Retirement with No Problem

Moored Wheaton Aston, Shropshire Union Canal

Actually it wasn’t that cold inside the boat this morning.. but….

That is on the inside of the back cabin window!  The little camping stove came in handy, and it was definitely breakfast before bathroom this morning until that had done it’s job in there..

I watched for the early bus to see if it crossed the bridge on it’s way to Stafford, and yep it was on time, so we caught the next one and toddled off for a bit of shopping and to meet friends Chas and Ann of NB Moore2Life for lunch.

Weatherspoons was chosen, I simply love the place, they have made their home in an old cinema, but true to form of this chain, nothing much was altered, it is fabulous.. tables and chairs replace the seating, the screen is still there and the bar is on the stage bit in front.. do go if you are in Stafford..

Chas and Ann are at a loose end at the moment being moored and stuck in ice at Great Haywood Marina, in fact where we should have been for Christmas.

Talking of Great Haywood Marina, Jim Shead has petitioned the Prime Minister to look into stopping Marinas having in their terms and conditions that boats moored in them cannot be sold privately, only on the Marina’s Brokerage.. as it happens Great Haywood Marina is one of those…

“Many marinas place anti-competitive restrictions on the sale of boats sold privately or through a broker within the marina. The OFT have so far declined to make any ruling on this situation.”

I agree with Jim on this one, although I am not so sure that these Petition things actually do the business, I’ll sign it, it will either get looked at or not.. If you would also like to see the whole Petition description or to sign it here is the clicky….. Click Me!

The ‘flowing’ Shroppie is not completely frozen..

Such is the amount of water coming down the bywaters at the bottom of each of the locks, areas around them are ice free.. further along though, it runs into a sheet of ice.  It will thaw quickly given the chance.