We had decided that we would probably stop at the first nice mooring we saw and we did see several – the peace and quiet was astounding after recent days – but all of the landing stages consisted of that metal gridwork which the animals hate and we only have so many mats to cover it with. We did stop for an hour or so at one of them when G noticed a huge retail outlet called Maasmechelen Village. Very designer village and very ‘pruned’. I was rubbish and didn’t see anything I fancied despite there being a Desigual shop. The place was pretty much deserted.

Continuing on to Bree we had to moor on the metal grids as the mooring on a proper low concrete bank was marked as being for commercials only. We were, however, thrilled to discover Mr & Mrs Coot with baby Coot in their nest alongside and also Mr & Mrs Grebe busily hatching; they were right next to us and only 5 feet from each other.

We cycled into Bree on a wet and miserable day and I was staggered that cars parted like the Red Sea if we even looked like we might want to cross. Bree sported a brilliant Lidl and another supermarket but it was quite a way out on foot, so we lunched and then shopped using the trolley on the back of G’s bike. Not a clue what was on the menu so I just picked something under the picture of a fish! It was very nice, but criminal that there was no bread to mop up the sauce with – I wonder if they’d be offended if I took my own bread next time? The local harbourmaster turned up and said we could move onto the quay (although we discovered later that Muttley had already hurt his paw on the grid).

I don’t seem to have found anything much to take photos of although we were there a couple of extra days waiting for Jantina arrive so that we could share Lisa’s birthday with her on Saturday. She nobly offered to cook and we took around a cake – I was so busy watching that I didn’t lose the cake (the candles made the lid precarious) that I didn’t see the step off of their gunwale and crashed dramatically into their boat, taking their metal chair with me. Fortunately I landed on my right hand side; not the left which I recently damaged and I saved the cake! Talk about a dramatic entry. Those of you of a nervous disposition look away now!!!!!!!!!! Too late Ethel!

Yep. That lady is walking into town with a parrot on her shoulder.