Bartimaeus

We enjoyed the indulgence of butteries for breakfast after Rab and Gail left but had not yet embarked on the haggis as it was a bigger portion than two could manage, unless eaten as two meals. Luckily we were expecting more people, Margaret and Roland, who were also happy to have haggis as one of their dinners. They had a long journey from Aberdeen and their train was a little delayed but still within a reasonable time. I decided not to cook anything until they got there in case they wanted to dive into a hostelry for a relax and pub grub.

They seemed happy with a cup of tea and home cooking and I did a speedy couscous dinner in stead, to give us time to fit in a walk before dark. The pond we walked around had some grebes, at a distance but we guessed a mother and chick and some cygnets did some bottoms up feeding just in front of us.

It was delightful start to their stay also to find our mooring was next to baby moorhens. Last time they visited, it was terribly wet and they had gamely worked through heavy double locks, ploutering through the puddles in between. This time the weather promised to be hot every day. We had a punishing schedule of locks ahead but they were well able to meet the challenge.

The first lock challenged Margaret’s nostrils as she opened a gate under a bridge which some people had chosen as a public convenience. She and I had taken to doing that first lock as it has little headroom and tight working space. I hadn’t realised that by hopping across to the side with less space, as I am shorter than her, I had left her in an unsavoury spot. Fortunately this was an anomaly and the other locks were in the fresh air, plus the single locks were less hard going than their previous visit. We called into a marina for water and got rid of some recycling, then moored up for lunch outside and went for a walk in the afternoon.

Margaret and I fell behind taking photographs of flowers and butterflies on the way. One was very hard to get and landed with wings folded but we have concluded it is a ‘small heath’ butterfly. The footpath took us through a field with a different crop on each side, neeps to the left and wheat to the right. The neeps had a fair sprinkling of poppies and other wild flowers while the wheat had some wild morning glory.

We had spoken to some locals who cast doubt on the possibility of finding a pub for refreshment (in the absence of the ice cream – on a day like this it was no wonder she sold out) saying the hours were irregular. Luckily Shane had researched the hours and they were open as advertised, though closed the next two days, so this was the day to choose. We were able to sit in the sun by a pond. We found that the couple from a boat we had met a few times had also found their way there. Shane had a long chat and they discussed the fallen tree ahead before the locks.

On the way back to the boat we found a few gardens by the church had a dazzling display of garden flowers, We could hear the clock striking from the boat but it didn’t disturb our sleep.

We had haggis, accompanied by neeps (not pinched from the field, shop bought) and carrots whizzed together (thanks Mugs) with mashed tatties for tea. Haggis is often served in the winter as Burns Day is in January, so I think this is the first time I have had it as an al fresco meal and the first time we have had four eating out on the back deck. The raspberries and crème fraîche for pudding were a summery finish! We needed a walk to work it off in the evening. We found even more flowers.

The next day was a major flight of locks so we needed some building up. While we were at breakfast, I saw our friend from the boat behind, who had enjoyed the same pub the day before, walking past with a boathook in his hand. I didn’t think this would be up to moving the tree. When I saw him return, I asked how it had gone. He explained it hadn’t even reached the tree from the bank. I told him our crew planned to tackle it with a saw and he agreed that would be what was needed. Roland and Shane set about it. Roland sawing, Shane photographing and taking branches from him. The lopping was going well but they had nowhere to put the branches, as they couldn’t reach either bank and so I went to get them passed to me from the boat to the towpath. Margaret was enjoying the damselflies but then came to join me in tucking the branches into the hedge, off to the side of the towpath.

We had soon made space to get through and I was pleased we hadn’t blocked the towpath with the lopped branches. We could now get on with the serious locking for the rest of the morning.

We enjoyed looking out for flowers, butterflies and dragon flies. We didn’t have much luck photographing them though until a ladybird obligingly sat on my lock arm and even then was ready to take flight. Flowers were more obedient. I was planning to get butterflies on teasels, not just teasels, but at least it was a novelty for me to see them blooming and attracting the bees and butterflies.

Without their help, the locks would have been very, very hot tiring work. There is only a crossable gate at one end so there is a long walk round. Just as well they both like exercise. We knew they would be up for it. Shane winded neatly at the last opportunity in a reduced sized, reedy winding hole and we got moored up. We had an explore in the afternoon and went to see the other side. The path was very overgrown on that side and we found out later it was not CRT’s land, but one of their employees tries to snip things back occasionally. We were all relieved that there was an open pub to sit in and forget our minor injuries, odd scratches and stings from brambles and nettles, that we had all incurred, walking in shorts. Still had some bonnie wee things too on the way.

We stayed there two nights and enjoyed the hooting of baby tawny owls waiting for food the first night. Shane saw the adult fly off and we listened for a long time but didn’t see the return from the hunt. We saw bats though. The wee baby hooters didn’t disturb our sleep.

We avoided the overgrown path on future walks, but were not afraid of the field of horses who seemed friendly. One was really large, tall and round-bellied and we wondered if one was pregnant. There was a foal around too. We spoke gently to them as them as went through the kissing gate. We didn’t want them getting out, though I reckoned the large one didn’t have the turning space. On one of our subsequent walks through the field, we met people who knew the horses well and they confirmed that she was a pregnant mare and that the foal (different mother – Shane saw the foal feeding) had indeed managed to escape through the gate before, the dainty wee thing.

One of our walks took us past a shop selling ice-cream. While walking back enjoying the tubs, Margaret and I came across a shiny insect. I put my ice cream down to get a picture and Margaret was a bit concerned it would land in my ice cream, as it louped impressively. With it’s distinctive markings I was able to identify it back at base as a Roesel’s bush cricket. I have met one in the boat before but it wasn’t quite so lively. It had hopped across the pavement to the road side then back to the other side into the grass, where it was well camouflaged, while we tried to keep up with it. My ice-cream came to no harm.

As well as walks, we had a leisurely time sitting on the bit of bank beside the mooring, using the folding seats in the bow locker with space for a cold drink. Margaret had considerably longer rows as she was on the body of an adult garment while I was on the cuff of a baby cardigan sleeve, but as usual her progress was much faster. I felt I now had time and good light to complete the cast off and buttons. The baby was now past it’s due date. Still I was distracted by a caterpillar on my shorts, trying (and failing) to identify it, finding needles suitable for attaching buttons, and fetching cold drinks.

At last I got all the buttons done and ends sewn in. Mugs took a photo for sharing with other knitters. The colour is called wild haggis and as it is a baby item I have called the project wee haggis. Relieved I have it ready in time. The pattern is living up to its name “baby Sunnyside” as it got finished.