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Made my own crumpet with peanut butter and banana – somehow doesn’t taste quite the same made without love! (just to say, having become something of a crumpet expert, Morrison’s 6 of the best, ‘new improved recipe’ crumpets, are hard to beat!). Had to remember to clean the ash from the woodburner- another first. I think R has consistently done this every day. Quite a dusty dirty job however hard you try to keep your hands clean! Noticed the rubbish bin is getting full – another task R usually keeps an eye on. We have certainly become used to teamwork, the ‘blue’ and the ‘pink’ jobs. Probably terribly un ‘pc’ for me to say that but it’s as it is, as it always has been and hopefully will go on into the future being. We have always split division of labour and R naturally takes the lead on all the jobs I don’t want to do unless absolutely necessary! Like being alone on the boat and therefore having no choice but to get my hands dirty. Quid pro quo – he gets a reasonably healthy cooked meal most days. I bet he’s home now eating all the verboten foods I try to avoid buying!!

The boat needed topping up with diesel and gas. I find it unnerving not knowing how empty the diesel tank is. Even if we are not moving much, we still use the diesel for the central heating and hot water. At least we have two gas cylinders so we can replace the empty one as and when. Fortunately ‘Dusty’ the diesel boat passed by as I was, unusually for me, cleaning the windows. The wonderful sunny day showed up how filthy the windows had become. Obviously I could only do one side so I hope I remember to complete the job when we are next moored up on opposite towpath! 88litres of diesel and a gas cylinder set me back £108 (red diesel being cheaper than the diesel on the garage forecourt) but I think that’s our last fillup before we leave the boat.

D arrived from London armed with homemade flapjack and soda bread with pecan, cheese and onion. Both were absolutely delicious! The weather was warm and sunny and we had a good walk around Banbury Town centre enjoying the varied architecture, in particular a large 18th century domed church. D, being an architect, appreciated what the town had to offer. In its heyday it must have been quite something. It now has a rather faded elegance in the old part of the town.

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H found it easier to sleep in the bed made up in the dinette area rather than on the sofa. She used all the rugs she could find to make her bed extra warm and comfy along with her sleeping bag. Removing her sleeping bag to take home she suggested I continue to keep the dinette area as a ‘snug’ reminding me there were plenty of cushions stored under the sofa to supplement the pillows. I have to say it is rather a cosy space!

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After D and H and the hampster returned to London the boat seemed rather quiet and empty. R visited our friends J and M in their garden and we all had a Zoom call together, me snug on the boat. I really was quite content to be able to see and hear them, without physically being with them all and it didn’t hinder our conversation, so although far away, I didn’t really feel I was missing out. Except for the wine – it looked like they were all enjoying a nice bottle of white whilst I am trying to develop a habit of no alcohol when alone on the boat. It gives my liver a rest! The joy of the canalside pubs is something we have missed out on, due to Covid, but hopefully we will see a few reopening in this our last fortnight and we will be able to relax in the pub gardens, R with a decent pint of local ale and me sampling a craft gin!

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!

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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.

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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.

We had to start moving the boat early in order to cover the distance required so that by Sunday afternoon we will hopefully reach Banbury where I can moor the boat for the week whilst mainly on my own. R is returning home Monday morning for more lawn mowing and paperwork.

I think I forgot to mention in yesterday’s blog about the death of Prince Philip at the age of 99 and three quarters. It’s the kind of detail I probably should record as it’s quite a feat for him to have achieved such a great age and still been seen relatively recently in public. Whatever one may think about the Royal Family, there’s no doubt he and the Queen have been quite a remarkable team for over 70 years.

Back to boating! Our destination was Aynho although I wasn’t too hopeful that we would find a mooring.  Passing through on our way to Thrupp, Aynho was fully occupied, hence why I ended up in Lower Heyford with no mobile signal! One detail we nearly always forget before setting off is the chimney, which really needs removing because of the low bridges. A common scenario is R along the outside of the boat racing to remove said chimney before encountering the imminent low bridge!

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As we passed ‘Jane’s Enchanting Tea rooms’ I was sad H was still abed as she loves everything pink and I had forgotten just what a pink spectacle they made from the boat so I had to make do with showing her a picture. Quite tricky taking photos whilst on the helm but it’s a skill I am perfecting by regular practice of steering with my back, thus hands free, a bit like riding a bike with no hands on the handlebars! We contacted our local friends, O and S, to see if O wanted to join us as we were passing so close by to their house. He suggested he join the boat at Upper Heyford and travel with us to Aynho. His daughter lives on a narrowboat so he’s familiar with the drill. He took the helm almost immediately, which gave me free time to enjoy the view from the bow, safely taking photos whilst also making lunch and cups of tea. R continued operating the locks although there were only a couple en route. We saw a heron on the towpath but sadly it flew off before I had time to take a picture. The sky has also been full of red kites in the past few days and R was so excited to see two swallows that he remarked upon this to anyone we encountered walking the towpath. It was really noticeable how much greener the trees were in just over a week  and the white blossom looked luminous from the hedgerows, peppered with the occasional cherry or apple blossom . Spring is really on it’s way although the temperature was still very nippy. Thank goodness I had resorted to thermals and many more layers of clothing in the morning.

Once we arrived at Aynho, relieved to see a couple of spaces to moor up, we set up the firepit – the towpath was just wide enough for us and the occasional passerby! It meant we could all be outside of the boat as we awaited the arrival of S, to take O back to his car. S feels the cold so I was delighted we could offer her a warm welcome.  Sadly she couldn’t find a suitable place to park her car, so she actually didn’t get the full benefit of the firepit but it had served its purpose and R sat next to it as the embers died away, whilst I made full use of the hotwater by running a deep bath for a long soak.

Adventurously, I made a moussaka for supper with a few tweaks. The only mince I had in the freezer was venison and as H can’t have onions I used celery and green peppers instead to make a meat sauce. The topping was a mix of what I found in the fridge – sour cream, mozzarella, a bit of boursin (forgetting it had garlic but H seemed to tolerate the small amount) and an egg! The aubergines were pre-fried on the wood stove. All in all I don’t think it tasted too bad. H was excited we actually had some ice cream but her hopes were dashed when we realised it was cookie dough flavour, which of course meant it contained gluten! To make up for it I offered to make some proper egg custard. H declared her version was far better than mine but acknowledged that might have something to do with the amount of sugar she adds to her custard in comparison to the sprinkling I added! Wanting to watch different things on our screens, H found a corner of the boat to settle with her earphones whilst we enjoyed the final two episodes of ‘Keeping Faith’. I think I found the ending a bit disappointing but it’s always hard for a series that starts unexpectedly well to keep up the pace and get continually better. To counteract the slight disappointment we ended our viewing with an episode of Canal Diaries, which covered a part of the canal we travelled a decade ago. I didn’t remember much it has to be said although I think the flight of locks, Tardebigge, numbered 30 and was quite a marathon to complete in one day so we stopped halfway up outside a pub. Am not sure that was strictly allowed, listening to the guy’s commentary on CD, as he suggested the locks had to be done in a day.

All in all a satisfying day of travelling further than we had anticipated aided by our extra helping hands.

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Last night, having watched ‘Canal Diaries’ and been reminded of how stunning the mornings can be on the water, I found myself awake at about 7am and it was the most glorious morning. The sky was a hue of different colours as the sun rose high into the sky. Sadly it didn’t last all day but up until lunchtime we enjoyed good weather and no rain.

My friend A was coming to lunch with one of her grandchildren but rang to suggest they arrive earlier to beat the rain. R and I were en route walking back to Thrupp, having left our car near the canal and local railway station a couple of miles away. We met A at Annie’s cafe where I had the most delicious hot chocolate. I have avoided the cafe all week knowing that if I had discovered the hot chocolate earlier I would not have been able to resist having one daily! We then foraged for wood in the nearby forest, replenishing our supplies which had severely dwindled over the course of a week, not helped by the firepit!

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Our boat neighbours, S and J bartered 4 hot cross buns, 3 courgettes and an aubergine for one tomato – I think we got the better deal! J was leaving the boat to return to work and knew S wouldn’t eat the veg! S didn’t like the flavour of the hot cross buns – we are just pleased to have some.

Had quite a quiet afternoon until the arrival of our eldest daughter H, who is staying a few nights. We bubbled with her at Christmas and P who drove us to her flat then from the boat, drove her to Thrupp today. He’s an uber driver which comes in handy. He got a severe bout of Covid earlier in the year but it wasn’t from his job although I would have thought taxi drivers would be at risk. He ended up in hospital so for a while we were obviously anxious but he appears to have made a full recovery and had plenty of energy to help R with a couple of locks and enjoy cruising a small section of the canal, standing on the bow.

It’s so different having three on a boat! Suddenly the space seems much smaller and everything needs to be tidied away immediately if not in use. H was hungry but is onion, garlic and gluten free so all a bit more of a challenge. R and I are used to eating quite late and not worrying too much what we eat, often a mishmash of leftovers! I rustled up a cauliflower cheese which seemed to go down well and then we settled down to watch Northanger Abbey, inspired by recently watching the take on Jane Austen film. At the Thrupp boathouse there’s a secondhand DVD and book shop under an outdoor shelter and R spied the NA dvd! It was OK. Made a change from all the murder mysteries! Which reminds me, when I said farewell to Steve next door, he gave me his business card so we can keep in touch. Pre Covid it transpires he ran private tours around Oxford and one of them was a ‘Morse’ tour. I knew he’d been a publican but he’d kept quiet about being a tour guide – once we are allowed to travel in cars again he’s promised to give me the Morse tour! Any other Morse fans, come and join us!

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Wash day today, including ourselves! R ran the engine from 8am, when it’s considered polite to do so. 8pm – 8am is verboten! Enough hot water after a couple of hours for a really hot bath and R washed his hair using my very special shampoo and personally I think he looks very dashing! He’s wearing the jumper youngest son P gave him for Christmas  – plenty big enough, even if he tries to shrink it and a lovely colour!

Stripped the bed and collected everything that can possibly be washed ready for a trip to the laundrette later in the day. Decided to wash my silk thermals by hand and the tiller handle became an impromptu drying line, as the weather was windy enough to blow the clothes dry.

Had two lengthy conversations with friends who whatsapped to say they were still reading and enjoying the blog. So often these messages arrive just as I feel I am writing to myself! Which in a way I am, as this blog will be a reminder of so much I have already forgotten. Midday saw the arrival of a great friend who moved away from our home town 5 years ago and now lives 45 minutes from Thrupp.  She watched and took pictures as we attempted to reverse the boat 75yds back to the electric swing bridge and around the corner to fill up with water. It was rather a tricky manoeuvre due to the wind and the four moored boats that we had to pass. Just as we thought we could relax, the stern rope, carelessly strewn on the back deck by myself, got caught in the propellor. Rookie error and one R has been warning me about all the trip. It took quite a bit of patience and skill for R to carefully untangle the rope, which I was most impressed that he did without ruining it.  Meanwhile I filled the boat tank with water and then we reversed back to our mooring which proved far easier on the return trip. We wanted the boat to face in the opposite direction, ready for our departure from Thrupp towards Banbury.  I would like R to be on the boat as we travel up the River Cherwell and face the two hexagonal locks which I don’t feel quite confident enough to attempt alone. Returning  along a part of the canal you have already navigated is good and bad depending on what you consider to be the hazards ahead. Ignorance is sometimes bliss!

A lady stopped to chat outside our boat. It transpired she owns a boat that they are thinking of selling next year, including the mooring they have here at Thrupp.  My ears pricked up and we exchanged numbers – who knows, it could be meant to be! We passed the boat as we returned from a circular walk to Kidlington and it looks very smart. Apparently it has a bio- compostible lou although I didn’t like to enquire too much as to what that meant and what that requires from the user!

We walked to Kidlington to see the inside of the parish church that we had seen yesterday from the outside,as I had not realised that it was open. Leaving the church we walked along the same street as before and one of the immediate houses on the left had two men conversing. I did a double take as one of the men R and I know fairly well from our Thorpeness holidays. He is a clergyman and an excellent preacher, who often takes the holiday service that goes on weekly in Thorpeness throughout the summer. He just happens to live, unbeknownst to us, in Kidlington! Recognising us, he made us all a cup of tea and we had a lovely chat outside of his house. When we had seen him, I think the summer of 2019, we had told him all about our proposed canal trip and he had asked us to let him know when it was happening so that he could pray for us. Due to the trip getting delayed, I had never contacted him and yet here we were today bumping into him. If he had not been standing on his doorstep we would have been none the wiser. As it was, at the end of our tea, he prayed for us in the street and it was very heart warming and reassuring.

We still had to do the washing before the laundrette closed so our feet barely touched the ground as we hot footed it back to the boot, bid a hasty retreat to our friend and set out for Summertown armed with a large bag of washing. It proved to be the most expensive wash to date – as I went into the laundrette R reversed the car around an invisible bollard, which made rather a considerable dent in the driver’s door. All I can say is that I am glad it wasn’t me driving!

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We took the opportunity to visit R’s old school that just so happens to be in Summertown so it was a trip down memory lane for him. By the time we arrived back on the boat we were just ready for a quick supper and a bit of screen time – another couple of episodes of Keeping Faith. We really should be watching Morse – apparently at least one grisly episode was filmed in Thrupp – all to do with dead bodies in canals! A couple more interesting facts we have learnt in our week here. The aid organisation, Oxfam, was started in Summertown and the other fact was that the Manor House, next to Shipton on Cherwell church, used to be owned by Richard Branson. It was there Mike Oldfield produced ‘tubular bells’ that iconic sound of the 70’s  as RB used the house as a recording studio. He also used to throw wild parties, open to everyone who lived in the village – hard to imagine this sleepy village being the centre of the groovy scene!

Finished the evening watching ‘Canal Diaries’ on iplayer. A friend has recommended we watch it, but as she mentioned it was on Channel 4, I thought it was no longer available as I couldn’t find it! Watched episode 1 followed by 2 because it became compulsive viewing – it has wetted my appetite even more to travel towards the north of England. The weather was amazing, which made the countryside look even more beautiful and the industrial towns looked worth exploring. The main downside was the copious quantity of canalweed that he found wrapped around his propellor – obviously I need to get over my phobia of putting my arm into unknown waters! It has to be said, I could do with an extra 2″ on my arm – there is this slight fear that the whole of me is going to fall down the propellor hatch as I have to stretch my body full length to reach it on our present boat!

Last night was really cold as we discovered this morning when the magnolia tree that has been looking magnificent since I arrived last Thursday was singed by the frost. A thing of beauty lasts but a short while. Walked into Kidlington from Thrupp through a forest of bare trees on a public footpath that brought us out next to Kidlington Church. I have really enjoyed the variety of churches that we have seen on our travels. So many of them with their mixed architectural styles display an interesting picture. Obviously there are not many we have found to be open due to Covid19 so sadly we have missed out on the interiors. I have also been surprised by the loving care and attention afforded to many of the churchyards. St Mary the Virgin at Kidlington is a case in point. The graveyard looked lovingly cared for, with so many of the graves adorned by colourful fresh flowers.

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I love the Oxfordshire villages with the beautiful light stone buildings. There was one by the church that made us smile due to the dates above the doors. R thought his extensive family in America would be amused.

There was a man standing outside the local Tesco store ushering people inside and I remarked it was rather a cold job on a chill April morning. He told me his car heater wasn’t working either so he was wondering how he could get some warmth in the car on his journey home. I suggested he buy one of those instant porridges that you just add hot water too. I always find porridge acts like internal central heating. He though this an excellent idea, especially if he added extra sugar! Perhaps I should return tomorrow to see how he got on. The jobs some people have to do which we just take for granted.

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We returned along the towpath so it was a pleasant circular walk. Turning the engine on for an hour, I vacuumed the entire boat and then had enough hot water to wash my hair. R meanwhile assembled the firepit and by the time our friends arrived we had a glowing fire outside which helped keep the chill off as we caught up with news from home. The birthday cake was received well, with the homemade jam and I even made some letters and numbers out of chocolate to decorate the top. A few sparkler candles and a glass of bubbly, gave the day a bit of a celebratory feel.  We went on the same walk that we have now done twice so I was confident that I knew the way. This confidence was misplaced as we eventually ended up in an unrecognised field! My canal map app luckily show the footpaths so we were able to get back on track but the walk was somewhat elongated! The rain held off, we all were layered up and we walked briskly so the chill of the day was held at bay. It was such fun seeing friends I had not seen since October. The wonderful thing about good friends is the ability to take up where you last left off and the time in-between is inconsequential.

Ra and C had asked us to attend a Zoom call with a couple being interviewed who had started a Christian festival called New Wine. It was fascinating hearing their life story which involved them living in Chile for a number of years as he was the Bishop out there.

Looking at iPlayer I came across ‘Keeping Faith’, series 3. I had previously watched and really enjoyed Series 1 and 2 and had no idea a third series had been produced.  It was such a treat to watch two episodes although it did involve quite a bit of explanation to R who had never seen KF before!

Quite a chilly day, with occasional flurry of snow interspersed with bright sunshine. Was rather glad we had the car to hand, although it did feel a bit like cheating using it to go shopping. I decided I wanted a small firepit that we can use outside when there’s enough towpath to meet with friends and family. Tomorrow our friends J and M are coming for a picnic lunch to celebrate her birthday and as they can’t come in the boat, a firepit is a better solution. I tried to get one delivered to the boat but they are in short supply. Homebase had one but can’t deliver it until Monday. Then I had the bright idea to Google firepits and Oxford. A garden centre 9 miles away had .k

. Gy firepit left, so off we went to see if it was suitable (not to big, bulky or heavy) and it’s just what we had been looking at earlier in other stores, but they had all been out of stock. We were also able to buy more wood and a present for JQ so a successful mission. We then found an upmarket deli to enhance the birthday picnic and arrived back at the boat a little lighter in the pocket!

I’d tried to buy a Victoria sandwich cake as that is JQ’s favourite apparently, but that was easier said than done. So, taking my courage in both hands, I set out to make one on the boat in the temperamental gas oven. Those of you who bake will know the success of a Victoria sponge is getting equal proportions of the four main ingredients – the butter, sugar and flour should each weigh the same as the quantity of eggs. Not only do I not have scales, I only had plain spelt flour and baking powder. R, with his boy scout hat on, said I needed to get a pencil and lay the lightish chopping board on top and balance the board, with the same weight bowls. So I put the eggs in one bowl and the butter in the other until balanced. Then carefully, without moving the position of the bowls I removed the eggs and replaced them with sugar so that the sugar and butter weighed the same. Carefully spooning out the sugar into the mixing bowl, I then weighed the flour. It was quite a labour of love. All I had to bake it in was a loaf tin. My first attempt was not a success – too much baking powder and I think too much butter. So I started all over again and was much more pleased with my second attempt. Then I discovered we had no jam! So the strawberries I had brought for decoration I turned into jam with some icing sugar I happened to have. (My only other sugar was brown!) That was not an exact science but it seems to have worked, bubbling away on top of the wood burning stove. Tomorrow I will assemble the cake, I even found some birthday candles on the boat, and just hope it doesn’t taste too bad.

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We also went looking for the place R needs to park our car so that when we move the boat he can get a train back to the nearest train station to where the car is parked. I vaguely knew where the parking was if I walked along the canal. It was all a bit different finding the parking from the road. The air turned a bit blue as we both got a little frustrated in our attempt to do this. Eventually my brain computed and we have worked out the correct footpath, as well as towpath that needs to be walked. Our neighbours on the next door boat said the movement of car and boat is often very complicated, made more so if you agree to meet up again at a certain bridge and get the wrong bridge number!

A relatively early night after watching a film about the Jane Austen Book Club. All a bit convoluted and probably would have been better if we had read her books recently. I think I last read them at school! Perhaps worth a reread.

After the warm sunny Easter Sunday I could not believe we actually did wake to a snow flurry and a blanket of cloud. Not the kind of weather you rush out of bed for on a boat so I didn’t! R wanted a catch up on my blog entries for the week. He usually comments before I publish; when I read them to him today I realise why – quite a few typo’s, a sentence that made no sense at all and even worse, a paragraph I manged to move into a different place so that I told you all about my log carrying before I had even picked the log up!

Having tidied the blog I got going on the day which miraculously had brightened considerably with blue sky and sun peeping through. Off to the quarry we went, quite a novelty going by car. R thought I should drive, to keep in practice. Never good for our relationship as he’s a practiced back seat driver! However the quarry was well worth visiting. Apparently when it was originally dug out a complete dinosaur was discovered and it is now in a museum in Oxford. I had seen the quarry from the boat en route to Thrupp and it looked intriguing with woodland paths to explore. ‘Jane’s Enchanted tearoom’ was sadly closed, as it’s only open weekends I think, with a notice saying that they are now fully booked for the remainder of the year! I had seen the tea room from the canal and it looked very inviting – comfy sofa’s, armchairs, cushions, all very pink under marquee coverings and outdoor heaters. I imagine it was like this pre Covid, more of an outdoor than an indoor cafe.

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As the sun had warmed considerably we went and visited our friends O and S in their garden, for tea. The visit had been on and off all day, partly because where they live there was more wind to contend with and they thought it might be too cold sitting outside. First off, we went for a walk around the village with O. Passing the church O pointed out a mott & ballie defence rampart, presumably built in the Norman era. The village was gaily decorated with daffodils along its verges which brightened the dat considerably. There was a field shared by llamas and horses. Allegedly llamas are often used as lookouts to protect herds of sheep and goats. Returning to tea, we found a less windy corner to retreat to, so we were able to chat for about half an hour before deciding it was time to return to the boat and let O and S retreat back into the warmth of their house!

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Supper was quite late as I wanted to try out a couple of Indian recipes I had seen in the Saturday paper and I had quite a bit of prepping to do. It was worth the wait – a red lentil daal with coconut and an aubergine and fresh tomato curry. They complimented each other well and served with a hot wrap, warmed on the top of the wood burner, we were eventually well fed! R found a film which I really would recommend as very gentle and heart warming. ‘Our Souls at Night’ I think it was called. Directed by Robert Redford and starring him and Jane Fonda, it was a thoughtful look at late love. Reminded me a little of my mother falling in love after my dad died and remarrying in her early 80’s! It also examined the vital role grandparents can play in the life of their grandchildren and what a unique relationship this can be. Certainly our children I am sure remember the hours of play R’s mum used to devote to them and all her 19 grandkids as they were growing up. Something I think she had little time for when she had her own brood, at one stage 5 children under 4 years old!

Also did a spot of retail therapy – Lands End having a mega clear out, slashing prices considerably. I actually was looking for a jumper for R to replace the one he shrunk, that now fits me! Did not find that but purchased, among other things, some new trousers for R. I think the one’s he has had on the boat all this time will not pass muster back home – far too many stains that are impossible to remove! They will definitely remain ‘boat trousers’!