Fish swimmin' by, you know how I feel.

Is it me or is it me? 

Last night for supper we had smoked haddock, mashed potatoes and Sarah Green's pak choi (and no, I'm not being paid to advertise). A most enjoyable meal until, just outside the window, a large splash of a disgruntled fish making its presence known. How was I supposed to know that the fish we were eating was a distant relative? Luckily the curtains were closed again so we couldn't be identified in any lineup.

Reading the above, I'm sometimes worried about where my imagination takes me.

Still, back to the real world. A busy day today. We set off through the top lock and passed Norton Junction.

That way leads to Watford staircase locks and eventually up to Leicester.

Made our way through Braunston Tunnel and paired up with another boat for the flight of locks that followed. Not that it mattered, but both the New Inn at Buckby and the Admiral Nelson by lock 3 are still not open.

Mind you, there was still a regular sitting outside supping a couple of tinnies just keeping his hand in.

Once in Braunston we called on Lee and Dale of Candle Bridge Fabrication to see if they could help with the water pipe. No problem, they said. We are now booked in for them to weld it all up when we come back through Braunston towards the end of our holiday. Until then, I've removed the pipe entirely and put a jam jar over the hole in the top of the water tank. Let's see if that does the trick for now.

After that we emptied the loo and popped in to Midland Chandlers for some coal & kindling and some heat resistant sealant for the chimney. During the winter water has been pooling on top of the fire and I need to remove some soot from inside the chimney and then bung everything up with sealant and see if that works.

A favourite view of ours, looking back towards the cathedral of the canals - Braunston Church.

Now moored for the night near Willoughby on a quiet stretch of the canal. Heading up towards Rugby and Coventry next although we may bypass Coventry, who knows.