I spoke too soon

So we we're back to freezing temperatures this morning but at least the sky's were blue. I choose a good day to resume my cycling efforts but at least the frost offered beautiful views across Bushy park. Stopping to take photos didn't really help with the speed of my commute and the need to get in early to take a well needed shower but I just couldn't resist.

spring time (at last!)

This weekend we saw the first signs of spring and it was a very welcome sight indeed, with blossom starting to appear on the trees and blue sunny sky's it certainly gave us a taste of things to come. After a thorough clean of the boat on Saturday morning we had a lovely afternoon in London town; sight seeing, museum visits and a trip to the secret world of ginger line. 

 

Sunday was spent  fixing showers (or making worse) a wee pub trip for our efforts and a crackling sunday lunch. The warmer weather has certainly put a spring in our step and if it lasts the talks of all our improvements will hopefully start turning into reality.

boaty love

Ok so he forgot the flowers and we had a row but the boat did look lovely in candle light and a with a little help from M&S we had a cosy night in.

snow time

So we've certainly had our share of snow this winter having our first flurry in November,  December and January were set to be cold, very cold and with ample snow, perfect weather for house-boat virgins. 

As pretty as it is it certainly tested our survival skills; building fires, chopping wood, keeping the water tanks full, not blowing the electrics and minimising leaks, yes apparently all wooden boats leak! But after running out of water half way through a shower, blowing the fuse whilst blow drying my hair, running across the yard in my dressing gown to fix the fuse, one trip to a&e with a nearly severed thumb and getting used to the sound of the bilge pumps regularly going off (there were a few sleepless nights) I think we are well on our way to getting used to the practicalities of living on a boat.

Here are a  few pictures of the pretty side of the snow; 

our first frost

Although posted a little late we had our first frost and snow in November freshly back from India too! It was a little hard to adjust to the 5 degree temperature in the lounge (that was with the heater) and seeing your breath whilst eating breakfast but somehow we survived. Good job too as it soon became apparent this is the way things are going to roll, cold, very cold. Once the fire is going though we manage to get to a scorching 31 degrees but until then its dancing around in coats and hats whilst the fire takes hold and our little boat warms up, well the living room anyway. As the bedroom is separated from the toasty warm fire in the lounge it soon became unbearable to go to bed, leaving the warmth of the fire to a freezing cold and damp cabin was taking its toll on our enthusiasm for our new way of life. Thankfully my father in-law gave us a nifty little heater and that topped with a few hours of the good old trusty electric blanket bedtime was no longer a question of survival!