Playing The Waiting Game

Fortunately I usually have patience. I certainly need it now as I walk past the Rose And Crown and look at the space where my Boat For My Potplants should be. There is a void. Something is missing.

The boat is waiting for its new motor that is supposed to be coming from Suzuki - but it hasn't yet arrived. I'm crossing my fingers that it will come on the dealer's next delivery - next Tuesday.

I can't wait to get the boat back where it belongs so I can welcome my friends and family once again                                           
Bienvenue Abord INDEED!

Two Clouds That Have Silver Linings

I was beginning to get a bit stressed, what with the moving of my Boat For My Potplants to Brightlingsea on Monday, and all the arrangements that that entailed.

On Tuesday morning I got up to write my latest blog, only to find that it had all been changed - and not only that - all the pictures had gone! My stress level rose some more. I had to leave things for later investigation and go off to work.

And then later that day I got the phone call from the Suzuki dealer that I was hoping not to get, telling me that Suzuki haven't got me the motor after all. My stress level hit the ceiling of the hallway that I had been painting.

However, I heard an inner voice telling myself to 'Calm down dear - it's only a blinking boat - with daffodils on top'.

And with that, the first of two silver linings appeared; instead of a used ex-demo 15hp motor, Suzuki are supplying a brand spanking new 9.9hp. 'As long as it gets me over to The Albion pub in Rowhedge, I don't mind', I said. 'Where's the Albion?', asked Tracy from the Suzuki dealer. 'About 500 yards away, on the other side of the river', I explained. 'That'll do nicely, then', I was assured.

Later that evening I investigated my blog and concluded that I'd have to change the format and re-load all the pictures, one by one.

So as I began looking through all the photos since this boating adventure began I saw the second silver lining - a realisation of just how lucky I am to be doing this.

My Blog Has Been Changed

Thanks to Google, my whole BLOG has changed without my permission and ALL the pictures have disappeared!!!

Sorry to all my blog readers - just at a time when things are hotting up with my new motor.

I hope to find a way to restore things as soon as I can.

Of course there's always the possibility that it was down to user-error. I'll keep taking the pills.

THE DAY OF MOVING HAS COME

An important (for me, that is) date in my calendar arrived yesterday, and so did my brother-in-law Martin with his trailer, which we duly drove over to Brightlingsea and left in the boat yard belonging to Boat Park And Ride, ready to recover my boat.By the time we arrived at Wivenhoe on Tracy's boat on the incoming tide the weather wasn't being particularly kind to us, but undeterred we tied up for the tow and began our slow return journey back to Brightlingsea.It was choppy. It was cold, and it was windy - but I didn't mind.I recognised that this was a historic moment in the life of The Boat For My Potplants - as it inched its way towards its outboard motor fitment that would be taking place later this week.

Calming The Mind

It's been a nerve-racking time recently.

Sorry dear blog-readers for my absense of late, and now today I have to return to France for a further two weeks. All in the name of work, you understand - NOT HOLIDAY, as I keep having to explain to everyone I meet.

However, during my captured time here I have been busy trying to plan for The Boat For My Potplant's inaugural voyage.

Yes indeed. The wonderful Tracy at Brightlingsea Boat Park And Ride will be coming up the river on Monday 23rd April to attach and tow back my boat to their yard, in order to fit the new motor that's being sent by those nice people at Suzuki.

But Tracy doesn't have a spare trailer, so my helpful brother-in-law Martin will be taking his speed boat and trailer to their place, leave the trailer and then come up river alongside them on his speedboat, which he'll leave in my boat's mooring. A little complicated, I know - but complicated is what I do best, according to my darling 'Erindoors.

Then, a few days later - hopefully Thursday 26th April, which is also my birthday, we'll be bringing my boat triumphantly back to Wivenhoe, under it's own steam for the first time. At last I'll finally be going somewhere in it.

What a great birthday treat. I wonder what sound the motor will make.

In the meantime, I've been putting the final coat of varnish on the woodwork, and of course tending the daffodils, which have been coming up nicely I'm pleased to say.

There's nothing like a few daffs to help calm the mind.