Still quite cold on the boat overnight. Missing my human hotwater bottle! Really strange to see R, looking very serious, on a Zoom prayer meeting first thing – he in our kitchen at home and me back under the duvet in the boat! His relaxed face, since his accident, does have a rather severe look, so I often have to remind him to smile. He reassures me that although at times he might look miserable that is not necessarily how he feels. It just takes more effort to keep up a happy expression. Had a few chores to do in anticipation of daughter C arriving at midday with her husband, Ra. Also attended a Zoom Good Friday service which was really meaningful – it wasn’t my usual church – they had a live service in the churchyard in the afternoon.
I was so excited to see C and Ra – December was our last meetup. I took them first to Annie’s cafe and treated them to hot chocolate with all the toppings! Then we had a picnic lunch followed by a beautiful walk recommended by S in the boat next door. Returning to the boat in time for hot cross buns, we offered to toast one for our neighbour. He was delighted to hear it was a traditional hot cross bun, rather than a faddy taste, such as ‘chocolate and orange’. He had to slather it in butter himself as I have run out of butter and just have R’s cholesterol free spread on board.
Managed to get the fire lit. R had left it primed and ready to go but it still required abit of tlc. Ra and C were not impressed that after 5 months on the boat, I had never observed how R tended the fire! It really has been a ‘blue’ job. Needs must and I managed to get it going without too much smoke filling the cabin and by the time R arrived back at the boat it was pumping out a fair bit of heat. He arrived laden with some summer clothes for me (ever hopeful), post, including some welcome Easter cards and a few parcels. He’d managed to work the washing machine but failed to notice his new woollen jumper required 30° not 40° so it had shrunk just enough to fit me better than him! In the shrinking process the knit has almost felted so it is now extremely warm and a welcome addition to my wardrobe! Unusually for us, we didn’t watch a film. We actually had quite a lot to talk about, catching up on each other’s week and who we had seen and where we had been. R was also fairly exhausted having mown our lawn twice in three days with a heavy, petrol driven, push along lawnmower. It requires brute strength and determination! Coupled with then driving here and the concentration required when you haven’t driven for five months, we were both up for an early night.
NarrowboatTLC 