And the new year is here! And what a buenos new year it promises to be!
The last weeks since I last posted have been rather cold and inclement which has confined me to the boat more than usual.
Warm boat, happy boater
The changes I’ve made are starting to pay off, and the boat feels much warmer now.
About this time last year, I fitted double glazed windows.
It took me about a week to fit them, and it snowed whilst I was doing it.
Once they were in, I didn’t really notice the difference. That’s because I was just getting home from work most of the time, lighting the fire, throwing a bit of fuel on and going to bed. Rinse and repeat.
The windows themselves don’t warm the boat up, except that they let more sunlight in without people gongoozling through them, they just keep heat inside the boat from escaping.
Given a couple of hours to warm up, I can realise now that they are much, much better than the old ones.
Moved, not moving
Due to this ice and cold snap, a lot of the canal has remained frozen since Christmas.
The boat moved a couple of days before. 2 days ago the ice receded enough for boats to move.
Since then, it’s been raining. Not only that, I’ve looked at places further up. There isn’t a whole lot further to go until I reach Stoke Bruerne locks, and proceed into Northamptonshire, where I was before.
Maybe three stops until that happens….
In the next few days, I’m going to have to check what’s available, then move up.
Milton Keynes (village)
… Village…
There it is. Located on the East side if you head straight out from the main town centre. It’s a little Norman church, village hall, village ‘pavilion’ and pub, the Swan. Not a lot more to it.
The village hall and pavilion are fairly grand. The Swan, I didn’t make it into. Most of the places are eateries nowadays, not worth wasting your money…
Some more pics.
Just from festivities and etc.
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Good windows and blinds are really a life saver….you only realise when you have experienced the difference. Come back to the Oxford it’s so lovely