Springtime. More fun and adventure on Nellie.

We hope that Nellie will be ready to move back on board by the end of this week. I was worried what state she would be in, as we had packed her away after quite a wet few weeks. With the very best attention to detail, you can't help some damp creeping in, especially when you start out that way.

It wasn't so bad after all. A bit fusty on the nose, but by and large, there was no mould and nothing a quick clean up won't fix. We have been staying at a gite a forty minute drive away for the past three weeks, and with only until Saturday to go before we have to vacate, we shall be spending most days moving stuff aboard and airing things out.
The weather forecast is good for the week. I hope it's right.

Meanwhile, exploring this part of Burgundy by car (we bought one to use in England and have driven it over) has been delightful.  We are close to Beaune, the main town of this wine growing region, and discovering it's food markets, historic buildings (the Hospice museum is a must visit) and restaurants has been a bonus we didn't expect.  Having my son (an accomplished chef) along with us for some weeks, means I have a 'foodie' companion to 'ooh' and 'ahh' with. We gaze lovingly at the morrel mushrooms, just in season (then succumb to an extravagant purchase); sneak a taste of the white truffle oil (and again don't resist taking a small sample back with us), we are both in 'food heaven'.

Already we have been spoiled with Eddie's cooking as he dished up salmon risotto one night and traditional Cassoulet another, when my brother Greg and his wife Gill visited us last week.

This week, we have to get organised and move our 'stuff' back on board. Even if the jobs haven't been finished, we have to move out of here.

This is how we 'found' Nellie - someone had broken a window! The company H20 charged us 60 Euros to put this plastic patch on, then quoted around 700 Euros to fix the window. It's all done now - for the princely sum of 80 Euro. We got the glass from Dijon and Mike fixed it  - just like new. How they were going to justify the 700 I don't know.