A Very Cold Day

The title says most of what there is to report about today! The outside temperature was -3.5 at 9 am but the sun was again very strong and raised the daytime temperature to at least +3! The marina was also largely frozen over to start with and only partially thawed during the day.

Last evening, Jess had discovered that she enjoyed doing jigsaws on Grandad's tablet (even if it is not an iPad it does have some uses!). She remembered this and after breakfast asked if she could do some more. It seemed to amuse her also that the pictures were photos taken on previous boat trips!

We had to return the two girls home by mid morning as the family were going up to Oxford later to visit a friend who still lives there. We stayed briefly, enough to be shown Alice's newly re-furnished room - now at Middle School she really needed a desk where she can use her new laptop and also keep her books.

To make way for the new items, there had to be a wholesale disposal of old toys which have gradually accumulated over several Christmas's . . . It did not seem as if Alice, or Jess, noticed that anything important was missing - if they noticed at all! Ellie had done sterling work yesterday after the visit to IKEA, sorting out the least useful items and so there was a further trip to the tip!

Anyway, Alice seemed very pleased with the transformation in her absence. Probably the most expensive items were the chairs which will allow for much thoughtful swivelling.

We left them and walked into town to do some shopping. Christine was intent on ensuring that Mike bought a new coat - his Berghaus jacket has done extremely well for a number of years but is beginning to look used. We had previously identified that there is a Cotswold store in Windsor town centre that stocks this range.

We homed in on something very similar to the existing jacket and were on the point of buying it - we opted not to buy another zip-in fleece as the one we already have has not had extensive use, the jacket is normally warm enough on its own. However, Christine then spotted another rail of what seemed to be the same items but in the sale - £50 less and including a fleece! We were assured that the jacket was identical so that settled the matter. Mike also bought another base layer - they work really well in the colder season.

Christine wanted to call at Body Shop for some routine items that she prefers from their range whilst, dangerously, leaving Mike in Waterstones - with permission to buy! When she returned, after a further trip into M&S, she too added to the selection so we definitely have enough to keep us occupied for the next four days before we return home. For a change, time to ourselves!

We tried again to contact Iver but no reply - later we found out that Uxbridge boat yard should be open on Friday and also that the one where we are open on Saturday.

However, after we had returned to the boat and had a late lunch we decided that we ought to top up the fuel a bit so went to the nearby filling station and bought a can which was then filled with diesel. Not a large top-up but we can make further trips if necessary. If the freeze stays with us we may not be able to move the boat anyway! The forecast is that it should be warmer (or less cold) over the next few days before we return home.

We also thought it wise to top-up the water tank but alas although the tap was OK, the hosepipe was frozen and, although we started with a dribble, it soon ceased to flow altogether. Must have another try when it is sunny tomorrow!

Note: yesterday's photos have now surfaced, hidden in the wrong place, so later on we will add some to yesterday's blog, but first of all, dinner is ready!