It’s been quite a week and most of it away from the boat. A couple of months ago I posted on our road WhatsApp “would anyone like a street party” and the resounding affirmative meant I needed to go home for the weekend. Not that I had much to do. The road rallied around and despite the wet weather we had a blast of a time. Scheduled for 4-6pm, it was still in full swing as darkness descended, a slight problem as we hadn’t organised any lighting. Our last organised street party had been 20 years ago for the Golden jubilee and it amazed me how many of the same residents still live in the road. The atmosphere was just lovely and it was great to see a wide range of ages participating, especially a clutch of teenagers. We even had a live band perform a couple of songs. I discovered on arrival home that young son P had formed a band which practices regularly to the delight of the neighbours – I thought it might be politic to introduce themselves properly! They were well received and the singer had a particularly good voice. Lots of delicious food and the wine flowed. More importantly, new friendships were made. Due to covid many of the newer neighbours hadn’t really had a chance to integrate and get to know one another. Such a joy to be part of a friendly supportive neighbourhood.
I had left the boat on Friday, not the easiest day to use public transport, being a bank holiday. One of the lovely chaps I’d gone to the pub quiz with on Wednesday kindly offered to collect me in his car and drive me to Banbury. Then on arrival home, a friend offered to pick me up from the train station as R was otherwise engaged. Such kindness both ends took the stress out of my journey and even the trains all ran to schedule!
An amazing coincidence. As I was leaving Naomhog for the weekend, I glanced at the newly arrived boat moored up next to me only to discover it was Daydream, the boat we had rented for three months that never left the starting block due to engine troubles. Obviously these were now sorted and here she was with her rightful owner. We had a little chat marvelling at the coincidence of being next to one another and I was so happy to see the boat once again in good working order. Strange to think if that boat had been working whilst we borrowed it, we would probably never have bought our own boat, or at least we would not have been looking at the time Naomhog was for sale and may well have missed our opportunity to buy her. So I have a lot to be thankful for!
Returning home was very active sociably. Alot of friends to catch up with in a small space of time. I didn’t have to cook one meal which was just as well as our cooking facilities are limited due to the rise in the price of gas and me turning our Aga off a little prematurely for the summer months. Son P and our lodger aren’t prolific cooks so they seem to be ok getting by on a couple of electric rings, a small oven and a microwave.
I had such an enjoyable game of tennis this morning I decided to take my racket back to the boat and see if I can access any courts near to the canal. I might even be really cheeky and if I spy a court, knock on the owner’s door and see if I can get a game! It’s the one thing I really miss that I can’t obviously do. Not sure if I really have the gall to approach total strangers! Perhaps I will find a public court nearby instead.
The afternoon saw us at a Thanksgiving service for a good friend’s mum and it happened to be in a town where we have long-standing friends so we begged a bed for the night and they kindly invited my sister and husband for supper. Back to the boat tomorrow but before we can go anywhere Martin the engineer is going to service the engine and see if he can sort the problem of the engine cutting out.
I have decided to take advantage of Instagram so don’t be surprised (if you use it) by the prolific pictures posted today. I wanted to get up to speed with our journey since leaving the marina on 1st April. Our itinerary now is to get to Paddington Basin in London by the beginning of July, so I’m hoping to be able to record our travels in picture as well as word. It’s taken me a long time to embrace the benefits of Instagram. I just hope I don’t mistakenly post anything inappropriate or some scenic picture I find on my phone sent to me by someone else and nothing to do with our journey.
NarrowboatTLC 