JUST HAPPENED TO BE PASSING BY...

...and thought I would stop to take some photographs.

I had actually been over to North Swindon on my own - as Mr. HCB was pottering in the garden - and had a lovely time mooching, particularly in the large M & S store there, as we no longer have one in the Town Centre.

After a while I decided to have a coffee and sat next to a lovely couple and the wife’s sister, so we had a great chat - about everything and anything and I blessed them and several others with one of my little hearts - of course I did!  I think they felt sorry for me being on my own, but I was quite content.  

I did some shopping in M & S and when I saw that the Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar Advent Calendars were half price, decided to buy one each for our grandson and his girlfriend. 

Then of course, I had to deliver them - and that was an adventure in itself.  I may have said before that I have lost some of my confidence being out driving on my own, so when I put their address into Mrs. SatNag, I was taken on roads I had never driven on, especially on my own.  However, I did it and it was a good feeling!

On the way back, I realised that I would be passing over the bridge where I took several photographs of the Berks & Wilts Canal back on 9th July 2024 - and which I realised might have more to show for the work being done.  I was right, but sadly the car park by the side, where we had parked before, was inaccessible, so I had to pull off the road into a lay-by.

I took several shots and you can see that the canal now has water in part of it, but won’t be complete until they have “broken through” into the next section.  There will obviously be a path along the bank and I did walk along to the barriers, but there was no way through.  You will be pleased to know that I did take notice of the signs and didn’t even think of climbing over!!

Work was continuing on the right hand side of the bank, but if you look at the shots I took back in July, you will see the workmen have made great strides.  It is so exciting to see this work, and as I said in July, you don’t see this sort of thing very often, so it was good to go back and see how much work had been done.  No doubt we will go over again in the Spring to see the project again.

Thought I would tag this for Wide Wednesday - but not really on theme of “Blue”, although the sky was a “mucky blue” and the sign saying “Keep Out” is also blue, so I have edged it in “blue” and hope that tenuous connection will count!  Not many will see a new canal constructed in their lifetime.