It's just over a week now since we winded (that's canalspeak for turned round) "Hazel" so that we could work on the left hand side (port to sealubbers). We all have our different languages. The main job has been replacing the front section of cabin side and the two forward windows. We've invested in new double glazed windows as that end of the boat has sometimes felt cold, in spite of the woodstove. The windows are on order and should be ready soon. The old ones won't be wasted. They'll probably go into "Southam" when we finally get her cabin sorted out.
Danny and Charlie didn't come for a week as Danny had back trouble, but they came today. Charlie started on the huge task of sorting out the paintwork while Danny finished the job of renewing the castle panels on the back cabin doors. Sadly the lovely panels that Maxine painted had to be removed as the wood was rotting. Oddly, they were made of elm. A strange and not very long lasting choice of wood. I didn't have much to do with fitting out the back cabin, leaving it to Martin, who, other than this, did a very good job.
Nessie has been busy cleaning and fitting solar panels, on the days that he's not running the shop.
I've stayed in the back cabin on odd nights when no-one else wants to boatsit. It's a bit chilly in the mornings still so, with the aid of a nightlog of compressed bark I'm doing my best to keep the range burning all night. Each evening I'm lulled to sleep by the song of a blackbird. Each morning I'm woken by a wonderful dawn chorus. This is in spite of being tied under a concrete bridge next to a busy motorway junction.
