I woke up to Steve saying he wanted to make me happy.  I immediately yelled “I’m a prisoner, get me out of heeeeere” but as the helicopter to air lift me out to a waiting jet scheduled for the Caribbean was nowhere to be seen, I replied it has to be a better start than yesterday.  He asked what I meant so I listed that first thing I came across yesterday, even before my ablutions, was the bathroom floor covered in mud from his morning’s walk with Stella, that he was in such a rush to leave, he didn’t do a Captain’s check list and we both went without breakfast. I’m sure there were other niggles but I was trying very hard to get over myself. 

At our first lock at Titmarsh there was a wheel, which looked out of commission, and a control box.  I couldn’t get any of the push button controls in the control box the guillotine to work so I checked the paddles in the gates.  To non boaters this involved lots of walking. Watching our antics from affair, a friendly boater came to our aid and told us the box hadn’t worked in seven years and we had to use the wheel.  The system catches many people out so I thought it time for graffiti and got out a selection of my black Sharpies.  The next visitor will have no confusion unless the lock cleaners are over enthusiastic.  Wonderful for me.  My first moan of the day and nothing to do with Steve (no pun intended).

As the sun smiles my moods get better, but the succession of early morning starts before I wake up do make me feel like I’m on an endurance course.  We’re getting more into a routine of sharing lock tasks and at last, like me, Steve is wearing his walkie talkie on a lanyard around his neck so we can both hear each other in the locks. Result!

Wednesday 17^th May marked 2 weeks of living on the river without being plugged into a mains electricity supply.  Neatly equipped on board by able bodied Steve we have every convenience to make our lives comfortable. Endless hot water for our showers, a working washing machine and of course our life saver Nespresso coffee maker.

Yesterday we had the river and locks to ourselves and at the end of the day we moored on a Friends of the Nene Stanwick Lakes bankside which we also had to ourselves. Two weeks to get here in Pegasus, or a 25 minute car ride. Go figure! The bank was uneven so our gang plank was put in place as I didn’t have a single leap left in my legs – not that I leap anymore these days.

Watching the sun set settled at the site’s the picnic table we had our well deserved 6pm drinkies and nibbles as we admired the panoramic views, the picturesque bridge and the sounds of the local wildlife Spring excitement.