Locusts next? Frogs?

Time was running out to get Kantara's paintwork thoroughly cleaned and waxed before the harshest weather arrives. And it seemed horribly close as we set about doing the job. Grace had hurt her hip somehow, worked with me nonetheless, and the whole job was done in around eight hours over two days. The result was very impressive.

We had brief moments of envy as friends passed on their way out onto the canal while we were hard at work - Mike and Marion on NB Duxllanding who will be spending their first winter on the cut, and Chris and Alison on Doo Lally Ally having spent a very full summer of travelling and now setting off for more.

Our time will come again.

What they won't be very happy about is the very extreme wind and torrential rain we've had here since that day. Other parts of the country have suffered flooding.

The Plague of Flies continues, with up to a dozen finding their way into the cabin every day. I've just killed twenty or so under the cratch cover and fed them to the fish. We were somewhat gratified to learn that we are not alone in this. Ed from Emma Jane told me they'd experienced the same extreme invasion too. "Locusts next? Frogs?" we mused.

The Said the Maiden gig at The Big Comfy Bookshop in Coventry was excellent, by the way, and in a superb, very unusual venue!

A new neighbour from the Dark Side

I can't deny that I felt a little peeved when a couple of Yelvertoft moorers walked along our pontoon this afternoon, clearly considering moving their boat into the space previously occupied by NB Smudge. And even more peeved when they moved their boat in within the hour! Bang goes our view to starboard! We're back to the boat-both-sides situation again now. It has to be said, that's the situation we signed up for back in 2011, when NB 19th Hole was moored there. And the pontoon-end space does cost more to rent. And we had the opportunity to move into it ourselves, and chose not to. Or, at least, we dithered for too long.

Nonetheless, we extend a warm welcome Jan and Ed on NB Emma Jane. They've come from a berth on the other side (aka "The Dark Side") of the marina which they'd occupied for four years, and they're very pleased to have a better outlook, a greater expense of water in front of them. And a better class of neighbour. (My words, not theirs!) It'll be nice for Grace and me to have pontoon-sharing neighbours again who spend most of the year aboard. Three months of the year they'll spend abroad (see what I did there?), but for two of those we'll be in St Albans anyway.

Last night was the Halloween party. The food was hot and tasty, and it was good to spend time with the crews of Doo Lally Ally, Hereward and Wreyland; Alison & Chris, Myra & Adrian, and David.

NB Hereward

NB Wreyland

Actually speaking with them was somewhat hindered by the high volume of the music, however. Throats and ears were hurting by the time we all left early.

Er, this way,Chris?

Count & Countess Dracula

Holiday atmosphere

May Bank Holiday weekend always brings a rush of activity to the marina. Folk come to their boats to do work in preparation for holidays later in the year. Some make the weekend the start of a holiday. Many just come to get out onto the cut for a few days. There were a lot of boats on the move. And the weather was perfect, with sunny skies, warm air and no wind. Nearby wind turbines - and we have thirteen in view - were motionless, the marina water like a mirror.

Jenny and Bob took the opportunity to organise two events for moorers. At three o'clock, we gathered in the marquee to form teams of four or so, and to be given our instruction sheet for a "Treasure Hunt" in Yelvertoft village. It was rather like the one we did later in the year last year, with clues to things we needed to find and identify. We teamed up with Robert and Verna, and Kyan, their grandson. It was a three-hour event for us, and Grace, who was wearing a pedometer, clocked up over 9,000 paces - about 4½ miles. We didn't find everything required, but we were the third team back - we were last back last year - and came a respectable second in the hunt.

At 7:00, we went back to the marquee to join Chris and Alison from NB Doo Lally Ally, and Sarah and Trevor from NB AtLast for a barbecue and quiz. Chris came up with the brilliant team name Kan't Doo Last - and we didn't. We won! The bottle of sparkling wine, presented to us as the evening came to a close, we're keeping on Kantara until the Halloween event in the Autumn, when we'll team up again, and share the wine.

It was a really good day.