We're back!

Wow where do we start, it's been a long two years off the cut, but we are now back, living on Derwent6..
This all started with Al losing her Dad in 2014 and us giving up Derwent6 to look after her Mum back in Shoreham in Kent.. Anyone who says caring is easy, is lying. Al found it very difficult as she watched her Mum, who had Alzheimer's, get worse by the week, and Del couldn't handle things at times, but had Derwent6 to recover to. Pam had to be hoisted everywhere and in the end couldn't be taken out of her own home..
We lost Pam in January 2016 and she died in the house she loved, which was Al's Dads wishes, and we had made a promise we would do it for him.. another promise was that their ashes were scattered in Shoreham together.
Then it was probate, and going through the house, and this takes a long time because of your emotions.. Al was fantastic in sorting things out, having good days and bad days..  This was the house she was born in and a decision had to be made, do we keep it or put it up for sale..

Al and her sister Jo made the decision to sell, so a plan was made to make a few changes to do it up to sell.. With a bit of painting and carpets and wallpapering it smartened things up a little, and in October it went on the market.. It sold in five days!!
Then it was sorting out the furniture so it all had homes to go to (as it wouldn't' fit on a narrowboat), but we couldn't empty the house in case things fell through... Things were held up as the 1857 cottage had never been registered, but in February 2017 we signed contracts..
Al still can't believe she signed away the house we all loved and have so many great memories from, but it was competing with our love of life on the waterways, and our love of Derwent6 our home..
We had a date to move out of Tuesday 21st of February and we decided to leave on Monday 20th so we could take our time moving out.
As the house became empty things became a bit easier, and with the rooms empty it appeared to be smaller, reminding us of Derwent6. We had one last walk around the village and then came back and soaked up the memories in every room, and in the garden..
Then came the moment when you leave the keys on the kitchen sides and close the front door for the last time, yes their were lots of tears, and Tooty looked confused!

It was funny because as we got closer to home, things became a little clearer. The car was loaded up with the last of our processions and we had that feeling you always get when you get back to the canal, it was calming, tranquil, and peaceful... it was lovely to be home!!

So here we are, slowly unloading the car bit by bit and realising we still have too much STUFF, but we are warm, cosy and content. We did plan to get out but the weather isn't on our side and it also gives us the chance to do other things.. What this space! Oh and yes the cat Tooty is with us..