Anniversary day

Golly gosh! 44 years of wedded bliss. It rained the day we married and it rained again today. 

We had to carry on along the canal through two swing bridges before we could wind the boat for our return journey to Skipton. Why the return? Well, on Monday we are meeting up with a friend we made in Australia who is coming to Skipton with a folk group. During the 10 days they are here they will turn up at various pubs and give impromptu music evenings and we didn't want to miss that. Not sure if we will tag along for the whole time, we'll see what happens. 

On the way to Skipton we topped up the jerrycan with fuel for the generator. We use red diesel on the boat and the fuel for the generator is at 0% VAT. Diesel for driving the boat has VAT added at the standard rate. I have to sign a declaration as to how much fuel I use for domestic purposes i.e. light and heat and how much is used for propulsion. This is an EU directive which has caused much controversy over the years. At one point, the EU were insisting that every boat have two separate fuel systems. Now, I wonder if Brexit will be able to revert everything to the old system!? I doubt it, but who knows? 

Anyway, we got back to Skipton and had a good old wander round. 

This is Sheep Street just behind the High Street. In the High Street was a market and we popped into the church to find out times of services, etc. We also found a nice restaurant where we could celebrate our anniversary in style. Le Bistro des Amis, where we returned later for a real treat. 

I can't remember what we had but it involved octopus, scallops, lemon sole, red snapper, panacotta and orange cake. All delicious. And, when we finished, no rain and a new moon just above the chimney top.