The Roundhouse, Birmingham

It was an uneventful journey from the Engine Arm to central Birmingham. We moored alongside other boats a little way out of the centre, next to some low rise residences, where it was a bit quieter for the furries.

Will visited the Roundhouse Distillery for lunch and was rewarded with a delicious funghi pizza and a gin created in the little copper still on the first floor.

For years Vicky has been thinking of getting a Tree of Life tattoo. Recently she'd been looking for a tattoo artist that could do it in the style she wanted. She had finally found Charley who works at Vivid Ink in Birmingham and specialises in watercolour style tattoos. There was some confusion with the timing of the appointment and Charley originally thought Vicky had a design she could copy but once all this was ironed out, the experience exceeded expectations. Charley spent over an hour designing the tree with Vicky to get it just right, then two hours inking it on to her arm. Vicky was overjoyed with the result. She picked up a chippy tea on the way back to Rainboat and couldn't stop chattering to Will, who was equally happy about it!

The following day we were low on diesel (we've had the stove on a lot!). Just a few hundred metres away, between the Distillery and canal was a small building with a chandlery that sold diesel. Vicky walked the dogs down and pulled Rainboat in when Will arrived. The place was supposed to be open between 09:30 and noon but we had to call the number displayed on the closed door to get someone to open up. The guy was super grumpy and charged £1:46pl ! Nearly double the price we paid at Hawne Basin.

It seemed relatively quiet near the Distillery so we pulled Rainboat back a few lengths and tied her up. The last time we were in Birmingham the library had closed certain sections due to the Conservative Party conference. Vicky had never seen the Secret Garden on the 7th floor, so we had an afternoon stroll to visit it. It didn't disappoint! There are so few places in Europe that have such a wide open area so high up in the centre of a big city. To have a garden growing there is extra special.

Later on we were feeling indulgent (possibly still on a high from Vicky's tatoo). Will had enjoyed his pizza at the Roundhouse Distillery so much we returned for an evening meal and bought a flight of gins to try. The staff were friendly and our food was cooked quickly in the wood fired pizza oven whose flames could be seen roaring behind the bar separating the kitchen from the tables.Baca lagi