Actually, this should be my title for a post in March as the clocks went BACK yesterday, not forward.
In the past, this time change played havoc with Maggie and it usually takes a couple of months for her to adjust. Dark mornings, darker nights and not much difference in between as the days become shorter in daylight hours.
Living on the water, hopefully it will be different this year.
We deliberately went to bed later than usual last night, and all clocks were put back before we retired (which we used to do anyway, but didn’t seem to make any difference).
The day has thus started as normal, getting up at 6.30, walk, wash, housework, breakfast, and as we approach 9am, Maggie will soon be looking forward to her second walk.
As usual, it’s pretty quiet here, no road traffic, planes or inconsiderate neighbours with their blaring radios to disturb us as we go about our day.
We still have no internet at the boat, so will be going elsewhere to plug in, sign on and write our stuff.
It is getting tiresome, and we will be making enquiries in one of the major towns today for alternatives that we can cope with in our budget.
We are coming up for our first official ‘Quarter’ of life afloat, as we celebrate thirteen weeks of narrow boat living on Tuesday.
We are keeping within our means, and the funding put aside for the boat running expenses etc is still looking good.
I still haven’t got to grips with shopping though, which is somewhat annoying.
We are spending less than we did in the house, but not by much. We seemed to be forever peckish and buying things to nibble. We decided to try to do just one shop a week, thus not raiding the chocolate counters or picking up a pack of those heavenly doughnuts on an alternate daily basis. Unfortunately, I have had to throw some food away as buying a ‘larger amount’ didn’t keep, so it’s my swings and roundabouts scenario again.
My spreadsheet is showing where we are lacking or overindulging, so next month will see some serious adjustments. Funnily enough, the weight isn’t suffering.
Our biggest saving is fuel.
Whereas we would drive at least 15 miles a day to the woods and a 20 mile round trip into town to shop, we can walk the dog and shop locally. Speaking with local residents both here on the Marina and in town, we are learning of places where we can walk her safely and I shall be checking them out, weather permitting, when Hubby is away next week.
One thing that is lovely here is that it is a dog friendly place.
There was an arts and crafts street market yesterday, and the number of different breeds of dog was amazing. We met up with mastiffs, greyhounds, labs, rough collies, border terriers, jack russells, a red setter and a Syberian husky to name just a few. Maggie did us proud, no aggression, just friendly sniffs.
Many coffee shops and retail outlets, even the Abbey and their tea rooms, allow dogs, so if we are out, one of us doesn’t have to stay outside with her whilst the other goes in.
Maggie is getting known, and the last time we went into the Town Hall for coffee and cake, she was given a biscuit and they made sure the water was fresh in the dog bowl.
By the end of our next quarter, we will be in the throes of really cold weather, Christmas will have passed and we will be into the New Year. Where does the time go?
pensitivity101 
A quarter of a year already? Yes, good heavens, time does fly (both forward and backward). And as usual, I’m always impressed that you’ll have identified and sorted out the weak spots in your chain mail. Super efficient.
And what a bonus to realize you’ve settled into a community that welcomes the WHOLE family.
Good luck with the internet issues. I’d certainly be at a loss without mine, and find I pine for it like a howling wolf when I’m stripped of it.
Being internet-less is a pain. We have a theory that they turn off the PC that is actually linked to the router when they go home. The Boss is back tomorrow, so we will be having an informal chat and offer sticky labels DO NOT SWITCH OFF of required!
I’ll be curious to read your thoughts about winter living on the boat. I mean I know England is cold and all that but colder? Chill factor off the water?
My Hurley Dog was up at the crack of dawn this morning for a quick wee (read that as 5.30). Now 2 hours later he is chomping at the bit for his long walk and a poop. *sigh* Daylight savings should be re-named doggy jet lag!
There are several of us who will be spending our first winter on the water. Having spoke to many of the Old Timers, the marina floods every year, but ‘it’s never a problem’. Two years ago, the marina froze over and someone has a photo of his friend walking across the ice. We are making sure our heating works, we have plenty of blankets and jumpers, and as soon as someone mentions snow, I’m off to the shops to stock up on packets! (haven’t got room for much else, but you’d be surprised how far a bag of rice will go, a packet sauce is 39p and soup is only 25p!)
I’m impressed at your ability to post without internet! And we can’t seem to rein in our grocery budget either….our spending there is a bit ridiculous.
We are still internet-less at the boat, though we have been assured normal service will be resumed by the end of the week (confess they didn’t stipulate which one).
As for your grocery bill, do you keep a spreadsheet? I know it helped me, even if it showed all the naughty things we were having!
I keep track of how much I spend on my phone but that’s it. Blah.
It’s my number crunching instincts, I think I must be pretty sad!!
🙂
Sad but spending way less!
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