Month: November 2015

Well, we’re coming to the end of the second week of our new life afloat. So far so good. My brother, the intrepid sailor (see mvpassim.tumblr.com), came to visit us for 2 nights before he zooms off to Oz for 3 or 4 months – seeing his son in Perth. Hmm, that seems to be the way, somewhere warm for the winter – we’re getting thru 2 bags of coal a week just keeping us cosy & warm.  Still, we are cosy & warm.  It was a nice visit – watched the 2nd Star Trek on the boat on our 3D TV and then went to Northampton to watch Spectre, the new Bond film on the 2nd night – via the Wheatsheaf! That pub keeps getting better – it was quiz night and they do small meals for £5. Just the ticket.

* that’s the beauty of wearing a kilt

Went to check out a pub in Rugby – the Merchants Inn – great place! With a 80+ barrel beer festival starting tomorrow!

http://www.merchantsinn.co.uk/

No, it’s not a dirty lens but the view from our window

Spent the morning in Market Harborough, shopping – vital supplies (gin and bottled water for my beer kit) plus food and a poker for the fire. Found that amazing butchers in the centre of the town: http://www.batesbutchersmarketharborough.co.uk/ they sell a fantastic variety of meat – we picked up some cooking chorizo and morcilla (the spanish black sausage) plus some belly of pork – so it’s a big garbanzo stew tonight. Probably going to visit the Knightley Arms in the village as it’s under new management – they’ve put their beer list on a board outside – good move – Woodforde’s Wherry will entice us in.

The place is getting better – still  a bit stuffed but we can sit down now

The USB aerial connects us to the marina’s wifi. Viv’s keeping tabs on the expenditure, as things is a bit tight. Still we have a big bowl of fruit and some very fat ducks keep walking up the pontoon …

Toby’s very happy – 3 or 4 walks a day … winter draws on . .  it’s nearly 5 and getting dark.We’re experimenting with switching off the shore power and relying on solar during the day but little hope of seeing the sun today!

Well, we spent a week cleaning and clearing the house. Lizzie & Charlie are our lovely new tenants – we met up on Friday morning, signed the papers and left!  Goodbye Blagdonia – hello Yelvertoft.

Sooooooooo much stuff! But time to walk Toby up Cracks Hill in the sunshine.

This is the marina looking back down from the Hill:

Friday night saw us eating out at the Wheatsheaf in Crick – wonderful food & a good variety of beers too. Saturday saw more unpacking & stowing it all away. The marina had a big party – it’s Hallowe’en! We were totally shattered but thought we ought to pop in for a bit …

A lot of the boaters had definitely got in the mood …

They even had their own band … plus 3 barrels of real ale, food and fun!

Today, Sunday, it’s now November but the sun’s out & the solar panels are soaking it up.  Looks like we’ve finally got everything stowed … how many inches are we down in the water??

Next week is chill time – getting used to this new life and shopping for food and bits for the boat . .  always bits for the boat! Still we have our Glencadam to keep us warm – cheers!

Nearly straight inside …