Welcome to our LOG page. Note, it's not a Blog page. Whilst we could witter on about the mundane events of our everyday life, we've got better things to do, and so should you have !
So instead we present to you a few highlights of life on, and off, Joie de Vivre. These are a few of our personal favourites - and as such we recommend them to you heartily - whether they be pubs, places, meals, experiences, or something else entirely ! Enjoy...
 
 
 
The Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham. A small space for a gallery, but it has a nice feel and they pack a lot in. River Thames
The Kings Arms at Cookham. Great food, nice beer/wine and attentive service - yet another nice meal on our trip ! River Thames
The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. This is a fantastic place, stuffed with exhibits on anything and everything. As they say in the museum guide there is no story to follow, or order in which to view the exhibits. Just wander around and see what catches your eye! River Thames
Blenheim Palace - a bit pricey to visit, but fantastic parkland, a great house and stunning gardens. Oxford Canal
The field mushroom and blue cheese starter at the Brasenose Arms, Cropredy. Okay, so this was a 'special' and might not be available if you go there in search of it... but it got the skipper's vote for best starter of the trip. Oxford Canal
The Tea and Spices table at the Wharf Inn, Fenny Compton. Just a table in the pub where a local vendor had a fantastic range of good quality spices and teas for sale. Oxford Canal
Coventry Cathedral - a fantastic building that synthesises good design with beautiful craftsmanship to make a truly awe-inspiring place. Coventry Canal
The Mason's Arms at Wilmcote - a nice locals' pub, with good beer and food. Stratford-on-Avon Canal
The via Cracow Polish restaurant on Port Street, in Evesham. River Avon
Tewkesbury Abbey - a tranquil and beautiful abbey in a lovely setting. River Avon
The Old Rectifying House pub/restaurant in Worcester - where we had one of the nicest desserts ever. River Severn
The Butchery butchers in the High Street, Kinver. We had some very good produce from this establishment, and would definitely recommend it. Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
The Boat Inn at Gnosall - a fantastic pub, with good beer and lovely food, although beware of the enormous portions! Shropshire Union
The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. It would seem that not many boaters venture beyond Chester to the 'end of the line' at Ellesmere Port. But if you do, the museum there is great (we spent 6 hours going round it), the staff friendly, and the location truly historic. Shropshire Union
Chester - a lovely town, with nice shops and many fine old buildings. Shropshire Union
The Anderton Boat Lift - one of the seven wonders of the canal network, and well worth a visit. Restored to full working order a few years ago, this lift takes boats up and down the 50 feet height difference between the Trent and Mersey canal and the River Weaver. Trent and Mersey
Twister - a beer made by the Storm Brewing Company, and voted by the crew 'Best Beer of the Trip so far !'. Trent and Mersey
The Nag's Head in Wheelock, near Sandbach. Great beer, great home-cooked food, nice atmosphere. Trent and Mersey
Cheddleton Flint Mill - a restored pair of flint-grinding mills, kept running to show how flint was ground for use in the potteries. Caldon Canal
Shugborough Hall - a National Trust property, and home of the Lichfields. As well as the house and grounds, there is the 'model farm', set in 1805, with animals, kitchen garden, farmhouse, dairy, forge, a mill and a brewery. Trent and Mersey
The Marston's Brewery - an informative tour including the famed 'union system', followed by a couple of pints. Trent and Mersey
Trent Bridge - the third oldest test cricket ground in the world. We took a tour which was fascinating and excellent value for money. River Trent
The Great Central Railway at Loughborough - a restored steam railway. Leicester Arm
The Abbey Pumping Station north of Leicester - fantastic restored Victorian pumping station where you can see the old beam engines in steam. Leicester Arm
The Jewry Wall and Newarke Houses Museums at Leicester. Leicester Arm
Foxton Locks - a staircase of 10 locks, and the Inclined Plane - a truly great feat of engineering, which hopefully one day will be restored to working order. Leicester Arm
Market Harborough - a pretty town, with some nice independent shops. There is also a good museum, and some nice eateries and pubs. Market Harborough Arm
The Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne. Grand Union
The Tree Cathedral in Milton Keynes. Grand Union
Bletchley Park - home of the code-breakers. Grand Union
The Aylesbury Canal Society - a nice bunch of folk. Aylesbury Arm
The Natural History Museum at Tring, a wonderful museum of animals and insects, donated by the Rothschilde family. A great day out with loads to see. Wendover Arm
The Green Man pub, in Denham. Both food and beer are excellent. Grand Union
The cakes at the Gallery Cafe of the British Museum. Grand Union
The local Museum, at Kingston-upon-Thames. River Thames
The Hari Krishna Indian Restaurant in East Molesey.
Fantastic southern Indian food - the starters are highly recommended.
River Thames
The ice-creams sold at Mapledurham Lock. River Thames
The Great Western Arms at Aynho Wharf.
Great decor for railway enthusiasts, nice beer and food too.
Oxford Canal