Boat cleaning and a survey

4th & 5th May

Yesterday we hopped out of bed quite early, though there was no particular reason to be rushing about. The boat batteries were quite low, not having run the engine the day before, so we started up as soon as it was eight o’clock.

I popped back to Sainsbury’s for a few bits and pieces, and Sheila ran a washload. Then we set off round the corner to Fazeley proper; by the time we got to the water point the washing was done.

Tank refilled, I boated on to the junction, making a much better fist of getting round than I’d done with Sanity on Monday. We tied Sanity Again just beyond her, and spent a fair bit of time removing yet more duck poo from both boats.

In the middle of this, John and Nev Campbell rolled up. They are supposed to be boating, but owing to a slight mishap with a window pane, they are having to kill time before they can set off. It was really nice of them to take the trouble to come and seek us out. They duly admired the new boat and we had a good old natter over a cup of tea.

After they left, we got back to work with the scrubbing brushes and sponges, and made the two boats look reasonably cared for again. As may be imagined, it was a quiet evening and an early night.

Today was survey day for Sanity. Eddie Freeman proved to be a nice guy, who made the whole thing as painless as possible. In addition, he expressed himself well satisfied with the state of the boat, so we can sleep more easily for a bit. It’s not that we had any doubts about Sanity’s condition, it’s just stressful having the result of six years’ care examined in that way.

Before Eddie came, we’d spent a bit of time cleaning yet more duck doings off Sanity Again, and I took down our Festival and other personal plaques from Sanity. Browsing the internet,I found the site where BW is actually consulting on next winter’s stoppages. This is a seriously good idea; it is so good when they get something right for once.

After Eddie had gone, we went for a stroll along the towpath; the weather is slowly improving again, as if Spring is reluctantly returning, like a sulky teenager coming back in from the garden for a meal.

Tomorrow, we’ll potter off to Kingsbury Water Park in Sanity Again for a few days; our next commitment is to meet our buyer here on Thursday 13th, so he can have another look round his new boat.