New Year Resolution - January 2013

I’ve decided that I’m not going anywhere in 2013. I’ve always said that the point of having a boat is so that I can move around but I’ve spent most of 2012 not moving because of the weather.

I decided not to head off for the canals in April because water shortages were causing stoppages so I went East and promptly got stranded at Elton for three weeks.  So I came back and left at the end of May got through to the Middle Levels with the waters of The Nene rising behind me and Strong Stream imminent.  In July I set off on two occaasions then got phone-calls to say The Nene was once again on Strong Stream. I left my boat at Clayhithe and went away for a couple of days but came back after a couple of hours because of the Cam flooding. In August Denver was closed because of low tides.  In September I got stuck at Alrewas and then at Sawley because of The Trent in flood. Then the River Soar was on red boards so I was stuck there.  In October I was in Northampton waiting for the The Nene to be navigable. So I’m fed-up of being stranded and I’m not going anywhere this year.

The moorers here are very happy with my decision.  Not because they are looking forward to having my company over the summer but because they reckon that every time I move the heavens open and the river rises.  They think if I don’t move then the weather won’t misbehave.  I don’t think they know their cause from their effect.  I am affected by the bad weather I am not the cause of it.  However if I think back I remember I have always had bad luck with weather.  I took a coach trip from Alice Springs to Uluru and couldn’t see out of the window and marvel at the desert because a thin rain obscured the view.  On average it rains twice a year in the desert. There was a drought in Italy but my sister told the locals ‘don’t worry Steph’s coming here next week so it will pour down with rain’. And it did. So this year I’ll stay moored firmly to the bank and maybe the sun will shine.