Day 2 – Thursday 30^th August. Well, we have spent today sorting out the boat, packing away clothes, topping up the water tank and, most important, buying in supplies. We went into Barrow upon Soar to visit our favourite butcher. The sad thing is that he is going to retire next year and unless he can let out the business, we are going to lose one of the best butcher shops in the area. One of the problems he faces is that his cold room is accessed through the flat that he lives in. Also, the electrics are not clearly shop or flat – which doesn’t matter too much if it’s your home and livelihood but if he wants to let it out as a business and a separate flat then the wiring and location of facilities will need to be sorted. Another problem is that business has been tailing off with people not buying as much meat as before and the weather this year not favouring barbecues. Anyway, we have until next year to enjoy his meat, after that we will have to see what happens. Perhaps yet another village will lose its local butcher shop.

After the butcher, off to the supermarket for the bulk buy items, then to the chemist to stock up on pills and potions.

Quite a bit of rain today and still chilly. Let’s hope it’s going to warm up for the weekend.