What next?

I am now back at Hopwas and will not being venturing far over the next few months.

EXCEPT, there is one important event to still take place on Wednesday 17th September. Corrinne ,who manages Fazeley Mill Marina, has organised a day trip for soldiers injured in Iraq and currently receiving treatment in the army hospital at Selly Oak, we will be taking part by taking some of them on a cruise.

There will be several boats taking part (I do not yet know how many) but it should be a good day out for those taking part....

This reminds me of a friend of mine from Somerset who organises every year, a trip for widows of servicemen, who are having a holiday at the British Legion home at Weston Super Mare. We have taken part in the past and up to 20 boats have taken part. The day starts with a coachload of people coming to Bradford on Avon, being shared out amonsgt the various boats, and then going for a boat trip.

My memory of the only time I have taken part is receiving on board two Welsh sisters from the Rhonnda Valley who had us in fits of laughter all the time they were on board. We picked them up at Hilperton Marina and cruised to Bradford on Avon. A visit to the the pub where they and their manager insisted on buying me pints, was followed by dinner on board, then a cruise back to Hilperton where they then boarded their coach and returned to the home in Weston Super Mare.

Once all our guests had returned we all had a BBQ at the marina. Unfortunately the marina has now changed hands and, although the cruise still takes part, it has had to be altered considerably and the social gathering after the cruise is no longer what it was.