31 October - Back to normal or are we

So here we are, we have been back in NZ exactly a month and are back to normal, or as normal as we ever get. Summer is kicking in (first day of summer tomorrow), though we have had some cooler days and lit the fire once.

Our trip home was OK given the time spent on planes and the stopover in Singapore was excellent, not cheap but the food was wonderful and the harbor cruise at night was special, hard to think we were only a few days off Grumble and here we were back on a boat.

The rest of the trip was a long hop to Sydney and a short one to Auckland and we were collected by our housesitters - The Franklands, who drove us home and we were greeted by the pets. Poppy was happy and the Cat was aloof but the promise of continued food saw him forgive us, for whatever he thought we had done and a week on he was sleeping on the foot of the bed again. No. 1 daughter came home on the Saturday after her last exam for the year - she is now looking for work for the summer. She has been up most weekends since so must have missed us as much as we have her.

 Sunday walk at Bethells Beach, dog and kid very happy

The jet lag was handy for staying awake for the final of the Rugby and for getting up for work, which I did on the Monday,  I have started a new project, just North, a 30 minute drive, and no traffic - a drive in the country. It is an access road, 5kms into an old forest block, no traffic or Residents to deal with just us, so a lot of things not to worry about. Large cut and fills, so big dumpers, big diggers, and big dozers, diesel and dust, boys and toys.

Vicki is still looking for a job but is filling in her days catching up on things that needed to be done while we were away. Last Friday was her birthday and the two of us went to Chapati's Indian Restaurant in Henderson, an old favourite of ours but under new management, new staff and a new menu. The Nan bread we shared with Janet in Stowey Bridge is still the best we have ever had but the rest of the meal is the best Indian we have had all year 10/10 plus.

So back to the real world, our holiday is still vivid in the mind and the blog is great for jogging the grey matter.  Vicki has organised to print it out as a book for our memories and has chosen a few photos to make into canvases. TV here is still as crap as the UK  so thank god for books and the inter net.  That's about it for me, Vicki will add the pics.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO SO MANY

 WOW what can we say

That's was a holiday of a life time, assuming we don't win lotto of course 

Time to reflect on our Journey and say a few thanks to the many many people we have met along the way, some for a few minutes at a lock or in a pub over a drink and some for longer as we travelled together as our buddy's up and down locks. I hope I get you all and forgive me if I miss a few.

To Martyn and Charlotte owners of Musn Grumble, thanks for letting us do the 6 months long term hire and experience the true waterways of England. It must be hard watching your baby go off with green horns every year hoping that you will see Grumble again.

To Patrick G, my boss at HEB construction for giving me 6 months leave without an argument and all the guys and girls who work there that have followed us and commented along the way. Thanks guys.

To Sue and Andrew our house sitters for the efforts you have put in with our pets and Andrew for becoming a cat lover in the end. To the family and friends back home and here in UK, thanks for your support and to our No. 1 daughter thanks for not causing us to much stress while we are so far away.

To all those we met and travelled with - cousins Donna & Sharon who spent a few days with us through Leeds on a whistle stop tour of pubs and red wine dispensers, our livers did recover in the end. To Dianne, our cousin from Horsforth, who rode with us for two weeks over the Leeds Liverpool and Bridgewater canals. Thanks luv it was great and a special thanks for the day trip to Liverpool, that was an experience.

To Sue and Geoff on Steam Nb Whistle down the Wind, thanks for showing us the wisdom of lock buddy's on wide canals and your beautiful boat.
To Jeff & Caroline, John & Jane who we met in Wales, thanks guys for the on going friendship. Jeff & Caroline thanks for the guided tour of Central Birmingham especially the library (don't mock its fabulous). To Mrs Mytton at Jack Mytton's pub, thanks for the tour of renovations and the garden party that followed. Good Luck with the new venture - they have just opened we recommend visiting.
To Carol & Noel on Nb Willy Nilly - thanks for the Hatton flight, turning 21 locks into a mornings work and the Cape of Good Hope for the Kiwi Burgers for lunch that day.

To Jim & Mo at Oakcraft Boats, thanks for the boat service and the yard space for a few days for our  rental car. Also the tour of the wonderful work you do on boats. If we win lotto you are the builders of choice -  true craftsman.
To Maxine & Ian great to catch up again all these miles from home. To Mary & Rodger Nb Dorinda what a great pair to travel with thanks for the time and humour. Colin & Deborah on Nb Rosella for a drinks evening on the mighty Thames backing on to Windsor Castle. Also the help to get off the mud in the morning. To Joan for an evenings entertainment at The Swan, Whitchurch on Thames, thanks for the company and for your ongoing support.

Eliza, Troy and Harry - what a great day on the Thames with you young people - oh to have the energy again, see you at home soon. So pleased we managed to catch up in London for dinner also Eliza & Troy - enjoy the last of your time in UK.
Kiwi's Don & Val who are on their 3rd season of the English Waterways on Nb Whio, 2 seasons to finish the tour, you are intrepid boaters - Good luck.

Robert the LOCK at Stone, thanks buddy for the help on 2 different occasions. Boaters on the Trent & Mersey around Stone look out for Robert on his bike, he is a star.  Sarah who we met twice, once at Anderton and once again at the Macclesfield. A happy and friendly lady with a huge smile and great taste in boat colours.  To all the locals we met in pubs and who took the time to be friendly and welcoming - Thank you, the accents may vary but the welcomes were always warm and sorry about the World Cup.

To Janet & Celia, sisters, who asked very nicely to come with us up the Rochdale through the badlands and over the summit, what a great pair to do a trip like that with, and to cousin Nick who replaced Celia when she flew away in her hot air balloon, thanks mate it was great to have another male on board for awhile. Janet good luck for the future on Albert I'm sure he will get you through, And Celia if you come ballooning in NZ look us up, we will have wine.

And finally to Jan, Alistair and LJ thanks guys for so much, the support before we came, the visits and catch ups while we were here. The days we ran together and the advice on Thames tides. Thank you so very much.
And finally to the old gentleman who played "Speed Bonny Boat" on the bagpipes as we locked up off the River Severn, you sir are proof that the true English Eccentric is still alive and well, and out on his boat.

So if we have missed anyone, we are sorry but if you met us or we bumped into you while we were here, it was a blast and yes we would definitely would do it again.