2008
Slightly out of sync, here are some pictures from new years eve and day. Mary and I took IRIS into London for the night. It was a pretty grey day, but it didn't actually rain which was something.

Going into London we came across this seemingly abandoned boat.



On the way back it looked moored more normally, but still looked unloved.

Some general pictures on the way in...






Here is the view going over the North Circular, one day this won't be as fascinating to me as it currently is.



Note the pensive look as I try to avoid crashing onto the cars below.



I like the houses in this one, this is about a mile before Little Venice.




A couple of nice bridges on the way in......





Once we'd arrived, we ended up mooring at Paddington Basin, as Little Venice was full. A nice quiet place.



We went out to a local pub with friends Andy and Carolyn, plus Carolyn's mother and aunt who were over from the US. Before the pub I gave an impromptu tour of Little Venice, with a running commentary based partly on facts, partly on conjecture - well, I am in consulting after all.

They went off to watch the fireworks on the Thames, we went back to the boat to celebrate on our own. This is just after midnight.....



The following day after a leisurely brunch at Raouls cafe in Maida Vale (where the yellow eggs are flown in from Tuscany - not sure about the eco implications of that, but yummy all the same), we set off back to Willowtree. All went well, apart from a light drizzle, right up until I was trying to reverse into my moorings, in the dark. The engine suddenly stalled - there was a huge rubble sack wound round the propeller. Luckily we were able to get into the berth using a combination of too much power and some panic-driven ropework.

Here is a freaky night scene on the canal.



Finally, here is my favorite picture of the whole trip, I just love all the colours on such a grey winters day.