What a stroke of luck!!!!!

I lay awake last night trying to decide where I would spend today with my camera, as I have a rare day by myself. Hub is going out with a couple of old friends for lunch in Manchester.

I had 4 possibilities.....couldn't make my mind up, so decided to sleep on it! If only......... still awake at 2.15, then 4.20, then 7, don't you just hate nights like that, especially when your other half is well away :-/

Anyhoo we were up and out just after 10, I put four post codes into the sat nav before we set off to drop Hub off at the Bus Station for the V1 bus into Manchester.

I decided not to head over to Yorkshire, nor Lancashire but plumped for Cheshire. Why "a stroke of luck", well I was going to go to the Carding Shed and/or Piece Hall, but neither Lovelupins17, Freyad nor Robert10 were free to come out to play, which influenced my thought process, opting to go to the Anderton Boat Lift instead.

A place that my Mum and Dad were. ery familiar with, as they used to moor their boat nearby. It was mid restoration when they sold their last narrowboat in the late 1990s so never did get to see it in operation. They would have loved today!

When I arrived, I found a film crew on the tow path, then I saw a face I recognised! Yes, he is definitely an actor, couldn't think of his name.......that was until I saw his parents, only Timothy West & Prunella Scales!!! I could not believe my luck, they were filming one of their "Great Canal Journey" programmes, this one featuring the Boat Lift.

I spent the best part of 5 hours just observing, clicking away, within feet of them sometimes. I asked if they would like me to move, but no I was fine where I was. I actually had a chat with their son Sam about how the lift works, and latterly with Juliet, who Pru calls Jools. She is her stepdaughter and looks after her hair, makeup, wardrobe etc. Although Pru has dementia she is still a lively octogenarian, as is her husband.....they seem very close. At one point Pru took Tims hand, they exchanged a peck on the lips, so lovely to see.

As for the blip, the main one is Mum Dad & Son aboard their narrowboat "Vivien", in the "caisson", which is the moving part of the lift, as they descended from the Trent & Mersey Canal, down to the River Weaver. A few extras, including the film crew, the whole of Lift, and a wave from Pru.

I feel quite priviledged to have been allowed to sit by.........the whole experience has been very nostalgic, a day I wont forget :-)