

Sat 28th to Tues 31st Jan:-     Oakgrove (Macc Br49) to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge return

Fri 10th to Mon 13th  Feb:-    Oakgrove (Macc Br49) to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge return

Tues 14th to Sat 18th Feb:-    Oakgrove (Macc Br49) to Congelton Kidsgrove, Middlewich, Nantwich, Chester & Ellesmere Port

Sun 19th to Fri  24th Feb:-      Ellesmere Port to Chester, Middlewich, Anderton, River Weaver, Preston
Brook, Kidsgrove, & Oakgrove (Macc Br 49)

Sat 25th to Tues 28th Feb:-    Oakgrove (Macc Br49) to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge return

Family, Fenders & A Friendly Robin

Family First

Well it's been another hectic couple of weeks for us, nothing new there! We've been too-ing and fro-ing from Macclesfield up to the Wirral a lot to spend more time with my Sister Aileen. She's had some good days and bad days, but on the whole she is deteriorating. Last Wednesday whilst up delivering supplies around Chester I called in to see Aileen, she wasn't in the best of form, she turned up her nose at a bowl of soup, she didn't want a cuppa, and gave me a her withering look when I tried to feed her ice cream. I could tell she was down in the dumps, "do you want to go & sit  in your room & listen to some music?" ..... silence, "do you want to go outside for a fag?"....... in desperation, "do you want to go to the pub?", "YES" came the reply. So my Brother Mike and I took her down to the Caernarfon Castle pub down the road where she declared "this is great" (the most she's said in some time) and supped a half a lager whilst Mike and I checked out the Wainwright bitter. Mike and I took Aileen out again on Sunday and she was much brighter and more alert. We went to West Kirby for the afternoon, we blew the cobwebs away walking on the prom & watched the wind surfers at play. We soon retired to a cosy cafe for a late lunch and although she didn't eat much she enjoyed a good proper coffee.

Aileen & Brian Blowing the Cobwebs Away at West Kirby

Unfortunately since then Aileen's taken a bit of a turn for the worse & is struggling to eat or drink or take her medication, so it's not an easy time at the moment but friends and family are spending plenty of time with her.


Fender Making

It's also been good to get some fender making done also, it's such a satisfying and rewarding thing to make a good set of fenders and have something to show for your days efforts. It's also very therapeutic to just work away in your own little world hitching away and watching the ropework build into something that you can be proud to have made. Our regular customer Gary & Tracy on "Essence" ordered a long button fender in Victory black rope for the Stern of their lovely Braidbar boat, they had a bit of trouble working out how to fit the fender, so on our last coal run we called in and fitted it for them.

Essence's Long Button

Then on Sunday we met up with our old 2CV friends Dave & Ann Marie Burdett, who after much preparation have bought their own narrow boat "Legend". They also needed new fenders for their boat so they met us at Marple to collect them. Sorry we couldn't stop long to chat with you guys it was so tempting to stop for a pint or two at the Ring o' Bells, but we were already running late! Anyway Dave & Ann Marie seemed more than happy with their fenders when they fitted them on Legend and even posted a couple of  good photos on their blog http://www.becominglistless.blogspot.com/


Robin Redbreast

Also whilst out on our last coal run we were joined by a new crew member, this very friendly robin. He hopped around and investigated the boat for quite some time, lets hope we see a bit more of this happy chap to brighten our winter days