After 4 weeks of self  abuse isolation here is my SLOBVOGBLOG! for Vulnerable Old Gits who aren't out and about with friends, family and other ****ing nuisances to read about  life on a locked down narrowboat.

Spirits have been kept up by, well, spirits for a start with the odd infusion of ale but mainly by the kindness of friends.Pam has been an absolute star and together with her tribe have kept me as sane as I was before (Oh Dear!) this malarkey started.People on the mooring have been diamonds-shopping, prescriptions, dumping rubbish-not got a volunteer for emptying the loo yet-but my particular thanks to Roy, Louise and Peter; and onshore friends Geoff and Phil who have more than done their bit.
It's been handy having Roy on board Panther next door though we have been careful to keep our distance mainly cos we don't like one another. I speak to Ady at home in Watford most days-he is missing his boat but we all, have to behave ourselves for the timebeing-sod it.

Supplies of food, booze even newspapers  have been maintained either through the above of Tesco and Morrisons though both are totally slotless as far as the eye can see so could be eating grass by end of May.
Here's a few pictures to show lockdown has its compensations

Phil and Geoff joined me for a bargepole distance lunchtime libation by the lock at Cowroast. Very pleasant and much appreciated as were the food and drink donations from Phil.

Pam was apparently under the dryer
in Berkhamsted

On the first Saturday of self isolation we had an online Star Wars Party to celebrate Florence's birthday. It went very well and great fun was had by all

I was Cowroast's Darth Vader

Nat and Hugh in Cornwall

Half of Mathilda,Caz, Florence and Philip in Kent

Joe in Brackley

Ollie and Jess in Bath

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLORENCE!

Yours truly enjoying a 6pm snifter

Roy admires his pear

By way of a diversion I've started a 6 oclock habit of raising a glass to my friends and texting the well know greeting "Cheers Big Ears" and they usually respond. There are over 20 of us in the CBE club. Let me know if you want to join. No charge.

Mikaela shares her 6 o'clock tipple
with some old geezer.

Cheers Nat

Looking good Ollie

and cat

Bro in law Tom in Oldham
has started a beard whilst in lockdown whilst I have taken the shears to mine

Cheers Pam x

Mathilda enjoys her Easter Bunny

as did I

and Natalie

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Sadly during March we lost friend Mike Paine (Mike the Chef) to the lurgy and his family were told they would not be advised of the cremation until it had taken place. As over three weeks had passed I assumed that had happened. I was surprised to be told that when his brother enquired about the remains last week he was told it was due that afternoon. This hit me and others a bit hard knowing poor Mike would be despatched with nobody present but that's how things are.

Pam and family sent a very nice card and flowers to cheer me up which after the usual wipe of a Kleenex they certainly did.

Cheers old mate

Mike's ashes might  possibly might be sprinkled in the canal near Geoff J-watch this space.
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Something cheery-a couple of cartoons

Norman really liked the out doors

An aerial shot of the G Union at Marsworth by local photographer Tony Cashen

Another boater goes barmy

My favourite joke this week-thanks to GB
To kill a French vampire you need to drive a baguette through its heart. Sounds easy but the process is painstaking

Ramblings of a VOG.

I know this virus is not welcome 
Of course life can be tough under the current situation and I aint no hero but some good will, I hope, come of it. Definitely a reassessment of priorities both personally and nationwide if not worldwide. It is not a time for recriminations-of course things could be done better-but this is all new and no matter how clever, powerful or inciteful you are this pandemic is finding your weaknesses. Unless you have Trumpian arrogance you will be humbled at how something like this can cause word wide distress but when it's over let's please take some pluses and benefits and use them. Do not allow the old faulty values back in. This virus has done more for the environment and planet Earth than all the Governments and protesters ever managed or will ever do. Hang onto those gains. Fight for them. Our perception of wealth and its distribution has changed. Let's keep it that way. Our re-enforced need for appreciation of and by our fellow human beings must be maintained. We have seen what can be achieved and changed locally, nationally and internationally when nations, races, religions, economic powers and military might unite against a common enemy.

We will never have a better chance.

Hoping your coping and your coping while hoping.
M