Inconvenience

It’s great living on a narrow boat, that is until the rains come.
It’s OK if it’s just you and/or your partner, but if you have a pet, especially a dog, bad weather becomes a pain in the proverbial butt unless your mutt is highly trained and will perform its toilet habits either in a litter tray or actually sit on the loo (you need to see the film Bruce Almighty to understand).
We have had rain non stop for almost 2 days.
Yesterday, Hubby took the dog out each time and got wet. He hung his waterproofs up, I dried off the dog, and we managed until  it was almost bedtime, when he had to take her out again and it was tipping it down.
I would have gone, honest, but Hubby felt it would be best if he went, especially as the waterproofs were still wet despite hanging up inside the helm cover.
There was just NO SUN AT ALL yesterday, so things stayed damp and cold.

It continued to rain again all last night.
Around 2am, I was awake, told myself I didn’t need the loo, and tried to get back to sleep.
I managed eventually only to wake up again with a full bladder that no matter which way I slept, had to be relieved.
Damn.
Hubby was kind of awake, so I asked him to move so that I could get out of bed.
I disturbed the dog, had my wee, and was sleepily asked the time.
It was 5.35.
I went back to bed, or tried to.
Hubby was getting dressed.
‘The dog wants to go out. She’s pointed to the door, so couldn’t ask any plainer. It’s not her fault.’
It was still raining.
The waterproofs were even more chilled, and still damp.
Hubby put a brave face on it, but I could tell he was not pleased.
I offered to go, but he told me to go back to bed.
I felt dreadful, because if I hadn’t had to get up myself, I wouldn’t have disturbed the dog and we would still all be cozy under the duvet.

I stayed up until they got back, both wet and miserable.

The waterproofs were waterlogged, and Maggie’s little coat absolutely dripping. She had performed her business, but grudgingly by all accounts, so poor Hubby wasn’t happy. He was cold, tired and wet so I gave him a dry towel and started to dry off the dog with the hairdryer.
We both had a cup of tea, and then went back to bed.  The dog stayed on her bench.

I had an appointment at 11.15 this morning about my feet (all to do with my diabetes) and wanted to have a shower, so I had intended to get up early (but not half past five!)
It was 8.30 when we awoke, and a miracle happened…… it stopped raining!
Hubby checked the radar and it looked like we would be ‘dry’ for a few hours. I suggested taking all the wet stuff and together with the towels from my shower, putting them in the tumble dryer.

Good plan said Hubby, so up I went.
I had my shower and washed my hair, then made my way to the laundry room.
Bad plan.
The tumble dryer was occupied and judging by the number of laundry baskets there, would be for some time.
I came back to the boat, had breakfast and that much needed cuppa.
It had started to drizzle, so we decided to go out for my appointment early and drop into the laundry on the way.
No chance, someone else was using the dryer, so we loaded up the car, drove down the High Street and collected 2 coffees to drink in the car as we waited in the car park for my appointment time.
Good coffee!

My appointment went well. I have ‘excellent’ feet with strong pulses in both. I’m wearing sensible shoes, getting plenty of exercise, and there are no foreseeable problems.

Having checked out some alternative wet gear last night on the internet, we then went into one of the major towns and purchased 2 yellow PVC rain suits and 2 pairs of green wellies.
Whilst our waterproofs are perfectly adequate for light showers, the torrential downpours of late are a different matter. We will therefore now resemble 2 mobile dandelions walking along the pontoon in heavy rain, but who cares as long as we’re dry?

Coming back, we went into the local launderette, and put a pound in one of their dryers. We only get half the time we have here yet thought we’d got everything dry, but back at the boat, things were still damp.
It was no longer raining, so I decided to take the dog out, take the laundry up and use the dryer on site.
I couldn’t believe it!
Somebody else was using it, so I put the bag in the car and took her for a long walk instead in the hope that by the time I got back, the dryer would be free.

It wasn’t.

I left the stuff in the car and went back to the boat.
Hubby said he intended to have a shower later, so he’d do it then, putting his towel in with the rest.

His timing is better than mine.
Everything is now nice and dry, and all being well, we’ll be able to walk Maggie this evening with no need to worry about getting wet.

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