Page 83 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

STUCK IN A BUNK
A good friend has sent us a Christmas card and I have just sent her a photograph from a
boating holiday from many years ago....this happened on that holiday.

The voyage was from Boston up the River Witham, through the City of Lincoln, along the
Roman Foss Dyke Navigation and into the tidal River Trent at Torksey lock.
We turned left...and proceeded towards Newark and Nottingham. Just where we stopped
for this second night I fail to remember, it must have been at the first lock, or even in
Newark after we had vacated the tideway for the more tranquil river above Gunthorpe.

There were five of us, Helen had bagged the rear cabin as the double bed was fully
occupied by various bears, bunnies, furry dogs and “rabbit beato”.
I must mention him as he went everywhere and even had to have his own life jacket
carefully constructed by Ruth for our
various voyages in the different craft
we have used over the years.

Ruth and I used the main cabin with
its two single settee berths, one on
each side of the central table. Hugh
and Jenny, our friends from
“Undergear” at Boston were
sleeping on foam cushions on the
wheelhouse floor.

Ruth, Helen ( early age) and
“Rabbit Beato”!

Hugh figures in various other tales from “Ivy
House” days as it was Michael, Ruth’s
brother and our very first mechanic, who
carried out the necessary servicing and
testing of Hugh’s HGV delivery lorry. (Read
Michael and the testing station).

During the time we had “Vesta”,
Newark and Nottingham were one of our
favourite destinations.
But this was the only time I became “stuck
in a bunk”! My favourite breakfast cereal at this time was “Sugar Puffs” and I had to
endure much ribbing and hilarious comments about the size of my bowl to contain the
said cereal and the “monster” character who resided on the outside of the said packet!

It is a pity I never actually took any photographs of the interior of Vesta as the layout was
quite decent and roomy, particularly the rear cabin bagged by daughter Helen.

83