Great Haywood.

There's more water around the Trent and Mersey canal than in it at the moment, making the towpaths mucky but gloriously squelchy for anyone with a pair of wellies. 

This time of year continuous cruisers have to keep an eye on C&RT planned maintenance lock closures. We are at Great Haywood, the T&M has been barred at Haywood lock since the 4th November for gate cill and balance beam repairs, the 22nd being scheduled completion date

A lot of equipment has to be brought in to do the repairs including pumps, scaffolding and fencing using five vessels in this case. C&RT have a lot of knockers, I have never been one of them, in my view, they have a un-enviable task of keeping the canal system open while trying to generate the means to do so through boat licence fees and charitable donations. They do receive some government funding, this is due to be phased out over the next five years, C&RT is expected to be self-sufficient by then.. we'll have to wait and see. 

Support vessels at Haywood lock (west end)

East end

The River Trent runs cheek by jowl with the canal here.

Essex packhorse bridge dates from 16C.

Swollen river Trent

How many boots.

I watched the Barbarians V Fiji game in the Hogarth in Stafford with my pal Gordon, £1.90 for a pint of Courage Best. This particular beer reminds me of my teenage years of convincing barmaids I was old enough to drink one.