On to Alrewas

We had a very good evening last night, despite a disappointing start. At six, we and Stephen, Jayne and son Thomas from Dolce Far Niente walked round to the Blacksmith's Arms, planning to eat there. It was closed for refurbishment. So we went to the chippy instead and took the boxful of grub back to Dolce, where eating, drinking, joking and nattering went on for quite some time.

It was a brilliant session, and many thanks to the Pigotts for hosting it.

We still managed to get away before half eight this morning, and had another glorious run to Alrewas, largely in bright sunshine, though it clouded over rather towards the end. I took some photos, but haven't had a chance to sort them out yet; I'll try and put a couple up tomorrow.

Some catching up stuff:

The engine has been starting and running just fine, so whatever the problem was, it was related to the period of sitting idle. I had been starting it during the freeze, in order to blow the ice away from the stern to make an open water area for the birds, so it can't have been too much do with condensation.

I had the same problem just once last year, again at the end of the freeze. The engine half starts on just a couple of cylinders, then stalls out with white smoke. The Hurricane shares the supply from the tank, having its own take off from the top of the coarse filter/agglomerator, and I'm wondering if, when the tank's low, the Hurricane is stealing a bit of fuel out of the engine line, so that when you start the engine it has to bleed some of the injectors.

I drained a bit of fuel out of the bottom of the agglomerator, and it's fine, clean and clear, so it's not a case of diesel bug or emulsification, thank goodness.

We've been told that the reason for the stoppage at Woodend was quite grim; a twelve year old boy had gone missing on his bike, and the police were concerned that he might be in the lock. They spent two days trying to arrange for divers, but in the end drained the lock. He wasn't there, but sadly his body turned up in a ditch away from the canal.

I don't know any more than that, but my heart goes out to his parents; what an awful way to lose your child. At least they know what's become of him, I suppose, and can now mourn him.

Finally and more cheerfully, the T-mobile service now defaults to Orange in some circumstances, and runs just as well that way. I knew that the original tie up between the two was just for voice calls, but they must have extended it to data round here.

Maffi, you may have ended your contract too soon...