I really thought we’d be able to move today but R met a seasoned boater on the towpath who suggested waiting a further day or so as the ice was still extensive. Indeed a boat came through the lock in the direction of the Marina where we are headed and as it broke through the ice, it produced substantial sheets of cracked ice that crashed into other boats and pushed the moving boat off course. Another boater complained that the ice damage from the moving boat scarred his newly painted boat Hull. R decided we definitely should wait to see how the canal is looking tomorrow. So off we went on yet another walk to forage for some wood and both of us carried substantial sized logs back, according to our size!
Opened the midway hatch as it was so warm and got chatting to a lady walking the towpath with her teenage son, who was on half-term. I offered them tea but they declined and said maybe on their return. Then a neighbour came to tell R the fuel boat wouldn’t be through for 3 weeks, because it was stuck behind a closed lock, and did we want to share in a delivery of 20 bags. Unfortunately we will probably be on our way before it arrives but we should be able to pick coal up at the Marina.
P and her son G returned and we got into a long chat about the increased depression that has surfaced during the pandemic and how stressful some jobs are. She works in the property sector and her heart is in social, rather than private housing, and being able to make a difference to the quality of people’s lives. She would value a job that allowed her more time to spend with her son. We talked about how vital it is to find support when life is tough and reflected on the benefits of CBT. There’s a very good book called Mind Over Matter, that a friend recommended to me to read, which helps in the understanding of the various therapies available which can help retrain the mind when we are affected by depression or anxiety. I also think, whatever your belief system, reading some of the Psalms from the Bible, can bring comfort and hope. I am always amazed at the emotions covered by the psalmist and how they had feelings identical to those we face today. There’s really nothing new under the sun!
It took R quite a long time to saw the wood but we certainly have a good stack and hopefully won’t go through it so quickly as the weather is set to warm up. What R noticed while the canal was frozen was that the swans, Canada geese and moorhens disappeared, probably to the river, whilst the songbirds were still busy nearby, looking for berries off the trees. Tonight the swans were back in evidence which hopefully means we will not have much ice left by tomorrow.
Had a very amusing chat with my friend F who was telling me about her daughter C (my goddaughter) living in Germany, who is ‘walking out’. A very old fashioned expression. Apparently it is all the rage to ‘walk out’ with a potential suitor that you meet via internet dating. C decided to meet 3 different men in the same week for the first time so that she could then decide which one to have further dates with. As there is nothing to do at the moment but walk she ended up losing a stone in weight over a month from so much exercise! Wish I could say the same. Elasticated trousers and no mirror to hand is not helping me control my waistline. I’m in so many layers I have no idea what my body looks like any more! And as for wearing a skirt or a dress, make up or jewellery, all out of the window at present. There really seems very little point. R gets the smart clothing award for still donning a tie every Sunday. I think in the whole of lockdown I can only remember two or three Sundays when he hasn’t actually dressed up. At home he even used to wear a jacket as well. December 2019 we were very spoilt to be asked to go on holiday to St Lucia on a yacht. I still remember the look of amazement on our host’s face when R stepped onto the dingy in a very smart jacket and tie, whilst I was in shorts and tee shirt. We had the opposite at our wedding. We were married in the days when traditionally the bride and groom changed before leaving the wedding reception for their honeymoon. I think it was just a ruse to buy another lovely frock. I spent a long time finding just the right outfit for the occasion. R meanwhile donned an open necked shirt and looked extremely casual! Remarks were made and not even from me. Perhaps that’s why he now makes such an effort with ties!
Finished the first series of Unforgotten which was OK although R thought it a bit mushy at the end and we couldn’t quite work out all the red herrings in the plot. I never can!
Local allotments 
10 yr old orchard
NarrowboatTLC 