Narrowboat Maid of the Mist Blog - May 2010

We hope you enjoy reading about our travels around the British Inland Waterways

1st & 2nd - Still at Bull's Bridge, just passed the junction of the Paddington Arm. We stayed a bit longer than planned as we waited to go to the Western International Market, held every Sunday, but because of the bad weather not many of the stall holders turned up. The market is on the opposite side of the road to Tesco, so from the boat you have to go through Tesco car park to the main road and the market is held in the car park of the Western International Market for wholsalers. I would imagine it is quite a big event on a nice day. We hope to catch it another time when we are on our return journey from Brentford or back out of London, depending on timing etc.

3rd - Arrived in Brentford and have found 14 day moorings in the basin. This will give us an opportunity to see all the london sights in this area, before moving nearer central London.

Did not arrive without mishap. Managed all but the last lock without a hitch and then decided to fall off the platform on the last lock. Not satisified with doing it once, I did it twice. I think I was in shock the second time. Fortunately I didn't do myself too much damage, just two badly grazed shins and a lot of hurt pride (there was an audience). Might have to rest my legs for a couple of days before I can go walking.

5th - Went out to visit the Brentford High Street today; slow going as the leg is still sore. However, came back with a bike. Thought it might be useful when travelling between locks.

Watch out other towpath users, I haven't been on a bike for 35 years.

You can see a bit of hoarding on the left and there is some demolition going on behind it at the moment, but there is minimal distruption on the tow path.

The high street has a small supermarket (Costcutter) and a bit further up there is a small Morrisons, a couple of eateries and various other shops. So ok if you need a few bits and pieces.

6th - Spending today looking a maps etc and working out what we want to see, so hopefully I will be telling you about some interesting visits soon.

7th - We set off on the buses today to visit Gunnersbury Park Museum. This local history museum is situated on the ground floor of the large mansion. The exhibits are, in the main, related to the Rothschild family who were resident in the property from 1835 for a period of 90 years. The property was remodelled for them by architect Sydney Smirke.

Whilst there, staff were holding an education workshop for a party of school children, explaining to them the social etiquette of the period and letting them re-enact situations dressed in the appropriate period clothing.

The gardens are very pretty and once supplied pineapples to Prime Minister Disraeli.

At weekends and Bank Holidays they open up the Victorian Kitchen tour for adults only.

The estate is now under joint ownership of Hounslow and Ealing Council, and various buildings within the grounds are available for functions.

For more information visit their website here

9th - Today we visited the Boston Manor House, in Boston Manor Park. Most of this property is given over to bedsits, however there are four rooms open to the public. It's an interesting property, but the public rooms could have been better furnished.

The Jacobean manor was originally built in 1623 for Lady Mary Reade. It was sold to the Clitherow family in 1670 and remained in that family until 1925 when it was purchased by the Brentford Urban District Council.

At some point in recent history the bottom floor of the manor was used as a school.

18th Century Wallpaper at Boston Manor House The most staggering feature of this property is the drawing room ceiling, which has plaster motifs relating to the family history and the era. Another feature of great interest is the 18th century wallpaper on the second floor landing. It is recorded by the Victoria and Albert Museum as being probably the best example of its age. It was made in London and is hand painted in five colours - very expensive.

16th - It's a lovely day today, as it's my birthday and the sun is shining. My youngest daughter Zoe paid for a meal out for me and I had that last night at the lovely fully licenced Italian restaurant Siracusa at Brentford Lock. The restaurant has been under new management for six weeks and the owners and staff are lovely. Graham let it slip that it was my birthday today, and I got a complimentary glass of Champagne and a birthday cake (complete with candle). The staff were lovely and very attentive. The food was delicious, cooked by an Italian chef.

We have to move off our current moorings today as we have been here 14 days. However, as we do not have to be back at Bull's Bridge before next Sunday, we are just moving a little nearer Boston Manor Park, so we can still take Jack for his daily workout.

We have started a spring clean which, if carried out as slowly as planned, should be finished in time for Lea's visit next Monday.

18th - Took the H91 bus into Hammersmith this afternoon. From Hammersmith Bus Station, you can get just about anywhere in London. It takes about 25 minutes to the Bus Station. We enjoyed a nice sunny walk around Hammersmith and had coffee in Lyric Square, close to the Lyric Theatre. You can also find the Appollo Theatre quite close to the station. Ricky Gervais is playing there today.

23rd - Having stayed over in Bull's Bridge so that we can go to the Sunday Market this morning, we were very disappointed. The market was not as big as we were given to expect and despite it being a lovely hot sunny day, there were not many stall holders.

Having left the market we set off up the Paddington Arm to Alperton. We have moored outside Sainsbury's on the 7 day moorings there. Lea and Matt will be coming by train tomorrow and Alperton Tube Station is just around the corner. We are really looking forward to their visit and are planning an Indian night tomorrow. I have already cooked a lamb curry and will be doing a chicken jalfreizi and a potato and cauliflower curry tomorrow with all the trimmings - scrummy!

26th - Spent a lovely couple of days with Lea and Matt. Cruised down to Little Venice on Tuesday to fill up with water, had a meal out at a lovely Scicilian restaurant, then cruised back to Alperton, so Lea and Matt could get to Wembley Arena for their concert (Flight of the Conchords).

Lea left at 10.00am yesterday so we cruised back to Little Venice. We plan to stay here for 2 weeks. Found a small park close by for Jack, so he will be happy and we are close to bus and tube services for our trips out.

27th - Graham went out today to visit the National Portrait Gallery. Unfortunately, he was unable to take any pictures inside. However, as can be seen this is yet another building in London with beautiful architecture.

I do not enjoy picture galleries, so I stayed at home with Jack. We went to the park to play for a couple of hours.

Graham also visited Trafalgar Square and was quite taken with the exhibit "Nelson's Ship in a Bottle" by Yinka Shonibare.

This model of HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship, is mounted inside a large perspex bottle, a bit like a souvenir of the seaside. The exhibit is just behind Nelson's Column and was installed on the 4th plinth at the northwest corner of London’s Trafalgar Square.

The sails are vibrantly coloured in a distinctive sailcloth; something of a trademark for Yinka Shonibare, a British artist with Nigerian roots. He has been reported as saying he was "inspired by batiks of East Asia".

It was certainly drawing in the crowds.

28th - Today our trip out was to the National History Museum. Our journey there took us past the Sherlock Holmes statue and Museum, 221b Baker Street. Did not call in as the day was going to be quite long as it was as the National History Museum is quite large.

The museum is split into four different coloured zones on a number of different levels. If stairs are a problem, there are lifts available. My favourite zone was the Blue Zone which displayed mammals, dinosaurs, fish and reptiles etc. Graham's favourite zone was the Red Zone which covered rocks, fossils, crystals etc.

I must say also that the building housing the National History Museum is an artichects dream. It is worth a visit just to take in the beautiful stone work both inside and out.

30th - Today we saw the finish line of the Compton Grand Union Canal run. This run is held every year during the May bank holiday. It is a 145 mile non-stop run, and I mean that literally. There were 91 starters at 6 a.m. yesterday and we believe about 40 finished - the first one home after 26hrs and 24mins. Well done to Pat Robbins. Mimi Anderson, who came in third, broke the course record for the women. See the top five in the image in the right-hand column.