So wonderful how I keep learning new lessons every day! Today’s was about reading Google information correctly. Having gathered a large bag of washing we walked towards the town centre, where I googled the three laundrettes I knew were equidistant of the boat and opted for ‘Bubbles’ as we had used them previously in another town. What I hadn’t realised, until we had nearly reached them, was that they didn’t open until midday! I missed the small print, that was actually clearly stated on the Google page. Irritating, but luckily R took the extra half mile walk in good grace and we arrived at another laundrette which was absolutely fine, although slightly annoying that all their machines were small so I had to run two loads, having only brought with me washing liquid for one load. Not all laundrettes have detergent. Luckily this one did but I didn’t have 40p. Went outside to find R but he’d disappeared. Transpires there was an Aldi around the corner and he went off to buy a snack! He also bought a card for his mum for Mothering Sunday but not seeing the specific cards he bought a more generic one which told her she was fabulous. I think that will make her smile. I am wondering how I will feel on Sunday, with no mother to now send a card too and knowing I will get no cards from our children for the simple reason we have no fixed address! My mum was always insistent on having a ‘Mothering Sunday’ card rather than ‘Mother’s day’ and I find myself adhering to the same sentiment. Mother’s day I see as American hype whereas the true meaning of Mothering Sunday is so much more than that. And Mothering Sunday is certainly not gender specific. Anyone can be applauded for motherly attributes and we should recognise and thank those who over the years have acted in a motherly way towards us. I was touched to learn that one of my daughters has sent a card to her granny and let me know she was sad she couldn’t send a card to me. I think most of us are just grateful to be thought about!
Back to the washing saga, sorry for the diversion! Luckily a lady in the laundrette had change for the detergent so once my two loads were on, I set about looking for R, who soon reappeared and we then hung around for half an hour, grateful it wasn’t raining or cold. A further half hour wait for the tumble drying, but this time I utilised in a quick shop at Aldi for fruit and veg. I also remembered the lovely bottle of their champagne we had enjoyed on our anniversary and decided to buy another for a Mothering Sunday treat. Back to the laundrette and then off to the boat laden with shopping and clean clothes, which is always a treat. I just love knowing that everything on the boat is clean!
However we made a detour at Morrisons for the recommended wine, the amazing pumpernickel rolls and the wonky veg. We then were rather wonky ourselves with alot to carry, but we did it and then treated ourselves not only to a cup of coffee but I had a piece of toast topped with the delicious honey my friend F gave me, collected from her own hives. It fortified me before the tricky manoeuvre of turning the boat around in a fairly strong wind. R was amazing – I am always in awe of his ability to work out just what we need to do. He helped by standing on the towpath and pulling on the bow rope and at times I did wonder if he would end up in the water, but luckily nothing went amiss and we were soon headed in the right direction. Then followed a very windy journey along the canal where I really had to concentrate and use quite a bit of energy to keep the boat from veering off course.
Of the 16 locks, we got to number 6, where the pound is long enough to moor in, with a good solid edge. R did the first few and after a lunch break I gave him a rest and said I would do the remaining 6. How happy I was to see a car coming along the towpath being driven by our new CRT friend, C. She assisted me with all the lock gates which speeded up my progress. Although single locks are smaller obviously than double and thus fill up and empty more quickly, the actual gates are more time consuming if there are only two of you aboard. This is because in a double lock you can enter and leave by one door and if you are skilled, the second door remains closed. In a single lock there are still two doors to open at the bottom of the chamber so the first door is opened and then you have to walk all the way around the chamber, which is 70ft long, crossing the single gate at the far end, to open the second door. Once the boat is through you have to shut that door, walk back around the chamber and shut the other door. Only then, once you have ensued the paddles are down, can you return to the top gate to open the paddles. There’s a lot of walking too and fro, eliminated with an extra pair of willing hands!
C also took away our rubbish, including the tarpaulin that had been wrapped around our tiller. She could not have been more helpful and I just want to applaud the CRT because so often boaters give them a bad press. From those I have met, they are helpful and considerate and are doing their best in a job that is pretty thankless. C was saying that earlier in the week she had cleared a lot of debris from around locks 14 and 15 of the alm and thought her job was done. Returning a couple of days later she found even more debris had collected, more so than before, so she had to start all over again. Asking if she liked the job, she just beamed and said how great it was to be able to work outside even when the weather was rough. One of her repair jobs over the winter was to apply clay into the canal sides to waterproof them and then press on stones. Sounded mucky and hardwork to me, but she loved it! It’s so refreshing when you meet someone who really loves the job they do. It is perhaps what we all should be aspiring towards, whether it is paid or unpaid work. Doing that which energizes and inspires us is a gift indeed.
Once safely moored, knowing we only have 6 of the flight locks to finish tomorrow, we enjoyed a piping hot bath and then I settled into my Friday afternoon Zoom call. Two of my friends have relatively recently added to their families by the arrival of a puppy. It’s so lovely to see them on screen – no doubt that puppies look adorable even if they are rather hard work to house train!
Every so often I buy a whole chicken to roast and then we have the added luxury of homemade chicken stock, bones gently simmered on the log stove. Tonight was one of those occasions although my brother will be disappointed, though not surprised to learn, that instead of crispy roast potatoes, we had them baked as far healthier. I still remember the occasion he and his family came for Christmas armed with their own roast potatoes because they were convinced I wouldn’t produce any! Oh they of little faith! However any other time of the year they would be quite correct. Roast potatoes are not my thing, even though I love eating them. Roast dinners are my least favourite meal to cook as I can’t be doing with all the timing. However I love eating them prepared by someone else!! Top of the list would be my mother in law. Still to this day do her grandchildren exclaim that she makes the best gravy.
NarrowboatTLC 