Thames Ice Exploration.

We have had sub-zero temperatures for over two weeks now and last night Whyte Swallow declared that the ice in the mooring basin could support her weight. We donned our artic clothing and ventured outside for comfirmation. Whyte Swallow nimbly stepped from the pontoon and JUMPED UP AND DOWN on the ice. She didn't die, so we thought we'd have our very own ice adventure. May I present:

NARROWBOATERS ON ICE!

Whyte Swallow survives the "jumping" experiment.

Rob proves that he can walk on water.

Lolly wasn't too sure that it was a good idea...

But didn't want to be left out.

Lewsey had already discovered that she could walk on the ice (probably by falling off a boat and not getting wet)

Rob and Lolly walk where no two or four legged beings have walked before.

Morning snow. Lolly and myself exploring in front of our boat after breakfast this morning.

Oh, the fun!

(Photos 1 and 6 belong to Whyte Swallow.)

In The Dark And Under Water.

After the ice came rain. Days and days of drizzle which woke old father Thames from his slumber and swelled his belly until the riverbanks could hold him no more. Slowly, slowly the waters rose until my little garden stood ankle deep in water. I took this photo late at night and by morning father Thames had sighed and returned in peace to the confines of his bed. 

My garden lies lost and forlorn. It has done for months. I yearn to be out there planting, digging, sorting... but I am not allowed to do too much at the moment. For eleven months I have had labyrinthitis or benign positional vertigo (I am still waiting for the doctor to decide which it is) and so I become dizzy with too much movement of my head. Or too little. Or, to be honest, any movement. My poor, poor garden lies silently, waiting for my return. 

Spotted. Too Close For Comfort?

As cute as mink may look, and as kind as animal rights activists thought they were by releasing mink into the wild, these little critters are rather deadly. They have not just been spotted at Abingdon Lock, as The Herald indicates, but have also been seen at our moorings... and in my garden.

But what should I do?