Most of the narrow boats we see along the canal near here are either hired out for holidays/vacations, or belong to people using them for business. However, these few are permanent homes – the boats don’t move from one year to another, and some of the residents have created gardens alongside the tow path, complete even with sheds in some cases! 
… but we spent most of it shopping… Not that we actually go out shopping very much these days – pretty much everything is available on line, but we wanted to look for a particular piece of furniture, so there was nothing for it but to head out to the shopping mall.
… by the sunshine. It’s a lot colder here than it looks – barely above freezing today. In the summer we’ll have the doors open and be sitting outside our little ‘gin palace’ at the top of the garden, enjoying the views and a G&T, but for now it’s all closed up against the elements. 
This strange looking affair in Market Drayton is a WW2 ‘pill box’, a name given to reinforced concrete defence structures. It was built in 1940, and stands at the junction of Newcastle Road, and what is now known as the Shropshire Union Canal. It could be manned by a compliment of 8 infantry armed with rifles and machine guns. It’s the only one of its type remaining, and as such is a ‘listed’ or protected building.
– Well, not exactly. Today’s adventures included a trip to the Barrow Hill Roundhouse – the last surviving roundhouse of its kind in the UK. The locomotives on display (both steam and diesel) are mostly static, although we were lucky enough to see ‘Tornado’ – the 2008 built ‘A1 Peppercorn Pacific’ loco, here for some maintenance. An interesting evening’s photography, but tricky in such low light. Hopefully I’ll get to post some photos on my main blog – blog.nigelyoung.co.uk
… came the sunshine. This morning’s short, sharp fall of snow caught everyone out around here – it looked like we had missed the snow that blanketed most of the UK yesterday, but it was not to be. Anyway, it didn’t last long; the sun came out and by midday it was mostly gone. Whether we get more remains to be seen…
After the really miserable weather yesterday, today has been beautiful and sunny (but cold), culminating in this colourful sunset… However, the forecast is not promising – sleet and snow are expected over the next two days, and with travel disruption expected, my plans for the rest of the week look to be in jeopardy.
… this paddling pool on the village green will be rammed with literally hundreds of kids. But for today – a cold, miserable, blustery January day, there’s no water in the pool, and just a few hardy dog walkers around…
Snowdrops are one of the first signs of Spring in the garden, although they appear to have emerged even earlier than usual. They are pretty hardy though, so should survive the cold days still in store for us over the next month or so…
This compelling mural was painted on a wall in our town (Market Drayton) to celebrate the centenary of the end of WW1 last year. It’s a lasting reminder of the sacrifices made by that generation. 
One Day At A Time... 