Silence

 Apologies for the silence.

I'm very bored and boring currently.

I'm missing my knitting and crochet, most of my craft cupboards are empty.

I need more cerushields for my hearing aids, something that should be perfectly simple to obtain but seems to involve numerous phone calls and complicated bus journeys.

I seem to have developed another eyesight problem which is making reading difficult.

My neighbour Gill has left the marina, her boat is up for sale.

So unfortunately I have very little to write about.

All ok here.

Everything is ok here PatsyAnne, I've been a bit tied up with things. I will post soon.

Kirsty Allsop

 I'm afraid the crisps did go in the bin, just two opened packets. The unopened ones were donated to someone who would eat those flavours.

Many people are up in arms because Kirsty Allsopp has suggested people could get on the housing ladder earlier if they made different choices.

All four of my children bought their own home when they were in their early 20's. I realise not everyone can achieve this but it is manageable.

No my children didn't have financial help.

No they didn't live at home.

No they didn't have fantastically well paid jobs.

One of them bought a house that had a closure order on it.

One started off with part buy, part rent.

Sweeping the chimney

The chimney needs sweeping, it should have been done when the stove door was repaired but Steve decided to leave it. Then the stove wouldn't catch so it has to be done. I found that by saying  "I think the chimney needs sweeping" two or three times a day, for a few days, Steve thinks it was his idea and gets it done!

Steve wanted ham, egg and chips yesterday, it's one of his favourite meals. I made leek and potato soup for myself using up the last of the leeks.  I will order more with my next shop, I'll chop them and freeze them for next time I want soup. 

I will empty out a cupboard today,  it's getting to the stage where stuff falls out every time we open the door. It's the treats cupboard. It's full of crisps that Steve no longer likes and most of them have gone soggy. I don't like wasting food but I don't eat crisps, I will have to keep a closer eye on what he's ordering.

Valentines day

It's Valentine's day soon.

Steve asked what I wanted.

I replied, "Same a last year".

We wait until a week or as after Valentine's day and then we go out for lunch at a local pub.

It's cheaper, quieter and just what we like.

Beano is a perfect gentleman.

On our walk yesterday Beano, Gill my neighbour, and I encountered an elderly gentleman with a nervous chihuahua.

As the chihuahua was on the lead I called Beano and put him on the lead too.

The gentlemen explained that his dog was very nervous as her previous owner had recently died and he had acquired the dog. The dog had not been exercised or socialised and had been a lap dog. Beano sniffed gently and stood quietly whilst the chihuahua sniffed him. We took both dogs off the lead and they had a little wander about together for a few minutes. It was so nice to see the little dog gaining confidence and to see Beano being so calm and gentle.

When we first got Beano he was totally silent, it was three weeks until the first time he barked and another three weeks until he barked again. He is still quite quiet but is barking a lot more this evening as we are moored on the service jetty so there are people going past. Just a couple of little woofs and a grumble and then he settles down again.

When we start travelling again he will bark more as there will be more people passing the boat but he will settle down after a couple of weeks. He usually only barks when he hears someone approach the boat. When it's someone he knows he stops barking as he does when we let people on to the boat.

He has however started to enlarge his vocabulary. Beano's main mode of communication is the stare he will get to his feet and stare pointedly at me. If that doesn't work he will stand on me and stare. If he needs to go out he will give a couple of little yelps.

If one of his friends is out side he will run to the door crying and yelping.

If I'm eating something that he thinks I should be sharing with me he hums, he's not growling its a sort of humming interspersed with little high pitches squeaks. I always think he's singing for his supper.

Tuesday

 VC, you must be so incredibly proud of your niece, she must be so dedicated.

Chloe's nan, we each need to find our own path, I don't use candles as I don't think that me , candles and a wooden boat would be a safe combination.

I'm sorry I think I managed to delete a comment, I do struggle sometimes with small text and fat fingers.

I managed a walk today with a neighbour, it took my mind off my disappointment. I was expecting a visitor today but this was cancelled due to covid.

Today's meal was a combination of an assortment of stuff from the fridge/freezer. A chicken breast, a rasher of bacon, some mushrooms. I sliced a quarter of an onion and a few mushrooms, sliced and added the chicken breast and the bacon. I added a couple of spoonfuls of soft cheese and the last scraping of a tub of cream plus a good grinding of pepper. Once cooked I served with rice. Steve was very doubtful but admitted it was very tasty.

We have to move the boat to the service jetty tomorrow, we are having the engine serviced first thing Thursday morning. We will get coal, gas pump out and diesel and then return to our usual jetty on Thursday once the service has been completed.