Tuesday 19^th June 2018

The Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival was a lot quieter this year. People were blaming the breach in the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

For whatever reason, there was not the same number of boats or stalls this year and no Morris Dancers. The opening parade was very small.

However, the music was the same and, although there did not appear to be the same numbers of people as in previous years, the pubs were all crowded. The Festival is always good for Middlewich and the town comes to life. Let’s hope it continues and this year was just a glitch.  

We enjoyed it though and it was good to get together with friends. There were many people turned up at the boat for a look-see.

Friday we met up with Martin and Michelle, had far too much to drink and finished up back at the boat with Kebabs.

Saturday we saw the opening parade and had a walk around the festival before coming back to the boat to meet up with Sarah who had driven up from Gloucestershire. It was great to see her. We then walked around the festival sites again before again, having far too much to drink.

Sunday we mooched around before going to the main arena for a picnic. They were clamping down on people bringing their own food though, so we came back to the boat and had our own picnic on the towpath.

Aaron and Sarah then headed home, they seem to be no sooner here than they are gone again. We went to the Boars Head to hear Hayley Strangelove playing, always a favourite. Martin, Michelle and Abbey, Chris and Donna, Jane and Jim across from Sheffield and Dave and Jen. After numerous pubs we all finished up at Chris and Donna’s where they provided a lovely Sunday roast that went down a treat with everybody, especially us. Well done.

Monday I woke with the worst hangover I had had in years. Thankfully it didn’t last long. We took on water and emptied the toilet cassette as the yard site is being locked up again.

Chris and Donna visited again with Jane and Jim who were headed home. Soon after they left Martin and Shelly arrived and Martin again, sorted the internet.

Brenda had an early night and I went the pub to watch the England World Cup match. Can’t see us bringing the cup home.

After a broken night for the pair of us, today was another shit day. I went to the house to collect mail. It was not a nice feeling going back. I then went to the Factory Shop to buy some bits and pieces and the Belling technician turned up to look at the cooker.

We had not been able to use the cooker or grill since moving on to the boat. Graeme had kinked the flexible hose during the installation and, despite being told it would likely cause us trouble, it was left. The cooker man has put an “at risk” notice on it so it now has to be sorted. I will sleep easier once this is changed.

Val visited but unfortunately, I was unable to spend long with her.

We had to move the boat from the yard to Kings Lock Chandlery as they are to effect repairs for us. The holes that had mistakenly been drilled were welded up. Side doors were refitted as we have not been able to close them at all since the launching and the wiring to the hob and cooker were moved as they were catching on the cooker fan.

After discussing the gas flexible hose with Steve at the Chandlery, it was decided to alter the gas supply pipe and change the hose. Unfortunately, this will require another gas certification test which will not take place until next Wednesday. So once again, we are stuck.

Both being extremely fed up; we went to the Kings Lock again for our dinner.

We feel we will never get started.

We had wanted to go to Ellesmere Port when we left Swanley Bridge Marina but, with all the delays in leaving, there was not time if we were to be in Middlewich for Folk and Boat. We thought we would have to retrace our steps all the way back along our route here, when it came to us that we could go onto the River Weaver and Manchester Ship Canal instead.

A great adventure that would be.

However, checking through the requisites for navigation along these waterways, it was discovered that the lock on the Weaver allowing boats to pass onto the Ship Canal is out of operation. Hopefully, with this delay here, they will have it sorted by the time we leave.

The lock in question, Weston Marsh, has not long undergone a multi-million-pound revamp. The lock is closed with chain which was imported from China and had a 5 year guarantee. The chain snapped just a few weeks after the lock was opened.