There is another of those things that I think I should write about here even though I don't write here any more, and it's a good one this time. In fact, there are two of them ( Read more... )

I thought Oggie would be proud of me when, eventually, I told him of our engagement (we're not engaged; but I thought there would be a time when we were, and I'd tell Oggie and he'd be proud). I thought he would kiss me on the cheek on my wedding day, and then make rude comments about the arrangements. I thought he would listen to me complain ( Read more... )

My best friend Oggie died on Sunday 11 February. He was amazing. I don't think I will ever know anyone I can be more sure of. I was going to write more, and less stupidly, but I don't know what to put. I loved him more than the whole world.

It is absolutely frigid ear-shrinking toe-stunning lip-flaking cheek-slapping walk-on-the-sides-of-your-feet two-hats cold.

Nounnat (a French name, with a silent "t") is a charming, likeable, fit and very willing Camargue pony with boundless energy; after a long canter yesterday, following a bigger horse in driving rain, she didn't seem the least bit tired and was still trying to push forward. She has the looks to go with it all, too, and it's a great pleasure to ride ( Read more... )

My second river swim in less than a week this evening, as the water intake for Roe's engine cooling system got blocked at the point where the pipe goes through the hull side, more than a foot below the waterline where I could only locate and unblock it from in the water. It looked like bits of waterlily; what with that and the swans the other week ( Read more... )

When I opened one of the hatches late the other evening, a couple of bolshy swans glid over to investigate. The river was empty except for me and them, and a few drakes splashing around by the boat next door ( Read more... )

After such a long winter it's a relief to find the weather finally getting warmer. There is time in the evening to get things done, and the world seems to open out a bit so that I can make plans. One downside of this milder month, though, is that now I can open the hatches and see the inside of the boat by daylight, the dust that had collected ( Read more... )

I thought I'd write a bit about gardening, which I've continued to do since I started around the time I started this journal, on and off. Living on a boat curtails the possibilities somewhat, but with a few containers, a bit of space on the roof and forward of the cratch, and a large supply of water necessarily to hand, there is still much that can ( Read more... )

I am pleased with everything today. Things I am pleased with include ( Read more... )