Caxton's kitting out

As the time for Caxton's launch gets ever closer I have started to think about what domestic kit I will need on board. Our original plan was to move onto Caxton with kit from our home as we were anticipating selling the house and not having a land based home at all. The current economic conditions have rather trounced that plan, so we are now sort of 'down sizing' instead and that means that the idea that we would simply transfer towels, saucepans, cutlery, crockery, bedding etc. from home to boat is now a non-runner.

So, brace yourselves, I have had to go shopping. Fortunately, most of it on the Internet because despite the stereotype, I am a woman that doesn't like to shop.

Here is the first purchase, a set of dishwasher safe stainless steel cutlery.

It seems however that I might need to employ a butler with this set because, and I quote: '...should be removed from the dishwasher immediately drying cycle is complete and polished with a soft dry cloth - do not mix stainless steel and silver cutlery in the dishwasher'. The problem is, I can't for the life of me, remember where have I put the silver?

As long as they are suitable for opening paint cans and as impromptu screwdrivers that will be just fine.

Second purchase the colour co-ordinated towels and bath mats: towel-stacker's of John Lewis and M&S please note how it should really be done...

Third purchase, new saucepans. These are those Tefal Compact saucepans that are guaranteed to outlast Methuselah, stack inside each other and fit in a sock drawer. Well that might not exactly be the marketing-speak but the pan handles fold in, the lids compact and they all stack in a very confined space. And, lets face it, a narrowboat is a confined space.

And finally, here is the last purchase, the crockery. Maxwell & Williams Cherry Blossom porcelain. Square plates and bowls that are space efficient and in my view, quite striking and mugs of a sensible size.