We Salute Them!

We awoke this morning to find a thin layer of ice all over the surface of the water – for the first time this winter, we are frozen in!

In this month’s “Canal Boat” magazine there are pictures of boats trapped in the ice out on the cut last year.  This time last year the cut had already been frozen over for at least a month.  The ice was really thick and boaters were trapped for weeks on end.  The article in the magazine states that:-

“during severe weather liveaboard boating is not for the faint-hearted and that whilst resourceful boaters take wintry conditions in their stride, others should consider more conventional accommodation”!

Well, we are amongst those ‘others’ – yes, we are faint-hearted and less resourceful and our chosen winter ‘accommodation’ is in the marina with all it’s comfortable facilities close at hand.  We know/know of more than a few hardy boaters who choose to stay out on the cut even in the most bitter weather and embrace the challenge. We salute them.      When groups of boaters are frozen in close to each other they have the opportunity of getting to know each other well and, on reading their blogs, it is clear to see that there is lots of camaraderie.              I envy them that.  

I’ve had a letter published!  (I rather suspect though that anyone who bothers to write in about something does!)                                          In November’s issue there was a letter which, to my mind, was a blatant attack against continual cruisers – those who have no home mooring.  I suspect that it was really attacking boaters who abuse the mooring rules but that’s not how it came across.  I don’t consider us to be continual cruisers because we pay to moor up and stay put over the winter but, in defence of those who don’t, I sent in a (somewhat sarcastic!) response.  

We seem to be back on track.  The ‘incident’ (we had a prang in Meg’s car!!  NOT OUR FAULT!) has been sorted, the dentist has given us the all-clear this time round and anything that needed to be delivered to Staines in readiness for Christmas …………….. has been.  For the first time in my life I will be spending Christmas Day away from Staines.  Ben is coming up here instead.  On the plus side there won’t be associated sad memories but on the downside, I won’t be able to catch up with lots of old friends. 

Can anyone help?     Our computer skills are elementary at best and we keep getting the blue screen!  The computer freezes and says that it’s crashed.    Can anyone explain to us why this is happening and what we need to do to resolve it.                                               We would be grateful for any advice.

Crochet Cotton  I have sourced a little ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ in Rugby so, at last, it’s all systems go again.  I need to do about 27 feet of cabin lace altogether.  At the speed I go this is going to be a long-term project and a test of discipline and perseverance.  John says it will keep me out of trouble!!  Stupid comment!! 

Megan  Today Megan is leaving Florianopolis and travelling 12 hours on a coach/bus to get to a place called Paraty where she will be spending Christmas.  She is then going to Rio for the New Year.                    

                                                I MUST NOT WORRY   I MUST NOT WORRY   I MUST NOT WORRY!!!!