I’m beginning to think that the water gods have got it in for me at the moment because every time I plan to take my boat out on the river, the fates conspire to stop me.
Now I know spring has truly arrived. Why? Because I’ve got my tickets for Beaulieu boat jumble, the annual junkfest held in the grounds of Lord Montagu’s little pad in the New Forest which attracts boaters and yachties from all over the country – and even further afield – eager to replenish their supplies of unnecessary bits of boating memorabilia.
If you’re extremely lucky, you may occasionally glimpse a kingfisher on our stretch of the river – and if so, treasure the moment because these brilliantly-coloured birds are becoming increasingly-rare as more of their habitats are destroyed.
