Two weekends ago we were on the Thames with Mary and Chris from Mark's Thursday class. They have bought this lovely boat. I am super-envious! We spent 2 days taking it down from Reading Marina to Teddington and then did a day-long jaunt to Greenwich, where we crossed the East / West Meridian. On the way back up to the mooring we were against the tide and got into all sorts of minor 'traffic' trouble with various water authorities... The weather was amazing and the company excellent. A life on the river seems very sane. Waking up to herons, coots, and the plop sounds of jumping fish was a treat. I felt like I'd had a real holiday. The thames is an incredible river, so full of life and interest around every bend. Often I did not recognise my own city, it was so green, or full of tiny ancient alleys and strange abandoned river beaches.