Phew, Audlem surprises us with a Pet Shop..

Weekend – Coole Pilate to Audlem, Shropshire Union Canal, 2 and a bit miles, 4 locks
Today – Audlem to Adderley, 2 miles 10 locks

We had a great time at Coole Pilate, the weather was really kind, and the mooring blissful.  But we had a meeting in Audlem planned for Sunday.. a new dog for us.  But it was a surprise, because I was expecting to do some logistics to go fetch this newbie from Newtown in Powys.  Not that I mind travelling you see, just that I was trying to plan on making it as less stressful for newbie as I could.

“We will bring her to you on Sunday”.. WOW really unexpected “Where will you be, we will make a day of it”.. But I didn’t have a lead or collar!.. No food, or a bowl to serve any in if I had some!

I hadn’t planned on this.. and me the ultimate planner.  Have you not heard of my ‘cunning plans’?

I wandered into Audlem on Saturday afternoon hoping that the co-op might have a lead and some puppy dog food to make do.. and low and behold I couldn’t believe my eyes, a Pet Shop!.. Hey hang on this is only a village!

So, much to the owners delight, I purchased 15kg of good quality puppy dog food, a lead and collar, one of those expanding lead thingies, some worming tablets and a cuddly toy.. perfect! She can sleep on a rug and one of my old jumpers.. hey she has never been in doors yet and she has been sleeping on sawdust.  Anyway the Pet Shop was selling their beds for over £25, I refuse to pay that!

Yes my favourite pub, The Shroppie Fly, and yes it was Saturday night.. so out early for dinner, then back to boat (moored not here, but above the next lock) to watch the rugby.. back to the Shroppie Fly to listen to some live music and have a couple of pints to congratulate our rugby team on a magnificent performance, never mind they didn’t win, they did us proud.

The next day I packed away the St George’s cross flags and waited for the arrival of the family from Wales.. We had already had some banter on the phone about England and rugby, and we laughed when I suggested they were supporting the other team or else the Welsh would not hear the end of it if England won! 

Meg arrived with tail between legs.. never been on a lead before, and there she was being ‘dragged’ along the towpath.. never been off the farm before, never been in a car before, never seen water before.. poor Meg.. oh and never seen a narrowboat before!

So today we did the 10 locks on the Audlem flight.. Meg took it in her stride.. her attitude was.. “OK I will go with it, got no choice anyway” while Lucy decided to go on hunger strike!

By the end of the day Lucy decided that this pup was “OK actually”, and perhaps respected her more when she (Lucy) tried to sneakily scoff a bit of Meg's food.. Meg didn’t like that and snarled at her elder.. Lucy came off the hunger strike and tucked into her own bowl which Meg had respectfully left!

Market Drayton for jabs and tags for Meg tomorrow!