Not such a sunny day but not too cold, so Shane decided to crack on with painting over the undercoat and hoping that the rain was light and late. A slight sanding for keying and a swift go along one side with the dark blue paint and he was ready to turn round. 

I cast off and went to do the bridge. Shane was at least facing forwards this time but progress is still slow past moored boats. A couple moored next to us came past me just as I turned the key to begin the operation of the liftbridge. They stopped to share their amazement at yesterday’s discovery that they lived in the same town as Shane had been brought up. They didn’t overlap with him but it is a tiny village so was still a surprise. Meanwhile Shane was getting close. They laughed as they realised I had had my attention diverted from the task in hand. I let them cross the bridge and then completed the operation. I thought he was just spinning round like yesterday but Shane had a more efficient use of time in mind. We could get a pump out and water and he could maybe be do some sanding or painting as the water filled. I thought that might look a bit cheeky, but conceded that sanding could be swiftly stopped when we were filled and ready to move on. Just then another boat arrived, and was waiting to get water after us. We thought we should not look like we were unfocussed on the tasks at the water and sanitary station mooring. The pump out was quick but the water filling was quite slow. Another boat came along. We were going to offer to help them through the bridge, but they too wanted water. Though there were two taps he did not feel he could fit in the remaining space. He thought he might try resting against us at an angle, but when Shane warned him we had wet paint along that side, and our colours didn’t match, he decided to wait. It was quite a dance getting past the large hire boat turning into our spot as we were turning to get back through the bridge, when all the hoses were done.

I had volunteered to do the other colour so we could both paint at once, but there wasn’t so much along the side and it was all accessible from both sides, so I started that once we were back in place. The paint dries fast, on the boat and in my hands. It doesn’t bear close scrutiny but looks better than with the blobs of beige primer.

After lunch Shane had the bit between his teeth for home decorating. He had ordered blinds and carried them down on the train. This made for an awkward pack but he wrapped them well. It would be unfortunate to poke someone in the eye, blinding them with a blind.

He said I was not needed for help so I had a chance to phone a friend, then when he was almost done we had some discussion about details and how to make the best of the tight space at the front door. We found we do inuld move the shelving back slightly so they wouldn’t catch. As well as putting up the blind, he has sawn a piece off one of the shelves.

The bother blind was smaller with no obstruction at the side and was easier to do. It is for the hatch and a different material from the other living room blinds but the same pattern. It is the same material and style of blind as the kitchen. I am not an interior designer so the best thing for me was to be able to find the exact same blinds as we have already. Even if you aren’t colour blind, colour matching from a screen rather than real life is not reliable. On a boat you need to fix the bottom of the blind because of the tumblehome. The walls slope in towards the roof so a hanging blind will flap in your face when sitting at the table if not pinned back somehow.

Fitting the magnets to hold the blind in place when down.

Coincidentally I was doing a poem with reference to space travel so was making reference to gravity there too. Although it effects us every day we usually take it for granted and don’t notice, but the blind hanging had certainly reminded me, that and trying to paint the very front of the boat!

After dinner Shane felt that he had barely walked anywhere, even though he had been busy, so we had a stroll along the towpath at dusk. Just past where we normally peel off to go to the nearest shop, there is a large road bridge. We thought we would go through and then turn back. When we drew near we saw there were bats swooping in and out. It looked like a cave. They were large and flew repeatedly past us, quite close. Shane heard one go past, it was so near his ear. Many pigeons were roosting ther too. The path was a bit rough. I am not keen on the dark and with bats overhead and uneven ground under my feet, I was walking tentatively, so Shane used a torch to stop me squeaking. He offered the option of going on the busy road instead of back through but with light I was feeling more confident of a safe passage and we came back through again. The bats were getting a good feed at that spot clearly.

Back aboard Shane has asked me to move a spider from the boat. My turn to be brave about the little creatures. I think this is one that likes the dark. It is only 1 centimetre long.