Well, we said we were here in Fenny Compton and here we are on the 3rd of January. After having done yesterday's stats, we realised we were rather shorter of fuel than we thought we were, but luckily close to Fenny Marina which was to be open today. So we decided to stay put, reverse up a way to the marina and to fill up this morning. So, completely relaxed, we went to the Wharf Inn.While Elizabeth was settling in the seating while Pete was at the bar, she suddenly pulled out the tape measure (ever present in her hand bag). Pews were spotted. Re-uppolstered as tiny sofas. She was spotted measureing by the Publican who asked if he could help. She said, actually, that she wanted to put in an offer on the spotted furniture. We have been looking for AGES for the right thing. He said, yes, that could be done, but would we like to see what else they could sell us? We of course said yes and were led to three (!) other options!!! Where were these when we had visited antique centre after furniture showroom after furniture warehouse??? Well, we saw the perfect answer. Dark wood with dark red leather (ish) upholstery. Carved arms, open, but solid back, comfy seat, never anything but what it is (the bottom label reads that it is a benchair ). And a celebratory price to match. We could hardly believe it. So here it is! Our new sofa bought from a pub. What fun!! We put our name on it and proceded to have a lovely simple and beautifully cooked dinner, often glancing over at our new seating, just to see if it was real.
This morning we woke to solid ice. A little too much for Bella to break and certainly too much to break going backwards toward the marina to fuel up. Backwards in ice means that the ice could be sucked into the propeller and cause serious damage. So, iced in, we cleared away much of the Christmas decorations and went to collect our wonderful new sofa. The old one, temporary anyway as it was an Ikea garden bench, is now folded on the roof.
So, we could not go backwards for fuel, but still needed some. Pete had the brainwave to give our petrol which we use for Levi (generator) to the publican for his motorhome so that Pete then had a fuel can to go to the marina to collect fuel. Two trips and 39 litres later, we have enough to make it back to Blue Haven when the ice clears to some degree. One more trip meant one more bag of coal. Lesson; fuel up before ice up, but miss sofa. Hmmm.
Forecast is for more cold and ice, so its a good thing we like the Wharf Inn.
