Over the last week I have not been able to live on the boat because I am having major work done on it as preparation for external painting. The work to be done constitutes grit blasting the upper hull, and then coating it with an epoxy two part primer, which gives a diamond hard finish, that will give me at least six months to do the actual painting. In addition the boat needs preparing for the work - removing hatches, and external fixtures, protecting the inside of the boat with a double layer of protective material, and ultimately blacking the hull, including the bottom, which is the first time that has been done. While this work is being done, the boat is not habitable, so I have been staying in a hotel in Market Harborough.
This is the first time I have been in Market Harborough, and it is a very pleasant market town of about 25K population. The centre has been traffic calmed in a very subtle and suitable way; the buildings appears largely original - including the inn I am staying at, and one more, that are original coaching inns; and there has been much use of the local creamy yellow stone. The main church in the centre, which has a towered spire, also has timekeeping instruments on the faces of the tower - a clock plus a sundial.
Whilst I have been here I have also picked up my Tai Ji, going back to the class I used to attend, and have had three sessions there. This has proved interesting and given me much pause for thought.
So being in temporary accommodation has had a big upside. Tomorrow, I should be picking the boat up and starting off on the fairly arduous journey back to Aylesbury, before the winter stoppage program kicks in.
