We have just got up and it is Saturday morning. Outside it is sunny and minus
four degrees centigrade. But the boat is nice and warm so we thought we would
get the kettle on and make a start on this update.
We have had a very enjoyable month since turning into 2006 with one or two
projects planned and the odd leak to sort out. We do wonder if calling the
boat "Leak Rest" might be part of the problem!
Well going back to New Year's Eve activities, it was a first for us both.
We stayed in, lit the barbecue and cooked two nice entrecote steaks. We had
a lovely meal then settled down to watch French TV for New Year here then
switched over to see Jools Holland's Hootenany bring in the UK New Year. It's
probably the first year we have done this since we got married in 1971. What
happened to Andy Stewart and the White Heather Club? Not to mention Jimmy
Shand and his band? Maybe they were at another gig.
We decided to start 2006 in the same manner as we had finished 2005, "chilling
out". So on New Years day we didn't venture out and didn't even bother
to get out of our pyjamas! Now as we don't want you to think we were lonely
during this period, we decided that a celebrity on board would be a good idea.
But since this was after the event, it had to be a fantasy celebrity. So without
further ado, we would like you to meet our New Year's Eve special guest who
insists on hollering...
PAINT IT BLACK
Of course he doesn't know much about painting boats so I think we will stay
with cream.
Now let's get down now to what we like to do, "projects", and
a comment David made in an email seems very apt at this point.
"We spend the summer in a state of wonder. Wonder what an extra radiator
in the saloon would be like? Wonder what it would be like with a dinette in
that corner? Wonder what it is like if your hot water tank doesn't leak?"
Well we did the extra radiator and that's very popular (picture later),
so then we started project two. A dinette, that converts to a bed, to be situated
in the wheelhouse. This had to be, first and foremost, comfortable as a dining
area then comfortable as a bed. So we made a mock up using anything to hand
so that we could check.
ANGLES OF DANGLES
Of course we did have to break off and socialise sometimes and these activities,
although simple in themselves, are very enjoyable and don't break the bank.
The "Franglais" night for example is very popular. It was started
by Caroline who is English and has a barge just down the river from St. Jean
de Losne. The Franglais night is held once a month and is a mixture of French
and English speaking people who, in a very pleasant atmosphere at the "National
Café", try to learn one another's languages. Maybe the bar should
be called the "International" café?
Sylvie and Gerard, who we met last winter at a Franglais night, live on
the main street in the village and are the proud owners of a cave (wine cellar)
and a banana tree. Sylvie works in Dijon in tourism and Gerard restores antiques.
SYLVIE AND GERARD
Another friend that we met last year at Franglais night leads a very busy
life and is called Thierry. He is a full-time pharmacist, part-time fireman
and in his spare time, plays guitar in a dance band. He is never still and
was a good help to David when he broke his rib and suspected blood pressure
was diagnosed by the doctor. Happily the blood pressure was a false alarm
and the rib now seems fine.
Again, like last year, we supported the fire station by donating a small
amount of euros in exchange for a calendar. As we are moored just behind the
fire station, we collected the calendar and got a guided tour from Thierry
who is one of the fire chiefs there.
THIERRY and PAMELA
Not everyone stays at H2O when they spend the winter at St. Jean de Losne.
Robbie and Al for example are moored over in Joel Blanquart's part of the
Gare d'Eau. Now we don't know what it is with this couple, who are really
nice people and definitely worldly wise when it comes to boats, but they do
seem to wear some rather strange head gear. At the Christmas party it was
Robbie in the "big knitted hat" whereas Al, in the next photo, seems
to be wearing a cross between a tiara and a fez!
AL'S TIARA/FEZ
So, back to the project.......
Boxes nearly made, backrests under construction and it was coming along nicely.
COMING ALONG
All this activity can leave you totally exhausted! But an evening with your
feet up watching French telly can be very relaxing. Of course French telly
doesn't suit everyone, as you will see in the next photo.
TOTALLY EXHAUSTED
Monday morning walks still take place and even though the weather is cold,
it is dry and is always a good start to the week. Of course it can get a bit
chilly around the ears so Al picked up this little number in Kashmir. It is
made from Himalayan Fox fur.
Robbie is wearing her favourite smile - she is rarely seen without it.
ROBBIE and AL, HAT IT AGAIN
Just out of interest, Al and Robbie are Australians and Robbie tells us
that she can trace her family right back to the second shipload of settlers
to reach Australia. She's just not sure whether her ancestor was a crew member
or a convict.
We must be due for another Gromit photo, so here he is checking that the
new radiator in the saloon is working ok.
NO LEAKS HERE
Back to the dinette project and we thought that the top of the new seating
would look good if we put a shelf along. The next photo shows Pamela putting
the first coat of varnish on it.
PAINT IT VARNISH
Everyone's favourite duck (Big Mac) is still hanging around the Gare d'Eau.
Either no one had the bottle to "neck" him at Christmas, or boat
ovens just aren't big enough. When you consider the size of the Mallard duck
next to him, you can see that he is a very big bird.
WE NEED A BIGGER OVEN
Val on the narrowboat "Dillykim" spotted the sign in the next
photo on the door of our local supermarket. We knew last year that the villagers
of Losne (across the River) organised a trip to the snow but we never saw
an advert for it. So this year we have eight boaters going with some more
threatening to go. Its a two hour bus ride to the High Jura mountains and
we have use of a warm room to eat our picnic lunches. At 13 euros each (about
£9), which won't break the bank, we will have a great day we're sure.
A DAY IN THE SNOW
The next picture was taken at lunchtime on the 22nd January and is of Pamela
standing in Losne, which is on the opposite riverbank to St. Jean de Losne.
THE LOSNE RANGER
We were running out of our favourite red wine so a trip to Nuits St George
was called for. We went with Paul and Val and thought a coffee stop was in
order. The centre of Nuits St George seems to be getting a face lift. It looks
like a big job but they do seem to get on with things over here so no doubt
it will be finished well before the summer visitors arrive. The last time
we were at this establishment, the "Central Brasserie", was in the
spring of last year with Peter Thorn and Richard Stead "Yorkshire Narrow
boaters" (just like Paul and Val).
COFFEE STOP
We received an invite out to lunch from Robbie and Al and went to a restaurant
we hadn't eaten in before. The restaurant, "L'Ecu", is named after
an old small French coin and is very popular and good value. Its also well
within walking distance which is always a good idea when wine is included.
LUNCH STOP
It was soon time to get some upholstery done for the dinette. We had brought
the foam and the material from England in November, so it was off across the
river Saône to see Catherine (who made our back canopy). She particularly
likes these inside jobs in the winter months as jumping on and off the decks
of boats in freezing weather isn't her idea of fun.
We don't think she copes too well with the cold - what do you think?
FREEZING CATHERINE
Now it's time for a newcomer to these parts.
He has been called short stuff, red baron, little red and petit rouge. But
"Red" seems to be sticking.
Red is a dachshund who has been saved from a laboratory in America with
the help of Captain Bob and Peggy and an animal activist in the USA. He is
a bit nervous but we are all sure he will be ok when he gets used to his new
surroundings. Gromit was introduced to him the other day but he wasn't very
welcoming - maybe because we woke him up. Gromit's favourite pastime is sleeping!
PETIT ROUGE
Friends we met soon after we arrived in France, Mike and Kay of "Water
Magic", are currently looking at buying a Tjalk (Dutch barge) although
they have had many happy years on board their Dutch steel cruiser. They think
that the boat they are interested in will be physically easier to live on
as time goes by. This was one of the things we thought about when we decided
to have one built. After all, we aren't getting any younger (although we might
look as if we are)!!
This next photo is a picture of the boat that Mike and Kay fancy. Its out
of the water being surveyed and is called "Nooit Volmaakt".
Good Luck Mike and Kay - hope all goes well and see you both soon.
NOOIT VOLMAAKT
David has found yet another use for his plumber's wrench. So when it's not
plumbing, or cracking open walnuts, it can, with the aid of a bit of masking
tape, become a clamp for holding woodwork together when gluing.
ANOTHER USE FOR THE WRENCH
Well now it's time to unveil our handy work so, without further ado, the
next photo is of our new dining area and somebody's bed when they come and
visit.
Notice the daffodils!! No, not free with soap powder! Our next door neighbour
brought them back from Holland and as it's only mid February, we are the envy
of pontoon D.
DAFFODILS IN EARLY FEB
We will put a picture of this area in bed mode for the next update, hopefully
with a celebrity in it. So don't be caught napping or it could be you! In
the meantime our last photo shows the dinette area in use by a motley crew.
UP AND RUNNING!
Well it is now time to finish for this update and have a biere.
But just before we go, we'd like to add that we managed to get our first sunbathing
session in on Saturday, the 11th of February! We were fully clothed of course
so it was really just our faces, but we were sheltered from the wind by the
canopy and even though the temperature was still quite low, it was wonderful.
Roll on summer!
