Redhill Marina/Scarboreugh

Saturday morning, clothes packing. Finding a bag big enough to pack our dirty washing was one job.

I’d made a list of things not to forget, the Christmas hamper, Tilly Too, my scene painting straight edge and some big rollers for panto. I walked up to Sainsbury’s to get provisions for food this evening.

Yes that’s a suitable way for Tilly Too to travel.

Anna our lodger had baked us some of her lace biscuits to bring with us and we gave her instructions about the central heating as she may be needing it in the next few weeks.

Lunch, the last few items into the van. Were we ready? Was Tilly ready? Last call for the pooh box Tilly! No takers. It was washed and packed in the van.

All morning Tilly had been following me round the house, she’d had a final snooze on the back of her favourite armchair, had sniffed at the cat caravan which was sat ready in the shed. She knew exactly what was happening. She positioned herself behind a table in the living room where I could see her, but it would be tricksy to pick her up, was that a purr I could hear?

She and Tom sat down! What’s that all about? You are meant to pick me up and bundle me into the caravan. I’ve heard you closing all the doors in the hallway! They just sat there, I thought ‘Come on! Get on with it!!’ She lunged, but I slipped through. Ah nearly had you there!

On the third approach from Tilly, who was very quietly purring, I succeeded in picking her up and popped her into the caravan. Shouts of dismay came from within as she was carried out to the awaiting van. Time to say goodbye to Scarboreugh Tilly.

Only one cat comfort break on our way south was required today. It was very obvious that she prefers straight roads at a constant speed. On these she fell quiet and laid down. But approaching junctions, slowing turning corners these had her shouting at us. Next time we’ll consider using the A64 to Scarborough as it has far fewer twists and turns and roundabouts.

As soon as the van door opened Tilly knew she was back to boat life, not sure she recognised Oleanna from the outside, but inside things required checking out. First things first. Try to gain access to the secret passage, fail! Check high shelf, tick. Where’s my food bowls? Houdini shelf, tick. These curtains look different, might save them for later. What’s happened to my water bowl? I need a drink after all that fastness!!!

Tilly has a bigger pooh box now, so some thought was needed as it lives under the bathroom sink, and I’m nearly 11 you know! So access needed to be thought about as she gets in it from above. We’ll see how having one corner sticking out works for us all.

More unpacking and attempting to stow things, when will it ever stop! Last of the frozen food items from Scarborough were consumed and then we spent sometime going through our click and collect order deleting all the things I’d added to go in the freezer. Minimum fridge items too.

Then time to sit on the sofa and relax. Normally we have one light on above the sofa, its sufficient light for everything, even knitting. But it seems that this one light has given up on us. We decided to turn on the other lights which feel like the Blackpool Illuminations and require eclipse glasses so as not to go blind! Another job to add to the list.

Sunday morning. The very last day of the Redhill Marina Cafe, she was open from 8:30 until she ran out of sausages, breakfasts only today. We felt we needed to go and support her on her last day, unlike Friday morning it was raining, so we had no view.

The Geraghty zoom followed. Subjects included Social Services for cats, O level German umlauts, bus shelters or the lack of them, carpet gardens and silver sofa surfers.

The click and collect was collected. Chicken wrapped in two insulated bags until later when it would be roasted. Items in the freezer/fridge were edited to accommodate items that have to be in a fridge.

In the afternoon the sun came out which meant we could film the reveal of Oleanna’s livery from the other river bank. It took a few goes at finding somewhere with enough sunlight to light my model and be able to see Oleanna sideways on.

Conversations were had with our friend Steve in Scarborough who had gone to visit a friend whose health has been failing. After a discussion, they decided he’d be better off in hospital. By late evening I had a call saying he was in A&E, he already sounded so much better. I’ve spent the last three weeks trying to get him assessed for walking aids. Hopefully now someone at the hospital will sort him out, rather than me being passed back and forth, time after time, between social services and the GP.

Mick checked out the light above the sofa. The bulb is fine, we’re hoping it’s the fitting and not the wiring. Plus there seems to now be a loose connection on the temporary fridge!

Having not been for a meaningful walk for a few days I decided to see what Trent Lock looked like from the other side than we’re used to. I crossed over the bridge by the flood lock, across the next bridge to get off the island then along the towpath where I could then start to head north towards Trent Lock.

A lovely early Sunday evening, the sun shining across the fields and I could hear a squeeze box, fiddle and guitar drifting from Trent Lock, a very jolly jig. The corner of Cranfleet cut was chocka block with boats, but there was space for two on the pontoon. Sods law as we don’t want to move until the engine has been serviced and we’ve taken delivery of the new fridge! A nice walk away from stowing items on the boat.

Sunday roast chicken was enjoyed. Now that all three of us were aboard, we’d planned to crack open the bottle of champagne we’d been given by Mark one of our witnesses for our Tuesday Civil Partnership. However, not having a fridge or space in the temporary one means that we will now hang onto it to celebrate us all being back on board with brand new refrigeration!

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 cat safely moved, 2nd mate settling in, 1 box of biscuits, 1 chicken not 2, 2 much STUFF!!!! 3 9’s, 1 right decision, 1 failed light 2 add to the list, 1 box of warm white wine, 2nd cooked breakfast in a week, 0 knitting, 2 boaters 1 cat back on the waterways, lets hope there’s enough water to get us places!