Friday, 26 November 2010

Winter's here

In an alarming repeat of last year, we're frozen in before the end of November. The weather, which has been threatening to turn seriously cold for a few days, has finally made good its threat. Open skies and plummeting temperatures overnight last night meant that ice formed right across the marina by this morning.

Our use of salt and grit on the pontoon made it possible to get off without falling over, and walking in sparkling bright sunshine through the village to get the paper was extremely enjoyable given that we were a) well wrapped up and b) not worrying about moving the boat anytime soon.

After our day out yesterday, we've spent the rest of the time doing stuff on board today. Sheila ran a washload and took it across to tumble dry it, and we've done some Christmas shopping on the net. The fire had kept in overnight, and it's been kept well stoked all day. As I type this just before four in the afternoon, Sheila is putting up the shutters and porthole bungs. There's still a bit of daylight, but covering the glass helps to keep the boat warm.

I bought a whole chicken yesterday, so I'll start making stock today, with the aim of having some soup ready tomorrow to keep us warm inside as well as out.

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