Birthday Surprise and two sleeps to go

Hi all
We are now we're planning our trip to bring AmyJo home to Chester starting this weekend.  We have the route planned that should, all being well, see us cruising the length of the Shropshire Union to Tattenhall with any luck.

It the meantime time we travelled south to Essex to celebrate my mother's xxth birthday.  We did her proud with a great birthday surprise, complete with a ride in a limousine that she has wanted to do since a child. She was totally taken aback and the beaming smile she wore all afternoon said it all.

Surprise!  She had no idea we were all in the limo

All set and comfy

All on board and the  brother Andrew opens the shampers

Amy, Joanne and Chris

A great afternoon tea was laid on and it was so nice to catch up with all our cousins, aunts and uncles, some we have not seen for 20 years.  Some we did not recognise at first and some introducing their children we have never met until now.  

Birthday mum cuts the cake made by her granddaughter Gemma

Dad lends a helping hand

Then it was in another Limousine for the ride back to mum's but not before a chance for a photo shoot.  After all its not often we're all together like that.

Mum's immediate family, sons wives and grandchildren

Its as shame we only get together for weddings, major birthdays and funerals but when we do the reunion is the best time ever!

We are now looking forward to our trip in AmyJo to Chester and have only 2 sleeps to go.  Like Halfie (click) does for his summer cruise, we too have a route in mind and would appreciate any pointers that we should be aware of too.  Our route will probably be

Grand union to Braunston.  Oxford canal, the Coventry canal , Trent and Mersey, the Staffs and Worcester, then all the way up the Shropshire union to Tattenhall.  If time permits we'll got through Chester to Ellesmere Port then return to Tattenhall to finish.

All that though may change as we go along.  After all there are plenty of alternatives on the way.  So if you do see us passing please do give us a shout if only to say "get out the bl006y way"