My illness has caught up with me and I cannot make as much of half term as I would like.However, I have decided to stay on Charm all week, so at least I feel like I am away. I have finally sussed the bed dilema and have found if I put a quilt under my sheet, I no longer feel the cold coming up from the tank under my bed. I feel quite toastie, epsecially when I put the two hot water bottles down the bottom of my bed with the the cushions stuffed between my bed and the uninsulated engine room.

Yesterday (Tuesday) Geof came over as I have been donated some laminate flooring (second hand) but felt on my inspection that they were too damaged to have enough to make any good from them. G, however, not only thought differently, but has started laying them in the kitchen area, skilfully cutting around my fire place. He is kindly coming back to finish the job tomorrow. All I could do whilst he was working was sit on the steps and watch. Eventually, feeling that I ought to be doing something, made us a cup fo tea then decided to sort the drawers either side on the steps on which I was sitting. All my different 12V cablesnow have a neat elastic band around them. Boat paperwork in another drawer, stationery,cards and games another, all my old tapes from home for the old car tape player on Charm sorted into religious and secular music.

Today (Wednesday), my sister in law and nephew have come over for a trip out. The weather for the last two days has been cold and bright, today it is just cold and cloudy. We left about quarter to 12 after I had been to the expensive pump-out before they came. PiR kindly came out in the bitter cold to raise the bridge for me. Sadly, two trip boats had gone ahead of us,so no locks would be set. When we got to Latton lock, there was a bit of a queue but the other, non- trip boat gave me an opportunity to show the ropes, so to speak, to June and Aaron. This boat also suggested that I took Charm into the lock with him, but I declined as I wanted to protect my new blacking as long as possible. We later tried out a small 12V heater for car windscreens I had bought to try and keep my feet warm on long journeys but as we were all in and out, and all doors open, i couldn't feel much benefit, but June said she could if it was right on her feet! I lent her a pair of socks for the return journey. When arriving at the next lock, the two wide beam trip boats were moored side by side above the lock, with no other berths available. I decided to moor where we were, but just enough off the lock landing to allow others to use it. After a lovely lunch at the Harlow Mill the sun decided to come out for our return journey.Unfortunately it was so bright and low that when we got back to Latton lock I managed to catch the corner as I came in, rubbing the blacking after all. PiR, gallantly came out to let us back in again and a good time was had by all.