Sitting out the snowy weather

1st & 2nd February

We seem to have started February in the same cold mode as we left January; I'm glad I got in a good stock of coal before settling here on the Wide. The Newflame is OK as a fuel, burning well, but some investigation on the web suggests that, like its stable mate, Coalite, it's really intended for open fires, although approved for closed stoves like the Squirrel.

It burns with more flame than most solid fuels, and doesn't keep in overnight very well at all. Nonetheless, it does its job of heating the boat, and that's the main thing, especially when there's only the one of us rattling round in it.

I've been spending a fair bit of time snuggled up in Sheila's usual chair (which is nearer the stove than mine), reading and watching DVDs. I've also been heading for bed quite early, even by my standards. If at nine in the evening it's a choice between putting more coal on the fire or going to bed and reading there, the decision kind of makes itself.

The only thing is, the last two nights I've put the light out at ten, had a good night's sleep, and thus woken around six having had my eight hours. It then becomes a question of how long I can stay in bed before the twin attractions of the loo and a cup of tea drive me forth.

Mind you, it's then very pleasant to hop back in again, listening to the radio and drinking the tea until the prospect of the end of my hour's run of the heating encourages me to get up.

That's how it was yesterday. Once breakfasted, I spent the day in a mixture of internet browsing, going to the village for a loaf and a paper, lazing about reading as described and actually cleaning the boat a bit, sweeping the floor, washing the dirty bits of it and, after recharging it, using the mini Dyson, Blake, to get into the corners and so forth.

Just after lunch I was contemplating actually going out for a walk, when Golden Eagle came chugging past, blowing its horn and shouting that they were mad to be boating in the snow. We last met them in Weston on 28 April 2007, when we helped them eat a load of barbequed meat.

This drew my attention to the fact that it was indeed snowing, so I gave up on the walk idea and tried to watch The Draughtsman's Contract instead, but didn't stick it more than half way through. I guess I'm just not that into art house films, even ones described as erotic.

It came across about as erotic as a banana and peanut butter sandwich to me, but maybe I'm just blasé.

It snowed on and off all afternoon and evening, with a fair bit of wind still pushing it around

Today was much the same, only with more snow. There's no real ice on the cut as yet – just a bit by the moorings at the end of the Staffs and Worcs, but there was enough snow about to make it necessary to walk carefully.

I bought some more firelighters in the village, just to be on the safe side, and I've started watching my collection of the Lord of the Rings DVDs all the way through, which should keep me busy for a few days.

Incidentally, I went to check the Met Check site this morning and it was down because overloaded; guess that's my fault for name checking it the other day☺.

Checking the bank accounts when I got a fast connection again (it's been a bit variable over the last 24 hours) I found that BW have finally taken my licence fee, so that's all right.

It's still snowing as I write this, so it's going to be another quiet afternoon and evening. I'm just glad I don't live in a house with all the hassles of frozen pipe work and the risk of power cuts when snow overloads the lines. My only problem is that I reckon I'll have to go to Anglo Welsh again by the weekend to get more diesel; I must have used half a tank by now, so only around 100 litres left.