A family invasion

29th & 30th March

Shortly after I'd finished last time, Elanor showed up for her deferred haircut. I was a bit nervous about doing it, as she's understandably more concerned about her appearance than we are, but she seemed pretty pleased with it when I'd done.

Yesterday started with boat cleaning in readiness for the invasion later in the day. Since Daniel is now crawling, it was important firstly to get the floor as clean as possible, and secondly to try to anticipate what items would now fall within his reach.

Once done, I went round to the butchers, buying chicken fillets for the night's meal, duck fillets for a treat for Sheila and I for tonight, and a pork pie to add interest to the sandwich lunch.

Cathy, Graeme and Daniel arrived in good time, having had a quick run across from Lincoln for once. It's just amazing how much difference a few month's makes in the first year of life. When Daniel looks at you now, there's a person in there contemplating you, and so much of his behaviour is purposeful and exploratory.

After lunch we went to the National Memorial Arboretum. Graeme was particularly keen to go, although the weather was atrocious. It's a very moving place, and we must make a return visit on a better day. It will be a while (say twenty years) before the trees are doing themselves justice, but it's still worth a decent visit now.

Back at the boat for a welcome cup of tea, we were joined by Elanor for dinner, so we had the whole family aboard. Daniel was remarkably good under the circumstances, although he protested quite a bit about being confined to the cot-sided side berth when we were clearly still enjoying ourselves.

This morning it wasn't Daniel who woke us, however, but a pair of ducks on the roof. Yes folks, it's that time of year again when flirtatious ducks lure their prospective swains onto the top of the boat, emitting that special quack that is the ducky come on signal, and engaging in such amusements as log rolling with our spare firewood.

It was a bright and breezy morning when we surfaced, and we all staggered around eating porridge. Cathy, Graeme and Daniel set off at around 10.30 BST to call in on Elanor on their way home. Sheila and I have spent the remainder of what's turned into a very pleasant day pottering around.

The boat is pretty well back to normal, and only one bib has been left behind by the visitors.

As I write this, Elanor has popped in again in search of a little more haircut – it seems that when she washed it, it became apparent that one side was slightly longer than the other, so she'd like it done again properly please.