Bathroom, boat and baby

Well, we're still here. In the house, that is. We've been back to Kantara a couple of times, doing the Webasto thing and generally checking that the boat's not missing us too much. 

"Stern bilge dry? Check! Dehumidifier working? Check! Batteries charged? Check! No mould? Er... Check! Cratch cover okay? Yup! Stern skirt, too? And... check!"

We're going back again the tomorrow, actually spending two nights aboard! This is to oversee the replacement of a sludged up radiator in the cabin, and the fixing of a seized valve on another rad. And, if we're lucky, the removal of an unwanted thermostat from our old Bubble stove.

We'll be leaving behind the bathroom installers, who will start the job today. We've been warned that the process of ripping out the old will be dreadfully noisy. We hope to be missing the worst of it!

Being back at the house has meant that we've been able to see grand-daughter Nina lots.

First, her first birthday...

Then looking after her for five hours on each of five days.

We were quite tired by the end of each day's fun, too!

After a long period of lack of inspiration, I've finally got back to working on my latest book. This one's nothing to do with boats, canals and rivers. This one is about teachers, based very much on my thirty-seven year experience of teaching. Working title, "Those who can". It may not get as far as publication, but I'm having fun writing it. We'll see.

The bathroom fitters have started ripping out the old tiles and so on. The noise is awful! I'm off to plug some good music into my ears!

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