I can’t believe that we’ve been ‘overseas’ for a year now – the year has flown passed and we are still experiencing ‘firsts’. I must admit that I’d hoped my French would be better by now, but it continues to disappoint me. During the winter there is little opportunity to integrate with the locals, or anyone else for that matter. It should have been a time for home studying but we have been lazy.

One of the ‘firsts’ was at this mooring where an ice cream van arrived; there didn’t seem to be a size option (or not one that G was going to admit too anyway). Look at the smile on his face. That, evidently, is a rum and raison chantilly.

Despite the wide water here we continue to bounce up and down when the big stuff goes passed. They don’t smack us about but we do bounce in their wash – enough to make life interesting if you’re trying to get your contact lenses in or keep to your feet in the shower.

This is a nice spot with the River Somme running parallel at the back of us. Baxter went to get a drink out of it on our way back yesterday and I don’t know if his back legs gave way or he had a senior moment; either way, the upshot was that he tumbled in head first and couldn’t get back out. I fished him out none the worse for wear except somewhat covered in weed and more than a bit smelly. I decided to spare his blushes and not take a photo.

It was also time to clip Muttley out and, I must admit, he has become better behaved about having it done with the clippers. Only paws to knees have to be done with scissors now.

Moving on tomorrow morning, only one more lock on the Canal du Nord before we turn off onto the Somme.