Adrian and Sandra visit.

Sunday 14th July, 2013 still at Gnosall.
We were hoping that Adrian and Sandra might visit us tomorrow on their way back from a family gathering in Blackpool. To our delight, they called and asked if they could come this afternoon. Hooray!
Last night in the Boat Inn, we had sat next to Ken and Ann from nb "Marguarita" and had a lovely chat with them. Early this morning, they went past us going south and we had a chance to say cheerio. We keep meeting the most delightful people on our travels.

In the morning, we decided to walk up to Annie and Paddy's house and so we walked up through the village. The house looked as beautiful and immaculate as ever.

Luckily the side gate was open, so we went into the back garden. M called Annie to see if we could help by watering her plants - and we admitted having scrumped some of her rasberries! While they chatted, R watered all Annie's pots, her polyanthas and her solitary courgette - one lonely plant in the middle of a huge, empty raised bed! Despite the hot weather, the garden still looked lovely, especially the roses.

There was an exquisite water lilly in the pond that just demanded to be photographed.

There was supposed to be a local farmers' market in Gnosall and we called in, but sadly found that the only cakes there were being judged for a "bake-off" and were not for sale. So we consoled ourselves with a toasted tea-cake, a scone and coffee in the local tea shop.
Not long after we got back to MM, Adrian and Sandra arrived, hot from their journey from Blackpool. It was really lovely to see them. They remarked on the contrast between the manic activity of Blackpool and the peace and quiet of the canals, and how much they loved the Staffordshire countryside.
We decided to go for a walk and started by retracing our steps into the village to see Annie and Paddy's house. Predictably they fell in love with the house and said that we should sell the Reigate house and buy it! Tempting!

We walked back along the old railway track and then the canal towpath, finally getting back to MM in the very early evening. We had booked into the Boat Inn again for dinner and the food was as good as it was last night. After eating our main course indoors, we adjourned to the terrace where it was cooler.

The dessert board was irresistible and we all had pudding. R opted for a Baileys Chocolate Mousse for the second night in a row!!

At seven pm, we waved them off on their way home. How lovely it was to have seen them.
Today: We stayed in Gnosall, just 2.0 hours to charge the batteries.