Desiree trip 2, Caldon Canal.

www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/40354-moorings-near-etruria-on-the-caldon/

This is what I was looking for, Moominpappa, first post. I'd start honing that blade of yours: www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/66887-when-bandits-attack/

I knew somebody who got run over by a steam train.

Maybe, but alas as their interest in cars, girls and alcohol steadily increases, so something has to give and that thing appears to be the Old Man. 

Did you get on your way, or have you delayed the departure?

Jane had a couple of friends visit yesterday, and as it was dull, cloudy and with a chilly wind, she lit the fire.

Of course by 1pm it was clear blue sky, and sunshine.

Thirty degrees in the boat, so we had to open windows, doors, hatches.

Heading to the top of Bingley 5 today, for diesel and to sort out a weekend mooring.

Rog

Oh dear, trouble near Brinklow:



“Uninspiring vegan afternoon tea left a nasty taste”

Reviewed 2 weeks ago

We were given a voucher last year for an afternoon tea here to celebrate our ruby wedding anniversary. On booking I asked if they offered a vegan afternoon tea. I was delighted that they said yes.

I phoned yesterday just before our journey to check the reservation and again confirmed they had noted we were vegan. When we arrived we again mentioned our dietary requirements and we were seated. We chose our drinks and my husband asked whether a plant milk was available. Meanwhile a waiter returned with our drinks and cows milk! Faux Pas number one! A china cake stand was then brought to our table and I pointed to the shrimps/prawns asking whether this was vegan. The waitress looked shocked and asked whether we had requested a vegan tea! She then removed the sandwich plate and rushed back to the kitchen. The remaining plates obviously contained clotted cream and other dairy products! She returned looking embarrassed and removed the entire cake stand.

We then waited for around half-an-hour. Eventually the vegan offering appeared. It looked lackluster and disappointing. Two lonely flat scones lay on the bottom tier with jam. On the mid tier were finger sandwiches - white sliced cottonwool bread containing hummous on some and peppers with some brown spread which we did not recognise/like. The top tier looked a little better.

The scones were disgusting - they crumbled apart on cutting. They were obviously stale although had been warmed up to disguise the fact. We had to eat them with a spoon! The jam tasted nice however. The coconut cake was vile, what looked like a mini rumbaba was stale, the chocolate slice had a very bitter taste. The only two items in the entire tea that were vaguely acceptable was the honeycomb and fruit jelly.

A chef who has had 5 months notice and can only come up this standard of food shouldn't be in the business.

At no point did anyone ask us whether everything was ok. No one offered us additional tea or coffee. We felt we were on a production line - most people had vouchers and were told to put them on the table for the waiter. It didn't feel like a special event. The non-vegan cake stands didn't look anything special, although at least they had a selection of white or brown bread!

The table adjacent to ours had problems with their tea also as they had requested cheese sandwiches and this hadn't been noted. Another hasty retreat into the kitchen by the waitress.

The 2 stars I have given are for the very nice strawberry and mango tea, the honeycomb, the jelly and the nice walk we had around the grounds prior to our tea. We had quite a chuckle also at the Fawlty Towers element of our experience!

I suggest the catering staff/management take an interest in vegan cooking/baking as it is a growing requirement and it is not difficult but may take a little imagination, which was sadly lacking yesterday.

Just Google 'Wallflower Kitchen vegan scones with clotted cream'.

I do not recommend Coombe Abbey for a vegan or non-vegan afternoon

Yes, a large oak fell across the cut at Cathiron Lane yesterday, and it took 24 hours to remove it. There was a huge backlog of boats stuck behind it which all came past my mooring in a long procession just after midday, this put paid to any plans I had of setting off today as there will be a long wait at Sutton Stop lock, and probably at Atherstone tomorrow too, I am now planning to head off tomorrow morning.