Hello there peeps and nice to see all those very familiar friendly names
still on the groups!Thought that you might like to know a little bit of what
we are up to with our boat life... Eventually sold the house after the
intial prospective purchaser backed out 6 days before completion so there
was a lot of tension and a couple of tears when we wondered if our dream of
life afloat would ever be realised........but to cut a long story very short
we eventually completed on August 12th and moved into a 20' caravan which
whilst being rather soooooper inside, lacks some of basic comforts like
shutting the door in the bathroom without having to go on tippy toes to
avoid banging yer elbows on the door knob! A minor setback but it will be a
great releif to get into our new narrowboat aka THUIS (pronounced Towse)
meaning HOME in Dutch. We have been using the time in the caravan to go out
and about and buy the bits and pieces we need for the boat, the waste tank,
a bank of batteries, a multi fuel stove, toilet ( that cost ?1000.00!!!!!and
it's not even gold plated LOL).......new cooker and all the other bits that
will make our lives comfie afloat.
We have things in a storage unit, in two shops and the boot of the car as
well in the awning of the caravan but it will be so nice to get everything
together once again and have a home. As Andy told you we lost money with the
first boat builder but we have to say thankyou to the first house purchasers
for pulling out of the transaction otherwise we'd have lost ?33k instead of
the ?1k as the boat builder had gone bottoms up with debts in excess of
?900k !!!!A lot of people lost everything so perhaps someone up there was
looking out for us!Anyway we eventually sorted out another boat builder and
keeping fingers crossed we should be getting our boat end of this
month/beginning of next so all we have to do is fit it out with the
electrics/plumbing/central heating/kitchen units/bedroom fittings/shower/loo
and all the other odds and ends to ensure we can sail away in March.
We are off to Holland for a long weekend shortly to vist our youngest son
James and his girlfriend, the dogs will be staying with our oldest lad and
grandsons so it should be a nice trip across the waters.
Healthwise we are both fine, Robert was in hospital for a minor operation in
August to take one of the wire rings which had decided to poke through his
skin from around his sternum, he was writen up for a general but opted for a
local so he could get back to us the same day and no other side effects
whatsoever!
Arthur still tries to rule my life and occasionally *it* wins but I can cope
pretty well. Leg and hip still playing up but the latest is the tingling in
my right hand when I extend my arm! Like little electric shocks and a
nuisence if I lean on my elbow but I can manage so am not going to be
whining too often about that.
Both had our anti-flu jabs and unlike last years, have not had any side
effects.........Still doing my sewing and have just completed making all the
curtains for the boat, have to sit on a pile of cushions though to reach the
table!
Got my metal detector and have found the grand total of ?8.74!!!! plus a few
dozen ring pulls.
Got badly stung by a wasp who decided to investigate up me trouser leg!!! I
had a plate of sandwiches in  me hand at the time and didn't know whether to
drop me sarnies so the dogs could get them or drop me trousers to get at the
thing that was stinging! Chose the later ha!ha! Ended up with 5 stings on my
leg and an itch like you would never believe.
Walked into a glass door on the same door frame as Roberts side which was
open! But in all honesty this has been the most relaxing time I can ever
remember and one that we are both enjoying so much. We look out onto a large
flock of Canadian Geese, swans, and ducks each day, have a couple of grey
squirrels which come for food each day and go walking at least 3 times a day
along the River Severn with the dogs. Each night ses us tired but happy and
looking forward to having quality time together after everything else we
have endured.
Sorry to have waffled on for so long but I can't get onto a compie very
often now because of not having a landline any longer but will keep looking
in and talking to Andy.
Nice talking with you all and here's hoping that everyone of you is well and
happy.
Love to all,
ConnieD.