All change

This week has been very different for us – 3 days helping with young family and now the Skipper is doing the same for older family.

Amid this we have managed to catch up with old amd new boating friends (2 and 4 legged) over coffees, drinks, craft stalls, and bagels. We have seen family amid scarecrow and beer festivals, fitted in work and started the repaint of the interior of the boat.

It seems that this week has consisted of 9 days already!

Autumn has arrived, the lifting of the extended mooring due to the drought has been lifted even though the drought is still having a massive impact across the network.

Where we are in Northamptonshire it is appatent that some people who need to return to home moorings on the Leicester Line are suffering real hardship very directly from the Line’s closure. They would be coming past us and turning onto the line but they can’t and are now having to face additional costs, immense stress and in some cases impossible choices being forced to leave boats in places where they could be at risk.

The implications are many and very serious for individuals. Seeing the rain made the lifting of mooring restrictions may make some boaters and non-boaters feel all is well, but it is actually far from well.

We need more than a few showers to resolve the water crisis affecting our waterways. I have though found plenty to occupy me indoors by getting underway with an interior repaint. This is so much easier when there is just me and the dog aboard, because everything has to be moved from each side of rhe boat and liked on the other while painting is in progress. So far under the gunwhales on one side has gone from gloomy grey to surprisingly vibrant teal reminiscentof a mallard drake. The colour is surprising because I had no exact idea what shade was in the reduced price tin we bought! It has been a delightful surprise! It is so satisfying when things work out unexpectedly.