New Year's Eve

Another very cold night, although the forecast is that the next few will not be as fierce. Probably fell to below -5C and the marina was well frozen by morning. However we had no plans to do much today!

Late morning we began to think about filling the water tank but our tap was frozen still. We hoped that the sun woud thaw things out enough. Just in case, we brought the hosepipe inside , stood it in the shower tray in the hope that it too would thaw out.

After lunch we tried again but only a trickle.However, Christine talked a young chap from a boat nearer the bank who had just managed to fill up from the first taps. He kindly offered to lend us his hosepipe to extend ours which would not reach that far. (Our water tank inlet is right at the front of the boat, the farthest from the pontoon as we are moored)

Eventually there was enough of a flow through a nearer tap that we accepted the offer and with his help managed to connect up. By the time we had done this there was quite a good flow from the end of the long supply line!

With the tank finally re-filled we returned the borrowed hose and wrapped up warmly to walk down the towpath to the shops. Alas, Tesco (the nearer supermarket) failed to yield a newspaper although we did manage to pick up a couple of USB charger cables - we seem to need ever more of these. Either that or we must have left some behind at home!

We continued down the towpath to Morrisons where we found all of the remaining items we needed (we knew they did not have the USB cables as we looked there a couple of days ago) Time then to return along the towpath - still a pleasant day but the sky gradually clouded over, no doubt the reason why the forecast is not so cold tonight. However, will we be able to see many fireworks tonight as the new year is ushered in? In the past couple of years there have been plenty to watch, assuming we can keep awake long enough!

Sorry - no pix!