I don’t have a lot more to say today. Four weeks into daily posting, and I’ve been mostly very upbeat and optimistic. My daughter discovered a new word she said she’d seen, and thought of me. An ‘apocaloptimist’. No such word I hear you exclaim? You’re correct! Apocalypticism is! Apparently apocaloptimist means “someone who knows it’s all going to shit but still thinks things will turn out okay.”
Anyway, today. Not so much. Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel more able to write and share with you all.
I am thankful to write we’ve reported ‘no symptoms’ to the COVID-19 Symptom Tracker. Along with 2,4040,566 people. A steady increase in numbers of people signed up to the research. So it’s such a bad day after all …
Last night’s sunset was spectacular too – I’ll share images of that today.
And I smiled to see our bubble boats as I returned from my first walk for a few days this balmy spring evening …
One day at a time I guess, for all of us?
Hi Sandra and Barry, we’re like you, split nationalities, one British and one Australian,
Lately we’ve been wondering whether to be envious of your isolation or not.
You see we’re in isolation at home too, in Australia. We own our own NB, currently on hard standing at Debdale. We did 6 months on her last year (and the year before).
Originally we had our tickets booked to go over there next Tuesday and take her out for another 6 months, but of course that’s all cancelled. No cruising for us this year, or I suspect even next year unless they find a vaccine well before the estimated 18 months. I doubt that at least one of us (on an Australian passport) would get into the UK till there is a vaccine available, or at least a bomb proof cure.
We’ve wondered what on earth we would do if we were stuck on the boat in one place as you are, TV is always an option but with the engine running unless it’s a nice sunny day, otherwise it’s reading a book. But you can only read for so long. So whilst we love our boating we’re not at all sure we’d be finding it anything but a bore at the moment. That seems to be a common thread of quite a few boaters.
But of course once the canals opened up again we could be on our way, as you can. Then the magic of narrowboating could start again, as it will for you.
So whilst we’re glad not to be stuck on a stationary boat at the moment I think if we had our choices we’d choose that over sitting out the entire cruising season, and perhaps the next one. So keep the spirits up while things are a little difficult and look forward to the cruising when it all opens up. Sadly we’ll still be here.
Hi Peter and Karen
Lovely to ‘meet’ a fellow dual nationality/hemisphere couple. We’re booked into Debdale in August for shot blasting and hull work before going to NZ on a one way ticket. Of course we know there’s a distinct possibility that won’t happen. But Barry now has dual nationality, and I have NZ permanent residency. So we’re crossing everything. He hasn’t seen his children for three years now. But hey. Que sera sera. It’s out of our hands.
Interesting perspective that being on a narrowboat would be boring. We love it! Can’t imagine being stuck in a house/flat atm. Bored? What’s that? No idea. We don’t engage with that word. Always plenty of lovely things to do or be on board or outside. But then this is our life. We don’t need to pack it into six months cruising like we did in 2009/2010.
I hope you get back in a year or two. I’m certain the canals will survive the Coronavirus crisis. Enjoy Australia instead while you’re ‘stuck’ there, and can move again. I think millions around the world will be discovering parts of their own back gardens (figuratively speaking) they never knew existed before! Kia kaha 😉
We love New Zealand, wonderful country. We’ve a friend in Dunedin and spent a month there and around the South Island a while back, and I did a ski season in Queenstown many moons ago. Walked the Caples and so on. Wonderful place, enjoy if you can get back there.
Yes we do love our boating but thought we’d rather be at home than months in one place on our boat. Lots to do at home but not as much on a boat when stationary for a long time – for us. But cruising, that’s another matter. We just love that. We’re so disappointed to miss the season. Oh well, as they say, that’s life.
It is an extraordinarily beautiful country and people. We’ll be back. But maybe not when we’d planned like you.
Yes sitting still on a narrowboat I’m sure is challenging for many at the moment. And if you had limited time here it would be most frustrating. It is lovely though to be amongst nature and afloat during these turbulent and transformative times. Without a TV too! 😉
No words … just virtual hugs. 🙂
😘🙏
Happens to us all at times, Sandra – the intrusion of the pessimistic view of reality into our best efforts to stay positive. Self medicate with magnesium if it continues …
Cheers and virtual hugs from Waikanae,
Marilyn
Kia Ora Marilyn. I appreciate your thoughts and virtual hugs. I’ll see what foods I have with magnesium … though I’m hopeful tomorrow I’ll wake up with a smile and my positive side shining brightly again. Enjoy New Zealand in the autumn for me. I guess you won’t be able to get to the boat this year? 🤗
Hi Sandra and Barry, No boating this year for us, and unless a vaccine is available and we can access it, there will be no boating next year either. But, once we are allowed to move around NZ it will be the set of great Waikanae catch ups with local friends and then off in the motorhome to see not so local friends around this beautiful country.
More virtual hugs, Marilyn and David
Sounds very sensible. I suspect a lot of kiwis will be exploring their own land far more than ever for a while. Not a bad thing at all! We just hope to be allowed back in in August so we can do some touring around Aotearoa too … after a 14 day quarantine of course. But time will tell. Keep happy and well both xx
Hey! That’s not you, you’re not a negative person in any way. There’s enough people peddling doom and gloom at the moment and not many of us who remain upbeat and believe it will all come good, albeit after a considerable time. This situation has made a lot of people re-evaluate what is important in their lives and you have already done that and focused on a less materialistic existence.
I read about a guy who said he’d been in hospital for 9 months after having his leg amputated so getting through this is not so bad – everything looks different according to one’s perspective. Keep positive – kia kaha. x
I know. It’s not like me at all. But I felt it was important to acknowledge today has been a downer. It’s unlikely to last … I’ll be back as someone once said! Thanks Phil 🙂
Very understandable, strangely I had a physically low day today, more to do with overdoing the diy in the lovely weather. Writing about the situation I expect will take its toll, maybe a few days off the blog to recharge. Take care and keep smiling.
Thanks Nev. I’m rarely down for long. Early night tonight and tomorrow’s a new day 😌