We walked into the village of Napton on the Hill – the church is high on the hill and must have been quite a walk before cars, when most people dutifully went to church every Sunday. There were some quaint houses and a very well stocked local store that seemed to sell just about everything anyone would ever need day to day. It incorporated a post office so I was able to buy some stamps and get enough pound coins in change for our next laundrette visit. Am not sure though where we will find a laundrette – am assuming Banbury, but that’s not till Thursday so we may be running short of clothes by then!
I needed to be on a Zoom call at 11am. Similar to Breathe that runs on a Wednesday for those in need of some company and chat, Baby Breathe is for parents with a new baby and I am helping to facilitate this weekly with a good friend, a retired GP and a young mum, A, who attends our church. After a couple of technical hitches we managed to connect with some mums, interestingly they nearly all had toddlers as well. Being much younger than us, A, is aware and used to all the social platforms, so has been advertising the group and getting a very favourable and large response. Ideally I’d like to see a Baby Breathe solely for first time parents and then Baby Breathe 2 for parents with other children. All of these groups rely on volunteers to help facilitate so I hope we will have enough support to enable them to happen. I have been thinking how difficult and lonely life is for new parents at this time with none of the usual supportive networks around. Sad too for grandparents unable to meet their grandchildren. We are so fortunate to at least be able to meet on platforms such as Zoom. How much more difficult and isolating would lockdown have been without them. Love Zoom or hate it, it serves a purpose and is better than the alternative of nothing.
I decided to tackle the first lock myself, whilst R was filling in the 2021 census online. As I approached the lock gates a man appeared from his own private house, windlass in hand to help me. So much for going it alone! He suggested, as James had, that I touch the front lock gate with our bow fender so that when the force of the water comes into the chamber the boat is steadied by being in contact with the gate. Otherwise the boat gets severely jostled and bumps the sides of the chamber. R was most alarmed from the inside of the boat and rushed out side to berate my technique. It took some explaining to reassure him that the technique I was employing was bona-fide! 7 locks later, we had the measure of it and were at the top of the flight in double quick time as all the locks were in our favour and there were no other boats around.
A further two locks after lunch and then we started twisting and turning through the Oxfordshire countryside, bereft of locks for at least ten miles. HS2 is due to cut right through the landscape, evidence of which we saw beside the canal. Examining the map we still have many hours of travel before reaching Banbury.
We found a beautiful, isolated part of the canal to moor up, a bit too close to an enermous radio mast, but at least we had plenty of signal. Having steered the boat through a long stretch of twists and turns I felt quite exhausted but also grateful that I had encountered no other boats coming in the other direction, especially on a bend! R was tired from all the morning locks and then chopping some wood to keep our stove going. Thankfully the days are getting warmer but we still feel the chill at night.
Having some daal remaining from Saturday I decided to concoct an aubergine and mushroom curry to accompany it. R had spied a couple of reduced naan breads in the village shop earlier in the day and they heated up really well on top of the wood stove. Predictably, another episode of Endeavour followed by Schitts Creek to lighten the mood before bed!
HS2 
HS2 
NarrowboatTLC 