Friday 2/9 Shopping Day

Before breakfast there were more lock side tantrums. Julia, whose kitchen window overlooks the lock, says it is way better than reality TV. This time it was 'wifey' shouting at 'hubby'. And then after breakfast I saw a bloke hurl his windlass (tool for winding up gate paddles) to the ground and then walk over and kick the fence. Is this an omen?

We spent the rest of the day looking around Burton on Trent, getting phones and Internet data sorted and shopping for the boat.

Shortly after we returned to Lock House I stepped out to pollute a breath of fresh air and there was NB Aqua Life about to enter the lock with a young family on board. They were Aqua Life's very first hirers after she was launched in 2013. And they have had three holidays, totalling five weeks on her every year since. They love her so much they wash her down at the end of each day (now I know what the mop in the forward locker is for!). And I was told by their little girl that I must wash her every day too - Rhonda, we need you!

Dinner was at a Thai restaurant which doesn't believe in understatement when it comes to decor. Witness Lawrence's other dinner companion - cheap to feed, he said.

However, the food was really good. And then it was another early night for us.