Blogspot stopped!
To be honest I’ve no idea why I’ve not bothered to keep my blog up to date. I think I’ll blame my woolly obsession, spinning and knitting the stuff!! Plus, we weren’t able to travel very far in 2025 due to the drought and our main route south was blocked with a massive breach. I think the not travelling very far & my new crochet obsession probably added to my loss of bloginess.
It is very hard to believe we celebrated our 10th anniversary of living aboard on 15th December 2025!!!!
We were shocked to wake up New Year's Day 2025 to the news of the massive breach in the Bridgewater Canal at Little Bollington. We were moored at the very breach spot for two nights just a few weeks previously, it’s a regular stopping off spot for us as it’s so beautiful there, overlooking the Dunham Massey NT house.
Early in 2025, the Canal & River Trust announced Wigan flight of locks would be closed in May due to the reservoir levels being very low. So we spent the whole of last year in West Lancashire, just pootling along between Appley Bridge & Lydiat. As the year went on just about all the locks on the canal system were closed due to the drought. Lots of areas completely ran out of water, leaving boats on the bottom, often on a considerable tilt. The section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal we were stuck on has two feeds from the River Douglas, which mean we stayed nicely afloat.
I’ve always wanted to crochet but have never got around to it. Attic 24, a blogger & crochet designer from Skipton started a crochet a-long (CAL) January last year, ‘Canalboat Blanket’. So, that was it, I followed her online tutorials, and I’m loving it. The Halsall Navvy was the perfect chap to model it.
At a rough count I’ve crocheted two more blankets, three or four cardigans, bags and several hats.
During last year we were able to attend three spinning/weaving groups each month, as well as a weekly craft & natter. My Jubilee Fibres business has kept us busy too.
We spent a week with my sister in Dundee & visited the Kelpies on the Forth & Clyde Canal.
There were two cruising highlights of our year being stuck.
October we had our 6th trip into Salthouse Dock, Liverpool – we just love it there.
December we booked ‘the’ crew for a trip up & down (just before new year) the 21 locks of Wigan flight. It was great to spend Christmas in Chorley with our daughters. Our 3 big grandkids, oh, and their mum are super at lock keeping for us.
I have just found a blog I wrote way back, but didn’t pop it up. First though, I’m going to compose a current bog as we head off to do some travelling and try to catch up with all the things we’ve done over the silent blog months.
Thank you, Sheila, for giving me the prod I needed to get back to blogging after a ridiculous gap of 18 months!!
