Lost lamb and visitors ...

We were awoken this morning just after 7 by a heart-rending sound ...

 ... of a lamb whose lost his mum ....

 ... he was frantic on the towpath

 George got up and dressed to see if he could help ...

 ... and I got the phone and canal guide to work out what farm the flock may belong to - that's Home Farm I think over there in front of the lodge at Tixall so I rang them ... in the meantime ...

 ... Mum is bleating on the other side of the fence ...

 ... and George has got the lamb 'cornered' between the hedge and the field's fence ...

 ... more sheep have come to see what the fuss is all about, but before the farmer could arrive to help, George managed to catch the lamb and put him back over the fence - silence resumed!!

We had let NB Sanity Again know that we were moored a few miles away from their mooring last night and that if they had time today perhaps they'd like to stop.  Sheila and Bruce came by about 10am for coffee and cake and we spent a very pleasant hour chatting particularly about Bruce and I working for the same NHS Trust in Wales some years ago - what a coincidence - they do say that it's a small world!

 Our next visitors were this family of Mum and FIFTEEN chicks!

 I know, it's that time of year but I don't know anyone who can resist ...

 ... these adorable bundles of fluff!

George has been busy today preparing Rock n Roll for repainting whilst we're in the dry dock at Stone next week - tomorrow we'll move on up 2 locks, wind (turn) and moor up again so that he can do the other side while the weather is still dry - that's a plan!