IWA National Festival 2009 - Saturday

Saturday at the IWA National Festival 2009 passed uneventfully.

It was our first show and we weren’t sure what to expect, especially in terms of numbers and for sales of our DVDs.

The marquee seemed emptier than I had remembered from previous exhibitions where we had been there as visitors and I wondered if everyone was outside - but a quick look outside showed that looked empty too. 

Chatting with other stallholders who were regular visitors they consistently reported their taking were well down on previous years.  Reports varied but suggestions were around 60% of previous years takings.

Hopefully Sunday and Monday will be better days for everybody.

We were pleased to recognise several boaters we already knew, and delighted when several others introduced themselves.  Please introduce yourself if you come on Sunday or Monday.

Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 21:18        Comments (0)
Category(s): News

IWA Festival 2009

Here we are, with our stand set up and waiting for customers at the IWA National Festival at Redhill.

Having spent last night on our boat at Sherborne Wharf in Birmingham which we are using as our overnight base, we headed off this morning with a car full of everything we need.

We were able to park right outside the marquee while we unloaded most of our stuff, before moving the car to the exhibitors park.

Everything fitted together an by lunch time we were set up and wondering what to do next. We wandered round the site and saw lots of other stands in various states of construction.

When the sun was shining it looked great, with the cooling towers as a backdrop.  When it rained we were glad to be inside.

We’re looking forward to meeting lots of people over the next three days.  Please say hello if you are visiting the show.

Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 20:16        Comments (1)
Category(s): News

Juvenile Green Woodpecker

We’ve previously seen adult green woodpeckers on our lawn, searching for ants, their favourite food.

usually it’s the adult male, unless the weather is so bad that the timid female comes too.

Looking out the kitchen window when I went to put the kettle on this afternoon I spotted this bird, which kindly remained there while I rushed to grab my camera.

It’s a young green woodpecker, looking just like the picture on the RSPB website (click for picture 3 near the top right of their page).  It’s starting to grow its adult plumage and its still learning how to catch food.

It was finding the ants all right, but getting more of them on the outside of its beak than inside, as seen in the top photo, with some of them running across its face.

It kept digging its beak in for more so it must have been getting some to eat.

Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 at 18:29        Comments (0)
Category(s): Nailsea

IWA 2009 National Festival

Next weekend is the Bank Holiday weekend and time for the IWA 2009 National Festival at Red Hill on the River Soar.

Waterway Routes will be exhibiting there for the first time and we’ve started to assemble our stand to make sure we have everything we need.

It’s easy to find things at home and to print any missing posters or paperwork we might need to look our best.

These are our first attempts to lay everything out and there’s still room for improvement but I’m happy we’ll be ready for next weekend.

If you’re visiting the festival then look out for us and come and say hello.  Please introduce yourselves, and forgive us if we don’t recognise you instantly if we’ve met before.

We’re always keen to meet mail order customers and blog readers face to face but we can’t recognise you unless you introduce yourselves.

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 18:20        Comments (0)
Category(s): News

Moved to a Secure Location

We’ve competed the missing sections of filming during the recent few days of summer and returned to our home mooring at Sherborne Wharf.

As I was walking to the station I spotted this notice attached to one of the bollards near Old Turn Junction in the centre of Birmingham.

This is what happens to boats if you don’t pay your licence fee and keep ignoring repeated reminders and requests to pay - eventually your boat is removed to a secure location.

If the owners finally decide to pay the overdue licence fee, and the late payment charge their boat will be returned.  If it is still not paid then BW will eventually sell the boat, take their fees from the proceeds and pass any money left over to the owners.

Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 10:51        Comments (0)
Category(s): BCN

Boats and Boaters

Were shuffling around a little in our cruising as we fill gaps in our filming when we have been rained off during our last cruise.

Today we passed Whittington and there was Jannock, with no visible crew, so I couldn’t call out to them as last time.

At least I got a picture of the boat this time, perhaps I’ll manage to capture both the boat and the crew next time.

Moored at Fazeley Junction I was looking out of the window and spotted a boat we had seen before.  It was Keith and Mandy on Takin’ our Time, with son and friend (whose names I’ve forgotten already - oh dear).  Just time for them to pull in behind us for a quick exchange of news.

We’re moored at Fazeley Junction, hoping to reach Atherstone and beyond tomorrow to complete another missing chunk of filming.  Then we’ll be returning to Fazeley Junction to see who else we spot.

Posted on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 20:18        Comments (3)
Category(s): Birmingham & Fazeley , Blog Readers , Coventry

Fradley Junction

We’ve had a lovely relaxing day today, moored at Fradley Junction. 

We’ve chatted to lots of people on the towpath, given out lots of our leaflets, and sold a few of our DVDs.

The sun tried to shine a little, but at least it was a warm dry day, for once.  It’s hard to keep remembering that it’s August now and these are the school holiday weeks when everyone expects sunshine.

The junction can be entertaining with boaters queuing for the locks on the Trent and Mersey Canal, with others heading on and off the Coventry Canal.

Quietly passing were Chris and Debbie on Ubique, almost unseen, but a quick grab for the camera made sure they didn’t get away.

We’re moored at Fradley Junction, hoping to return towards Fazeley Junction tomorrow if there’s a little sunshine for our filming to fill gaps in our earlier washed out cruise.

Posted on Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 20:36        Comments (0)
Category(s): Bloggers , Coventry , Trent & Mersey

Rainy Days

We’re cruising again, heading to Fradley Junction to film some of the bits we missed last time when it rained too much.  It’s still raining too much to get the camera out this time so there’s only one photo.  Note the mischievous alteration of the distances from kilometres to miles.

We’re moored near Huddlesford Junction, aiming for Fradley Junction tomorrow.  We’ll head back to Fazeley Junction filming, probably on Monday.

Posted on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 21:39        Comments (0)
Category(s): Recent