English team win a closely fought World Cup Rugby Union quarter final against France at The Parc de Prince
English team win a closely fought World Cup Rugby Union quarter final against France at The Parc de Prince

I worked on The Paxton Princess before the girls join me in Horning on a cold day when the heavens opened again with another series of squalls. We did some shopping and then had tea and spent the evening watching videos and the TV before retiring on another cold night.

I watched the English team win a closely fought World Cup Rugby Union quarter final against France at The Parc de Prince

I had taken the precaution of putting plenty of covers on last night and I was therefore not so cold. However, I had trouble getting off to sleep and then woke up quite early as well. Had my cereal and apple juice and then a bath to finish off. It was so cold today that I needed just about all of my heating to overcome it and then I had problems going in and out. I called Di once I was through and then got on with the Paxton Princess because I wanted to get it ready for their arrival.

** "Read More" BELOW for the complete story **

I began on the engines, starboard first, checking the engine & gearbox oil and then the coolant level before starting them and checking that they were working all right. Then it was the turn of the batteries which needed topping up after a long hot summer. All was well but I had to vacuum the boat before I ran out of time. Even so, I had the chance for a morning coffee before the girls arrived. The weather today was wild with heavy squally rain interspersed with sunny and quieter spells, but the piercing cold was common to both. They arrived at about 12.30pm and, after Di checked in the boat and bungalow to see what supplies we wanted, we drove into Wroxham and Di some shopping. But first we stopped for lunch at the precinct cafe, and both fed and warmed ourselves.

We bought some short boots for Di, some new riding shoes for Debbie and a badge for Della before I got some bits and pieces from the chandlers. Then Di ran me back to the boat and went shopping for supplies whilst I watched the World Cup Rugby Union quarter final on TV between England and France at Parc de Prince and the English team won a closely fought match to go through to meet Scotland in the semi-final. They were back around tea-time and there then followed a mad scramble to get the boat loaded up before the heavens opened again with another series of squalls. Tea and then the evening watching videos and the TV before retiring on another cold night.