Yesterday (Friday) we left Shireoaks Marina where we stayed for two nights whilst we did some washing and Graham lay the floor in the bathroom.  Boat is looking good with all these jobs being finished off.  We had an uneventful trip buit it was a long day with us covering as many miles as we did over two days on the trip up.  We were both cold when we finished and tempers somewhat frayed.  Lit a fire and soon warmed up which made us both more cheerful.  Getting fed up with no sun now thoughL

Left the mooring nice and early this morning as the forecast was for rain later in the day.  We have decided on a new strategy, we are going to pretend it is February, so the weather does not seem as gloomy.

Jake has been the star of the show today.  I took the dogs for a good walk before we set off and they both went into the water.  Once we set out I decided to walk to the first lock, which was only a short distance.  Jake could see me walking and began to whine and bark.  He then decided to walk along the side of the boat, which is quite narrow.  Unfortunately he couldn’t then get on the front because of the cratch cover.  He couldn’t turn round and go back so after some persuasion he jumped in and came to the bank.  We got him back onto the boat at the lock and 10 minutes later he jumped off the back and had to be pulled onto the back deck soaking poor Graham.  After this he was sent inside in disgrace for the rest of the morning.

We got the shopping done in Retford and had a bag of chips fromn the chippy.  Can’t remember the last time I had chip shop chips, but they tasted so goodJ  Moored up in good time to have a drink before dinner.  Fire is now lit and dinner eatenJ