Our summer holiday begins

We've been on our boat for just over 24 hours, but already it feels like so much has happened.

We arrived yesterday, in the rain, unpacked, and then rowed up the river to get groceries. (This way we avoided having to make two car trips to the boatyard.) We also bought some new stuff so we'd have our own set on the boat - frypan, coffee plunger, toothbrushes. The next morning we went back to get pillows. We got some new non-slip stuff glued on the cockpit floor, and then when the tide was in, we turned the boat round and floated off down the river.

Fortunately we had brought our portable bailing-child to bail out dinghies while underway (it pays to be under 25 kilos but still wonderfully hardworking and cooperative):



The portable bailer was extremely excited about this holiday. Partly because she was planning to JUMP OFF THE TRANSOM INTO THE SEA. With no lifejacket! So once we got down the river we found a fantastic bay, and it was warm and sunny (and very still), and we all put our togs on and... she jumped! I caught it on video camera, but I can't upload that many bytes, so you'll have to see a photo of her just before her second jump...



Firstborn dived...



As usual though, Pozz was actually the first in the water.

After an early dinner, we all had another round of swims and adventures. In fact Daughter set off in the kayak (which she can now point in the direction she wants, instead of using it at random), Pozz got in the sailing dinghy and Husband followed in the longboat. Then we played Cranium which we got for Christmas. It's the adult version, which means sometimes our six year old has to guess movies and songs she's never heard of, but that's kind of funny.

I'm reading Lord of the Rings aloud to the children, but when I'm too busy for that they listen to a Lemony Snicket audiobook. (They're up to The Penultimate Peril.) I'm also reading a Bill Bryson book and revising some coastal navigation. I'm not knitting anything at the moment, because, in my head, I am.... designing my first original lace shawl.... I'm so looking forward to getting started on that.

I miss my garden, the piano, online scrabble, friends... but I'm already going feral. After my swim today, I made my husband cut all my hair off. Feels great.

Oh, one other cute thing (other than the kids' huge excitement over this holiday). We've been playing Chinese whispers, but whenever it gets to Daughter, she changes it to, "Daddy is the kindest nicest person in the world". No matter what you put in, that's what comes out. Cute or what?