Weekend work

OK, so it's a bit after twelve and I've had lunch, but I am getting round to doing this blog at last.

Yesterday was very pleasant with much less wind, so there was nothing for it but to get weaving and service the engine. It was just a short service, oil and filter change, basically, and didn't take too long. I also changed the two nappies that soak up any stray water in the bilges and the oil absorbent mats that keep the engine bilge clean.

Sheila has been working steadily at her current crochet job, some window edging with dependant crystals, a bit different from her usual porthole doilies.

Later on, we tackled some outside jobs. First we moved a tyre that had been left behind by the previous occupier as a fender. A coot had made an unsuccessful attempt to establish a nest there, so we untied it (the tyre, sigh) and moved it to the far side of the cross pontoon where a bird can nest to its heart's content if it wants to.

Then I reorganised the route of the shoreline, which was dangling into the water in an unsatisfactory manner. Some cup hooks in the side of the pontoon made it easy to support the line, tying it to the hooks with cable ties.

Next, I removed the bow fender and rubbed down the areas where its chains had scarred the paintwork. I followed up with a coat of Owatrol to inhibit further rust and to revive the dulling of the bow flashes. Finally, I removed the old chains from the fender, leaving just the ones emerging from it and the bottle screws attached to the lower chains. Two of the shackles had been distorted so badly they had to be cut off with the junior hacksaw.

I've bought a metre of black polypropylene line from Midland Chandlers to use when reattaching the fender and popped a couple of eye splices in it this morning. I'll give the Owatrol a couple of days to dry hard before touching in the paint.

Elanor and Sally came round later; we settled for a walk round the marina, a run in field three and ice creams all round in front of the shop. Susi is presently stocking some el cheapo clones of white Magnums, just 60p, which don't contain any cocoa solids. Sally is very fond of them.

Finally, a bit of wildlife – looking out of the bow doors whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for our early tea, I saw this chap wandering about. He was much closer at first, but by the time I'd grabbed Sheila's camera and poked it out of the doors as quietly as I could, he'd drifted away.

Is that a fish? Could be a fish...

Nah, I'll try along here...

This afternoon, we have the Chesterfield Musketeers Marching Band barbecue on the grass just in front of our pontoon. There's always something happening in Mercia...