New Year, old freeze

Readers of the Building Sanity Again blog will know that we returned from Lincoln to find our home safe, sound and warm after my arrangements to protect her through a severe frost. Unfortunately, as well as various Christmas gifts and some happy memories, we've brought back a ferocious cold apiece; indeed, poor Elanor, whose Yuletide had a number of downsides, is really suffering.

This is to add to the fact that that her car was rammed from the side just as she brought us to her house for onward transmission to Lincoln, and her water supply froze on Christmas morning, not recovering for several days, most of which she spent with us after our return.

At least the other driver has accepted responsibility for the collision, as well he might, since he drove into the side of her, but she still has all the hassle of getting the car repaired.

Here at Great Haywood, the ice is slowly thawing, but it looks like at least another week will be needed to see it off, even if the present forecast of a continuing slow thaw after today's little dip in temperatures is correct.

All we can do is sit tight and wait; buoyed up by the helpfulness and friendliness of our fellow moorers, most especially Dave and Jenny. Dave, the marina handyman, has spent most of the daylight hours since Christmas repairing a whole series of bursts and leaks in the jetties' water supplies.