Escape from the Macc

We set off from Fools Nook at 7.30 Saturday morning with Alton sitting low in the water. We made good progress through Macc and Bollington but at Poynton those dratted customers kept on coming thick & fast, darkness fell, so about 7pm we decided to call it a day and tied up opposite Marineville. We set of again at 7.30 rousing a few customers from their beds at MiddleKayle. By the time we reached Marple the rain began to fall and the wind began to blow. There was a fishing match on and we usually have a bit of friendly banter with the fishermen, but when we stopped opposite one of them to serve a customer he started ranting and raving and throwing his teddies out of the pram. "What did the hell did you do that for!" he ranted, we replied that we were just earning our living!

We made our way up the Upper Peak Forest Canal. At the 1st lift bridge we got talking to the local farmer and his wife and when they saw we sold red diesel, they asked us to fill up their tractor, so that's what we did. The rain continued to pour down as we made our deliveries to New Mills and Whaley Bridge until we tied up long after dark at Furness Vale. Brian retired to the Dog & Partridge for a swift pint of the excellent Gunpowder Mild whilst Ann Marie prepared tea.

Monday was another early start at 6.30 from Furness Vale. The sun came out and we had the canal to ourselves. We had a few customers to serve on the way back but we made good time and returned to Oakgrove about 4pm. We had hoped to nip into the Fools Nook Inn for a romantic valentines dinner but we had over 4 tonnes of fuel and supplies to reload and we didn't get finished until gone 9pm, so a take away chinese had to suffice.

The Alarm went off about 5.45 and we grabbed showers and made last minute preparations before heading off. We served a few customers and then set off down Bosley Locks, with the wind very blustery. We had a good road with the locks and at lock 10 we were joined by our good friend Graham Beard (owner of working boat Daphne) who had come to lend us a hand for a couple of days.

Below the locks we had quite a few customers before reaching Hardingswood Jn and started to head down the hill. A few more customers at Red Bull and carried on down the lock to reach Hassall Green about 7pm. Graham & Brian retired to the Romping Donkey to sample the Old Speckled Hen.

Wednesday morning we awoke to a hard frost and icy gunnels and lock gates, but very soon the sun came out to make a glorious morning. We enjoyed the journey down the rest of the Cheshire Locks, taking it in turns between the 3 of us to steer & lockwheel. Above Malkins Bank we saw the old working motorboat Malvern with a cargo of lock gates aboard. At Wheelock we fuelled up ex FMC motor boat Bream and chatted to its owner Steve. We continued to have a busy morning through Wheelock, Crowsnest and down to Middlewich. We had some chips from Kings Lock Chippy and then headed west along the Middlewich Branch.

Graham left us above Stanthorpe Lock and walked to Winsford to get the train home. We had a fairly quite afternoon but even in February we met a boat at Church Minshull Lock. We stopped for customers at Barbridge Jn and then headed south in the gathering dusk. We arrived at Nantwich about 7pm and grabbed well earned showers before retiring to the Black Lion for a pint of Peakstone Alton Abbey, agghh!
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Spreading Our Wings and February Schedule

Well with most of the stoppages that effect our regular rounds completed, and the ice gone, we can finally start boating further afield than the Macc and Peak Forest Canals. We have had many loyal customers from Kidsgrove, Middlewich, Nantwich, Anderton and Preston Brook etc as well as on the River Weaver, who we have managed to keep supplied by road over the past few months, but we are really looking forward to supplying you by boat again so see below for our February Schedule.

With the current challenging trading conditions (many customers are having to work to increasingly tight budgets), we  have decided that we need to try and develop the business by expanding our round. Last year we had quite a few requests from boaters on the Bridgewater Canal to trade on there, but Liam Hewitt with Kerry Dainty have started trading (as Longford Canal Services) on the Bridgewater last autumn with NB Ariel and we wish them a sincere "Good Luck" in their new venture. So then we considered trading south of Etruria our current limit on the T&M, but we have heard that another new venture has been established by Viv Scraggs retailing coal from her butty Grimsby, paired with her motor Monarch, based around Fradley. So we also wish Viv the very best of luck also with her new business. It's great to see more fuel boats trading. So back to our plans, we have decided that the most obvious way to extend our Cheshire round is to continue north on the Shroppie from our current limit at Bunbury Staircase, down to Chester and to the end of the line at Ellesmere Port. We have been in discussion with Steve Stamp, Chairman of Ellesmere Port Boat Museum Society, the musuem and the society are very keen to encourage more boaters to visit Ellesmere Port throughout the year. They realise that boaters want more facilities, such as elsan disposal, pumpout as well as diesel and solid fuel. They plan to install elsan disposal facilities and pumpout equipment  at the museum and are keen for us to trade the "Wirral Canal" from Chester to be able to regularly supply fuel to boaters. Our plan is to deliver on this whole Cheshire round on a monthly basis alternating between boat delivery and road delivery (stoppages allowing). Hopefully we can build upon the customer base that we have developed on Altons Easter Runs to Ellesmere Port over many years.

Alton & friends at Elesmere Port Easter Gathering 2009

So if you need supplies and are on our route below please get in touch by phone, text or email, alternatively just look out for us and flag us down!

Alton's Current Schedule

12th - 13th Feb:    Oakgrove (nr Macclesfield) to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge
14th -15th Feb:     Whaley Bridge to Kidsgrove
16th - 17th Feb:    Kidsgrove to Middlewich & Nantwich
18th - 19th Feb:    Nantwich to Chester & Ellesmere Port
20th - 21st Feb :   Ellesmere Port to Chester , Middlewich & Anderton
22nd - 23rd Feb:  River Weaver, to Preston Brook (wind), back to Wheelock
24th - 25th Feb:   Wheelock to Etruria (wind), Kidsgrove to Oakgrove (nr Macclesfield)
26th - 27th Feb:   Oakgrove to Marple, Bugsworth & Whaley Bridge
28th Feb:             Whaley Bridge to Oakgrove

Note: We hope to maintain this schedule but it can vary depending on traffic and customer demand, but if possible please call us on 07791345004 to place your order or to check our progress.

A Firkin Freezin Free Weekend 4th - 6th February

Last weekend we decided to treat ourselves to a weekend off. Apart from rusty old narrowboats our other passion is rusty old cars or to be more specific rusty old Citroen 2CVs. So we got our 1974 Dyane (central in photo) out of the carport and decided to blow it's cobwebs away with a return to the Derbyshire Firkin Flyers 2CV Clubs, Firkin Freezin Camp. This is a traditional. 2CV enthusiasts annual event, which we used to attend many years ago before work got in the way.

We set of late Friday afternoon, going over the tops from Bosley crossroads to Buxton, along the A6 to Matlock then NE to Ashover, where we arrived in the camping field in the pitch dark. The wind was blowing a whooly which made putting up the tent interesting, it's a good job we have a Vango Force Ten. We soon retired to the pub, The Old Poets Corner, which had a great range of real ales including 3 Ashover brewery beers and Titanic stout. We had a lovely meal and a very pleasant evening catching up with friends we hadn't seen for a couple of years and catching up on the gossip.

During the night the wind blew strong and the rain lashed down, but we stayed snug and warm in our sleeping bags. After breakfast we joined the circuitous convoy (via a couple of swollen fords) to eventually arrive at the fascinating Banktop engine on the Cromford and High Peak Railway which transported goods from the Cromford Canal to the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge.

In the afternoon we visited Arkwright's Mills at Cromford and had a walk along the Cromford Canal (We cannot keep away from the cut for long).

On Saturday evening in the interests of research we tried the other two pubs in Ashover, the Black Swan for a couple of good pints of Bradwell Farmers Blonde and the Crispin Inn for a delicious meal, but mediocre pint (Marston tied). We ended the evening back at the Old Poets for a very sociable evening meeting more 2CV friends old and new.

By Sunday morning the rain had finally eased (but not the wind) we decamped after a coffee and bacon butties (thanks to the brookes clan - we even get brekkie cooked for us away from the round. We started to make our way home but called in at Darley Dale to see if Peak Rail steam trains were running, they were so we spent the afternoon pottering up and down the line beside the swollen River Derwent. We had a very pleasant time riding on the trains before making our way home back over the hills.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

The Return of the Ice

Well for our last run of January the ice decided to return, just to remind us we are very much still in winter. We set of from Fools Nook at 7.30am on Saturday, breaking ice all the way.

Our first customers where at Gurnett aqueduct and our regulars on NB Elleni and NB Sir Daniel Gooch

Once we arrived in Macclesfield we found our pumpout pump and hoses were frozen solid and took a couple of hours to strip them down and thaw them out with many kettles of hot water. This and the ice put us a bit behind schedule, but we made reasonable progress and had a busy day. We decided to push on and we were near Adlington as the sunset. We continue to serve customers and a big thanks to Sue for the coffee and cake and also Liz for the sausage butties, mmm our customers do look after us! We finally tied up at Poynton wide about 7pm where Brian nipped down to the Boars Head for a swift pint, whilst Ann Marie cooked tea.

Sunday dawned to another cold start, we set of about 8am and were so busy with customers that we didn't manage to leave the area until about noon, oh we do like to keep busy.

We carried on to Marple where we had to back down the arm to serve some customers which was interesting having to ice break going astern! Once outside Marple around Strines the ice was thicker, up to 2 inches in places but it only reall slowed us up on the corners.

We were soon busy again and we were serving customers at New Mills as darkness fell. so it was time for a bit more night boating whilst we headed to Furness Vale to Moor for the night.

On Monday we made our deliveries around Bugsworth and Whaley Bridge where we narrowly avoided getting some of BW's dreaded orange netting around the prop!

and we saw more and more of the dreaded stuff in the cut on the way back, including at Bollington

and at Gurnett:

 This stuff is an absolute nightmare to remove from the prop especially when the steel stakes are inter twined.

Anyway on Monday afternoon we were joined by our good friend Graham Beard, who accompanied us to Marple. We then had a very pleasant evening at the Regent Cinema, Marple. This is a lovely old fashioned cinema and we thoroughly enjoyed ithe film Kings Speech.

Today we have made our return Journey down the Macc catching a few more customers. We were ice-breaking again and being followed  by NB Magic all the way back to Oakgove.

NB Magic near Lyme Green

Any Publicity is Good Publicity

This week we featured in a little article in the esteemed publication the Macclesfield Express. We did have a laugh with the NHK Crew, but it is nice to have the boat back to ourselves too.

We are looking forward to getting a copy of the program on DVD, it will be really interesting to see how it turns out.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Fooling about at Fools Nook!

Well after a busy 4 days boating we managed to get Alton back to Fools Nook for the first time in 2 1/2 months. We where frustrated by problems with Oakgrove Swing Bridge 49. We had heard from a customer on Friday that the swing bridge was out of order, we phoned BW at Red Bull & asked if they could sort it. BW said they where confident they knew what the problem was and they would have it sorted. We explained that we would need to go through with Alton on Sunday.

BW Engineers went out to investigate and (we were later told) found an electrical fault and a mechanical fault. They the imposed a temporary stoppage and put a notice on the control panel stating that BW would only operate the Bridge at 10am & 3pm on Sat & Sun. However they didn't send out any official stoppage notice & they didn't phone us back to let us know there was still a problem.

So when we arrive at the Br 49 in the wind & the rain we find the control panel covered bt a laminated sign & sticky tape. We rang freephone canals (i.e. expensive from mobiles). & when the Supervisor? Rang back, he told us we would have to wait for the BW staff to operate the bridge at 3pm. We asked why he hadn't sent out a stoppage notice but his reply was "he didn't have the authority to do that".......

Anyway at 3pm the BW guys turned up with there cones and power pack and set too operating the bridge for the 3 boats waiting.

BW returned to the bridge 49 this morning and declared it fit for operation, but when we once again found that the bridge would not open and kept hold of our key. After a call to Steve O'Sullivan at Red Bull, 2 BW guys came out to reset the bridge for us. They told us that a component in the control box needed to be replaced to stop it "tripping out". They said hopefully it will be replaced today, so we will be keeping our eye out on how the bridge performs over the next few days.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Blow the Cobwebs Away

Well it's been great to be back boating for the last few days, even in this blustery weather. Yesterday we passed Stuart on the coalboat Anne at Disley Swing Bridge & wished him a Happy New Year. He was well loaded & Anne looked good deep in the water (see photo).

Lots of customers have been very pleased to see us and we have been very well looked after with offers of coffees etc & thank you to Fliss on NB Betty Blue for the yummy shortbread. We have been busy with coal deliveries but we have been hectic with diesel & pumpouts. Its great to be busy but it was a relief to tie up tonight at Bollington & get in the warm cabin out of that wind & rain.

Tomorrow we're delivering at Kerridge & Macc before mooring up at Oakgrove by the end of the day.

Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Loaded & Ready for the Off.

Today we have loaded with solid fuel & diesel at Whaley Bridge. We then did a few deliveries around Whaley & Bugsworth before tieing up this evening at Furness Vale.

We look to have a busy day ahead tomorrow and are hoping to reach Marple or High Lane by evening. Then over the weekend we will be delivering through Poynton & Macclesfield to Oakgrove. It's good to be boating again!
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Bosley Locks are Open again

Good News! We've just heard from BW that Bosley Locks reopened at 10.30 this morning after repairs to the weir at Lock 2.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Ice & Bosley Locks Update

Finally over the weekend there has been some significant movement on the Upper Peak & Macc Summit. On Saturday Kirk (& Steve) on NB Lady Janice broke through from near Strines to Furness Vale. Then on Sunday Paul steered the NB Judith Mary II restaurant boat from Whaley Bridge to Kerridge Dock (near Bollington). The plan is for the Judith Mary to go on Kerridge Dock for its annual survey / maintenance.
There is still unbroken ice from Kerridge to Macclesfield & from Macclesfield to Bosley.

On the subject of Bosley, on Friday BW issued a stoppage notice due to a failure of the weir at Bosley Lock No 2 (see photo). We are hoping for an update on this stoppage on Wednesday. But at the moment Bosley Locks are closed to navigation.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Do You want Ice With That?

Well our first week of 2011 has been another challenging one. On Sun 2nd Jan we loaded the last of our supplies onto Alton and set off from Furness Vale about 7.30am, the ice was around 2" thick and we made steady progress and were busy with customers around New Mills, some of whom where desperate for a pumpout. We have installed a replacement pumpout pump as the previous one has been frost damaged.

By early afternoon our progress was slowing somewhat, Brian fished some chunks of ice out of the cut and measured them at about 3".

We decided to keep going, but after another hour or so we considered our progress and judged that we were averaging less than a 1/4 mile an hour, so once again we decided to let common sense rule and return to Whaley Basin and commence road deliveries again.

Below is a video clip (persevere with it as the first 30 or 40 seconds are a bit boring and we don't know how to edit it!) of Alton ice breaking near Disley on 2nd Jan. We know many customers are frustrated that we are unable to reach them by boat but we think this clip shows what we where up against and we know that the ice was even thicker further ahead.

So we hit the road once again, delivering to all our usual haunts and by Wednesday we made our last deliveries around Macclesfield and Bollington. One thing that has struck us is whilst the canal has now been frozen so long more and more rubbish and debris has been thrown on the ice, we are really not looking forward to getting a bladeful at each bridge on our first trip out.

In the photo, the rubbish strewn on the ice at High Lane, which we saw whilst delivering coal to the Bulls Head.

Finally be assured that we will make every effort to be out delivering by boat at the end of next week if at all possible!

Next planned run ice allowing will be:-

Thurs 13th Jan:-   Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth
Fr 14th Jan:-        Whaley Bridge to Marple
Sat 15th Jan:-       Marple to Bollington
Sun 16th Jan:-      Bollington to Macclesfield & Oakgrove

Happy New Year 2011

Here's wishing all our friends, family & customers a healthy, happy and prosperous 2011.

As many of you know 2010 was perhaps not one of the best years for us. Just to say a huge thank you to all those people who have helped us through it. We really couldn't have done it without you, we are so lucky to know such lovely people. We are hoping for a fresh start for 2011, just enjoying what we do and making the most of our lives.

We spent New Years Eve with our friends Rupert, Alison & Peter down on the Caldon Canal near Leek. We had a very pleasant evening celebrating. Then today it was back to work with a vengeance!

This afternoon we have done our deliveries with Alton around Whaley Bridge & Furness Vale. We have also driven over to Strines (where we admtted defeat on the ice breaking a fortnight ago). We knocked some holes in the ice & measured it as 3" in places. We are going to try ice breaking to Marple again with Alton tomorrow and see how it goes.

Our very approximate schedule is as follows.

Sat 1st Jan: Whaley Bridge to Furness Vale
Sun 2nd Jan: Furness Vale to Marple
Mon 3rd Jan: Marple to Bollington
Tues 4th Jan: Bollington to Oakgrove

Please be patient with us if we do not make the plan above, suffice to say we will deliver to all customers from Whaley Bridge to Oakgrove by hook or by crook this week.

Best Wishes,

From Brian & Ann Marie
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Merry Christmas

Firstly apologies for not updating the blog sooner, but the last couple of weeks have been hectic to say the least. We loaded Alton at Furness Vale on Thursday 16th of December and the ice was finally begining to thaw. However that night we had another hard frost and woke to a very frost morning. We decided to have another go at ice breaking and made slow but steady progress through to New Mills. Here we were held up with the pumpout pump and pipe work, which despite being left empty, as soon as we refilled them ice started to form in the pipework and valves. After a couple of hours attempting to get the pumpout up and running we had to admit defeat.

In Photo: Ann Marie trying to defrost Carr Swing Bridge (or giving it the kiss of life!)

By this time George Boyle had caught us up and was running in front of Alton breaking the ice for us. He made good progress as far as Disley Lift Bridge as can be seen in the video below.

However a few hundred yards further on we were now breaking ice that was unbroken for over 3 weeks and over 4" thick. Our progress slowed considerably and by 2.30pm we were only  breaking 10' to 20' at each run at the ice. At this point we decided that progress was just too slow, so we began to make our way back in reverse from whence we came.

We finally made it back to Whaley Bridge Basin about 6.30pm having winded Alton with the help of Sandbach at Nat's Hole.  Thanks for your help George it was very much appreciated.

Then over the next few days we returned to road deliveries, back and forth we went in out trusty green nissan van. We drove down all sorts of lanes and tracks and found access points to the canal that we never knew existed. Thanks again to all those who helped.

Finally we have had a lovely few days off over Christmas with family and friends. Thanks for all your cards and presents, we really don 't expect, you really are are the most kind and caring customers. We hope you are all enjoying your Christmas break.

Best wishes from Brian & Ann Marie

Alton's Christmas Schedule 2010

Our schedule for the next few weeks is as follows:-

14th & 15th December:- Road deliveries to Macclesfield, Bollington, Kerridge etc.

16th December:- Road Delivery to Bugsworth

17th - 20th December:- If possible we will be ice breaking delivering from Furness Vale to Marple and on to Adlington. If it is not possible to deliver by boat we will be operating by road.

21st December:- Deliveries to Whaley Bridge, then road deliveries to Macclesfield & Bollington

22nd & 23rd December:- Deliveries by road to Congleton, Kidsgrove, Middlewich, Nantwich, Audlem, Northwich

1st January - 4th January:- Whaley Bridge, Marple to Macclesfield & Fools Nook.

If you need supplies please get in touch or look out for us on route.

Alton Ice Breaking at Whaley Bridge 7th Dec 2010

Last week in order to load Alton with coal & diesel, we broke ice from Furness Vale to Whaley Bridge. This video shows how slow going the job was.  

Brian gets refuelled

A big thank-you, to all our customers who have kept us re-fuelled whilst we refuel them. We have had plenty of cups of tea & coffee, toast, cake, mince pies etc. You have all been very kind and kept a smile on our faces over the last few days. You cannot beat the camaraderie of the cut!

In the photo Brian enjoying coffee & toast for breakfast at NB Carbis (thanks Mike & Sue).
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Life on the Road

The last 2 days have been long & hectic, doing all our deliveries on the Peak Forest & Macc Canals by road. Back & forth we have gone with the van, wheelbarrow & sack-truck. By tonight we have finished most of our deliveries.

We would like to say a big thank you to all those customers who have minimised or delayed their orders for diesel. We have stretched out our 1000 litres supply and it is now exhausted. We have been extremely annoyed and frustrated by our bulk diesel suppliers, it seems we are just too small a company to hold any sway with them. We have been let down with our promised deliveries, often phones are just being left unanswered, we have pleaded, threatened, cajoled and we still do not know when we can get a delivery from any of our regular suppliers. Please be assured that we are trying absolutely everything to keep our customers warm. If you do need supplies please get in touch and we will do our utmost to supply you with fuel.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

The Big Chill

Well after yesterdays ice-breaking, today it has been back out with the van & wheel barrow. We have shifted a couple of tonnes with deliveries to Bridgemont, Furness Vale, New Mills, Strines, Marple, High Lane & Middle Kale. The last journey to Middle Kayle was the most treacherous with a couple of miles of farm tracks to negotiate. Then out with the wheel barrow & sack truck to deliver down the towpath and along the field, over the brook etc, etc.
A big thank you to all those who have mucked in & helped us out today it's been much appreciated.

We are having a well earned, early night tonight, ready for an early start with deliveries by road around Poynton, Adlington etc tomorrow. If you need supplies please get in touch.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Ice Breaking around Whaley

Yesterday we broke ice from Furness Vale to Whaley Bridge to enable us to load at Whaley Basin today. It was very slow going with the ice 2 to 3 inches thick in places. The journey of just over a mile took us 3 hours, constantly having to back up and get a run up at the ice.

Our loads where delayed, with the coal arriving at 2 (due to the air breaks having frozen on the coal lorry). We have only been able obtain 1000 litres of diesel and are hopiing for more deliveries by the end of the week.

Once loaded we made our deliveries around Whaley, but at the junction up to Bugsworth the ice was over 4 inches thick and it was very slow going, breaking less than half the boats length at a time.

Given the weather conditions and shortage of diesel, we have decided to commence deliveries by road from tomorrow. We are asking people to only order the minimum amount of diesel to cover their requirements for the next too weeks so that we can use our supplies most effectively.

If you do need coal, diesel, gas etc please get in touch & we will arrange delivery.
Renaissance Canal Carrying - keeping carrying on the canals

Fendermaking Course (Intermediate Level) at Audlem Mill

Over last weekend 27 & 28th October we held our first intermediate level couse in fendermaking  at Audlem Mill. The aim of the course was to provide a more indepth look at fendermaking including different techniques and styles of core building as well as covering using more complex shapes and materials. The fenders produced were vee-bows and tipcats. Our Trainees for the couse where Graham (NB Star), Richard (NB Tawny Owl) and Daniel (NB Emily Ann). Graham had attended our introductory course las year and was a glutton for punishment coming back for more hitching, whilst Richard had some previous ropeworking experience and Daniel had more limited knowledge of fendermaking but was keen to learn more.

On Saturday we looked at the different methods & materials for core building before commencing construction of our cores. Graham was making a tipcat, whilst Richard and Daniel where producing vee-bow fenders.

Above: Graham producing his tipcat core.

Above: Daniel (left) and Richard (right) making their vee-bow fender cores.

By mid-afternoon our cores where complete and hitching the covers could begin. Richard & Graham worked in manila rope whilst Daniel and Brian worked in victory black.

On Saturday evening a few of us from the Canal World Discussion Forum got together for a banter for Jill's (Wrigglefingers) Birthday. We had a lovely evening at the Lord Cobermere Pub in Audlem, with great food, good beer and excellent company. It was great to meet so many forum members in the flesh so to speak and we all had a good natter and a laugh.

After a rather late night we were none too sprightly on Sunday morning, but we soon perked up after a stong cuppa. Now the hitching could begin in earnest. Everyone worked well and soon learnt new techniques for fendermaking. The results of the weekend where very good with Richard completeing his fender in good time and Daniel and Graham just having a little hitching to complete at hope. They produced some great work that they can be very proud off.

Above (left to right) Daniel, Richard and Graham with their work.

Richard has also posted more photos of the weekend on CWDF http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=33461&pid=617315&st=40&#entry617315

Graham, Richard and Daniel were all great students and a real pleasure to work with, it's really satisfying to pass on your knowledge to people that are keen to learn and make teaching fun.

Finally a big thank you to our hosts Peter & Christine Sylvester at Audlem Mill, they looked after us superbly as always with a warm friendly envioroment in which to works and wonderful home cooked food to keep us nourished.

Our next fender making course will be at Audlem Mill on 5/6th March 2011, for more details or to book a place see Audlem Mills website http://www.audlemmill.co.uk/course%20programme.html