and so to Reading

 

Shiplake lockside

A pleasant few days at Henley.  Not the week we had originally planned as we are a little behind after Geoffs two sojourns in hospital!.   It was also mistimed as far as family were concerned as Giles departed for a swimming event in the Scillies!   We were moored just half a dozen boats up from his boat White Velvet.    However Boe is still around so on the Thursday she collected us and we met up with Giles and Susannah and managed to see the first stages of their house being built.

Lazy day on Friday and up early on Saturday to partake of an excellent and incredibly cheap breakfast in Wetherspoons!!  

We then set off for Sonning for the weekend as it had a pub and a church!

Watered above Shiplake lock and by a miracle we managed to get a full tank in just under an hour.  A decided improvement on our ast two attempts.

No trouble mooring at Sonning below the lock.   

Sunday morning we went to the local church and wonder of wonders we were allowed to sing.......such a treat.    A full church with a good sized choir including some of the younger generation.   Wonderful to see.

Anne and Keith arrived at noon and since the weather had decided to shape up a bit a very convivial afternoon was spent by the waterside, interspersed mid way with an excellent lunch at the Coppa Club just along the towpath.    Sorry Thames path........we are not back on the canals yet.

Monday was another early departure as I needed to be moored up ready at 10am to try and get tickets for the ABBA concert next year.   I had registered on Ticketmaster for the presale day, my first attempt at doing this.    It was eventually achieved with some difficulty, but not without a massive trauma on my part..  There had been various chopping and changing in the numbers that were going and I managed to get it wrong.   I booked 4 seats instead of the required 5.    It was finally resolved this evening by my son-in-law gallantly stepping down and we are back to an all girls outing.    Its not until next July so just have to hope we are all fit and well still.  

A day of contrasts.  Peaceful mornng departure from Sonning

A later walk into the Oracle Centre

The walk was to take my mind off the trauma of the tickets.  I decided I needed a change of scene and maybe a chocolate milkshake.    I was fresh out of luck as Macdonalds had no milk shakes......  however I managed to find an excellent one at another venue, albeit it at more than twice the price.