This trip I
found out I had finally reached the status of seasoned air traveller. Shame the
airline of my choice doesn’t put me in that league! I had no signs of time zone
jetlag on arrivals ‘Downunder’ and return to ‘Upover’ following the long haul of at least
27 hours, each way, including transit stopovers. I was aware, this trip, of my
fading memory and the realisation that I am well and truly ‘Muddle Raged’! Hiss
and snarl with low capacity for frustrations of daily life. The words “Don’t
you remember?” have become irritating and invite thoughts of dementia marking
my ‘sidelines’.
I understand
my lifestyle is enviable but then so are reminders of a ‘normal’ life that escaped
me. I am now living a life of ‘dreams’ that unwittingly happened to me. No I am
not sobbing about it; in fact I am embracing my luck and good fortune. ‘Don’t
dream it be it’ is my mantra.
I was better
than pleased to get to the tail end of my flight Auckland-Brisbane-Du(don’t)bai-Birmingham
International. In my state as free spirit with no alcohol I passed through the
Immigration eye scan, collected my semi smashed 4 wheeler suitcase and traipsed
past ‘Nothing To Declare’ to the Arrivals hall. I was brought to a halt when
the Cabin Crew, in front of me, stopped walking. Their uniform
indicated this was the crew of my flight. Not being slow in getting my mouth to work I
had words with the uniformed Captain Pilot in front of me.
“Keep moving
I want to get out of here. Oh and thank you very much for a great flight.”
The pilot
appeared happy with my brief words of appreciation and did not hang around. Or
was it the ubiquitous passenger had become a person?!
I was
ecstatic to be reunited with my hubby and dog and keen to be back on
DolcieBlue. It did take me a few days to really feel back in my place at ‘home’.
I certainly am there now and it’s lovely.
DB had a few
days tied up at the water based workshop at Braunston Marina, while I was away.
There was essential work to be done on the stern deck to gain access to the 5
batteries in situ near the engine. The original floor opening to the engine was
suited for a short small skinny person. You get the idea!
The new hatch in the foreground |
The boys at
Colecraft didn’t look this skinny or the other S words above! Be warned no
Boatbuilder is perfect but we love our DolcieBlue.
Now with the
modified access the Captain is able to happily go into the engine chamber and
deal with all that needs doing down there. And being the bottled blonde I am, I
like the aesthetic of the new stern covering.
Another boon
is the proper ships wheel. I had never thought what a difference 6 integral
handles would make. Gone is the excuse for a steering wheel with its whirly
wheel and in its place is the real thing! Steering DB has taken on a new
meaning. This has been helped with some technical adjustment that means steering
the rudder doesn’t take an excessive amount of turns. Even I, the self
appointed Admiral of DB, have begun steering not only on the Captain’s command
but at my whim as well! Hallelujah.
Indoors, I
wallpapered the ‘living room’ last November and the porthole liners are
permanently in situ (for as long as permanent is) in the living room and
bedroom. (I cannot bring DB to berth category!) The bedroom portholes also have
foam plugs that are easily put in situ at night. The battle with condensation on these windows
is over.
The latest
installation has been doors into the bathroom which means the bathroom can be
shared when we have guests. No need for the Thetford toilet now in the small
room with the inverter. Yay.
That’s the
nuts and bolts of home improvements to date. There will be more.
We are now in
Cruise mode. We left Rugby, yesterday and moved along the Oxford Canal passing,
and I quote “That bloody (excuse for a
swingbridge) bridge at Roses’ “.
At Hawksbury Junction a bloated floater,
probably a stoat or possibly a badger, was sadly at the gate to the Stop Lock
so I phoned C&RT to report it. I felt I should let the Authority know as
someone who has an ‘ology in Elf and Safety needs to grapple gently with this.
I am not qualified.
Saturday May
2nd and here we are moored up on the NO EXIT Ashby Canal (aka Ashby
de la Zouche Canal).
NEWSFLASH
.....We have heard NB Avalon Mist has been sighted in Willington (Trent &
Mersey Canal) and good reports have been announced. Sweet as!
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