Staying in

A very common question from gongoozlers is "Does it get cold in the winter in the boat?", to which the usual answer is no, the combination of the solid fuel stove and diesel fired central heating keeps us toasty and warm, thanks. But it has to be said that today's conditions have been testing that argument to the limit – it's been as cold out there today as it was at anytime during the official winter.

It's not the snow, so much as the bitter easterly wind that does the damage. Even with the high levels of insulation between the steel sides and the wooden linings the wind chill works its way through, especially if blowing onto the stern.

In order to have air to breathe we need ventilators, both high and low level. Those in the bow are sheltered by the cratch cover, but the stern one has no protection, not to mention the gaps around the slide. We've been keeping the engine room door shut, obviously, but there's still the air flow over and under the door.

As a result, we're been getting through the last of our coal quite quickly today, and we'll need further supplies tomorrow beyond doubt.

We've each been off the boat once, spending the rest of the day firmly inside. It's helped that we've got stuff to do; a major project has been costing up the myriad things that have to be bought for Walnut Lodge, all those bits and pieces like cutlery and crockery, cleaning stuff, towels and bedding, pots and pans, rugs for the floor, pictures for the walls, you name it.

It's just like setting up home together for the first time, quite takes us back.

We had planned to leave the marina and start cruising on Monday, but there would really be no merit in doing so in view of the forecast. In our continuous cruising days we'd have spent days like this tied up; there's just no point in enduring the misery of standing on the back with snow blowing straight in your face unless you absolutely have to be moving.

Instead we'll sit tight here until after Easter weekend, giving us a chance to have Elanor to stay and treat her to a belated birthday meal. She'd like steak, she said last night, at which point Sally pricked up her ears...