Sat 18th May
It was Hazel’s birthday, and she had two cards – one from
James and the other from Maggie and Clive.
We had a leisurely start this morning, giving us time to
make sure we had everything with us that we needed for our gig. We loaded our
shopping trolley with our computer tablets and stands and set off up the
towpath with our instruments. We arrived just as the first act was starting,
and we had time to check our tuning and get our tablets set up and running.
We sang seven songs, including the Man who calmed the sea,
I saw the light, and Pilgrim. Sadly, there were very few people around to hear
us, although there were a few passers-by, and Eric (Cherie) came to support us, as did Dave and Cath (Interlock). Wills had planned to come,
but he was late and missed our performance. Thankfully Hazel’s voice held up,
although she wasn’t feeling well and had a rest back on the boat later.
James joined a 20-minute drumming workshop, using upturned
buckets as drums. Good fun, but heavy on the wrists if you’re not used to it.
Meanwhile, Wills had tried to phone, but there was no chance of hearing it
while drumming!
James went to find Wills and his friend Glen, and they had
a drink at the lockside café, before going to the main stage for some music and
a drink.
Meanwhile, back on the boat, Hazel had a visit from David
and Liz Allsop from Broughton Church in Aylesbury. It was good of them to seek
us out. Sadly James missed them.
James returned to collect Hazel and some chairs, and returned
to joins Wills by the main stage. Glen had gone home. We had a Thai meal from a stall before making
our way back through the site looking at other stalls.
No boating today
Sun 19th May
There used to be a Christian worship service on the
Batchworth Lock stage, and we led the worship on one occasion. The last time we
were here there was a choir, and we thought it was going to be the basis for a
service, but they were singing songs from the shows. So there is no service
happening which is a great shame.
The boats behind us had a reshuffle to allow one of them to
leave in the morning. While they were diagonally across the channel, a trip
boat came past and despite being asked to wait, made no attempt to stop,
pushing them back as they passed.
We had decided that we would stay by the boat today and
invite people on board. We were taking part in a scheme to allow accompanied youngsters
on board to have a look. We had a large orange balloon on the roof, and the
kids had passports to be stamped at each venue.
We put literature out on a table with chairs alongside, and
James sat there for an hour with no interaction apart from “Good Morning”. He
came away and sat on the boat, and immediately people started to take the
literature. He still had conversations with people once they were looking
interested. Several new testaments went, as well as “How do Locks Work?” and a
booklet called Evolution – fact or fiction?”
We had several visitors on board, starting with Mary and
Jim Sibley, friends of ours since before we got married. Then there were
several young kids with parents, as well as some Swedish people, two Christian
ladies, and a couple who used to be in CCCF (Camping and Caravanning Christian
Fellowship). We had a good discussion with them about accommodating change in
the church – music styles, pews etc.
We were planning to go and see the Lock Jam, but no-one
could tell us when it was. We thought we would go at about 6.30pm, but then
discovered that we had missed it. For future reference is starts at around 4.30-5.00pm,
and lasts for about an hour. Many of the working boats congregate in the lock
area, and cause wall to wall boats so nothing can go through. A band plays on
the Lock Stage, and people turn out in outrageous outfits and dance about and
it is a lot of fun. It is said to be a re-enactment of some protest years ago
when the boaters jammed the lock as a demonstration.
Wills arrived, having visited the festival again and bought
a very colourful jacket. He came on board for a cuppa, and then he and James
wandered back towards the lock, visiting on board Tranquil Rose, a wide beam
hotel boat built in 1973. It was very impressive.
We chatted to some of the stall holders, and met Steve from
Gentle Breeze, heading home on his bike. Wills left to catch a train, and James
returned to join Hazel on Gabriel to
recover from a busy weekend.
No boating today
Next – north up the Grand Union through Hemel Hempstead and
Berkhamsted towards Marsworth, with various arrangements to meet people on the
way.
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