Saws, floors and Visitors.

The first two pieces look ok!

Surprise surprise!!

A quick trip into Henley, he said...I need a new saw, he moaned... Well, fair enough John had laid half the floor using a now VERY blunt saw, so off we went...on our quick trip.We left at 9am. and returned by 5pm. after an eventful day in which he half froze to death, lost his woolly hat, almost lost his glasses, met up with an old school friend and, oh yes, bought a saw.
Lovely to see you John and Janet, a great surprise! 

Nouvelle de la France/News from France

Hooty Owl!

Bienvenue au Hooty Owl, fait a la main par notre fille et nos petits enfants.
Welcome to Hooty Owl, hand-made by Emma and our grandchildren.
Il est plein d'amour donner par les petits, qui ont fait les bises a lui pour qu'il les donne a nous!
He is full of hugs and kisses for us from the children who gave him lots of kisses to give to us xx
Il va partager notre aventure, merci, il sera "hugged" (embracer? ) tous les jours!
He is going to share our adventure, thank you , he will be hugged everyday!

Notre premier invite, Julien!

Grand merci a Julien qui etait notre premier invite, et qui  nous a importe toutes la nouvelle de notre famille en France.Il est venue pour chercher la voiture, donc des que maintenant, nous n'avons que la peniche....Il est gentil non?! Felicitations a lui quand meme , il a fait le voyage tout seul, il a fait des courses pour Emma (beaucoup!) et il a conduit a gauche!!!!!

Repairs at Reading

Left my cosy cabin this morning...

...to be driven along the Thames,  

which was as calm as a millpond.

First lock negotiated without ramming the lock gates so I think we'll count that as a success. I ought to say, however, that there was a lock keeper doing all the gate openings and guiding in but I held the rope so I'm still counting it as a success! Sorry, no photos of the lock experience as rope holding must be taken seriously. Apparently!!!
The boat is now moored at the Boatyard near Reading having a few leaky joints and electrical quirkiness sorted out. We may be here some time... 

Holiday? What Holiday?!

So, first finish off sewing,

then,balancing precariously,clean windows.

Having persuaded John to take down,polish and re-fit curtain rods,

we finally have curtains!

Busy, busy, busy! The trip to refill the water tank went very well. Nobody fell in and we managed a neat little turn around trick as described by Mark, our next door neighbour.The carpet has gone; the curtains are up; the boat has been scrubbed and more pictures of the interior will gradually be revealed!

Pour nos amis en France

Vasillian ,avec la poele allume ( heureusement)

Voila, mon capitain!

Comme Jean-Charles m'a demande, quelque mots en francais. Mais, c'est moi, Judith, qui ecrit car John , pendant deux heures a dit, oui oui , je le ferai en deux minutes...Aujourd'hui nous avons eu nos premieres "difficulties"- un ciel gris, la pluie, une fuite sous l'evier, et, le plus importante, il n'ya pas de chauffage! Tout est arrange maintenant, meme le soleil est revenu, donc pas de panic...Demain nous allons faire notre premiere voyage pour chercher l'eau, un trajet de 15 minutes, mais il sera moi qui doit sauter de la peniche pour l'attacher vers la poste, hmmmm! Chantez bien mardi prochaine tout le monde! A Bientot.

The First Days

First evening, sunset over the Thames

First morning, view from the 'lounge'.

,

First visitors, calling in for breakfast through the kitchen window.

Leaving...

Today's the day. Leaving France behind for a while and off to enjoy the boating life.The car is packed to the roof, but the boat is bigger,just, so everything will fit neatly into whatever space it has to offer.I even managed to get my pots and paints in, as if I wouldn't, ha! So despite threats and offers to stay behind, it looks like we're off! We will miss everyone, especially children and grandchildren (I miss them on a daily basis anyway! ), so love to you all xxx

Next post from the boat, let the adventure begin...

Get Ready

It's the Final Countdown!

5 days until we leave France, so , pack away the Christmas decorations, pack the visitors off to their own homes ( and work! ) and then er.. PACK