Day 1 as a liveaboard family

Apologies for not posting recently. Things have been rather busy, getting out of the house, moving aboard and then driving up north to spend time with family and collect the kids who had been staying with Grandparents while we did the stressful move aboard. This was such a good idea as Pat and I were definitely not our usual laid back selves during this time and it was so much better that the kids didn't pick up on the stress.

So yesterday we travelled down from Leeds by train having said a teary goodbye to our northern family. Landy has been left up North with my brother who will sell it for us, so now we have no house and no car.... but we do have a floating home!

The lovely Hayley came to collect us from the station and drive us the short distance to Laurin which was very much appreciated as it was getting late and we had lots of bags. Laurin is still in chaos so this morning we spent some time stowing some of the bits and pieces before Nichola came to collect us for a day's dinghy sailing at the pond.

A wonderful day where AJ showed how much he has grown in confidence and Esme did some excellent sailing too. She was particularly worried about the capsize drill but in the end big brother AJ came to the rescue and went with her. In the end she absolutely loved it and wanted to do it again on her own. She had to be satisfied with a last swim at the pond but her little face shows how happy she was to have overcome her fear.

Back to Laurin and then cooked tea on board Pagan as we are still in chaos and Bru and Jane had called in at Burnham on their way back to Fambridge after their week's cruise. A lovely evening was had by all and AJ & E got a short guitar lesson!

Boatschool starts tomorrow with a slow ramp up. Reading, French and some WW1 & WW2 activities to start with. Full boatschool will start when we enter the French inland waterways.