Tuesday 10th November Day 6 lockdown

Hoping to resolve our mobile battery charger issues, we collected a solar charger from an Amazon locker today. Although I really don’t want to help Amazon grow any bigger, there is no doubt that their locker system is a lifesaver for those on boats with no fixed address! We have even had enough sun today to start it charging. Spent a lot of the day walking, and even did 10mins of Joe Wicks for seniors in an open park, much to the amusement (or horror!) of passersby. The narrowboat is just not wide enough to jump about on and the towpath so muddy that I’m at serious danger of ending up in the canal rather than on it or beside it. I realise how far we are into autumn when on returning to the boat I noticed a proliferation of leaves. I found it vaguely amusing to think how little I enjoy indoor housework and yet here I was sweeping leaves off the roof and especially the solar panels. To our great relief Warren, the pumpout man, passed by as he said he would and dealt with our potty issues for the pricely sum of £2.

Venturing forth in a direction we have not walked before we were amazed by the extent of allotments and coming across a very chatty born and bred Berkhamsted man we learnt alot about the history of the town and the creation of extensive orchards by some wildlife trust. There is a strong feeling of community here and a great deal of ventures up and running to help those who are in need, whether because of loneliness or some other cause that makes them vulnerable.

Exposing our vulnerability is not something we are necessarily keen to do, especially when all around it looks as though other people are coping with life much more ably than we are. Yet a bit of honesty about how we are feeling can lead to deep and meaningful conversation and a recognition that we all here to help one another rather than seeing life as a competition. With many families spread out geographically it is great to think that we can build family from community if we choose to do so.