We have decided that, before we go off on our continuous cruising in March/April, we would like to have a holiday in Suffolk. We are not homesick, although we do miss the sea, the woods, the fish from Southwold and some of the people, we just fancied going home for a week. We always said that if we didn’t live so close we would like to stay in one of the cottages near the garden centre and tearooms in Dunwich. Therefore we are doing just that, from 19th Feb to 26th Feb we will be staying at Avocet Cottage. Anyone who wants to catch up, without having to make the long journey to Leicester or elsewhere, let us know.
This holiday is a good move for a couple of other reasons. We have got to have our shower replaced due to the trap leaking. Apparently ours was the first of this particular type of shower tray they have fitted and it has not been a success! We are having it done while we are away so we won’t have to put up with the disruption. We are also having a back boiler fitted to our Squirrel while we are away and the fire will be out. That means when we get back and I get it fired up again we can have hot water all the while without using the immersion heater or running the engine or using the Mikuni. Essentially, as we have to have a fire anyway, the hot water will be free and the radiators in the bedroom and bathroom will be warm all the time too …… bonus. Pity we didn’t think of having this done at the start, it would have certainly helped in the freezing weather we have just had!
My fires have become like Dante’s Inferno just lately. With the introduction of some better coal to really get a stoke up I have had to invest in a welder’s glove to use when poking the fire and putting coal on as it is too hot to get near sometimes! Still I don’t mind risking life and limb to keep my two boys warm and cosy!
Talking of my boys, we have just bought George a new basket (how interesting is that?). He loved his old one, he could make lots of noise and smells sorting out his blanket, but it was too big for the boat. We experimented with various snuggly beds and cushions but he seemed to prefer my recliner, so much so that he would actually growl at me if I sat in it until I got out and sat on the dinette! As we have booked this holiday we thought he would need a basket to sleep in at the cottage. Since we brought it home he has been welded to it, we had to prise him out of it earlier to take him to the pub! A successful purchase then.
The thaw has set in here, hopefully it will be a slow one or we will end up at the top of the steps as the river floods! It’s nice to walk about without worrying about going arse over tit all the time! It seems ages since it went above freezing! Roll on Spring!
