As forecast, we've been pottering today, down to the village to buy some meat and mushrooms (I think mushroom soup is going to be next, so getting a chicken to make stock was a good idea, also quite a lot of mushrooms), and a stroll round the marina this afternoon. The weather was quite dramatic in the middle of the day, with wind and rain, but has now turned cold and clear.
Sadly, we're not going to see Trevor and Rachel tonight after all; Rachel rang this morning to say that Trevor had succumbed to a heavy, almost flu-like cold. (She didn't actually use the term "Man flu" but I reckon it was struggling to get out…) Hopefull he'll recover in time to make it later in the week, but if not, there's always April when we're back.
Get well soon, anyway, Trevor.
Chatting to Ian Birks and Stephen and Jayne on the way into the village, I was recounting the fright we'd had earlier in the week, when the red light started flashing on the carbon mon detector. I realised that the ash bucket in the bow contained ash that was still smouldering and giving off both CO and SO₂. Putting it right outside solved the problem, but makes it tedious emptying the ash first thing in the morning. We had a discussion about the use of the Tippy ash can, a device which we've avoided so far as being a bit pricey at £40 or so.
However, we succumbed to the temptation to get one when passing Midland Chandlers this afternoon; it means that I'll have to cut the back out of the ash tray in the Squirrel, but it'll be worthwhile to avoid the dust, hassle and fumes of continuing to use our open bucket.
5 comments:
Ah well, I'm glad we're not the only ones pottering around of a Saturday!
Interesting about the ash bucket - I wouldn't have associated that with CO production though it makes perfect sense when you think about it. I'm so glad that we don't have a stove on board!
Sue, nb Indigo Dream
Gosh, wouldn't be without one in the cold weather, though dogs help, of course, all that extra heat…
All the best
Bruce
PS nice photos today of hounds in the snow, good one!
I was thinking a few months ago that a Tippy can would be a good idea, except that the Squirrel ash pan has four sides so doesn't easily tip.
I wondered if a mini dustbin with a lid might be a better idea, and research found that poultry-keeping websites were a good source, for example: http://www.domesticfowltrust.co.uk/products/info_fbminigalv.html
I'm still not sure if the lid would be tight enough, and of course I never got round to actually buying it! A good deal cheaper than a Tippy can, though.
Bruce
You may wish to try using the Tippy without cutting the back off your ash tray first. We have used one for five years without the need. If you put the tray in relatively horizontally, put the lid across as far as possible, then gently rotate the Tippy so that the pan is upside down, then use your stove tool to move the pan to allow the ash to fall out whilst gently removing the pan from the Tippy, we find that very little dust escapes. Depends of course on how light the ash is that you produce.
Glad to hear that you will soon be escaping, and hope we can bump into you on the cut. Are you still heading down to Cavalcade as I believe you said you were.
Interesting feedback about using the Tippy, both, thanks. I tried the dodge of moving the beast about with the ash pan inside, but still felt that it was too messy, a view very strongly corroborated by the boss, so, as reported today, I've modified the ash can.
A fair number of moorers here have done the same, I believe.
Hope to see you about on the cut (both boats, indeed). We've decided against Cavalcade, and are heading north to Poynton first, then back here, then quite possible the Liverpool Link.
What with drought and the Olympics, I don't think this is going to be a good year for boating in the south east!
All the best
Bruce
Post a Comment