Joined by Alice

Monday 26th October

Having stayed overnight in central Banbury, we first called at Tooley's boatyard to buy some black paint for the outside of the hoat. Boat paint is not cheap, but we did get quite a bit of advice on what to do.

Just on ten o'clock we set off on a generally bright and sunny day - at least there was no rain, although several dark clouds made it too risky to begin work on the paint.

Before we went shopping, Mike had sent an email to Ellie to ask how she had enjoyed the Science Museum yesterday and very quickly she replied and asked about where we might meet up for Alice to join us. By mid morning it was established - with a mix of email and mobile phone - that we would wait for them at Cropredy.

In the narrow section - with a long line of moored baost - just before the winding hole we met a BW pan on its way to a new task south of Banbury. Next week is the start of the stoppage season.

After using the usual services we moored just under the bridge and took the opportunity to buy milk from the village shop. Latest info indicated that it would be late afternoon before alice would arrive so we settled down for an afternoon not doing too much! Mike made an attempt - not really successful - to find a neat way of wiring the spot lights.

Mike took more time out to wander into the village and have a quick look inside the church. By 3.30 Alice - with Joanna and Jessica in tow - arrived and both girls soon discovered the new felt tip pens we picked up from Poundland this morning!

Tea and cakes followed with a chance to catch up on the latest news. Rather late in the day - almost dark - Christine and Alice decided that we should move up through Cropredy Lock - they claimed that there would be plenty of mooring space and a good sightline for the sat dish. (Houses were in the way at the earlier mooring) As we pulled away from the lock, Alice waved farewell to Joanna and Jessica.

In fact we were quite lucky to find a suitable gap in the line of moored boats - it turned out not to be as empty as the first sighting had suggested! Anyway, we succeeded and the sat dish also worked. Time to think about preparing dinner and sorting out Alice's sleeping accommodation, whilst she had a helping of CBeebies.