Carried Away By A Moonlight Shadow...

[YnysMon]

Thursday 11th January

We were aiming to return to our home mooring this evening but wanted to stop off somewhere to take the dogs for a walk on the way. Upton was mooted, as the pub was open again. However, Harry pointed out that it’s been a while since we have visited The Lion at Thurne, so we moored at the Boundary Farm moorings instead. The Lion is open Thursdays through to Sundays in this winter period.

 

 

From the Boundary Farm mooring we made our way to South Oby Dyke and then struck inland to meet the Weaver’s Way that took us across fields, past the church and then into the village.

 

Harry and I had a look around the church, including having a nosy into the room under the tower where you can find a spy hole that points in the direction of St Benet’s.

 

There must be a very enthusiastic knitter among the congregation. The nativity set was particularly delightful.

 

Here's the spy hole in the tower. It looks across to St Benet's.

 

In the Lion we shared a platter of olives, houmous, sun-dried tomatoes and toasted ciabatta and a side of chips, which kept us going for the walk back to the boat along the riverside path.

 

On our way to our home mooring, which is just beyond Evening Shadow.

 

The water levels are gradually receding.

 

We got back to Horning before 4pm and Harry and I popped to Roy’s again. This evening we had some lovely lamb steaks (Graham had a Quorn thing) with beer battered chips (also from Roy’s) and veggies.

Watched another couple of Sharpe episodes before bed.

 

 

[Roy]

Thank you for your write up especially at this time of the year! 
 

lovely to see how settled pozzick is on the boat he’s grown in to a lovely looking dog too. 
 

[YnysMon]

Friday 12th January

The usual boring final morning of cleaning. Late morning a chap turned up to do a safety check of the fire extinguishers on all the syndicate boats. Evidently, HPC contract out the checking to a guy that specialises in fire extinguishers. I took the opportunity to ask him about the type of fire extinguishers that we have. Apparently, the ‘rules’ governing holiday lets has changed since last October, and they are no longer allowed to use powder extinguishers. However, the Boat Safety Scheme specifies that we should have powder extinguishers, not CO2 or other types. I also discovered that the extinguishers on the syndicate boats are checked annually and are replaced every five years. That’s reassuring to know.

The weather was rather changeable, so we weren't able to do much cleaning of the exterior of the boat this time.

 

Around lunchtime we made our way to Boulter’s for pump-outs and a re-fuel. We used 38.6 litres of fuel on this trip, which cost us £56 at £1.45 per litre. We didn’t cruise that far, but did use the Webasto heating quite a bit, though we do try to use our mini radiators when we are on electric. Two pump outs cost us £24.

We were able to set off for home before 2pm and had a good journey home, having stopped off at Hoveton to get rid of our recycling at the waste facility that’s near the Hoveton St John’s moorings. We also had lunch at the Old Mill Café, which we have found is consistently good.

[kpnut]

Another successful trip ticked off Helen. Many thanks for writing it up, always interesting to read a different perspective. You always take really good photos too. I ought to get up earlier to see these sunrises; I need more willpower!

[Mouldy]

36 minutes ago, kpnut said:

I ought to get up earlier to see these sunrises; I need more willpower!

Make the most of it at this time of the year, sunrises are a tad early during the summer months. 😉

[YnysMon]

3 hours ago, Mouldy said:

Make the most of it at this time of the year, sunrises are a tad early during the summer months. 😉

It’s even more worthwhile getting up extra early during the Spring and Summer. The bird song alone just after dawn is wonderful. I always see far more wildlife just after dawn than any other time of the day. 

[Andrewcook]

It's very nice to see Pozzic having a good snuggle up after Thier long walk with Serene.Which is the Best place do the dogs like best? visiting the Seaside or the Trips around the Broads.

[YnysMon]

1 minute ago, Andrewcook said:

It's very nice to see Pozzic having a good snuggle up after Thier long walk with Serene.Which is the Best place do the dogs like best? visiting the Seaside or the Trips around the Broads.

As long as they can have a good run they are both happy. On board during the day Seren likes to keep a look out whereas Pozzie just chills out. 

[Mouldy]

58 minutes ago, YnysMon said:

It’s even more worthwhile getting up extra early during the Spring and Summer. The bird song alone just after dawn is wonderful. I always see far more wildlife just after dawn than any other time of the day. 

Mmmm!  Good point.  But I’m quite enjoying living like a normal person after too many years of working shifts, including fourteen years of nights, long hours and starting work at times that don’t feature on a lot of people’s clocks.

[YnysMon]

1 hour ago, Mouldy said:

Mmmm!  Good point.  But I’m quite enjoying living like a normal person after too many years of working shifts, including fourteen years of nights, long hours and starting work at times that don’t feature on a lot of people’s clocks.

Yes, but when the early morning wake up is no longer driven by others, it can be a treat!

My first job in Bletchley railway station used to involve a shift that started at 5.30am. If I didn’t go to bed before 9.30pm the evening before I struggled.

[SwanR]

Lovely write up and great photos. Sounds like syndicate ownership and retirement are working well for you. 👍

[YnysMon]

7 hours ago, SwanR said:

Lovely write up and great photos. Sounds like syndicate ownership and retirement are working well for you. 👍

Yes, we’ve been fortunate in picking up a couple of extra weeks. Luckily this one was at the start of the month and, as the first Sunday of each month is my ‘Sunday off’ playing the organ in church, I didn’t have to worry about letting anyone down by taking the extra holiday. 

[YnysMon]

On 04/02/2020 at 20:26, YnysMon said:

One of the reasons I post holiday blogs is so I can revisit memories. Just read this from an entry dating from February 2020.

On 04/02/2020 at 20:26, YnysMon said:

I’m so looking forward to Saturday. I had meant to do most of the packing last weekend, but both Graham and I were wiped out by horrible colds. Back at work now, but still struggling to sleep at night due to coughing. Small mercies...better last weekend than next! 

That was the month before Covid lockdown. I’m starting to wonder if we did just have colds. The coughing persisted longer than normal. The following month it turned out that Covid was pretty active in Milton Keynes. Our next door neighbour Anne was one of its early victims, I still miss her.
I don’t know about everyone else, but it seemed to us that life took an awful long time to get back to normal. Even now I think that some things will never be the same. 

[SwanR]

5 hours ago, YnysMon said:

Even now I think that some things will never be the same. 

An interesting look back Helen. We had a few days on Swan Reflection in March 2020 that we were lucky to get as it was only a couple of weeks before lockdown. I’m permanently home working now but that wouldn’t have happened without the pandemic. I do think most things are now settled into a new normal.

[MauriceMynah]

3 hours ago, SwanR said:

. I do think most things are now settled into a new normal.

I certainly am :-)

[YnysMon]

6 hours ago, SwanR said:

 I do think most things are now settled into a new normal.

I’m still trying get used to the new normal of being retired! Doesn’t help that we have had three trips on the boat and been up to Anglesey since the end of September. Not that I’m moaning. I just don’t seem to have got into a new routine yet. 

[kpnut]

Be careful - retirement routine can get tedious. Much better to keep flexible and mix it up. 

[MargeandParge]

8 hours ago, SwanR said:

An interesting look back Helen. We had a few days on Swan Reflection in March 2020 that we were lucky to get as it was only a couple of weeks before lockdown. I’m permanently home working now but that wouldn’t have happened without the pandemic. I do think most things are now settled into a new normal.

We think that a new normal is normally connected to growing older. This one was different because it affected everyone and some of the characteristics stuck to every generation. 

Kindest Regards Marge and Parge 

[Roy]

I have started to wear a mask again now in busy small Venues I was in London for a gig last week and the mask was on all day I think the covid lock downs has made me see large areas full of people very differently intact it took some talking to my self to make me go but I did go. 
 

i am so used to being outside in the fresh Norfolk air and it’s certainly been fresh this last week! 
 

[floydraser]

After last year we've decided to try retiring again this year. We are enjoying the free bus rides and today someone told me that in France, over 65s get free ski lifts! Now if only I could work out to get there for free...

I've started to wear a mask again but only in the chemists when waiting for my prescription, as I reckon there's a good chance someone could be ill.

[MargeandParge]

1 minute ago, floydraser said:

After last year we've decided to try retiring again this year. We are enjoying the free bus rides and today someone told me that in France, over 65s get free ski lifts! Now if only I could work out to get there for free...

I've started to wear a mask again but only in the chemists when waiting for my prescription, as I reckon there's a good chance someone could be ill.

You should also work out how to get down the mountain after enjoying the free ride up. I have been told thar skiing can be challenging. 

Kindest Regards Marge and Parge 

[YnysMon]

3 hours ago, floydraser said:

We are enjoying the free bus rides and today someone told me that in France, over 65s get free ski lifts! Now if only I could work out to get there for free...

Ooo, I didn’t know that! Im not sure the knees would hold up though. 

Pre having the boys (i.e. over 30 years ago) skiing was my passion. In fact, the year that Harry (our eldest) was born we had two skiing holidays. One in January in Val d’isere, which we had paid for. Relatively cheapo holiday via coach and self catering accommodation, though we were sufficiently committed to have bought our own skis and boots. The second holiday was in Bormio, Italy, and was just two or three weeks later. We had won that one in a draw we had entered in the pre Christmas Ski Show in Earl’s Court. It was particularly good, as the hotel was part way up the mountain, so skiing from the door. The hotel owner’s wife was from north wales, so we also got preferential treatment. The only downside was that the first signs of morning sickness slightly got in the way of some skiing. Once we were home I did a pregnancy test. Harry was born the following October.

Just figure that out.

[kpnut]

6 hours ago, floydraser said:

today someone told me that in France, over 65s get free ski lifts!

Maybe in some places, probably ones that only have locals going.
Certainly not where I’ve spent many many years skiing, in Risoul and Vars. Discounted yes, free, unfortunately not. 

After more years than I can easily remember telemark skiing down those slopes and in all the wonderful, fairly benign off piste there, I had to finally give up when having a big operation on my back. Maybe a good thing, as perhaps my knees were getting a bit past it. 
I would seriously like to go again though, but not sure I trust myself to be sensible and take it steady. 

[kpnut]

6 hours ago, floydraser said:

Now if only I could work out to get there for free.

You could always revert to your youth and hitch hike!

I managed to get to Norway once for 10 days skiing for well under £100. A long time ago. It was £29 return on the ferry from Newcastle if you just slept on the floor, I think £16 return on the train up to Voss and equivalent of £3 a night on the campsite (it was VERY cold, February). And by working two hours a day in the ski hire shop I got free skis and boots and lift pass.
I took all my own food, dehydrated chicken supreme and angel delight! Just had to buy milk. Would I do that now? No!!!
Most expensive thing was the beer, even then (1990’s) it was about £5 for 1/2 litre. 

[Gracie]

7 hours ago, YnysMon said:

 

Just figure that out.

Well I've had a think and I have come to the conclusion there was a lot more than just skiing going on  x