So we spent some time on Cambrian Wharf in Birmingham, 2 pontoons away from dear Rita and Scooby. Hugs all around.  And an invite for supper onto The Maple Knot . These two are real foodies and we had some great food, Devilled Eggs with our Cava, sitting in the sun. Gambas Pil Pil, followed by chicken with mushrooms and olives, rice and some sort of Chinese green that we found in the fantastic market. Tasted great, but still don’t know what it was.  I supplied Eton Mess for dessert. Quite a bit of wine was also consumed. Thursday was a quiet day, so we went to the new Library of Birmingham .impressive.

Friday was a final trip to markets for stocking up, and over to Sparkbrook to Al Faisals excellent indian restaurant.  Very, very good. And we came away with leftovers for lunch on “the hoof” the next day.

Our route , chosen by me, took us through Small Heath and Catherine de Barnes towards Warwick, eventually.  We haven’t done this route for about 6 years.  It was ok. All the locks worked and paddles were well greased.  Then, at a lock,  we heard that 2 days before a couple on a boat had pot shots taken at them by 2 ferals, hiding behind a board. The bloke had a grazed shoulder, and the woman had taken off after these idiots and they shot at her, and fortunately missed. The fuzz were all over, but whether they caught them, who knows.  The other lady, on a hire boat and listening to the conversation, then said “ I work with these kids, I am a social worker”” its not their fault”. I smiled and walked away.

 It was too nice a day to get into a heated debate about why teenagers  haven’t got the mentality  to equate that a gun pointed at another human being and the trigger being pulled is a BAD BAD thing, …….man.

I did manage to say , however, as I walked away, that maybe the women churning out one kid after another, perhaps should be sterilised ???

So we had a long, long day to get to Copt Heath Wharf to sit out the bad weather on Sunday.  Sadly there isn’t a pub. !!!!! so Monday, and off towards Warwick.   

 Leaving Dudly

 Leaving Bum. 

 Bye Bye Reet Petite. ! 

 Fantastic Cambrian wharf

 Mick  has a new mobile phone. ! I think he needs a new trolley

 Inside the lovely Maple Knot.