Kay's Canal Crafty Arts from nb Pea Green, Somewhere (2026)

16/06/2026

In my strange world I have always been interested in old things, but now it's got a bit scary when items produced in my lifetime are categorised as "vintage". 😬

When I saw this jug the handle reminded me of Poole ceramics from the 1960s and 70s. But, it turns out that this piece is not Poole and was produced for use by the MOD. The tell tale mark is a the MOD arrow symbol used on military issue items.

I can't help wondering where this jug was used. It is quite fancy and I can't see it in a regular mess, so was it used by officers? And, of course, how did it end up in a charity shop in Northants? Was it "liberated" full of cream or sold off as surplus? The jug was made in 1972, so a 1960s design heading into the new decade.

Anyway, weirdly it has ended up painted with canal art and for sale from a small boat. Strange the journeys items make.

I think it would be perfect for cream to pour over 🍓🍓🍓. What do you think?

15/06/2026

Blimey, I am being totally 💩 on social media at the moment 😱. Did anyone notice I wasn't here? 🙄 No real reason for my ineptitude except an inside head playing through lots of stuff, and boat moving, and being cold in the rain, then trying to work with freezing fingers. June eh?

The eagle-eyed amongst you will spot this is Husbands Bosworth tunnel. Now, as always I headed to the tunnel early, as I hate having other boats hanging off my backside when I am so slow moving. Anyway, a bizzare thing happened, there was a boat slower than mine 😱 in the tunnel.

To be honest I couldn't really see the boat as it didn't have any lights hitting the tunnel roof. Also, tunnels can be a bit disorientating and strange shadows do appear. But as my eyes adjusted I could make out the outline of a boat, with a chimney on top.

I actually thought the boat had broken down, but then I realised it was moving very slowly. The boat kept swinging hard from side- to- side and hitting the tunnel walls in turn. Plus, even though I hung back I could still hear the loud smashing sound each time it hit 😬. Personally, I was just grateful it was heading in the same direction as me, rather than towards me.

Of course the upshot was that it took me nearly an hour to get through the tunnel, and I then had a boat charging up behind me. 🥺

I have heard other horror stories recently of slow boats feeling hassled by faster boats in tunnels, I it is, I think, totally unnecessary and it just creates anxiety. I hope I was well enough back that the person on the tiller didn't feel like I was on top of them.

09/06/2026

A bit of a belated thank you to everyone who bought from me over the weekend at Foxton Locks. It wasn't the best weather, especially on Saturday, which always makes it difficult to trade, and further encourages me to question my current work choice 🙄, but your buys are hugely appreciated by me and the flooffy 😸.

There were some lovely people about who were genuinely interested in my work and wanted to know more.

Now here's a question, when trading I meet some kind and thoughtful people, like those described above, but I also meet some absolute (insert chosen insult here)s. This weekend one such (insert chosen insult here) looked at a price label and pointedly said to me, "that's a lot of beer money to waste", so my question to you, my clever and witty followers, is what would your put down be? I am after quick and cutting 😁.

My response was to stare at him (best hard stare, as learnt from Paddington Bear) and to pointedly say nothing and to walk off down the boat. But, I feel the time has come for better responses, that I can deliver with a deadpan approach.

Thank you in advance.. 😉

05/06/2026

Who'd have thought I'd be back at Foxton Locks so soon?! 🤣😁 I hadn't realised there's a gathering of former carrying boats, largely dating from the early 20th Century, this weekend at Foxton Locks. So here I am! The Pea Green boats are moored at the top of the locks. The gathering is down at the bottom.

If you are coming I recommend use the Gumley Road, top lock parking - it's cheaper and closer to me 😁! My aim is to open both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday maybe a bit of "see how it goes" and will depend on towpath footfall. (This is coded for, 'if I don't see a soul for 2 hours I will close 🥺😱'.)

Planning to be open from 10ish or shortly after on Saturday, closing around 3.30pm (though see caveat above ⬆️. Same again Sunday. Then I promise I won't be here again for a while.

Lots of lovely handpainted stuff all up for grabs. Plus I am happy to post items if you aren't visiting in person.

31/05/2026

Another mild rant about bad history tonight. For anyone who has visited Foxton Locks recently you may have noticed the new, bright yellow signs. They are at key locations around the site and are part information sharing, part fundraising.

Now, in my mind if you are spending substantial cash on such boards you would fact check the information you use. It doesn't matter if you are repeating info from previous boards, people get stuff wrong and you should always fact check historical information.

However, it seems don't engage an historian to do such things, which is quite staggering, as a result you get large and loud mistakes such as on this board. The issue? Foxton Locks did not open in 1814. There is easily accessible, archival material that clearly shows they opened in Autumn 1813. 🙄

I know a week or so ago I commented about bad history online, but these signs, written, designed printed and displayed by a national charity seems to take the problem to a new level. Surely, there is a responsibility for such organisations to take their obligation for accuracy seriously? And if such an organisation doesn't care, then don't use dates!

Yes, I know other old signage on site mentions 1814 but that is wrong too. I must admit I cringe every time I see these signs.

Do let me know if you spot other bad history across the canal network. Perhaps we could have a Sunday post?

27/05/2026

A sideways view of top lock cottage at Foxton Locks tonight, and a bit of history. It is quite something to think this cottage has stood here since the early 19th Century , in fact it was here 20 plus years before Queen Victoria ascended the throne. It was built at a time when the window tax was still in place, and as a result has a fake bricked-up window on the front of the cottage.

Multiple families lived and worked at this remote cottage. Access to water was via a pump that maps show as being located across the locks. Now, if that was the case it must have been a nightmare to carry water to the cottage, especially as, unlike today, there were no bridges across the locks. Instead the only way was over the lock gates, a dangerous route when carrying buckets of water.

Also, just like today, there is no road access to the cottage. Everything had to be hauled either up or down the towpath.

All of these challenges before we even get to the work on site. Unlike today the locks could run 24 hours a day. Not a job I would have wanted, especially in the middle of winter. Finally, throw in dealing with boatmen and women, who could, at times, be volatile, and it paints a picture of a tough and uncertain life.

In this 1848 snip the William Tasker, who lived with his wife and children at top lock cottage, was assaulted by a boatman. I wonder what led to this incident? Plus I am not sure such an assault would be described as a "good fight" in reporting today. I also wonder whether the boatman chose to pay the fine or to go to gaol instead?

If you enjoy my history posts you are welcome to show your appreciation via my "buy me a coffee" page (link in my bio). A virtual coffee is just £3.00, an absolute bargain! But it means a lot and does mean I can indulge in an ice-cream from this very same cottage 😊 and ponder the fate of Tasker and his family.

24/05/2026

Final trading day at Foxton Locks tomorrow, Monday 25th May.

Come and find me in the basin below the locks for:
✅ Top notch canal art on new and upcycled items
✅ Painted and sold from a narrow boat
✅ From a full time, licensed, roving trader

Plus, a large shady canopy and I am located close to the Foxton Locks Inn and Bridge 61.

Thank you to those of you who visited today. Tomorrow I will be open from 10 til about 3.30pm.

Please do share this post far and wide. Remember look for my boats below the locks.

23/05/2026

I can't believe the shift in the weather! How lovely not to be wearing wool socks for a few days, it's a rare thing 🤣. Last Saturday was thermals weather and Charlie-Hopeful near the fire keeping warm, now the fire is off and Charlie-H has removed his fur coat to cool down a bit.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by Little Pea Green today. It's always interesting to hear why people are in the area. There's been holidays, 🌞 birthday trips 🎂, locals and continuous cruiser boaters too.

I will be open again Sunday and Monday. This is my last weekend at Foxton Locks for a while, so a good chance to catch me before I head off. You can find me at the bottom of Foxton Locks, directly opposite the pubs, you can't miss me 😊.

I almost forgot to mention this marvellous moneybox elephant is up for grabs too. 🐘 (I do love an elephant, my best encounter was when driving down the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, sandwiched between Angola and Botswana, when I met a whole herd crossing the road but I digress, come and see me at Foxton 😁🐘🐘)

22/05/2026

My last trading of May is this bank holiday weekend. I am back at Foxton Locks, but in a different location to previous visits this year. I have made it to the bottom of the locks and am moored opposite Foxton Locks Inn in the basin. You can't miss me 😁.

Do drop by. It's set to be a sunny, warm bank hol - a phrase that appears once every 10 centuries, so make the most of it 😎🌞. Knowing British weather we may well have snow in a week's time... 🤔.

Anyway, as always I have a plethora of new pieces as well as old favourites. If you can't make it I am happy to send items so do ping me a message.

20/05/2026

A "benefit of hindsight" history post tonight via a dip into the archives. For starters you have to love a headline that uses "doomed" 😱.

My photo was taken a week or so ago at the top of Foxton Locks. On the left, the canal heads to the locks and the rather overgrown canal on the right once went to the Foxton boatlift, aka inclined plane, aka slide.

In July 1898 building work on the mammoth structure was underway alongside Foxton Locks. It was a huge undertaking and nodoubt fired by late Victorian optimism and swagger. After all, a steam powered boat lift could, possibly, make a huge difference to this section of canal and according to the journalist the locks would "ere long disappear".

What I particularly like about this article is the description of the new arm and how it will cut through a meadow, something that is difficult to imagine today as the remains of the arm and the lift have so altered the landscape at Foxton Locks.

Of course the irony is that as we look back we can see the lift was a white elephant. It wasn't long before the locks were repaired and back in use for night transit, and the arm was filled in and waterless, only to be re-dug by volunteers late in the 20th Century. In my time-travel head I would love to have joined this journalist as they toured the construction site and heard the plans for the lift and the locks.

If you enjoy my history posts don't forget you can show you appreciation through my "buy me a coffee" page. (🔗 In bio). A coffee is just £3, a total bargain but it means a lot 😁

Kay's Canal Crafty Arts from nb Pea Green

16/06/2026

15/06/2026

09/06/2026

05/06/2026

31/05/2026

27/05/2026

24/05/2026

23/05/2026

22/05/2026

20/05/2026

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