Apart from a few late-night revellers from a wedding party nearby at the Stratford Rowing Club, it was a quiet night and we both slept well. M took R an early morning coffee in bed, drew back the curtains and remarked that he was fortunate indeed to be blessed with such a view of the Theatre opposite, not to mention the bevy of gorgeous, slim young ladies rowing energetically past his window. What a lucky fellow he is!
To our surprise and delight, our good friend Richie from Kingsground sent us a message to say he was coming over to see us.
We managed to do a quick trip to M&S for a "few bits" (actually "an awful lot of bits'' complained R as he staggered back to MM with two huge and heavy bags full) before Richie arrived with Dylan, his lovely "grey ghost" Weimarana hound. It was lovely to see them and to spend time having a catch up.
M immediately recognised Julia, who works at HSBC in Reigate and with whom she has often talked about narrowboats when in the bank. Julia and her husband (another Robin) have done a good deal of narrowboating themselves and were in Stratford for the weekend. Walking in the park, they had recognised MM - what a coincidence!
M showed them over MM and we talked boats for some time before they went off with renewed enthusiasm for another boating holiday.
A brass band suddenly struck up from the bandstand behind us and they entertained the crowd for a couple of hours. M was amused that they started with a well-known Rugby song (to which M knows all the naughty words!) and ended with the National Anthem!
Richie left to drive back to Enslow about teatime; it was so nice to see him and spend some time with him.
We had considered playing the tourist after he left but were so relaxed and happy that we decided to postpone that until tomorrow. So, we spent the rest of the evening under the willow tree relaxing (or in R's case sleeping!).
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