The Crick Waterways Show 2016.

Saturday 28 to Monday 30th May, 2016 at the Crick Waterways Show.
We've been at the Crick show a number of times before, both with MM and without, so we did wonder if perhaps three whole days at the show might start to become a bit "samey". Not so; we had three super days enjoying the stalls and exhibits and were delighted to meet and spend time with so many of our friends.
On Saturday, when the show opened at 10:00am, we were first through the gate. Only exhibitors were there before us.

Two hours later, the scene was a bit different!

Saturday, is what the exhibitors call "clip-board day" - serious purchasers who arrive with a list and move from stand to stand making the purchases and enquiries that they need. Sunday is normally families on a day out and is often the busiest day of the show. Monday tends to be the quietest with most people just browsing.
We had a lovely time on Day One. This year is the three hundreth anniversary of the birth of the canal engineering pioneer James Brindley. As is appropriate on such a special occasion, he was kind enough to make a personal appearance and regale us with tales of his exploits and achievements.

Afterwards we attended a fascinating seminar by his biographer Christine Richardson.
We chatted to Barry and Monica Tuckey (whose crane launched MM), Terry Robertson (with whom we did our "Helmsman's Course" in 2009), "Cookie" (who used to work for Kingsground but now works for Barrus) and Glenn of Elite Furnishing (who made the curtains and soft furnishings for MM). Glenn had purchased too many flowers for his stand and very kindly gave the excess to M so she walked around all morning proudly carrying a large bouquet!
In the evening, the headline entertainment was a Blondie tribute band. They were brilliant and having gone over to listen to a "couple of songs", we ended up staying right to the end.
A spectacular sunset rounded off the first day.

On Sunday, we had a series of friends arrive! Mick and Jackie from Dorking, who have nb "Zodiak", Jonathan from Reigate, who has nb "Achilles", Bob and Jan from Long Buckby, who own the Kingsground nb "Barocha" and our lovely friends Richard and Simon who used to work for Kingsground. We seemed to spend a lot of time in the Vintage Tea Room entertaining them.
One of the most successful stands on the show must have been this gentleman, who was a great showman and was selling a very innovative and effective mop.

We must have seen hundreds of people carrying them over the three days - including us, as we bought one too for just a fiver!
Richie and Simon joined us on MM for tea and later Mick and Jackie came on board for supper.
Monday was cool and breezy, but thankfully the rain held off. Mid morning, we were joined by Charles, Penny and Minnie, who had all driven up from London for the day. It was so nice to see them. We started off in the Vintage Tea Room, being entertained by a talented (and gorgeous) 1940's girl duo called "My Favourite Things".

Penny tried her hand at painting roses and did an excellent job.

After a few rides on the fun-fair, both girls enjoyed huge ice-creams.

Minnie did end up wearing quite a lot of hers but was determined to finish every last mouthful, despite losing much of it down her sleeve!

Charles thought that a beautiful hexagonal log cabin, complete with a central fireplace and reindeer skin covers on the seats, would make a brilliant games room.

He said that it would be big enough to hold ALL his board games - he thought that getting all his games out of the house might persuade Emma that the £8,800 price tag was worth it - but R wasn't so sure!
So, Crick 2016 has been absolutely wonderful and huge fun.
Tomorrow, we have to moor up MM in a local marina to go away for three weeks - but we plan to be back cruising by 21st June, so please watch this space...
Tuesday (to Yelvertoft Marina): 2 miles, 0 locks and 2.1 hours.
Trip: 90 miles, 49 locks and 79.3 hours.