Having covered our bed with all the things to bring home we slept on the sofa bed next to the wood burner so we were certainly warm enough when we went to sleep. R thinks it aggrevates his back so it isn’t his first choice but I like the fact it’s a bit bigger, so I don’t have to worry about falling off the edge. Even if I did, it’s a low drop, unlike the cabin bed which is high up. I could really do myself a mischief if I rolled off that! As per usual, it seems to me, I was wide awake at 0430 through till 6am so trying to wake for the 8am prayer meeting was not an easy task even though R tried to revive me with tea and crumpet. So addicted am I, the final crumpet in the packet and last banana are coming home for Saturday’s breakfast! Sleeplessness is so strange, whatever routine I try seems to make no difference. Have even taken to blue light on my mobile in the evening and turning off data, but my sleep pattern got disrupted at the menopause and has never returned to normal. I had hoped less stress would make a difference – perhaps I’ve just swopped that for more TV! The only advantage on the boat, to being at home, is that however little sleep I have had in the night I hardly ever feel tired in the day, once I am up and about. I also don’t feel the need to wear my glasses as it doesn’t seem to irritate me, the way it used to, that I can’t see clearly in the distance and my long sight, although not 100%, allows me to read a book or screen without lenses. (Just to reassure you, I put them on when steering!). There is so much written about the importance of sleep and the detrimental effects of lack of it but I do wonder as we get older whether it isn’t actually to do with our hormones changing and thus quite a natural development. Yet another health issue to add to the list to worry about if what we read is true! I prefer to think of that wakeful hour in the night as ‘Godtime’. I can talk to him without interruption and he can certainly get my attention as I can listen in without distraction!
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A truly clear sky and bright sunshine led to R encouraging me to get off the boat and find a nice outdoor space to do my exercises with my phone blaring music, like a teenager! Feeling much more alert, we then had a call, perched on a wall in the sun, with a couple who are hopefully going to have their wedding and reception at our local church, just like we did when our daughter C got married there a couple of years ago. They wanted to know the pros and cons and it was fun thinking about that really happy day, even if it did mean we relived the hustle of the aftermath! Finally, they asked if after lockdown we could show them some pictures – a reminder that I haven’t yet printed any out. They are still on my laptop, so many that when I try to choose a few, I just get confused. Perhaps a task to set myself in this final month on the boat.
Hiring the car and driving home went smoothly although it reminded me how tiring driving on a motorway is, especially when 4mph seems fast on a boat! Walking into our house felt strange and to be honest, a bit depressing. I hadn’t noticed the last time home, quite how many flecks of paint were dotted all over the bathroom and shower room floors, a result of my lovely son P kindly painting the ceiling, but not worrying too much about what he was standing on! There is just so much stuff to sort through, things to let go of that we just don’t need and the realisation that clearing takes time and I really should make it a priority when we come home.
I still accessed by usual Friday Zoom call and then went for a walk in the park, which was dark except for a nearly full moon, so I could see enough not to walk into a ditch! Passed by a new takeaway, think Thai, en route home and was cheered to see one of our friends queuing, so we were able to have a quick word. Picking up a takeaway from our local Indian it was reassuring to see how busy they were and comforting to eat such a familiar meal as we have frequented them often over the years. Sinking into a full length bath was bliss and then fell pleasantly tired into bed!
NarrowboatTLC 