Long time, no reception

Well, I suppose that is the problem with trying to be clever on a boat. So now I have a chance to catch up. Since Badsey's, we have been to the Admiral Nelson in Braunston, and the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne - and are currently tied up with our stern halfway across the cut in Milton Keynes after our first show at Interaction last night. More later...

The Admiral Nelson is a great pub, situated right by the lockside, a small bridge just downstream, and surrounded by fields. We had tied up just below the lock while we were waiting to set up, and when the time came, we took Tyseley in and unloaded in the lock as it was filling. I think I mentioned the lack of boats as we arrived. There had been no traffic all the time we were moored. But, of course, as soon as we started to unload, 2 boats arrived wanting to come down. They were very patient, and kind too - they even helped us with the unload. Perhaps they weren't quite as patient as they seemed! Unfortunately, they were about the only boats that we saw, so there was still no massed flotilla waiting for the show - and, as we were setting up, the clouds started forming. Which didn't improve moral much. But you have to be brave about these things - and the skittle alley is not really very conducive. So we ploughed on. But with only a few people, no boats, and only half an hour to go it was not looking promising. But by the time we started - the audience was too big to fit on the lockside with us - so they crowded over the bridge and across on the other side of the lock as well! We rapidly adjusted the angle we were playing at in order to keep everyone involved. Anna and Adrian even played one of their scenes on the bridge, a really nice touch, and one of the great things about performing outside in different venues each night. The evening was probably one of the best so far, I think. We all had a great time - even with the pack of the boat afterwards, reversing into the lock in the dark, and loading the boat as the drizzle started! I could have just hauled her in, of course. But where's the fun in that?