Last night, having watched ‘Canal Diaries’ and been reminded of how stunning the mornings can be on the water, I found myself awake at about 7am and it was the most glorious morning. The sky was a hue of different colours as the sun rose high into the sky. Sadly it didn’t last all day but up until lunchtime we enjoyed good weather and no rain.
My friend A was coming to lunch with one of her grandchildren but rang to suggest they arrive earlier to beat the rain. R and I were en route walking back to Thrupp, having left our car near the canal and local railway station a couple of miles away. We met A at Annie’s cafe where I had the most delicious hot chocolate. I have avoided the cafe all week knowing that if I had discovered the hot chocolate earlier I would not have been able to resist having one daily! We then foraged for wood in the nearby forest, replenishing our supplies which had severely dwindled over the course of a week, not helped by the firepit!
Our boat neighbours, S and J bartered 4 hot cross buns, 3 courgettes and an aubergine for one tomato – I think we got the better deal! J was leaving the boat to return to work and knew S wouldn’t eat the veg! S didn’t like the flavour of the hot cross buns – we are just pleased to have some.
Had quite a quiet afternoon until the arrival of our eldest daughter H, who is staying a few nights. We bubbled with her at Christmas and P who drove us to her flat then from the boat, drove her to Thrupp today. He’s an uber driver which comes in handy. He got a severe bout of Covid earlier in the year but it wasn’t from his job although I would have thought taxi drivers would be at risk. He ended up in hospital so for a while we were obviously anxious but he appears to have made a full recovery and had plenty of energy to help R with a couple of locks and enjoy cruising a small section of the canal, standing on the bow.
It’s so different having three on a boat! Suddenly the space seems much smaller and everything needs to be tidied away immediately if not in use. H was hungry but is onion, garlic and gluten free so all a bit more of a challenge. R and I are used to eating quite late and not worrying too much what we eat, often a mishmash of leftovers! I rustled up a cauliflower cheese which seemed to go down well and then we settled down to watch Northanger Abbey, inspired by recently watching the take on Jane Austen film. At the Thrupp boathouse there’s a secondhand DVD and book shop under an outdoor shelter and R spied the NA dvd! It was OK. Made a change from all the murder mysteries! Which reminds me, when I said farewell to Steve next door, he gave me his business card so we can keep in touch. Pre Covid it transpires he ran private tours around Oxford and one of them was a ‘Morse’ tour. I knew he’d been a publican but he’d kept quiet about being a tour guide – once we are allowed to travel in cars again he’s promised to give me the Morse tour! Any other Morse fans, come and join us!
NarrowboatTLC 