31st December

I visited Braunston today.

Bob Mitchell was working on the hatch doors for Strumble 2 and we chatted over a few further details; he is very patient with me.

It was good to see progress being made on Gongoozlers' Rest. This excellent narrowboat cafe is in dock presently so that it can be refitted for the new season; its new shape will certainly surprise a few.

Elsewhere it was jolly quiet: there was a little ice-breaking, a few puffs of desultory smoke, barely even a walker.

The scene was ripe for Thomas Hardy to write a poem on it.