Hopwood (Sat 3rd Aug)

Derek had a lay in, 6:45, not too long a lay then, I stayed in bed till 8ish then got up and had breakfast, we didn’t wake kids as we were just waiting around today for them to be picked up.  They both were up about 9:30ish, Derek cleared the back cabin bed round and warmed the water with the generator.  I had a shower, Amelia followed and I decided to go for a walk. Derek said there was a car boot in the field beyond the canal.  I couldn’t find it, so I went to the other end of the village, saw some lovely houses and as no car boot, walked back to the garage and took the lane down the side of it, to the garden centre.  I got some more plants to replenish my planters, they are a bit jaded by now, June the 7^th seems a long time ago.  When I got back I did the planters, the kids were washed, dressed and dossing about and Derek and Charlotte made lunch.  The dogs had a walk, Orlando is getting very cute at jumping off the boat now, alright but he chases after people as they walk by, he has to be reprimanded and made to get back on, which is difficult as they are all admiring him and cooing over him.  Chris rang, he was at the pub, it was 1:20ish, sent the kids, Charlotte actually, to meet him, he had a coffee, we took the bags and kids to the car and waved them off for about 2ish.  Got back to the boat, Amelia had left her handbag with her personal bits in, including her glasses.  I gave them a ring and they said she would manage without them, they were already on the motorway and Chris didn’t want to come back.  When we were back at the boat Derek and I tidied the boat round.  We washed the porthole glass and windows and I decided to redo my glass cabinet and moved a few ribbon plates, putting them on the walls.  Derek had a nod and we got washed and changed and went to the pub.  We both had steaks, they were lovely and back to the boat for a night of doing the blog and watching T.V.  Its really quiet and well ordered now but a little gloomy without the twosome???  Jess is more relaxed though as she can get in the back cabin and toilet at will now there are just the two of us on board.