The promised excellent Wi-Fi however...is plops! They are mid upgrade...run through a web proxy...it hates our iPad's and our Apple T.V....no Netflix for us for a bit, unless we watch on the phone. At least the upgrade is happening...asap I hope. Davey is quite clever at these things and I have all the confidence in the world in my I.T. Guru husbands ability to make something happen in the interim.
There's a book swap next to the laundry room!!! OMG! We have a lovely wee washing machine but no dryer...so we used the dryers there last night. What a joyous discovery to find books for the taking! Today I read Room, by Emma Donoghue after swapping it for a copy of Narrowboat to Carcassonne (we somehow have three copies of that book), and can't wait to browse some more. Blessed are the reading boat folk.
The marina has it's own pub/cafe that at least three passersby have recommended. Apparently there's often music and it's a great way to meet our neighbours. So we are both looking forward to checking it out in the next few weeks.
All our neighbours have been friendly and helpful so far. The boat moored next to us with the coot nest in his prop has been quiet and just as anxious as we to not disturb lady cootly, as Dave calls her.
Neighbours on the other side are very pleasant and have two dogs...sort of beagle looking. Friendly as their owners. There's a black long haired cat that comes in to say hello, as well as the standard swans and ducks looking for a handout.
Okay....now for the expensive bit. Our poor car had been sitting in the car park here at the marina since we left Milton Keynes. So 23 days idle. I was certain that it would have a flat battery at the least. Dave was very grateful that it did start...and drove at least far enough to return the generator that we had hired. Threading his way through Reading...a quite old town....having had a settlement here since the 8th century, so narrow winding streets and a big town, so lots of traffic...guess who suddenly had no brakes! A shiny black Mercedes directly in front of him and only a handbrake to work with...Dave managed to get himself into a side street safely! Thank all the gods! After sitting in the car for a few minutes calming down, probably swearing, and pondering his next move...he got out of the car and was met by the people who live in the house he had pulled up in front of...l am very sorry to have parked here, but my car has broken down.." The woman was so kind and went back inside to get Dave a parking sticker so he wouldn't get a ticket and her husband was most sympathetic. Again the kindness of strangers!
The marina had recommended a mechanic to us already, the car being due for a MOT soon, and Dave had a card. They recommended a tow truck and in only a few hours, the car was delivered to the garage.
The money is still leaking away faster than Dave can earn.
Now....taxis are his option to get to the train station and home again...each way being around 10 pounds. He's been contemplating a hire bycyle. Brompton bike hire service is available, but the hiring machine doesn't seem to work and the help phone number just says that the inbox is full and to call again! So frustrating.
So today Dave walked into Reading to grocery shop and caught a taxi back. Again my "fine and sturdy fellow " of a husband is my everyday hero.
Now he is pricing folding bikes, hopefully for under a thousand pounds.
So not quite the idyllic beginning we were hoping for, but not entirely awful either.
My job tomorrow is cleaning our poor Augusta and hunting for a new GP
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