Canoeing on the Waveney

We didn't take a camera when we went canoeing because we really didn't want to drop it in the Waveney. If we had taken a picture it might have looked like this - only longer.

We had a four-man canoe with me, Ben, Guy and Beth aboard. Initially we wiggled a lot, and argued a bit, but eventually we settled down and did some very enjoyable exploring. The rain held off, although eventually the wind got up a bit. We even managed to scrape our way down a very shallow backwater (and under two very low footbridges which Ben and I crossed last week) where at one point Guy got out and towed us (just as well he was wearing wellies).

We said hello to lots of cows, saw some gorgeous dragonflies and damselflies, saw fish (and fishermen), ate mini lemon meringue tarts and generally had a great time. Highly recommended.

Not much is new

My friend Anne has told me off for not posting since May. What can I say?

Not much has changed in the last three weeks. We have ordered a folding bicycle (pictured right) and some giant balloon fenders to be delivered by Compass straight to Naval Service at Port St Louis, so hopefully they will be there when Sam arrives on 17 July.

We haven't done much boating here. Well, none, in fact. We hoped to go canoeing on the Waveney this afternoon but it's still raining and not very encouraging. Ben is planning to build a folding kayak for his GCSE project (ambitious or what) so this is a chance for him to test whether he actually enjoys it. Guy and Beth also wanted to come. If it stops raining in the next hour we might still go....

Sam is motorbiking with his oldest son Tim in France, so other than that things are very quiet. In the general mayhem on National Express East Anglia's trains over the past couple of weeks, I have managed to read Yachting Monthly and Practical Boat Owner cover to cover... which I haven't done for a long time. and I reread Secret Water - now I really want to take Kalessin in there (Walton Backwaters) again soon. Preferably before global warming opens it up to the see.

OK, that's it. Must go and install Firefox 3 now. If I think of anything else to say I'll let you know....

Merry Christmas from just me

Video of photos made for Sam's funeral    Dear friends and family As I hope you all know, this year has been a difficult one for me. On ...