The Wansdyke & District Forums

Strange spring. The cut's emptier than I have ever known it, no hire boats, no gongoozlers on the bridges, just me and the heron and the moorhens getting bold. I am better set up for this than most, if Im honest, I have spent years practising being content with my own company and a kettle. But I find I miss you lot, which has taken me by surprise. So this is me, checking in from the water. How is everybody bearing up.

Oh Pat. I am shielding, they call it, which means I sit in and wave at people through the window like the Queen. My grandson does my shopping and leaves it on the step and we shout at each other down the path. I am quite alright really, I have the wireless and the garden and you lot of an evening. It is the not knowing how long that wears at you. You stay safe on your boat. Wave at the heron for me .

We are managing, Roy and I and the dog. Our daily walk feels like Christmas morning these days, funny how an hour out on the down has become the whole shape of the day. We are luckier than the townsfolk, we have the space. I do think of those on their own though. Nan, you are not on your own while this place is here, mind.

Honestly the Snug has saved my sanity. Stuck in with two small children climbing the walls, and then they finally go down and I come and sit with you grown ups and remember I am a person. Thank you, all of you, you have no idea. Pat I am jealous of your heron.

Nobody's on their own who has somewhere to natter of an evening. Thats half of what a place like this is for, the half Edmund never put in the rules. Kettle's on, as ever. Well get through this strange year and well bore the next lot of hire boaters senseless about it.