Glorious weather today – a joy to be out and about in the warm autumn sun. Work was mostly in and around the Swansea Canal Centre plus a bit of rail painting. Firstly, a couple of views of the nearly-complete inside. Moira, Chris and Jan worked hard to make it sparkle.

The chaps concentrated on the store, starting by clearing out all the junk. Lance and Rowan painted the last section of the interior. Alan, Mike, Andrew and John assembled two more sections of recycled shelving and Lance then helped them to secure them in place. How much tidier does that look?

Elsewhere, Ronnie and Dave painted the railings where NCR 47 joins the towpath. Chris, Jan and Moira joined them after they had clean the Centre.

Tea was taken with a selection of cakes baked by Andy. The Portuguese egg tarts were very well received but the peanut cookies proved a little hard for Gordon’s teeth!

All the while, work continued in the Garden – we are indebted to Martin for the text and photos.

Long time, no see. Lovely to catch up with Toby at the Hebron Road site. Toby has many years of experience of the “I come in peace” greeting and this is a classic open palmed example of it. May the force be with you, Toby.

No, the grass wasn’t that long and no, I haven’t lost both legs below the knee. I was kneeling. I may have needed help from Toby to get up again but that is neither here nor there. I was cutting the edge of the grass verge with, yes, a pair of one handled shears. Yes, I should be living in the 1760’s, I know that, but I just like one handled shears. Okay.

The wildflower garden at Hebron Road is full of marigolds and blue and pink flowers sown in April. What a beautiful September display.

Christina, Janet and Moira set about clearing the weeds off the stone barge monument. The weather was superb and they cleared them in no time.

And finally, Martin’s update on the Buried Lock: Water is still flowing. I managed to catch James Daley and another worker inspecting the new concrete base. Things are going well. James has bought a new hoodie. It’s a Saltrock one in green. He is very proud of it. Saltrock was founded by two surfing dudes in 1988. Other hoodies are available.

Yet another very productive and enjoyable day on the canal. We can scarcely wait for the official openings of the unburied lock and the canal centre.