Christmas Eve and Day

A little selection of Christmas views aboard Chez Bella. One is the lounge as seen from the kitchen hallway, one is the wall of Christmas Cards and one is the tree with presents. We all had a lovely Christmas!

More icy pics

Yesterday, an ice breaker braved the waters again. You can see the layers of ice lifting as it passes.

Today, we drove to Rugby to do some Christmas shopping as well as to stop at Blue Haven for more Christmas post and our Rosemary plant so we have herbs for the turkey. We didn't take our plants with us, anticipating that we would be reunited with them soon. You can see the frozen basin (ice rink) and our frozen mooring next to Bluebell. We left Blue Haven with a loaned electric cable as well. What with our two, we were then able to plug into the pub (!) in their patio outdoor electric point. Well thought, our Pete, and well offered, Dave the Manager.

Our journey today meant we took our Elsan cassettes out to empty in Hillmorton - the Braunston waste point is frozen. The taps for fresh water to rinse the cassettes are frozen as well. Luckily, Elizabeth had guessed this from her experience of taking cassettes by trolley to the other Braunston waste point the other day. The taps for flushing were frozen, so she put snow in the spout and sloshed that about. Last night after dishwashing, she dug some plastic bottles out of the recycling bag and filled them with diswashing water. Today, they were jolly handy!

So, we're ready for Christmas now. Except that we can't seem to find any lumpfish caviar for Christmas starters.... must search tomorrow.

Weather bound in Braunston

Well, we had lots of travelling plans this Christmas! We were due to return to Blue Haven yesterday, then set out on an open stretch of the Oxford Canal for Christmas Eve and Day. Then we were to return to Blue Haven on the 26th, take Josie to kennels on the 27th, then set off to the south to visit various friends and family finally returning to Bella for the 31st. But then it started snowing and the temperature dropped.

So here we are. Still in Braunston and due to stay for some time! Pete looked at Blue Haven yesterday when he collected Reg, and lo, Blue Haven Marina is an ice rink. At least 4cm deep in some places, there is no way we could break the ice to moor up for a safe haven while we travel. More importantly, there is so much ice along the Oxford that we couldn't make it back to Blue Haven anyway. All that means that we have to leave visiting others until we can leave Braunston. We can't risk leaving Bella on her own, as there is no electricity to plug her into to ensure that we could set the heating to keep her from freezing.

The nice thing about being stuck is that no matter where we are stuck, we're still at home. Unlike poor train travellers or car drivers, we're still where we have everything we need. So we fare better than many and will manage, with phone calls and the internet to stay 'close' to those we love. And our mooring is the bottom of the pub garden and Reg is in the car park. And as the pub/restaurant is a lovely refurbished Marston's pub, we really couldn't have had it turn out better!

Frozen in year start, frozen in year end

We woke to a frozen canal and a few frozen window panes this morning. Very reminiscent of last winter, the beginning of 2009 when we were frozen in Fenny. Like then, we are compelled by the beauty. Remember - we are toasty. Squirrel, well managed by Pete, keeps us very warm indeed and yesterday we collected a Christmas present of a three bladed Ecofan (now named Newfin, the younger and more beautiful sibling of Elfin, the smaller and older fan) which circulates the air so stunningly around Bella it is amazing. And of course, turning on the oven helps, so we made fresh scones for breakfast. Yum.

The ducks found us again, making a fun landing. Josie enjoyed watching them make a rapid meal of the swan and duck food we keep by the hatch.

No boats were to be seen moving by lunch, but our opposite canal neighbour was seen pouring boiling water on their cratch zips in order to get in that section. After lunch, an older sea dog became the day's ice cutter, followed soon by Jules in her coal barge. Two more boats followed and Pete recounted from his photography walk that Braunston is full indeed. Somehow, many boats made it in. Tonight sees us make the long walk from Bella to the Boathouse for Blue Haven Marine friends Christmas dinner.

Snowy coal day

Today was a coal day. Rather than Pete going someplace by car to collect it (lately, Oxfordshire Narrowboats on the way from an office visit in Oxford), it came to us.

Pete had contacted Jules, who took over Mike's coal barge which used to visit last year in Blue Haven. She was on her way along the Grand Union Canal and we are presently moored on the Grand Union stretch of Braunston. She pulled the barge alongside then Pete collected ten bags to stow in the bows. Jules takes all this in her stride, enjoying the 'festive's scene of the traditional barge in the snow.

We rather agreed!

Snowy ducks and a cooking stove

We woke to the arrival of snow this morning and it is wonderful. The ducks were a little confused, chasing each snowflake as it it were a bit of food. Sorry for them, it was a little too melting to the taste! Josie enjoys watching the ducks enormously and it was fun to see how the snow fell on her - inside - as she watched them!

As we were watching ducks and Josie, Squirrel was busy keeping us warm and cooking. When you look at the shot of Squirrel, you'll see three things on top. On the right is a fan which circulates her heat around Bella. On the front left, you'll see the LeCruset pot stewing up our warming porridge. Like our polenta the other night, we can cook somethings entirely on Squirrel. Wonderful. The other thing you can see to the back left - the shiny thing - is the bottom of the copper bed warmer. We heat a house brick (just under it) until hot, then put it in side and take the bed warmer to the bedroom both as a bedwarmer and a room heater. In the evening, it warms up for going to bed and in tge morning, it warms up for the post shower getting dressed. Toasty :-)

A little sleet, like a little shiny tree, is a beautiful thing

We set out south again yesterday to chilly sleet through the sunshine. It was beautiful day though very cold. We spelled each other on the tiller to make the journey to Braunston warmer for each of us. When inside, we were doing the Christmas decorations. Elizabeth had cut some evergreen branches and holly from around Blue Haven as a start, then dug the rest of the decorations out from the 'loft' below the bed. When she was inside, Elizabeth put the tree together and when he was inside, Pete spread out the lights. We moored just outside the Boathouse pub in Braunston, happily agreeing to use the facilities in exchange. When moored, we finished up the decorations by making a wreath for Bella's nose and a few greenery swags for her doors.

So - how do we make a tree? We take three fir branches, cut the bases free of extra small stems and then put them in a flower vase. We tie the vase to the wall by way of a cuphook so it does not all fall over if we are blown about by strong winds or otherwise knock something.

With the lights around the ceiling and our oil lamps, the whole home looks magical! And now its snowing...