Making our way to Oxford for Christmas

It's been over a week, dear Blog readers! So sorry. But life has been busy. Pete was in Cambridge for a week assessing grant applications and loving it, while Elizabeth went back and forth to London a few times and kept Bella's fire from going out - usually Pete's job. There was preparation to do, knowing we were moving toward Oxford on the weekend. There was weather watching to do, seeing if there would be a freeze ,meaning we might not get out, or seeing if there was going to be hard rain meaning we might not be able to travel where the Oxford Canal shares a course with the Cherwell, and there were British Waterways works to monitor to see if the Oxford would indeed be open again on December 12th. Much to do...

We like icy, frosty weather, so took Bella out

It was a stunning sunny weekend, one of the many days of Pete's birthday (now that it is going over many days and parties), so we decided to celebrate out on the cut. We travelled just a short distance from Blue Haven to Clifton upon Dunsmore, just west of Hilmorton Locks. Helen travelled with us just for the journey, with dogs Defa and Trio running along the towpath and having a great time at the locks. Poor Defa went out on one of a pair of lock gates when the other of the pair was still open! He scared himself a little, but managed to back up onto the stable lock side and run around the other gate. Helen and dogs walked back to Hilmorton just after we moored. Saturday night was one of the birthday dinners and we travelled back to the marina on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks to the Ice Breaker! Look carefully at the boat pic, just by the water line. That is frozen water and this was the first boat of the day. After this ice breaker and a few more, we ventured out breaking a little ice ourselves. When we got back to the marina, Elizabeth turned into a serious ice breaker, using the boat hook to clear our slip to moor up. What a hoot! We had a terrific time.

Frozen marina

The ice comes around again! This is one seriously frozen marina last Thursday, with hard frost on top of the ice. And Phil, the seagull, has managed to find a place not too cold for his feet.

Bella has an extension!

Bella's had a nose job! Finally, the cratch (frame) and cover are in place and she looks like a real boat now. We suddenly have a huge space for coal, toilet cassettes, the parasol, boat cleaning things, spare this, that and the other. It is terrific. When travelling, the soft sides roll up and are fixed to the top frame, so that Elizabeth still has room to be bow thruster and ice breaker. We are thrilled to bits. It tidies away all the spare stuff from the roof and adds much pleasing insulation to the bedroom.

Pete's long birthday party

Well, our dear friends and family all live just too scattered to get them together without their expense and a hefty carbon footprint (think Aberdeen, Plymouth, Oxford, Gosport, Rugby, Australia...). So, for Pete's 50th, we decided to have a series of parties - small dinners with friends. Lo and Behold, the fuel arrived in two boxes from Pete's brother and sister in law, Dave and Sandy. (Thank you!!!!) The box of 24 Australian sparkling organic beers managed to just slip under the gunnels beside the dining room cabinet - as in pic - and the crate of Claret just managed to slide into the wine rack. Who says there is no room on a narrowboat? We have had two splendid dinners so far at Rugby restaurants, but the beer and wine have flowed around the marina, neighbours and workers alike, with much success.

Christmas Decs tell stories of their own

This is our treelet. From this angle, it looks like a small tree. But look at the top - there are two of them. This is really the end of two large fir branches from the fir tree up the hill from Bella's mooring. We put two flat branches on top of each other and sandwiched the twinkle lights in between. Elizabeth tied it all together with sparkly red bows which have turned into the ornaments. The white and gold wreath on top is made from ties which were around the Christmas Crackers at our Blue Haven Marina friends Christmas dinner last year. So already, this most recent part of our story is part of our Christmas tradition. It is all 'planted' in a vase tied to the wall behind so that it doesn't fall over in a lock (!).

The animal standing in front of the tree is Hobbe - our Yulbok from Sweden. In Sweden, there is no Father Christmas, but the Christmas goat who delivers presents (why?). So when we were on holiday in Sweden, we were given a tiny version. Our large version, a present from many years ago, sits in storage for James or Jeffrey.

The US influence on our Christmas is Father Christmas, made in the US and given to Elizabeth, but really depicts the European traditions.

Then there is the Kenyan influence. When James arrived back from Kenya in June, he proudly displayed our early Christmas present - this stunning Nativity set. One picture is the three Wise Men waiting for their entry to the drama and the other picture is Angels (musicians!) and Shepherds. In a wonderful rush box awaits the manager with child. Mary (oddly enough, not dressed in blue with blond hair!) and Joseph await just outside. James met the crafter who created the set and we were all touched with his own story to create this timeless one. We have always balked at the European version of the nativity, wanting something a bit less sanitised and more, in our eyes, real. Not only is this set perfect for that wish of ours, but it is also beautifully narrowboat size. Such thanks to James. Now, just so you know why the set is not presently in one single tableau. Pete lives out the drama each year with whatever set we have. As the weeks of advent progress, he moves the characters closer as we both retell the story to each other. Sad (:-) and wonderful.

Christmas Decs are up! Advent started...

We'll post up pictures a little later, but this is just to report - The Christmas Decorations are up! Star outside, treelet inside, Nativity characters waiting their part in the drama. We also now have a cratch and the cover is on its way.