24th May, Wednesday
Today we moored just past Bridge 19; the road into Yelvertoft. Fellow boaters Anna and Steve had previously tipped us off to the very good award winning butcher in the village, so we decided to take a stroll in to purchase some goodies. Got there at 10.25am to find he didn't open on a Wednesday until 11. We decided to sit it out on a bench in the hot sun in this pretty, sleepy village and wait for him to open. An old lady walked past saying "nothing better to do today?" And of course was spot on, we certainly had nothing pressing! The butcher didn't arrive so we rang the number on his door. He couldn't tell us when he would be opening, so we headed back to the boat, bumped into Anna and Steve who showed us a bridle path back to Bridge 18, which was a short cut. In the afternoon, Pete went back to the butchers and was also going to pick up milk and eggs from the grocery shop. He was reasonably successful at the butchers this time, although the much praised pork pies were not available, but the other shop was having its early closing day. Thwarted again! That's village life I guess.
We had an extremely lazy rest of the day in the sunshine, having done some washing and hung it out. We decided to go for a beer as we had drunk the boat dry, and who should we see at the pub but Anna and Steve and dogs. We intended to go for one pint, this was at 5pm, but got chatting with A and S and another boater, Jeff. Then 2 more boaters happened along, Tanya and Wayne with their dogs and the whole thing turned into a boating story time. A favourite pastime of ours. Needless to say, we drank more than we'd intended, stayed until gone 9, after the hot sun had set and staggered back to the boat for a very late supper. I appear to have a new bosom buddy in Anna, who threw her arms around me with a thrilled "oh, you're older than me!" That fact obviously made her day! I think we may have said we will join them for pub quiz night as well, oh dear, the things you commit to when you're merry!
It was a great evening and they are all interesting warm people. I find it fascinating to hear what brings folk to narrowboating - especially those like Anna and Steve who live aboard their two boats. They spend the summers cruising in convoy, walking their dogs and socialising, then separate for the winter months to marinas near family and other friends. Seems like a very sensible plan and clearly works well for them.
Today we moored just past Bridge 19; the road into Yelvertoft. Fellow boaters Anna and Steve had previously tipped us off to the very good award winning butcher in the village, so we decided to take a stroll in to purchase some goodies. Got there at 10.25am to find he didn't open on a Wednesday until 11. We decided to sit it out on a bench in the hot sun in this pretty, sleepy village and wait for him to open. An old lady walked past saying "nothing better to do today?" And of course was spot on, we certainly had nothing pressing! The butcher didn't arrive so we rang the number on his door. He couldn't tell us when he would be opening, so we headed back to the boat, bumped into Anna and Steve who showed us a bridle path back to Bridge 18, which was a short cut. In the afternoon, Pete went back to the butchers and was also going to pick up milk and eggs from the grocery shop. He was reasonably successful at the butchers this time, although the much praised pork pies were not available, but the other shop was having its early closing day. Thwarted again! That's village life I guess.
We had an extremely lazy rest of the day in the sunshine, having done some washing and hung it out. We decided to go for a beer as we had drunk the boat dry, and who should we see at the pub but Anna and Steve and dogs. We intended to go for one pint, this was at 5pm, but got chatting with A and S and another boater, Jeff. Then 2 more boaters happened along, Tanya and Wayne with their dogs and the whole thing turned into a boating story time. A favourite pastime of ours. Needless to say, we drank more than we'd intended, stayed until gone 9, after the hot sun had set and staggered back to the boat for a very late supper. I appear to have a new bosom buddy in Anna, who threw her arms around me with a thrilled "oh, you're older than me!" That fact obviously made her day! I think we may have said we will join them for pub quiz night as well, oh dear, the things you commit to when you're merry!
It was a great evening and they are all interesting warm people. I find it fascinating to hear what brings folk to narrowboating - especially those like Anna and Steve who live aboard their two boats. They spend the summers cruising in convoy, walking their dogs and socialising, then separate for the winter months to marinas near family and other friends. Seems like a very sensible plan and clearly works well for them.
waiting for water at Bridge 19, Pete always finds someone to chat to.
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