Foxglove Narrowboat

I know that is a title of a movie and that is exactly what it was like. Over to Italy……..

My best friend Davide finally tied the knot to Claudia on Friday 27th Sept. They looked like 2 movie stars! Davide, handsome as always, looked very dashing in his suit and Claudia looked the complete princess. Her dress was absolutely beautiful, elegant and she really did look like a movie star.

The photos say it all.

Congratulations to you Davide & Claudia. Love & Best Wishes to you both xxxxx

People say ” time goes quickly when you are having fun”. Well it certainly has and it has been just over a couple of weeks since I have written. I don’t know how on earth I found the time before to go to work because each day has just been filled to the max.

I actually enjoy getting up each morning, relaxed breakfast at the table, no rushing around. Wish (the dog) is also enjoying her new life as she is walked so much each day and fussed by so many people.

Plans have changed slightly with the house now as 2 couples put an offer in on the house on the same day so we are no longer going to rent the house out as we have accepted the offer from a lovely couple who are in a position to move straight away. Fingers crossed we shall have completed the house sale within the next few weeks.

The boat finally got a complete waxing last Friday & Saturday and it looks fantastic. It should be ok to see us through the Winter, I think it might take that long recover from all that “wax on, wax off”. I thought I was in a scene from the Karate Kid! You will have to watch the film to understand that 😉

This afternoon has been glorious, the sun was shining and I sat out at the front of the boat having a coffee with my friend & neighbour Ann. At least we were on coffee today!! The marina is starting to fill back up again as people are coming back after spending months out on the canals. Used to wish that would be me one day and now I can. A long holiday is on the horizon. As soon as the house is sold that will give us more freedom.

Did anyone watch The Golden Age of canals on Tv the other night? Well at the end of the program it showed you working narrowboat Hadar which is also a Roger Fuller boat. It was built by a Roger Fuller just after he finished Foxglove. We met the owners a couple of times and we also follow their blog. It was really good to see Jo & Keith on their boat Hadar on TV. Told you they were celebrities!

More photos will come as soon as we have sorted out a better internet signal. I have taken lots during the past few weeks but unfortunately they just take too long to upload or won’t upload due to the signal.

There have been fabulous sunsets…….not sure about the sunrises as I am not up that early but there has been some amazing photos and views. It is surprising how the weather has changed so much as it went quite cold the other night that it was like a view of smoke signals in the marina as some people have put their coal fires on……it is quite a peaceful scene at the marina when you see this. Yesterday was foggy and grey all day and the water was as still as stone if that’s a saying…….it was just very still! Today has been glorious sunshine.

1 month tomorrow since I left work and it was the best thing I ever did! I should have done it a long time ago but at least it paid for the new paint job on Foxglove. Retired at 41! They say life begins at 40….. It certainly does!! 🙂

This weekend has been fab. The marina held their 5th open weekend.

Plenty of stalls with canal memorabilia, food, drink and entertainment. Enjoyed a lunch from the hog roast. Huge sandwich of pork, stuffing and apple sauce. It was yummy! Bought 2 cupcakes also that Roy & I devoured later that afternoon. Bought a few more plates for the boatman’s cabin and a crochet mat for one of my plants. Some bargains were to be found. The music has been fabulous this weekend. There really are some talented singers out there.

Last night though was amazing as there was a firework display. The view was incredible as all the fireworks just exploded into the sky in an array of colours. Truly magical.

I provided some entertainment of my own today for the neighbours as I decided to a 180 degree turn in the marina so we could moor the opposite way in the marina. My neighbour Ann came and joined me for the 2 minute trip. Roy stood and watched with the look of fear as I shouted out ” see you in a few weeks”.  Ann’s husband Terry got his camera out as I took the boat out on my own with my supportive crew member Ann.

Perfectly executed I gave a curtsey as the boat came back into her mooring spot. Thank goodness I did it o.k as there was an audience. Ann, Barbara ( my 2 neighbours on the jetty) & myself are going to take Foxglove out for a day. I think Roy is worried sick or actually doesn’t believe I will do it. He will have a shock!! Ha ha.Roy has been busy sorting out the front cratch ropes (decorative ropes) this weekend. Almost done and he has done a fab job. I will take a photo once he has completed it.

Feel a little disorientated on the boat this evening with us being moored the opposite way around but I am hoping it will be far easier getting on and off the boat during rainy weather than trying to mess with unzipping cratch covers and crouching down whilst trying to take your shoes off and a dog trying to push past me. It will be a lot easier at the stern end of the boat.

This weekend has gone far too quickly. Roy is back at work tomorrow and I have no plans  at all. I am just taking each day as it comes. I know that I am feeling 100% better in myself, loving my new-found freedom and independence. I feel have renewed confidence in myself.

Got to head back to Stoke-on-Trent at some point this week. Few things to sort out at the house before our final goodbye and pass the keys over. Hopefully meet up with a few friends and fit in some shopping trips before heading back to Foxglove. Definitely feel a trip to Trentham Gardens has to be fitted in somewhere!!

Already planning a trip away on Foxglove. Where to???? I have no idea. How long for??? Who knows? Just enjoying each day come rain or shine.

Who lives in a house…..I mean boat like this??

This was my lounge late this afternoon. It has been a great day! The empty bottle of wine and glasses speaks volumes 😉

Had a very relaxing day as it started off with a nice relaxing bubble bath this morning, lovely walk with Wish whilst the sun was still shining , food shopping then a lovely relaxing afternoon with Ann and Birthday girl Barbara. Out came a bottle of wine shared between friends. Lots of laughs and a very chilled afternoon enjoyed by all. Learning to slow down a bit now and enjoying the more peaceful life is doing me the world of good.

Wanting to get up in the mornings is a fantastic feeling as the last few months whilst I was working were very hard as I never wanted to get up and face the day. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and I have my life back.

Rob the joiner is popping back in the morning to finish off the kitchen by fitting the porthole liners. He has done a great job of the tiling and it will be so nice to have it all finished off tomorrow. I will be getting the camera out for some final photos.

All the major jobs have now been completed on the boat. It is almost a year now since we bought Foxglove. I think I will plan some before and after photos for tomorrows blog.  I still can’t believe how beautiful the boat is now. It really has become a home.

Today is the first day properly on my own. Roy left for work early this morning and it is the first time in a long time I was able to make him breakfast on a work day as it was normally the other way around because I was always in such a rush in the mornings. Not today though, we had a nice leisurely breakfast together and then as soon as Roy went off to work I then made a start on my plans. I have to learn that I am not in a rush to do anything, just take each day as it comes and not to plan anything.

It was lovely to take Wish out this morning for a nice long walk. She has been with me every second of the day. She loves being on the boat and spending time with me and I love it also.

Finally got around to baking those cakes. By lunch time today though I had dusted, hoovered, done 2 lots of washing which is drying nicely in the boatmans cabin, read some of my book whilst the cakes were baking and also taken Wish out. Had a lovely peaceful lunch looking out onto the marina. The morning flew by and this afternoon I have had a nice catch up with my neighbour Ann.

The day has just flown by but I must try slow everything down. No urgency for anything, no deadlines, no routine, no e mails, no phone calls, just peace and quiet. Time for me 🙂