Talking of Prince Philip in yesterday’s blog, today we remembered my dad, who died 22 years ago on 11th April, which happened also to be Low Sunday in the Christian church calendar, just as today is. So I sent a message to my siblings that as well as the double sherry in memory of mum and her friend Jeannie, we should add a tot of whisky to toast dad!
Zoom church was quite short with no Zoom coffee time as a mark of respect for Prince Philip. We were therefore able to get going promptly on our journey to Banbury, this time with H on the helm. She soon got the hang of it and steered the boat confidently. I took a turn to operate some of the locks and before long we were approaching the outskirts of Banbury. H remarked how much better she felt mentally from a couple of days on the boat especially having to concentrate on steering. It put her mind into a different headspace and all the fresh air and beauty around her lifted her spirits. I do think being on the water is a great tonic for life, especially for the young struggling with anxiety and depression. If we return for a few months in September I would really like to offer retreats to those who would benefit from a few days away from the rat race.
Banbury was awash with mooring space, far more so than when we were previously here. I soon worked out why. All the town moorings are limited to two night stays between April and November. This stipulation has not been enforced during lockdown but from tomorrow, 12th April, lockdown ceases on the canals and everyone has to follow the CRT rules or face a fine. We moored up just before the watertap and Elsan and left the boat to do a bit of shopping for food, leaving H to enjoy a shower with all the hot water. On our return we moved the boat to the watertap and filled up the nearly empty tank and then we reversed back to our mooring space. H made an anchovy risotto. It was a luxury for me not to have to cook. I don’t think I have mentioned our extra guest, Sensi, H’s pet hampster. As there was no one to look after him in London he also forms part of our bubble. Sweet little thing he is, but it’s still a bit disconcerting having this animal walk all over you and make more noise in the dark, when he appears to wake up! His hutch sawdust adds an extra layer of debris around the boat. Not much point in hoovering until our house guests depart!
A Songs of Praise on Zoom, followed by an Endeavour episode and a reasonably early night as R has to journey home tomorrow. Just as he got into bed he let out a yelp of pain – twinges in his back probably from the lock gates being heaved about and the sawing and splitting of wood to leave me a good supply.
NarrowboatTLC 