A month since I last updated the blog – our last visit must have been rather uninspiring not to write anything about it, once we had unpacked and settled in! I seem to remember dry cold days, warmth from the stove, with enough heat produced that I didn’t once need to cook with the gas cooker, thus being more economical. I used the stove top for everything, even improvising it as an oven by using an upturned loaf tin to encase food baking on a metal tray. We survived and there was minimal washing up! Am thinking of writing a one-pot cookbook for those mad enough to want to live in tiny spaces! We also managed to live with no running water aboard, using the marina facilities as much as necessary. Even so we were amazed at how many times we had to refill our 5L water containers – it makes one think how much we take our running water for granted and what a precious resource it is. Rising gas prices is one worry – how much more problematic if we all have to deal with a severe water shortage. Still, looking at tomorrow’s weather forecast, I don’t think that’s an imminent problem!
It was a bit of a working week, broken up with a lovely visit from our friends H and J – the very same couple we were with when R had covid and the rest of us managed to escape it, back in November. It was an icy day and we had thought to take the boat for a spin, which we did literally. Instead of a peaceful, chilled outing along the cut, as we left our mooring we watched a thin layer of ice crack all around us. It was fun to watch but we also realised there was little point travelling further than absolutely necessary – the risk to moored boats having shards of ice crack into them is frowned upon, unsurprisingly. So we manoeuvred Naomhòg around in the marina, before mooring up again ten minutes later. It did serve a purpose though – we knew that before we could refill the water tank the boat had to face the other way as our hose isn’t long enough to reach the inlet hole. R had tried attaching two hoses together but even that plan hadn’t worked. Fortunately our shoreline electricity cable is long enough to accommodate the boat whichever way she is facing.
I had great fun en route home stopping off in London. Our daughter C had decided she wanted to make a short film having written a script and lined up all the necessary people involved – I was recruited as the catering manager! It was fascinating being behind the scenes and seeing how a film is produced. I decided I am now in awe of all those involved, simply because of how much patience is required when making a film! (apart from the catering manager who just keeps everyone happy by producing regular food and drink!). Take after take is required to get the scene just right and then you have to do it all again from another angle but that requires resetting all the props in exactly the same place and the dialogue matches. My daughter kept everything together even though for the most part she had to direct horizontally as the pain in her back was so dibilitating. Seeing the almost finished result of the film I am very proud of what she has achieved and it was great to feel part of it.
Then I returned home and had to give a Sunday talk at church on the theme of Simeon and Anna, two elderly people who recognised the baby Jesus as the promised Messiah. It was a good opportunity to give a plug for the older generation (of which I am getting ever closer!) and recognising their wisdom and value to society. Too many people have told me how invisible they feel as they advance in years. Personally I think we should have more freedom as we age to be who we really feel we were made to be, to recognise our strengths and weaknesses and to affirm others in their giftings. When my mum at 97 felt she had no purpose in life I thanked her for all her prayers – she had plenty of time to pray – lack of time is an excuse many of us use not to pray! She also retained her sense of fun right to the end of her life, giving out joy to all and sundry.
To my surprise and joy I was contacted by the husband of the retired midwife who initially commissioned Naomhòg. They had come across my blog – what are the chances of that! I am hoping one day we will be able to meet up as they told me they would love to see Naomhòg again. Interestingly, on hearing that we would like her to be some sort of prayer boat, they sent me a picture of her in construction. Sitting on her roof is an illuminated wooden cross!
Arriving back at the boat yesterday I realise it takes a day to settle in and remember how everything works! The boat itself seemed reasonably dry considering its been empty about three weeks. I did a lot of looking into electric dehumidifiers whilst home but I think I’m going to try and get by with the type that require refilling with white flakes of desiccant. I have managed to sort my laundry dilemma. The boat is far too small for a washing machine but an electric spin drier (which can be housed in the shower and moved around) works on such low power that the inverter that converts 12v batteries to mains, isn’t swamped by it. The boat engine has to be running though so I will have to time my laundering accordingly! Ideally a launderette would suffice but I’m concerned they are few and far between in some areas. When we used to go to a holiday home in Suffolk for a month we had to do all our washing by hand and then used a spin drier, so that’s fine with me. Just as I was about to purchase one, I found someone selling their year old one for fifty quid – bargain price! His wife hadn’t got along with it so it has to go. No room in narrowboats for anything surplus to requirements. I picked it up from Coventry, only half an hour from where we are – well by car! Would take a lot longer by boat and I hope we bump into each other on the cut one day as he was very friendly – what I am beginning to understand about the boating community is how supportive they are to one another and how easy it is to strike up a conversation. All life is full of cameo moments that can enrich one’s day if we look out for them and take time to see God’s love in each other.
NarrowboatTLC 