Living On Board a Refit

We’ve spent a year doing up Pegasus.  Steve in charge of floors, walls, plumbing, electrical and carpentry works.  I’ve been in charge of getting out of the way, dump runs, supply collections, oiling, varnishing and domestic goddess duties.

Having been at times without a kitchen, bathroom, hot water and sometimes all at once its amazing how I suddenly became appreciative of everything I’ve had and taken for granted my entire life living in various homes – including the caravan!

I remember an occasion when a friend came to visit and asked “how can you live like this” and another friend on Pegasus replying on my behalf “you’re not helping”!

Mainly kitted out, but with finishing bits and pieces to be done everywhere we are at last on our adventures.

What kept us sane?

Living on a big marina is like being on holiday every day, even living in a work in progress as we were. All of our neighbours became friends and walking down our pontoon to the car to make any sort of trip I had to factor in a minimum of an extra 10 minutes for the hellos and general chat.  Mostly in a hurray, I would keep up the pace saying to anyone trying to chat “walk and talk, walk and talk”. The car park was quite a walk from the car so car keys were only forgotten once.

The marina had its own Social Club. I threw myself into it as Membership Secretary, computerising the membership system and gleefully helping out with events. I was in my element.

It’s a Man’s World

Nearly every man on a boat is multi-skilled in DIY. Always with something to do on a boat all year round they would give each other advice, lend tools and often a hand. It’s the only time in my entire life I’ve witnessed “men’s world”. Too many to name in case I forget anyone, but special thanks to Wigley, Dave, Martin, Tony and Mark.