Fitful night’s sleep wondering how R’s back would be in the morning. I was concerned it would be too painful for him to sit in the car and drive home. However he managed to get up and dressed reasonably easily and took a couple of anti inflammatories after breakfast before we set off for the train station. Luckily, I noticed a vital key was missing, the one that opens the door to the Elsan and the watertaps. It usually hangs on a specific hook in the boat. R couldn’t find it and we needed to get walking so I resigned myself to trying to get hold of a spare. However, arriving at the station in plenty of time, R dug deeper in his pockets and found the key – relief! His train journey was 15 minutes, followed by a half hour walk along a snowy towpath (no snow to be seen here!) where he was reunited with our car and drove home. Our youngest, P, has been isolating at home prior to a hospital procedure, which R drove him too, both I hope wearing masks, with P in the back. Although his appointment was at 2pm he found himself moved to the end of the list because he had taken his Covid test a day too early. So R waited in the end until 6pm to take him home. I suppose he and I are so used to small spaces it didn’t worry him to sit in the car for most of that time. He did go for a walk but even so five hours wait when you think it may be 2!
Meanwhile back on the boat I joined the Baby Breathe meeting where we ended up talking potty talk. I reflected that recently I have been referring to the boat as my ‘baby’ in lieu of any grandchildren and thought how funny that invariably boat talk ends up as potty talk also!
Leaving the boat to go shopping we met our new neighbour moored up beside us. He was just realising the two day mooring rule and I was telling him my plans to move through Banbury staying in new spots every two days. Alternatively, if we both reversed our boats 100 yds back, under a bridge, we would be at a 14 day mooring spot. The disadvantage is hearsay that the youths of the town, because it’s quite near the railway station, hang out nearby and can be a bit troublesome. Nevertheless we decided if we move together we could keep each other company and hope for the best that all will be well. The advantage for me is that I am still the right side of the watertap and Elsan and can make use of the facilities again before I leave Banbury. Always having to think strategically! With R away and friends coming for day trips next week to help me move the boat, I want to stay here until Friday. By then I should also have a laundry load of washing to do and a substantial fruit and veg shop as going north from here, there are relatively few supermarkets so choice will be limited.
I was very pleased that I moved the boat in reverse without too much hassle and I managed to tie the ropes the way I have been taught, but never before had to do without R present to direct me! H and I then set off for Superdrug – she wanted a home testing kit for Covid so I picked one up for R and myself in case we need it. Haven’t quite got my head around when it’s best to make use of the kits but I know my brother in Austria has been having to test himself twice a week because of his job. Debenhams was open and as it’s closing down there are many bargains to be had. A very short queue and we were in, but there was little joy in walking around a store with a mask on, aware that quite a few people were in the store at the same time. It may not have been too many but we just aren’t used to people at the moment! So we left, realising that we didn’t much want to browse for bargains and that shopping didn’t feel quite the same anymore.
Fresh air and a walk along the canal and then back through the park, stopping at an open air cafe, sitting at a table outside enjoying refreshments, felt almost normal. The boat when we returned was a touch chilly but too early for the stove to be lit so we snuggled under duvets and coped pretty well! I was researching a new Le Creuset casserole to replace the one that got left in our Aga for about a month! Not sure if that was my doing or my son G when he was at home but suffice to say a replacement is over £200!!! The largest oval Le Creuset is £500 which left me staring at the screen in amazement!
H took control of the stove at 4pm and for the rest of the evening we complained of being too hot. She watched a documentary about the Queen and Princess Margaret which painted Margaret in a much more favourable light than I remembered and it left me feeling particularly sad for the Queen who lost both her mother and sister within weeks of each other.
I wanted to watch ‘Line of Duty’ – two episodes behind and my ideal opportunity with R away on terra firma. By the time I had finished the blog for the day it was after 11pm so I restrained myself. I can always watch it in the middle of the night if I have one of my 3am wakeups!
NarrowboatTLC 