Traditional pumpkins at Norbury

Moored Norbury Junction, Shropshire Union Canal

It must have been like walking into bedlam for Mick when he arrived this morning to continue his work on the refit of No Problem… But before all that it was yesterday that our family tradition of Halloween pumpkin cutting took place..

Vic is not good with pumpkins.. I think it is the smell of them that keeps him well away the first stages of cutting.  Seems everyone is having a social time including the two visiting dogs Tilly and Buddy, although Lucy remains her usual ‘don’t associate ME with that lot’ attitude!

It took just over three hours for Wendie, Dan and granddaughters Kiera and Niamh to arrive from the south coast, but this was one weekend that is never missed.  In fact it was two years ago that we did the very same thing just a couple of hundred yards away on the visitor moorings here..

Now the hard bit, scraping it all out into a bucket.. I know, what a waste, but there is no way I would be allowed to take this aboard for a quick soup dish.. I think Vic would file for divorce!.. But wait a minute I think it is now getting a bit harder to scrape out…

Hey, where have those kids gone!!.. more pressing things that are a bit easier.. Mum’s happy enough to finish off so kids go for Nintendos and a bit of feet up time me thinks!

It was only a short weekend with the family this time, work commitments dominated just a one night stay, but we take whatever time together as rather precious.. Buddy always makes himself at home..

One of his favourite places.. a full view of everyone from aloof.  Of course there are other things going on too..

Mick from Norbury Wharf Ltd is doing our refit, and during the last couple of days has put the pine tongue and groove on the walls of the back half of No Problem having done the front section last spring..

Completely unvarnished as yet, and this looking from the stern doors.. this is the scene in the bunk room tonight..

But it wasn’t like this at 9am this morning!  Poor Mick.. the bunks were still up, the grandchildren at the table waiting for breakfast, clothes and duvets all over the place, you know what it is like when you have visitors.. but Mick was patient and after we all sat round the table enjoying a full English it was all hands to clear the decks and within half an hour Mick was away with drills and pins again..

Oh and the pumpkins, of course… here they are enjoying a starlight night aboard No Problem..