Dealing with Boredom

Living in a confined space of 8m x 2m does not leave much storage space for vasts amounts of gadgets, a frienldy neighbour on a 15m boat ( a motor cruiser not a sailing boat therefore cheats) had a 32 plasma screen tv. We were offered a guided tour but my for the sake of our relationship my husband (DH) declined on our behalf. Many of the motor cruisers and barges have sky, we also would have TV via Haupagge but in the six months DH had to prepare it wasn't installed on our eco friendly netbook. France has many delights, DAB radio is not one of them, the French in their infinite wisdom are one of the minority regions in Europe to use DVB not DAB. Didn't even know there would be a difference, but having no TV, Radio, DVD player or easily available internet access meant that have had to look at other resources for accessing media services.

Our netbook does not have a DVD drive so we have an external writer (but our son DS removed the player whilst still in GB so we had to invest in a new one). Had a few songs uploaded onto our netbook so have been listening to a few shanties until a replacement player arrived. Internet access has been a challenge in France, wifi not always available in villages or towns, but have been acquainted with Macdonalds who have free wifi and reliably clean toilets. Some bars will display a sticker if they have free wifi but have been accommodated if I ask the staff at most bars with a key to access their wifi. I'm hoping in Italy that my sim will allow me to access internet on the phone, I have had an Italian sim card for many years and hopefully will not need a contract as you do in France, a contract means having to have a French bank account I have been told.

Well thank goodness for books, we also have an ereader. Most of the larger ports we have visited on the canals have had good book swaps! In Paris Arsenal Dr Jeff a relationship guru seemed to dominate the bookshelves as did Sidney Sheldon a reflection perhaps of the American population who spend time at the Arsenal. I did wonder why at the time there seemed to be a large amount of "life coach" authors dominating the shelves but after two months as a live aboard on a small boat with a grumpy DH can now see the wisdom or need for a little extra assistance.

We also have sailing guides to help us get around Europe, and I expect once out on the open sea DH will once again have to start explaining the theory beind sailing. For many years i just assumed you were taken where the wind blew (doh). Sounds romantic but sailing is apparently an exact science, from the design of the keel, to the height of the mast, type of sail, amount of sails, type of wind blah blah blah. I quite often take a Puzzle book, I like to entertain myself with General Knowledge crosswords, code breakers etc DH is great with cryptics and logical puzzles. This is where are brains differ and I often wonder why and if we are compatible. DH has tried to explain how aeroplanes stay in the air and how boats can't sail within 45 degrees of the wind direction, why our boat can't capsize, it just goes ... whoosh .. over my head. Get the drift, having read the brilliant "Kids in the Cockpit" by Jill Schinas i feel somehwat reassured that its a gender thing so I'm not stressing. She also reassures that many female sailing companions are women like me who would follow their loved one to the four corners of the world, and sometimes the reluctance diminishes over time. Dee Caffari didn't start sailing until she was an adult and she has accomplished so much (though I would never be able to use a bucket as a toilet!). Well, I can't see me circumnavigating the world, but never say never.