Sheffield to Tinsley Canal

Yesterday, we went on a boat trip along the Sheffield to Tinsley Canal which was built in 1819. The weather was very kind to us, it was warm and the sun was shining. Space up front was limited, so I let the boys lo0se with the camera. All along the way, there were plenty of lily pads. Both D and I commented on the way they submerged as we went passed. Among the reeds, there were plenty of brown dragonflies.

There were plenty of bridges to go under, and at one stage we went over a viaduct. It did seem really strange to be going over the traffic. The canal along the viaduct was only just wide enough to allow the barge through. When the bridges were built, bricks were expensive, so they made them only as big as necessary in order to keep the cost down.

The canal was dug out by hand, which seems amazing in this day and age, especially as it is 14 feet deep in places.

This area was covered with lily pads. By the mooring posts were a pair of moorhens. The turning of the barge didn't bother them at all. They just carried on feeding.

On the way back, the boys were invited to the steering cab. It wasn't until I saw the photos that I realised how little space there was through the bridges.

You can see here how little visibility there is from the cabin. The boys came back with lots of facts and figures about the weight of the barge and the displacement of the water. The barge weighed 60 tonnes, so the water pushed either side was 30 tonnes. Being so big, the barge had right of way, as anything smaller was pushed to the side!

The boys have now come back and are calculating the cost of buying and keeping a barge on the water. They have decided it would be a perfect home for us. As they cannot keep a bedroom tidy, I am not sure how they think they could fit into a barge.

Here are a couple of D's latest fimo creations. We have the twins from Ice Age,

and Feathers McGraw from Wallace and Gromit.

They are of to a party this morning. Looks like it will be dry for the bouncy castle.

On a baking spree

It's been a few weeks since we posted, but the boys have been doing things. I just have to remember what! It's easy with D as he has been making lots of things.

A couple of weeks ago they both went to a play day at Hillsborough Park. They both got a medal for running the 1 km race. They also had a race on the climbing wall. They got up in 1 minute and back down in 14 seconds. They enjoyed the rodeo, water slide and gladiators. The weather was very kind to us too, the rain keeping of and it wasn't too hot.

We spent a couple of hours one day with some from the home ed group at the Peace Gardens in the centre of Sheffield. We took a picnic and the boys had fun in the fountain. This year we went prepared with towels and changes of clothes.

Here, not in any particular order, are some of the things D has been making. A pergamano card with coloured flowers and leaves.

Although I made the sauce, D made the pasta from scratch, and very tasty it was too. He has also made a sponge two days running. I am hoping we might get a different cake today.

We have also had a glut of fimo models, this is The Neptunian Slug, one of my favourites

Another pergamano card

A pergamano gift tag. I have lots of card stock gift tags, so I think some more of these may be coming up

A fimo Crater Creature

A red dragon

Brown bear

Martian Octopus

Uranium Big Foot-I love the feet on the front.

D has done a couple of fimo classes, one model still has to be baked, so once that is done, I'll post the pictures. There are still 3 weeks before the schools go back, so we are going to enjoy the more relaxed time together.

They're Back

The boys are back from their holiday, together with a pile of washing.

They have brought back a variety of shells and this candle holder and pot that they made at Clovelly. The day after they returned, D went to another fimo class and made the twins from Ice Age.

He then went on a fimo binge and came home and made this selection of critters.

At this rate I am going to have a mantel shelf full of fimo creatures.

Unfortunately, we couldn't get D booked onto the sculpture summer school, they were fully booked. Never mind, I am sure we will find something to do.