We're not going out...

We're not going out, not staying in,

Just running around with my head in a spin;
But there is no need to scream and shout;

We're not going out.
We are not going out.

I'll fess up and say that I've been tempted several times recently to suggest to Grace that we throw caution all over the place, bite the bullet (does anyone actually do that?) and go out for an extended cruise. Other people are doing it, I reason, so why not us? We've been out for a couple of short trips in the past weeks, and it's been fine. Let's do it!

And then I read the paper and see that the coronavirus is spreading again, and I change my mind. No way do I want to risk us having to lock down on the boat somewhere miles from anywhere. And anyway, if we were out cruising at the moment, we wouldn't be doing the work we started yesterday. There's no way it would be done if we were cruising.

The paint on the cratch frame had started to crack and peel in places, and the wood was in danger of getting wet, and rotting, so it was a good time to take it all down, sand the woodwork, re-paint it all - and fit a new tunnel-light while we're about it.

Kantara looks and feels very odd with the well-deck exposed!

And while the cover is off, she'll get the wash and polish she so badly needs, the poor old thing.

We still have bodywork paint to finish touching up, and will happily go out for a few days from time time to time to complete that, as we did a few weeks ago, but beyond that, we're staying put.

But now the weather's turned, and the painting job has had to be brought in to stay dry.

Once upon a time, we were simply a tad untidy, but now...

Sarah and Trevor returned yesterday, having been to Stratford-upon-Avon. They'd had a good cruise and thoroughly enjoyed it, but our illustrious Prime Minister was due to address the nation that evening, to announce new measures to reduce the spread of the virus, and they didn't want to risk being locked down in their boat somewhere out on the cut. They'd hurried back, just in case.

As it happened, Johnson didn't impose the lockdown, but hasn't ruled out the future possibility. We're glad to be here, but a bit annoyed that our efforts over the past few days have been rewarded with a downward turn in the weather. We awoke this morning to 16° in the boat. What a blessing the Bubble stove is!

*******