It’s Christmas Eve: shopping done, Christmas Dinner prepared, WRT tidied up, us showered and shaved (well… him, not me. I’m only showered), ready for the big day.
And no, we won’t have a white Christmas, that’s for sure. It’s raining all day.

We’re not sure whether to do the prezzies just after midnight, or do them tomorrow. Well, we do them tomorrow. Tomorrow we’ve got all the time in the world, because nobody will turn up…

French Lilies

The next morning I find out that Lawrance has rearranged the entire boat.
The Christmas tree is now on the table. And underneath are all his presents for me.
So I put mine underneath as well.

Christmas prezzies

Christmas prezzies

At two o’clock me and Lawrance get ready for a quiet Christmas Day. Yes, I did send an invitation for a get together, but we think nobody will show up, because of the heavy rain.

Xmas invitation 2015

Xmas invitation 2015

But about fifteen minutes later… knock, knock! Ann and Mick, a Scottish couple from two jetties up. Then Maureen and Dave, our back neighbours. They are all soaking wet, even though they only have to walk between one and two boat lengths! Lynne, Sally and Norman are the wettest: they live about 50 metres away from us. Luckily for us there are no more visitors: WRT is only big enough for ten people in total.
We all have a terrific Christmas Day. And evening, because the last ones leave just before midnight! At that time it is still raining…

Christmas Day get together

Christmas Day get together

French Lilies

When we wake up on Boxing Day WRT, for the first time since we have her, is level: she doesn’t tilt anymore. And doesn’t rock or move either. Lawrance tells me I’m in for a shock when I get out of the boat. Well, in fact, I nearly bounce off the jetty and end in the water: the jetty is 6 inches lower than usual. Because the water in the marina is 6 inches higher than usual.

High water levels

High water levels

We spend the entire afternoon loosing off mooring lines of about 100 boats.

Loosen off mooring lines

Loosen off mooring lines

All these boats are dangerously tilted. And some are even lifting up part of the jetty.

Flood damage

Flood damage

I know, one thinks that we, who live on a boat, are OK when everything gets flooded.
Well, it’s not a problem when it is still raining, it’s all about we’re you end up when the water drops. I found some pictures on the internet, taken by River Canal Rescue
(the boater’s Wegenwacht/ADAC).
You don’t want this to happen to your home.

Non-floating floating bath tub

Non-floating floating bath tub

And this looks like a nice spot to live, but it might be difficult to reach by car.

Romantic property with river view

Romantic property with river view

Later that day Carol and Roy visit us for a while.

French Lilies

The next morning the water level is back to normal. WRT rocks like hell, with her mooring lines loosened off, but we keep it that way. In three days we will get another deluge…

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