Norbury Junction 29th April to 2nd May 2022

An update on Thursday.. John and Vee of nb Thistledown, against whom we are breasted up, invited us in for a chat and a drink. We had a lovely time admiring their vintage Russell Newbury engine and hearing all about their pet campaign to bring the canal back to the centre of Stafford.

Friday was going to be a quiet, doing jobs around the boat sort of day, until we went for a wander along the the boats to check out the stalls.. and kept going . Following a track away from the towpath, we explored our way to the next village along, Gnosall. Fortuitously it was then lunchtime and there were 2 pubs.. so we rather dented our original aim of working up a good appetite for the Boaters Meal in the evening. Still it was a round trip of just short of 10km, so a decent spell of exercise. Alison on our return finally caved and bought a pair of festival trousers, all baggy bum and big pockets, super comfy and will probably give the kids hiccups from laughing at them. It's a service mums provide, to keep them cheerful 😊 . No photos yet, sweeties, you'll have to wait..

 Mike and Val Haig arrived at end of the afternoon  with the IWA stand, bunting, banner etc. A fair amount of discussion ensued as to the best way of setting everything up but we got there in the end,and rewarded ourselves with a drinky in the Junction Inn.

Returned to the boat to get tidied up for the meal.  More drinkies! AJS introduced herself to the staff as the GF Person and the rollout of meals for some 80 people went really smoothly. Lively conversations up and down the tables made for a noisy but happy evening.

Saturday was sunny and warm! The festival was due to open at 10am so we got setting up at half 9. No goods could be left in the stall overnight and our boats were 100 metres or so away, so a fair bit of plodding to and fro. The towpath was busy all day and we had a steady stream of enquiries and sales all day.

At one point we noticed a drone pass overhead and we reckoned Fran and Rich were filming for their vlog. In due course they turned up at our stall and asked if we'd do a piece to camera about the IWA. ADS obliged, so he may be on their vlog next week! In fact, the drone turned out to be from the festival organisers.. check out their fb page.

After all that, back to the boat for dinner. A food stall selling S E Asian food also had fresh curry kits, and a change from the normal commercial ones, so AJS took one to try out.  Really  delicious.  Long lasting too, so we might consider getting another couple in stock. 

As we have Mike and Val and also John and Vee wanting to visit, a spot of tidying was in order in preparation for boarders tomorrow!

Rain overnight and drizzle Sunday morning so a quieter day expected. So it proved, but steady interest and opportunities to explain the role of IWA. Calendars and cards moving despite the early stage of the year, and plenty of copies of the Monty Quiz. £1 to enter, winner gets £25, and all answers have MONT in them somewhere, proceeds direct to the Montgomery Canal restoration.

John and Vee came by for a chat at 6pm and stayed for 2 hours as we put the world to rights! Another enjoyable time and a late supper.

And Monday, rinse and repeat. Rain threatening but held off, praise be! Lots of footfall, but just when you think they've all got their hands jammed in their pockets,  we signed a new member. Terrific! Unfortunately the comic Alimentary Canal artwork (strong tidal flow at Pharygal Lock, don't moor on the piles, style of thing) didn't go so we redonated it to the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal Trust, for them to have a go at flogging it.
If you fancy it, get in touch!
By the end, we were definitely watching the clock down as passers by were doing just that, heading for their cars. Some boats were already moving, including nb Thistledown so we went back down the row to unmoor and let them out from the bank. Turned out to be a classic boat jam as nb Dutiful Duck unmoored at the same time to go in the opposite direction, just as 2 boats arrived, one in each direction also. Lots of yelling and leaning on ropes and working out who was going when ensued.
 Shortly after, our friends Mike and Val came back to inspect our boat and duly approved her.
Then glad news came.. the Wharf were inviting Boaters to a chilli dinner, for free. Tired traders only too happy to sit down for a bit, swop stories, and Not Wash Up.
A long and busy weekend.. fun but couldn't do it day in day out! A lie in is in order!

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