Is that a light I see in the distance.?

This lockdown seems to have gone on forever…but things seem to be easing at last.

We have spent what feels like an eternity on the boat in the marina. But, if I am honest, I have very little to complain about. Especially when you hear some of the heart rendering stories of what other people have been through. Nonetheless, life has settled into a rather flat, and uninteresting series of minor events. Waking, eating, exercising, shopping and watching telly blend. Days merge into one another and bank holidays and weekends have lost all their sparkle to join the rather drab and congruent weekday relatives. You find you have to stop and think what day of the week it actually is. Ho hum.

Of course its easy to only focus on the negatives, but there are a lot of positives too. Wendy and I have had a lot of time together, in a small boat totally under each others feet, with few distractions. Hmm, ok, well the weather has been really sunny! We were lucky that just before lockdown we had got Martha, and she has been a real treat! She alone drags my sorry arse out of bed in the morning to walk her in all weathers so she can make herself comfortable. She is still very puppy-like and loves to play.

A very comfortable place, even when the bar is closed

And let’s not forget the marina. It is a beautiful place to spend your time, surrounded by lovely and well kept grounds. There is plenty of room to walk the dog, and very few people on their boats – so it’s a very low risk place to stay. All in all, it’s been a real haven for us, and has kept our spirits up in the darker days.

There is nothing quite like a long walk in some beautiful countryside when the sun is shining and the sky is blue and peppered with small white friendly clouds. There is a wonderful place just up the road where you can really get away from it all (if not all the other people doing the same!). It has been a real tonic and let us pass the time with a moderately firm grip on sanity. We will miss this place when we set off – but not for long I suspect!! We so miss the journey and cannot wait to cast off and join the cut once more to adventures new. And hopefully the pubs will be open too….