Author: Mary

For my dog loving friends, I just met Pixie, an adorable black 14 week old staff terrier, who lives on the canals with P. P’s retired from Waitrose – used to work in their wine and spirits department so she would have been a very useful friend to know! She was telling me that originally she worked in their accounts department and one night forgot to lock £6,000 cash in the safe. A genuine mistake, due to her mind being on also training up a new member of staff, and the money luckily was still on the desk in the morning.  The reason for recounting this story is because of the treatment she received from the lady from Waitrose head office, sent to investigate the matter. She basically accused P of trying to steal the money, even though she had worked as a valued member of the team for over 20 years. P was so upset she handed in her resignation and was promptly offered a pay rise from her own store manager to entice her to stay. He knew her value. Just a reminder of how important it is how we treat others and that we shouldn’t jump to wrongful conclusions without knowing all the facts. On retirement P bought a narrowboat and has never been happier or more relaxed. She makes things, such as incense burners, out of recycled bottles and other craft items and calls herself a narrowboat trader. Lockdown has hit people like P hard with lack of passing trade.  Thankfully for P, it’s more of a hobby as she has a pension, but she says she knows of many canal traders who are going out of business.

Tried out our new boots, not as early as planned, but we’ve had a dry day so far. We took a lovely walk around the lakes but I bemoaned the lack of coffee shops and wished I had thought to take a snack with us! So many walkers, you would have thought a van might have thought to find a spot to offer refreshments.  I believe there’s someone doing that around the ponds near to our home but perhaps its not encouraged in lockdown. I still would like to offer cups of tea to passers by on the towpath in disposable cups but I am unsure of the rules about this and don’t obviously want to put anyone at risk. Towpath activity where we are at the moment is scarce, but the cold and snow perhaps discourages towpath walks – noone wants to slip and fall in the icy water!

Did a batch cook up of some beef mince, lentils and lots of veg which I then split into 4 bags. 2 went in freezer, 1 in fridge and we had the remaining one for supper, doctored with Worcestershire sauce and herbs. Plan is to change flavour of each bag so that we get a chilli, a cottage pie and a bolognaise, with very little added effort on my part. Not night after night obviously. Reminds me of when R was hope alone one summer for a couple of weeks whilst the kids and I were in Suffolk. I suggested he defrosted some salmon for his supper. He found a bag of 6 pieces (brought reduced and frozen ready for a family meal together), defrosted them all and proceeded to eat them over the next six nights. How he did not get food poisoning by day 6 I do not know. And to eat the same meal repetitively – I think he eats to live, not lives to eat! Makes him easy to feed but I am seriously fed up of finding new meal ideas without the odd takeaway – it’s just too cold to go out to pick one up and there’s only so many fast food meals that are good for you!

Thinking about R and his taste buds, his bike accident left him with a much reduced sense of taste and I remember him remarking one day that you don’t know what you have until you lose it. Growing up he was happy to eat anything as long as he was full but once he couldn’t enjoy the flavours he missed the variety of tastes.

A game of bridge in the evening and then two episodes of ‘Mum’ (Britbox) finished the evening well. Mum makes us laugh out loud – not much does that. The characatures of the main players are just so real. You get the feeling we all know someone like them, just not so exaggerated. Such light relief. Mind you asking R what I did yesterday, because I seem to not have done much, I have to admit to a guilty pleasure sans R. I started watching Bridgerton, having heard so much about it and found the time for two episodes, wrapped in a blanket with a hot water bottle because it was before stove lighting time!!

It’s eventually happened! Peering out the window at 6am I see a layer of white crisp snow and decide to retreat back to bed for a duvet day. Ice on the inside of the windows confirms my suspicions that it’s going to be a very cold day so why would I want to venture out.

R has other ideas! He’s decided this is as good a day as any to sweep the chimney. This involves him on the inside of the boat fiddling around with the flue and me on the outside pushing a stiff brush up and down the chimney to dislodge the soot. Infact it didn’t take long and the snow was only a gentle flurry. So, as we were suitably warmly dressed we went for a walk heading into Fenny Stratford. Taking a left we found ourselves at a Dobbies garden centre which advertised that it had not only ‘Cook’ but Sainsbury’s as well in store. It was definitely warmer than both the boat and outside so we decided on a bit of retail therapy, in the hopes they might sell wellies, among other things. We were not disappointed, so not only did R buy a short pair but I replaced my leaking ones with a fushia pink long pair. I can’t wait now to try them out in the flooded area going towards the nearby lakes. Looking at the forecast there’s a window of sun tomorrow morning before more snow arrives in the afternoon, so we shall be up and out early!

I felt rather middle aged at my joy of buying a collapsible colander and a tea cosy. Never thought a teacosy would become such a necessity but there’s no doubt it does keep the tea hotter longer and tea seems to be a mainstay of boating life (R may disagree and say beer!). Stocking up on some fresh veg, milk and reduced bargains, such as creme caramel and almond and cherry cake, we returned laden to the boat. For us it was a delightful, unexpected outing with hardly anyone else in the whole garden centre so it felt very safe shopping for our groceries. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Dobbies – an almost empty carpark – how long will they survive?

Evening ended with an episode of Vera – only 3 more to go!

Just before bed last night there was snow on the rooftops but waking today was cold and clear, not a snowflake in sight. A brisk walk to the park we visited yesterday enabled us to bring a good stash of wood back to the boat. As R set about chopping, I decided to walk along the towpath to check out the Milton Keynes Marina. Having estimated a round trip of an hour, I found myself being rung by R nearly two hours later – think he was worried I had slipped off the muddy towpath into the canal! It was just longer than I thought. My very muddy boats needed a clean so I left them in a strategic position on the boat and sure enough R found them and muttered a lot, but very kindly sorted them for me. I was wrapped up in a conversation with my sister-in-law who I hadn’t spoken to since before Christmas – that was far more engaging than a pair of muddy boots!

MK does impress me with its landscaping. We lived here for a year over 30 years ago and the tree lined roads are now much more mature, the parks, lakes and open spaces enjoyed by so many on their daily walks.

Just along from us is the Red Lion pub where we enjoyed a pint back in November when pubs could serve drinks outside. Sadly now it is shut but I remembered it had a map of the British Waterways outside so I took a photo to show you our route to date, which started on the GUC at Braunston, down to south of Watford and now we are returning up the GUC.

Today three drops of rain on weather forecast 100% at Milton Keynes.  Perhaps I can’t interpret the forecast  but we’ve had sun and warmth all day enabling us to venture in a new direction from the boat, discovering that we are only a fifteen minute walk from IKEA, T K Maxx, Tecso Extra and Aldi among others! We even window shopped for a new Kia car! We had their people mover years ago and loved it for its spaciousness and versatility. How sad we all were when R sold it one Saturday and we didn’t even get to say goodbye. There was a dodgy folding of notes passed on some motorway between R and the new owner whilst the rest of us had no idea he’d sold it! Bypassing all the shops, half of them closed in any case, we found the other nearby lake and as you can see, I took many pictures to show those of you who may have a downer on MK, how picturesque parts of it are. We were even blessed to see a heron very close up. Yet more flooding prevented us doing a total circular route but what we did we enjoyed and arrived back at the boat all the better for the exercise.

We met our neighbours and had a lengthy, socially distanced, chat. They are a bit fed up of being in one place as they have been continuous cruisers for over 10 years. Apparently they had only been on the boat a couple of months when we had that very hard winter of 2010. I remember it because Rs dad celebrated his 90th birthday and we ended up walking 8 miles in the snow and ice to be with him and when we got there all he could say was “don’t be 90. It’s hard work!”. The party for him had to be postponed as noone could travel but the caterer had already bought the food. So we traipsed to her house to rescue some of it and took home and cooked some of the best cutlets of lamb I have ever tasted. The meat was so good that all I did was cook it briefly in the Aga. I have never forgotten it!

The canal couple said they were marooned with 8″ of ice for at least 8 weeks, starting in November and continuing on through January! Luckily their boat was near good facilities, the best being the pub and very kind locals who helped them where they could. New Year’s Eve and a little to drink coincided with the potty cassette needing a change. Ill-advisedly putting the full one on the roof, they were very surprised the next day to see it frozen and misshapen!! Not a happy job to sort, especially if having a hangover to boot!

This couple have a handsome bassett hound, with doleful eyes, so we told them of our friends who are about to get a labradoodle and train him as a hearing dog. They said a previous dog of theirs could warn someone who was about to fit. Her brother, who has epilepsy, was sitting in their garden when the dog anticipated his seizure several minutes before it happened.

The film we choose for our evening’s entertainment (following on from a very cheery birthday Zoom for a friend of over 40 years standing!) was ‘The Octopus Teacher’ (Netflix) and I would strongly recommend it if you like documentaries based on human/animal interaction. It was absolutely fascinating and I think I fell asleep almost immediately after the film ended because it was mesmerising. Years and years ago a ‘de-stress’ video came out featuring a fishtank with fish swimming around – this film had the same effect. A big thank you to my cousin M who recommended it!

What a glorious morning with bright blue sky as we joined our Friday Filling Station prayer group at 8am. Sometimes the boat is just too cold then to get out of bed but today was surprisingly mild and made even better by a hot crumpet appearing topped with peanut butter and banana – what a good start to the day!

Before the promised rain set in we embarked on a walk to find the lakes we could see close by on Google maps. We didn’t allow for the flooding so had to alter our route somewhat. However we ended up doing a circular route arriving back at the flooded area and the only way through was to cross the busy (especially considering it’s a lockdown) A5 dual carriageway, taking our life in our hands! The last time we did something similar was in the height of a very hot summer a few years ago, whilst holidaying in Kent. We decided to walk some of the Pilgrims Way from Dover to Canterbury but setting off from our hotel which involved some unknown footpaths. I was dismayed to find one of them had us crossing a very busy ‘A’ road with no maintained footpath on the other side. I only had shorts and bare legs and found myself scrambling up a steep overgrown verge consisting of waist high brambles and nettles. The alternative was to walk along the actual ‘A’ road which as a dual carriageway seemed particularly precarious.

We foraged some wood on the way back to the boat so as R set about chopping that, I collected all our empty water containers and once again was like the lady at the well, walking to the water tap just back along the towpath. There were 8 canoeists waiting to go through the lock in two canoes braced together for stability and one member trying to operate the lock gates, helped along by R remarking that the bottom set of paddles needed to be closed before the top set were opened! It seemed like the canoeists were novices at the locks, so R surmised that as a group of similarly aged youngsters they were doing their Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. The jury’s out on that one – I’m not sure DofE would continue during the pandemic.

We sat on the stern enjoying our coffee and I took the following two pictures, one of R in front of me and a selfie so that you can see behind me. Once again I am intrigued by the difference in sky and light. I also loved the way the tree opposite us reflected in the water.

By the time our chores were finished the rain had started. I did my Joe Wicks routine and then got to thinking about lunch and a nice cup of tea. I was dismayed when the gas didn’t light, not believing we had already emptied the gas cylinder. I thought it was supposed to last on average 3 months. Looking back on my blog (I managed to hit first time on the exact day we had previously changed cylinders!) it’s been 6 weeks and I wouldn’t say I have done that much cooking. However it goes to show what a difference lockdown makes with no pubs open to get a hot meal every so often. I presume that’s why we have used so much gas so fast as the central heatingon the boat is done from diesel.

My regular Friday afternoon Zoom lifted my spirits and was an opportunity to get some film recommendations. On the back of that we have just watched The White Tiger recently released on Netflix. It certainly is not a feelgood movie but it does get you thinking and there are some great shots of India giving you a vivid picture of the tumultous country and its people.

Turned on the engine to warm up the boat. Have decided the radiators definitely get hotter with the engine running, so although you can run the radiators with the engine off, it is not as efficient.  An hour or so of engine power allows enough hot water for a hair wash, shallow bath and a basin full of washing up water! Such a precious commodity.  The next time we fill up with water we have to reverse into a lock and open the swing bridge. It may take a few hours so you can see why we do not want to waste water. We have at least 30L of portable water containers so we can keep refilling them so extend the time between tank refuels.

Turning on the engine does involve opening the hatch from our bedroom cabin to get outside, usually when I am still under the duvet. Today R was greeted with the Marie-Celeste of Milton Keynes – a humdrum workboat sans crew being gently wafted along the water. Somehow it ended its journey straddled across the canal having glanced off a moored boat, with the owner of said boat busy on phone, probably to the Canal River Trust!

We went for a very wet walk. The rain was spitting as we left the boat and grew steadily heavier. We would never have ventured out if we had known how hard it would rain, but I am so glad we did. Rain or no rain, I always feel so much better after a walk. It’s so funny, so many of my friends are dog owners and thus dog walkers. Many of them seem to think a walk is pointless without a dog. I totally disagree. Of course  if you have a dog that is lovely,  but even without one, a walk is one of the best forms of exercise I can think of. It doesn’t cost anything, you can choose your pace, your route, your companion. As long as you dress for the weather even inclement conditions can be overcome and there’s nearly always something of interest to see. It might just be cloud formation, or shapes of trees, or graffiti on a wall. If lucky, you may see birds of prey or deer or new shoots peeping through the ground. Reminders of life and the beauty of God’s amazing creation. You may also squelch through mud and puddles and see litter discarded thoughtlessly, but if you are a good citizen like R and occasionally set forth with a litter picker and a rubbish bag, you can combine your walk with your good deed for the day! I prefer to set forth with a mask, sanitizer and a plastic card in the hopes I will pass a decent coffee shop! And you never know who you might meet on your way and what unexpected conversations you may have. So I was excited today even in the rain to explore Fenny Stratford and see what delights it might have to offer along the high street. In truth to say I was disappointed. Obviously I didn’t expect to see non essential shops open but there just were hardly any shops at all! A few takeaways and a couple of convenience food stores were in evidence but not a lot else.

One disadvantage of a wet walk and a small boat is where to hang your wet outer clothing on return and how best to dry out sodden footwear. However once the stove is lit and the kettle on, its a lovely feeling to be in the warm, with the rain rhythmically drumming on the outside of the boat, knowing you don’t have to go out again and by the time you do, all the wet gear will have dried from the heat of the stove. Having said that it is a good idea to put the dry clothes away before bed or the damp will seep through as the air cools overnight. R, now we are warm and cosy in bed has just reminded me that I forgot to put anything away! I was distracted by two lengthy Zoom calls with friends, making and eating supper, and an episode of ‘Vera’ followed by an episode of ‘Mum’. Amazing where the time goes!

Saying farewell to LB felt a bit sad. First stop was just up from our mooring to refuel with water and then empty the potty cassettes. The weather remained dry all day, which was unexpected and at times we even saw the sun and a fraction of blue sky. There were 5 locks, the fifth one also incorporating a swing bridge, which was a bit different.  At one lock we got chatting with a very friendly man who at one time had had a part ownership of a narrowboat.  His wife had to have a knee replacement and no longer finds narrowboats easy to get around so sadly they no longer enjoy travelling the waterways. Out of the blue he said he had just chopped down a small tree and would we like the wood! What a blessing that turned out to be especially as he lived very close to the canal. That has replenished our depleted wood store. Its amazing how quickly we burn through the logs.

We arrived at Fenny Stratford, the outskirts of Milton Keynes,  about 3.30pm and found one available mooring. It’s opposite a lovely cottage and on our side  there’s a well made towpath and plenty of trees.  R met another couple moored near to us who he said were very friendly and told him that this was a great location to be. So we will stay here probably until next week. The one essential service missing is a laundrette so once all our clothes are dirty we will have to move on!

I pushed the proverbial boat out this evening and made a chicken and spinach curry from scratch, with mushroom rice,  followed by an apricot bread and butter pudding. Needless to say we feel stuffed-full, unaccustomed as we are to a two course meal! We reflected that at LB we didn’t even indulge in any of the local takeaways that were still on offer even during lockdown. I don’t think I have ever cooked so many meals day after day without the happy interruption of someone else cooking a meal for me!

We were grateful for a mild, even warm day for the time of year as it was washing day. Anything that looked in need of a wash was bundled into two black sacks and carried to the wishy washy. It’s such a good feeling to get everything clean, especially as I have no idea where the next laundrette will be found. Coming back to the boat we enjoyed the Tuesday Market at LB where I purchased more samosas and bhajiis from the wonderful Indian stall. Next door was an Italian stall where I brought some unusual shaped pasta (spaghetti length, looking like straws), some delicious Italian biscuits and a bag of dried chicken peas. I realise that as long as I remember to soak dried beans in the morning,  lengthy simmering is possible on the stove so worthwhile doing. I saw an unusual recipe in a magazine recently using cooked chickpeas so I hope I can find it. If my memory is correct I think it used them as a replacement for eggs in a cake. I have certainly made very passable meringues out of chickpea juice so I wouldn’t be surprised if they can be a substitute for eggs in other recipes.

I gave the boat a good clean  which really doesn’t take long to do, and R went to Jewsons to buy some replacement tiles for around the stove. Infact he returned with a fireproof sheet which could be cut to size and fixed to the wall in place of more tiles. It sits perfectly well without adhesive so R won’t properly fix it in place until James has had a look. It might be that more tiles will be preferable to the owners of the boat.

Taking 9 empty litre bottles of water and a couple of 5l flagons to the water tap, I felt like the outcast lady at the well who met with Jesus!  We keep extra water containers filled up with water in case we ever run short. At least we can have a cup of tea and wash our hands should our tank run dry! Its quite a good workout carrying the full bottles back to the boat.

Enjoyed a couple of lengthy and fun telephone conversations, one of them on the towpath as R was busy practicing  his accordian, making far too much noise to speak over!  His playing is definitely improving. I think he wants to be able to play a Scottish reel. Oh, to be able to dance again!

Tomorrow we are on the move. As I have mentioned before in my blog, its hard staying still in the cold and damp. The boat really needs to keep moving as the engine via the radiators gives the inside cabin a bit of a drying out. Also it’s very easy to get too comfortable and not want to move on. Moving the boat requires a bit of energy and if the weather is inclement it’s fairly hard work. Easier to hunker down! Makes one think is that true about life. One of the decisions R and I are mulling over is how long to stay in our current house, which we love and has been a perfect family home. However our children live away and  without lodgers we rattle around thinking about all the heating and other inflated bills! Perhaps it is time for a change and maybe being away on Wind Rose will help clarify our minds so decisions can be made.