Day off...

Well, apart from trying to plan the boat moves, co-ordinate van transfers and phoning venues... Oh well.

But what a fantastic day! I spent the morning helping put up the marquee for tonight's show, and plotting ways to get Tyseley properly sign written. It would be great to see her looking like she ought to again... The marquee itself was sans instructions, as seems to be the law with these things - and, of course, once the poles had been removed from the bags, we were left with a pile of usefully numbered stickers that might have been some help if they had still been attached to anything other than themselves. The only real clue came from the bits that had jammed together the last time it had been erected. And once we had managed to get the frame up - it became apparent that the tarp had decided to shrink. Still - it is up now. And threatening to take off.

The evening was spent round at Tony's house which is just by the lock further up the cut from where we are moored. He has been there ever since he moved off his narrowboat, and has been coming to the shows forever. Ruth and I sat in his incredible garden, drinking wine and listening to music until the wee smalls, and making a fuss over the oldest cat in the world. Well - he was 19, which makes him about 133 in cat years, I'm told. He was a feral kitten who had adopted Tony and his wife, and had lived in their garden and shed his whole life - never once spending a night inside. And now was a real old man - ragged, skin and bones, but very content to be the centre of attention. Anyway - a perfect evening, and one of the reasons that I love this job so much!

This morning brought another treat - a boat passed by with a delivery of cake from another staunch supporter. I will try and save some for Anna and Adrian when they get back from their day off. And they wonder why I stay around....