Bumfuzzled.

I am completely bumfuzzled. It is my new word, don’t you just love it, ok it would be just as easy to say confused, but I like bumfuzzled much better. So here I am bumfuzzled at how much coffee costs when you go into cafes. There seems to be such a huge difference depending on where you drink coffee. For instance on average people spend £1.92 when they drink in either Starbucks or Costa Coffee. I have only ever drunk in Costa Coffee once and if I remember rightly the coffee was £2.25 for a cup of coffee and a biscuit on the side. I did wonder if I asked to have the coffee without the biscuit whether it would make the coffee cheaper?

I am just a decaf, instant cup of coffee girl. I am not into these Expresso’s or Latte’s, so I prefer to find the cheapest place to have a coffee, which is usually an indoor market cafe, where you can get a mug, yes a good old fashion mug of coffee from between 80 pence and £1, which to me is much more realistic.

The other day we went into a cafe, which already had it Christmas decorations up and they were charging £2.20 for a coffee. It was extra for a decaf coffee, we walked out of the cafe and said “No thank you”. Just a short walk along the street and another cafe was serving coffee for £1.40 a cup. The coffee was the same, so why such a huge difference in price?

I suppose it could be said that some of these places are actually ripping us off, because they know they can.

Time with friends.

Hello blog readers out there, who have been missing my posts. I am still alive and kicking, but have been busy with lots of new things going on in my life.

On Saturday, Irene and Ian arrived and came to us for coffee and cake, I had made a Victoria sponge filled with a Lemon Curd and butter icing. With it still feeling warm we sat out and laughed and giggled, whilst we caught up on some of ours and their news. Saturday evening Keith and I went out for a meal with our dear friends Irene and Ian who live on board NB Freespirit. Both Irene and Ian are such wonderful friends and we had a very enjoyable evening in a Thai celebrating Ian’s birthday. Yesterday (Sunday), we had coffee and cake on board Freespirit, before Irene and Ian had to leave for pastures new, but it was wonderful to see them and to catch-up on all their news.

Today (Monday) like in most areas of the country it has been pouring with rain and when I say pouring I mean lashing it down at times. So whilst Keith went off to sort out his mobile phone sim card, I decided I would take the Summer curtains down in the back cabin and all the lace, because they get covered in dust and soot with the back cabin stove going, not that it is lit at the moment, we only have the saloon stove lit at the moment. Back to Keith’s mobile phone, unfortunately it has ended up in the canal, but thankfully he has a spare handset, so he just needed a sim card. Curtains taken down, I got on with making a Winter pair of curtains, the Winter ones do not have any lace on them, so they do not trap the dust and soot so much. By the time Keith got back to the boat, I had finished the new curtains and got on with making us some lunch. With the rain still falling, I went to the laundrette to wash the curtains and lace, which came up all nice and clean, but the tumble drier did not completely dry them on the money I had put into the machine, so I have hung them up in the boat to finish drying. The back cabin looks like a Chinese laundry.

I have been busy with my crochet, and I will post photographs of my new projects. My only worry now is I am going to run out of wool again grrrrrrrr.

Little regard.

As I lay in bed listening to the church bells chiming 7am and hearing a cyclist speeding past, it got me thinking about how some people have no social etiquette.

I find swearing is so unattractive and makes anyone just seem barbaric and uncultured. Throwing a cuss word in between every other words doesn’t make you any more attractive, and most definitely doesn’t make you look more intelligent, I think it does someone no favours, but it is something I hear a lot when people are walking along side the boat and they probably think we cannot hear what they are saying and yet we hear every word. Most people who know me I hate the use of the F and C word. The worst your will ever get out of me is Bloody Hell.

Stepping on to someone’s boat uninvited, in my opinion is a no no. The other day we were talking to a guy, who preceded to try and step on to our back counter, in order that he could take a photograph of our back cabin and engine. We asked him nicely to step off and the reasons for why, I then thought to myself, would this gentleman like us to go to his house and just open the door and walk in? To me it is no different, as our boat is our home. I never step on to someone’s boat without asking first , it is just a common courtesy in my opinion.

Living on the canal means the towpath and surrounding countryside our garden and therefore, I want it to look nice. But every time we moor up, we have to litter pick and scoop the poop. Now for those people who drop their litter and do not scoop the poop, do they have gardens which are littered with litter and poop, because to me again it is no different.

Etiquette applies to using the canals as well, but that is another posting for the future.

Crochet project No 2

I am well and truly hooked now and have just completed blanket number two. This one is for a pram or buggy and is crocheted in chunky wool, so will be lovely for chilly days. Now I just need to find someone who would like it.

Paddy at speed.

Paddy is not one for rushing around, but occasionally he will run along the towpath.

Autumn has arrived.

Well howdy there, yes I am feeling the need to post again.

Today (Sunday) is the Autumn equinox, the sun is rising later now, and nightfall comes sooner. The leaves will be showing their autumn colours and the wildlife will be in full view. I do so love the Autumn and all it has to offer and yes that does include the cold winds, frosts and wonderful sunsets. Autumn also means the back cabin stove comes into its own, as I begin to cook stews and curries, with the smell hanging in their air. I will soon be swapping my Summer clothes for my Winter fleeces and long sleeves shirts, the shorts will be put to bed for another year and the tan will soon fade, but Autumn is such an amazing time of the year. Christmas (arghhh) is getting closer and Halloween will soon be at our door.

But how can you not love this time of the year?

I woke this morning to the sound of cows mooing and the ducks quacking. The sun was out and I had, had a good nights sleep, which was the first of the week, because I have been having IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) issues for a few days, I have to say they have been a little self inflicted. To much spicy food which has sent my allergy to Nickel into overdrive. I will lay off the spices for a few days and I will be back to normal again, what ever normal is .

After a nice cuppa in bed and a natter, it was time to get up and about. Paddy and I walked up the towpath in the warm sunshine. He had his nose to the ground and I had my face being warmed by the Autumn sunshine. When we got back to the boat, Keith was on breakfast duty, with it being a Sunday and so I relit the back cabin stove, filled the copper kettle with water and tidied the side bed. I do like a tidy back cabin, with the cushions plumped and in the right place and the crochet blankets neat and tidy, including the new one I have made. Breakfast cooked and enjoyed, this morning it was scrambled eggs on toast, Keith also had some bacon. Marmite having had her breakfast, retired to the back cabin side bed and the warm, whereas Paddy curled up in his bed. I have never known a Collie sleep as much as he does. Having slept all night, he was soon snoozing again. I reckon he must be the most laid back Collie in the world.

I have no real idea what my day is going to deliver, but I have Marmites claws to slip and the gearbox oil to check, so that will keep me busy for all of 15 minutes, after that I will get on with my crochet projects and then see what the rest of the day brings. May your day be filled with joy and laughter. xx

First attempt.

I bet there are things in your life you wish you had done or could in fact do well Crocheting was one of mine. No one in my family ever crocheted and so I never learnt. I am not the sort of woman who can learn by reading a pattern or the beginners guide to crochet. I needed someone to show me how and that someone was Cynthia on NB Guinevere. Whilst at the Alvecote gathering on the 24th August, Cynthia showed me how to crochet. I sat down with her and we went through each step together and within an hour I had it by George I had it. I sat for every spare minute and got on with my Grand Union Blanket and the photograph above is the result of a couple of weeks work woooo hooo. I never ever thought I would do it, but hey presto I have made my first blanket and I am so proud of myself. I have already started my next project, so watch this space.

Such Fun.

See told you I would be back if something interesting came up.

This past weekend we have been enjoying the Village at War at Stoke Bruerne, so I thought I would share some of the photographs from the event with you.

We so love this event.

The boats were in.

I have nearly finished it.

Off to church.

Time to go.

The weekend was not spoilt to much by the weather, which did close in on the Sunday. As like every year we chatted, laughed and enjoyed the company of many people who return each year for a splendid weekend of music, re-enactments and some amazing outfits. Here is to next year.