Thinking that our eye test appointments were starting at 9.30 tomorrow, we decided to go to the Morrisons mooring, half way between Branston and Shobnall, today. This meant a reasonably early start, since we had to wind Sanity Again first. Accordingly, we set off at 7.45, just after I got back from a quick trip to the shops for, guess what, bread and a paper.
Sheila did her usual skilled job of the winding, though the winding hole below Bagnall is frankly only just long enough for 70'. It looks a lot longer, but the bend in the towpath opposite means that this is deceptive. Sheila motored the stern round, but actually I wonder if next time I'm doing it, I might not try just resting the stem on the fender at the back of the hole and hauling the stern round with a line.
Anyway, it was just on eight as we set off back for a straightforward run. Most of the locks were more or less with us, and we started to see some traffic going both ways. The weather was clear and cold, very pleasant as long as you were well wrapped up.
On this point, I should mention that we've been keeping the stove in all day for the last couple of days, so the boat is only chilly first thing in the morning. I suspect most boaters are in the same position, though some Kiwis turned Aussies living somewhere up the Llangollen are apparently making a virtue out of shivering in their multiple layers of clothing without even the Webasto on.
/hmm
It's all right, Tom and Jan, you are allowed to light the fire even though we're still on summer time you know…
;)
We got to the Morrisons mooring just after eleven, to find one boat at each end, so we've tucked ourselves in as neatly as we can, hopefully leaving room for one more here.
After lunch, we had handy texts from Vision Express reminding us that our appointments start at ten, not nine thirty, so we could have stopped at Branston. Oh well, it'll mean a lazier start in the morning, that's all, when we'll boat the twenty minutes to Shobnall and then walk into town. I hope to be able to blog at the usual time tomorrow, assuming my eyes have returned to normal after the effect of the dreaded atropine drops have worn off.
I don't know, I never touched anything bar booze and fags all the time I was an undergrad and postgrad, but since I've retired I seem to spend my whole life scarfing down one substance or another, all now provided free by a caring state.
Gosh I'm glad I don't live in the USA...
Showing posts with label Morrison's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morrison's. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Saturday, 28 March 2009
To Burton and back to Branston
27th & 28th March
Yesterday dawned bright and breezy as we made a prompt start with a bit of boating to do. First thing was the run down to the water point, where we started the tank filling and a wash load running whilst I nipped into the village to get a paper.
The tap was running quite slowly, so there was still plenty of time left when I got back, then it was off down Alrewas Lock and onto the river section. The GPS showed us touching a ferocious 5.5 mph as we shot downstream, Sheila leaning on the tiller to bring us round into the side stream that leads past Wychnor moorings.
The wind gave her a bit of a problem whilst waiting for Wychnor Lock to fill, but we were soon away on the plod to Barton Turn Lock, with the A34 roaring beside us. Below the lock we found two refugees in the shape of Montmorency and Wild Orchid, both boats formerly in the habit of spending a lot of time at Alrewas before the imposition of 48 hour mooring there.
As we came out of the lock, Ami Bovard appeared coming the other way, and we had some shouted conversation in best boating style as we crossed. The female half of her crew was in particularly good form on the subject of the Alrewas moorings – she reckons that the whole point of the exercise was to move Montmorency on.
This seems a bit of an odd way to go about it. The relevant Acts give BW the power to surcharge an overstaying boat, and if necessary to cancel its licence and remove it from the water. So why go to all the hassle of installing totems and signs through the village just to move one boat on?
Tatenhill Lock was soon passed, Sheila having to show particular skill in the cross wind to get through the narrow bridge on the way. At Branston, Jambus was struggling to get into the lock, and indeed it wasn't straightforward for us either. Branston Lock is particularly exposed. and the lock landing was downwind.
In the end, I took the short shaft and, standing on the bank, held her bow out whilst Sheila drove Sanity into the lock. It's one situation where you might think a bowthruster would useful, but frankly I doubt if the typical bowthruster would have the power to hold the bow against such a strong wind.
When using the shaft like this, it's important to push against the hull, not the cabin side. I usually rest the end on the top rubbing strake, the one that goes the length of the boat. That way, if it slips, it slips down into the water, and not up onto the shiny paintwork or worse, through a window. The other crucial thing is to keep your centre of gravity over the bank, not the water, so that if something does slip, you don't disappear into the cut.
Arriving at the Morrison's mooring we had lunch, then went shopping. The Bluetooth mouse has been getting a more and more cantankerous of late, sometimes refusing to switch on, or switching off in mid session. It's innards are getting plastic fatigue, I reckon, so we called into Currys to see if we could find a new one.
All the cordless mouses they had were not Bluetooth, but used a receiver plugged into a USB port. I don't see the point of this, as it still blocks a port. Back at the boat, after we'd had a good go round Morrison's, I did some net browsing and found a Macally mouse which was just what we needed.
It was soon ordered, from Qfonic, a store I'd never heard of, but who accepted payment via Google Checkout, so I felt reasonably confident in ordering from them. It's going to be delivered to Elanor's, and hopefully will arrive before we leave the area. That reminds me, must tell Elanor it's coming.
The other main excitement dusing the afternoon was me showering (yes, again). I'd just got settled in to lathering up when I realised there was no raucous buzzing from round my feet, and the water wasn't disappearing down the plughole.
A quick shout to Sheila and she went and checked the distribution board, and soon found that the breaker for the shower pump circuit was a) out and b) wouldn't stay in.
I managed to shower without totally filling the shower tray, then, once dried and dressed, took the pump apart. As I suspected, the impeller had lost one of its little wings, which had then jammed the pump. Fortunately, we had a spare, so I put it in after only a few minutes creative swearing. (Pump impellers are one of those things that either slip in sweetly at the first attempt, or else resist arrest for ages.)
After that, it was a case of refixing the pump to the wall, another source of A-level cussin', and all was well again. After about half an hour of lying on my back with the loo pressed into my kidneys, I felt I needed another shower, but refrained from taking one. One can have too much of a good thing.
Today we had a relaxed start, as we only wanted to run down to Shobnall to see if they would refund our money on the leaking water pump. You can tell Sanity is nearly six years old, the stuff we've had to replace recently. Whoever buys her next year will be getting a boat set up for at least another five years without having to do a thing to her, we'll have replaced it all.
The good folk who run Shobnall made no bones about taking the pump back, though they reckoned it was unusual for a Jabsco to fail like that. I bought the filters and oil for Sanity's next service, so they had some money back from me, and after our usual natter about boaty things, we came back to Sanity.
After a cup of coffee we winded in the mouth of the basin and came back to Branston Water Park. We got here just in nice time for lunch, and plan to stay here tomorrow.
We've been researching local geocaches. There's a whole new series around Fradley, but it looks as if the one here has been muggled. No matter, we'll go and see if we can find it tomorrow morning early before many people are around.
Yesterday dawned bright and breezy as we made a prompt start with a bit of boating to do. First thing was the run down to the water point, where we started the tank filling and a wash load running whilst I nipped into the village to get a paper.
The tap was running quite slowly, so there was still plenty of time left when I got back, then it was off down Alrewas Lock and onto the river section. The GPS showed us touching a ferocious 5.5 mph as we shot downstream, Sheila leaning on the tiller to bring us round into the side stream that leads past Wychnor moorings.
The wind gave her a bit of a problem whilst waiting for Wychnor Lock to fill, but we were soon away on the plod to Barton Turn Lock, with the A34 roaring beside us. Below the lock we found two refugees in the shape of Montmorency and Wild Orchid, both boats formerly in the habit of spending a lot of time at Alrewas before the imposition of 48 hour mooring there.
As we came out of the lock, Ami Bovard appeared coming the other way, and we had some shouted conversation in best boating style as we crossed. The female half of her crew was in particularly good form on the subject of the Alrewas moorings – she reckons that the whole point of the exercise was to move Montmorency on.
This seems a bit of an odd way to go about it. The relevant Acts give BW the power to surcharge an overstaying boat, and if necessary to cancel its licence and remove it from the water. So why go to all the hassle of installing totems and signs through the village just to move one boat on?
Tatenhill Lock was soon passed, Sheila having to show particular skill in the cross wind to get through the narrow bridge on the way. At Branston, Jambus was struggling to get into the lock, and indeed it wasn't straightforward for us either. Branston Lock is particularly exposed. and the lock landing was downwind.
In the end, I took the short shaft and, standing on the bank, held her bow out whilst Sheila drove Sanity into the lock. It's one situation where you might think a bowthruster would useful, but frankly I doubt if the typical bowthruster would have the power to hold the bow against such a strong wind.
When using the shaft like this, it's important to push against the hull, not the cabin side. I usually rest the end on the top rubbing strake, the one that goes the length of the boat. That way, if it slips, it slips down into the water, and not up onto the shiny paintwork or worse, through a window. The other crucial thing is to keep your centre of gravity over the bank, not the water, so that if something does slip, you don't disappear into the cut.
Arriving at the Morrison's mooring we had lunch, then went shopping. The Bluetooth mouse has been getting a more and more cantankerous of late, sometimes refusing to switch on, or switching off in mid session. It's innards are getting plastic fatigue, I reckon, so we called into Currys to see if we could find a new one.
All the cordless mouses they had were not Bluetooth, but used a receiver plugged into a USB port. I don't see the point of this, as it still blocks a port. Back at the boat, after we'd had a good go round Morrison's, I did some net browsing and found a Macally mouse which was just what we needed.
It was soon ordered, from Qfonic, a store I'd never heard of, but who accepted payment via Google Checkout, so I felt reasonably confident in ordering from them. It's going to be delivered to Elanor's, and hopefully will arrive before we leave the area. That reminds me, must tell Elanor it's coming.
The other main excitement dusing the afternoon was me showering (yes, again). I'd just got settled in to lathering up when I realised there was no raucous buzzing from round my feet, and the water wasn't disappearing down the plughole.
A quick shout to Sheila and she went and checked the distribution board, and soon found that the breaker for the shower pump circuit was a) out and b) wouldn't stay in.
I managed to shower without totally filling the shower tray, then, once dried and dressed, took the pump apart. As I suspected, the impeller had lost one of its little wings, which had then jammed the pump. Fortunately, we had a spare, so I put it in after only a few minutes creative swearing. (Pump impellers are one of those things that either slip in sweetly at the first attempt, or else resist arrest for ages.)
After that, it was a case of refixing the pump to the wall, another source of A-level cussin', and all was well again. After about half an hour of lying on my back with the loo pressed into my kidneys, I felt I needed another shower, but refrained from taking one. One can have too much of a good thing.
Today we had a relaxed start, as we only wanted to run down to Shobnall to see if they would refund our money on the leaking water pump. You can tell Sanity is nearly six years old, the stuff we've had to replace recently. Whoever buys her next year will be getting a boat set up for at least another five years without having to do a thing to her, we'll have replaced it all.
The good folk who run Shobnall made no bones about taking the pump back, though they reckoned it was unusual for a Jabsco to fail like that. I bought the filters and oil for Sanity's next service, so they had some money back from me, and after our usual natter about boaty things, we came back to Sanity.
After a cup of coffee we winded in the mouth of the basin and came back to Branston Water Park. We got here just in nice time for lunch, and plan to stay here tomorrow.
We've been researching local geocaches. There's a whole new series around Fradley, but it looks as if the one here has been muggled. No matter, we'll go and see if we can find it tomorrow morning early before many people are around.
Labels:
Branston,
Morrison's
Saturday, 3 January 2009
A new water pump and lots of other stuff
2nd & 3rd January
After a remarkably good night's sleep, we had a relaxed start yesterday before Elanor and I went off to the Council tip at Shobnall to dispose of a quantity of stuff we'd taken out of her house the day before. A call at Morrison's on the way back meant I could replenish stocks depleted by the festivities. Elanor then went about her affairs whilst we boated down to Shobnall for pump out, diesel and to buy a new water pump.
They really are very pleasant and helpful at Shobnall: one of the nicer places to go for routine stuff, and their chandlery is well stocked for a small one. Not Midland Chandlers by any means, but a good range, and they will always order something for you if they haven't got it.
Back to the Morrison's mooring we went, just in time for lunch, after which I changed the pump. This proved to be one of the simplest jobs I've ever undertaken on the boat, which is reassuring. The Jabsco uses "snap in swivel ports" which sound alarming, but actually look more like the HozeLock connectors on your garden hose than anything.
It meant that, doing a like for like swap, I didn't have to disturb any of the pipe work connections – I just unplugged the connectors from the old pump and snapped them into the new one. There was a very helpful explanatory leaflet in the box, what's more. If doing this job, don't forget to a) switch off the power supply to the pump, b) close the supply cock from the water tank, and c) open a tap, allow the pressure to run off and then close the tap again.
Doing this meant that only a little water trickled out when I disconnected the old pump, most of it from within the pump itself. Initially I tightened up the fixing screws which hold the pump onto its mounting board a little enthusiastically, which made the pump a bit noisy, as I'd over-compressed the rubber mounts that are designed to reduce noise transmission; I sorted that today, and the pump now runs much, much quieter than the old one did.
Being a curious type (ho, ho, yes, I know), I then followed the instructions on the pack leaflet to dismantle the old one. There did not appear to be much wrong with the diaphragm and pistons that I could see, but there clearly must have been some wear as the pump body had been leaking. The motor, on the other hand, felt rough when I turned it, and the commutator was scored and manky looking, which probably explains the way the pump was struggling to make the cut off pressure, and was drawing a bit more than the 5 amps it's rated for.
Later in the afternoon, Elanor came back and took us to the Barton Turns butcher, so that I could restock the freezer with their nice meat.
After all that we had a quiet evening: curiously, having turned the boat around, the quality of the internet connection had deteriorated, so we moved the laptop into the saloon, so as to put the modem in a porthole facing the right way.
Today we had another relaxed start, strolling over to Morrison's again, then boating off on a remarkably ice free canal, considering how cold it had been overnight. After three hours we were back on the Alrewas water point, where there was much more evidence of the canal having frozen, though by half twelve (as it was then) it was well broken up.
The taps on the water point, however, were still frozen solid. It took a good bit of attention from my cook's blowtorch and a kettle of hot water before one of them unfroze, after which we had no bother topping up the water tank.
Whilst doing all this, another boat came up the lock and snaffled the mooring space we had our eye on, so we've come back to our old favourite next to the iron gate onto the road.
After another peaceful afternoon, Elanor popped in just as I was thinking of doing this blog; I can't complain, as she'd brought a load of firewood for us, two rubber mats to form the core of my next fender, and some ham stock cubes from Sainsbury's, Morrison's not having had them in stock, as it were.
She's bought herself a Sony Reader, being very impressed with ours, so we had a merry time shifting stuff off my laptop onto hers using a WiFi connection, and generally playing around with the kit. She's another Machead, so she will now have to find a mate with a PC to authorise her Reader if she wants to buy books online.
I'd been going to do a beef curry with some of the left over beef from New Year, but by the time Elanor had gone, and as I still had this blog to do, it's going to be spag bol from the freezer, and the curry will wait for another day.
We'll be here in Alrewas for at least a few days more, until the replacement accumulator arrives, and possibly longer if this cold snap continues and keeps us frozen in. Not to worry – we've got full water and diesel tanks and an empty toilet tank, so it'll be a while before we're in trouble (on that score at least).
After a remarkably good night's sleep, we had a relaxed start yesterday before Elanor and I went off to the Council tip at Shobnall to dispose of a quantity of stuff we'd taken out of her house the day before. A call at Morrison's on the way back meant I could replenish stocks depleted by the festivities. Elanor then went about her affairs whilst we boated down to Shobnall for pump out, diesel and to buy a new water pump.
They really are very pleasant and helpful at Shobnall: one of the nicer places to go for routine stuff, and their chandlery is well stocked for a small one. Not Midland Chandlers by any means, but a good range, and they will always order something for you if they haven't got it.
Back to the Morrison's mooring we went, just in time for lunch, after which I changed the pump. This proved to be one of the simplest jobs I've ever undertaken on the boat, which is reassuring. The Jabsco uses "snap in swivel ports" which sound alarming, but actually look more like the HozeLock connectors on your garden hose than anything.
It meant that, doing a like for like swap, I didn't have to disturb any of the pipe work connections – I just unplugged the connectors from the old pump and snapped them into the new one. There was a very helpful explanatory leaflet in the box, what's more. If doing this job, don't forget to a) switch off the power supply to the pump, b) close the supply cock from the water tank, and c) open a tap, allow the pressure to run off and then close the tap again.
Doing this meant that only a little water trickled out when I disconnected the old pump, most of it from within the pump itself. Initially I tightened up the fixing screws which hold the pump onto its mounting board a little enthusiastically, which made the pump a bit noisy, as I'd over-compressed the rubber mounts that are designed to reduce noise transmission; I sorted that today, and the pump now runs much, much quieter than the old one did.
Being a curious type (ho, ho, yes, I know), I then followed the instructions on the pack leaflet to dismantle the old one. There did not appear to be much wrong with the diaphragm and pistons that I could see, but there clearly must have been some wear as the pump body had been leaking. The motor, on the other hand, felt rough when I turned it, and the commutator was scored and manky looking, which probably explains the way the pump was struggling to make the cut off pressure, and was drawing a bit more than the 5 amps it's rated for.
Later in the afternoon, Elanor came back and took us to the Barton Turns butcher, so that I could restock the freezer with their nice meat.
After all that we had a quiet evening: curiously, having turned the boat around, the quality of the internet connection had deteriorated, so we moved the laptop into the saloon, so as to put the modem in a porthole facing the right way.
Today we had another relaxed start, strolling over to Morrison's again, then boating off on a remarkably ice free canal, considering how cold it had been overnight. After three hours we were back on the Alrewas water point, where there was much more evidence of the canal having frozen, though by half twelve (as it was then) it was well broken up.
The taps on the water point, however, were still frozen solid. It took a good bit of attention from my cook's blowtorch and a kettle of hot water before one of them unfroze, after which we had no bother topping up the water tank.
Whilst doing all this, another boat came up the lock and snaffled the mooring space we had our eye on, so we've come back to our old favourite next to the iron gate onto the road.
After another peaceful afternoon, Elanor popped in just as I was thinking of doing this blog; I can't complain, as she'd brought a load of firewood for us, two rubber mats to form the core of my next fender, and some ham stock cubes from Sainsbury's, Morrison's not having had them in stock, as it were.
She's bought herself a Sony Reader, being very impressed with ours, so we had a merry time shifting stuff off my laptop onto hers using a WiFi connection, and generally playing around with the kit. She's another Machead, so she will now have to find a mate with a PC to authorise her Reader if she wants to buy books online.
I'd been going to do a beef curry with some of the left over beef from New Year, but by the time Elanor had gone, and as I still had this blog to do, it's going to be spag bol from the freezer, and the curry will wait for another day.
We'll be here in Alrewas for at least a few days more, until the replacement accumulator arrives, and possibly longer if this cold snap continues and keeps us frozen in. Not to worry – we've got full water and diesel tanks and an empty toilet tank, so it'll be a while before we're in trouble (on that score at least).
Labels:
Alrewas,
Morrison's
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Seeing the New Year in
31st December 2008 & 1st January 2009
We woke yesterday morning to find that, as we'd feared, the cut had frozen quite hard overnight. It was around one eighth of an inch thick near the boat, but rather thicker and harder in the centre of the channel. I took care to start the engine first thing, and to use it to clear the ice away from the immediate vicinity of the hull by running in gear, first ahead for a couple of minutes, so that the prop was free of ice, then astern for a while longer, blowing the broken ice away from the side.
I don't normally approve of running in gear – the wash is not good for the side of the canal - but I make an exception when iced in, as it greatly reduces the grinding of ice against the boat when another passes. It is important, firstly to take care when running astern – if anything or anyone were to fall in immediately behind the boat, it or they would be swiftly drawn into the prop with catastrophic consequences – and not to go on longer than absolutely necessary to achieve the effect.
There was in fact a fair bit of traffic to and fro during the morning, and by lunchtime the ice was well broken. We'd made a trip into the village to buy meat from the butchers, mince and a fore rib of beef for today, and to get top up supplies from the Co-op.
A check on the Met Office site showed that if anything, the weather was due to get colder over the New Year period. With the toilet tank approaching full, and the boatyards not open until Friday, what to do was the question. We pondered this over lunch, and in the end decided to boat down into Burton, stopping at the Morrison's mooring overnight. We figured that a mooring further into the centre of town might well be quite noisy on New Year's Eve. In addition, there's not much casual parking at Shobnall, and Elanor was due to join us for the night.
With a sense of relief at having a plan to follow, we set off, first leaving a voice mail message for Elanor to keep her up to date. In the event, it all worked out very well. We passed a couple of boats coming the other way, who reassured us that the cut was presently ice free all the way in, and three hours later found a space at the Morrison's mooring without difficulty.
Elanor duly turned up at five, and we had a merry night of it, scoffing home made lasagne and consuming various beverages. It was two o'clock by the time we were in bed, which is really seriously late for us these days.
As may be imagined, we had a quiet start today, but there were no reports of after effects of the night's carousing. We've got quite a good internet connection here at the moment, so I started cleaning up the way some of my earlier posts are labelled. When I first began, I used to label posts rather haphazardly, but these days I use the labels to indicate our location at the end of each day. I've set the layout to show these labels at the end of every post, and I'm gradually going back to the early ones to bring them into line.
By mid morning we'd all had breakfast, and agreed to go over to Elanor's place to do some reorganising of her furniture, and to see if a gas fire in her lounge was in functioning condition.
This programme was achieved successfully; the gas fire, which had been screened by some other stuff until now, on being cleaned and examined looked absolutely fine, and when lit burnt well with no sign of problems either with its air supply or its flue. Because her current double glazing was fitted after the house was built, and the gas fire is original, I've advised Elanor to keep one of the windows on its ventilation setting when using the fire, and to get and fit a carbon monoxide alarm in the lounge just to be on the safe side. You can't be too careful when living alone.
Mid afternoon we all came back to the boat to run the engine and so on. We'll have the rib of beef tonight, and a rather earlier bed time, I expect. Tomorrow, we'll make a trip to Morrison's, then take Sanity down to Shobnall for pump out, diesel and to buy a replacement water pump.
We woke yesterday morning to find that, as we'd feared, the cut had frozen quite hard overnight. It was around one eighth of an inch thick near the boat, but rather thicker and harder in the centre of the channel. I took care to start the engine first thing, and to use it to clear the ice away from the immediate vicinity of the hull by running in gear, first ahead for a couple of minutes, so that the prop was free of ice, then astern for a while longer, blowing the broken ice away from the side.
I don't normally approve of running in gear – the wash is not good for the side of the canal - but I make an exception when iced in, as it greatly reduces the grinding of ice against the boat when another passes. It is important, firstly to take care when running astern – if anything or anyone were to fall in immediately behind the boat, it or they would be swiftly drawn into the prop with catastrophic consequences – and not to go on longer than absolutely necessary to achieve the effect.
There was in fact a fair bit of traffic to and fro during the morning, and by lunchtime the ice was well broken. We'd made a trip into the village to buy meat from the butchers, mince and a fore rib of beef for today, and to get top up supplies from the Co-op.
A check on the Met Office site showed that if anything, the weather was due to get colder over the New Year period. With the toilet tank approaching full, and the boatyards not open until Friday, what to do was the question. We pondered this over lunch, and in the end decided to boat down into Burton, stopping at the Morrison's mooring overnight. We figured that a mooring further into the centre of town might well be quite noisy on New Year's Eve. In addition, there's not much casual parking at Shobnall, and Elanor was due to join us for the night.
With a sense of relief at having a plan to follow, we set off, first leaving a voice mail message for Elanor to keep her up to date. In the event, it all worked out very well. We passed a couple of boats coming the other way, who reassured us that the cut was presently ice free all the way in, and three hours later found a space at the Morrison's mooring without difficulty.
Elanor duly turned up at five, and we had a merry night of it, scoffing home made lasagne and consuming various beverages. It was two o'clock by the time we were in bed, which is really seriously late for us these days.
As may be imagined, we had a quiet start today, but there were no reports of after effects of the night's carousing. We've got quite a good internet connection here at the moment, so I started cleaning up the way some of my earlier posts are labelled. When I first began, I used to label posts rather haphazardly, but these days I use the labels to indicate our location at the end of each day. I've set the layout to show these labels at the end of every post, and I'm gradually going back to the early ones to bring them into line.
By mid morning we'd all had breakfast, and agreed to go over to Elanor's place to do some reorganising of her furniture, and to see if a gas fire in her lounge was in functioning condition.
This programme was achieved successfully; the gas fire, which had been screened by some other stuff until now, on being cleaned and examined looked absolutely fine, and when lit burnt well with no sign of problems either with its air supply or its flue. Because her current double glazing was fitted after the house was built, and the gas fire is original, I've advised Elanor to keep one of the windows on its ventilation setting when using the fire, and to get and fit a carbon monoxide alarm in the lounge just to be on the safe side. You can't be too careful when living alone.
Mid afternoon we all came back to the boat to run the engine and so on. We'll have the rib of beef tonight, and a rather earlier bed time, I expect. Tomorrow, we'll make a trip to Morrison's, then take Sanity down to Shobnall for pump out, diesel and to buy a replacement water pump.
Labels:
Morrison's
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Clinics, switches and internet orders
6th & 7th October
I wasn't due at the hospital until ten yesterday, and although I wasn't absolutely certain how long it would take to walk from Shobnall, not having done it from that location before, I knew it couldn't be more than three quarters of an hour. This made for a very lazy start, which was very nice.
In fact it turned out to be just half an hour, including time to buy a paper, so I got there very early. Eye clinics can be very late running indeed, but in the event I was seen early for my bit of hi-techery, and was soon on my way back to the boat.
Meanwhile Sheila had been entertaining Lesley Love from Kala, which is moored in Shobnall marina. Her husband, Dan, has had a real bit of bad luck this year – he has a high risk lifestyle as a motorway cop for Derbyshire, but injured himself falling off his push bike, just like any of us could. He broke his arm, and has then had some complications which have kept him in hospital for several weeks.
Lesley told us that he should be out this week, so all the best of luck, mate, and here's hoping you'll soon be out and about again.
Sheila had also had time to polish her easy chair. Peter Mason at Braidbar used to be in the leather trade, and had recommended good old shoe polish as treatment for the inevitable staining that's occurred over the last four and a half years. I must say that a dose of Cherry Blossom has done it as much good as any of the fancy and expensive treatments would have. The Cherry Blossom was 49 pence for the tin.
After lunch, I started a job I'd planned the last time we were down this way, namely splitting the switch control of the lights in the galley. Sanity's through galley has three 20 watt halogen spots over each side, and as built, these were switched by one switch on each side, so that the choice was to have no, three or six lights on.
Over time, this seemed a bit extravagant of our available battery power, especially if you were just making a cup of tea, or pouring a glass of wine. Fortunately, all three wires had been brought from the individual lights to the back of the switch, so in theory it was easy enough to get a double switch for each side and rewire.
Six months ago I got the switches, and finally yesterday started work on the port side. The new switch fitted onto the same backing plate as the old, so the main challenge was to enlarge the hole in the lining behind it to take the double switch where it poked through the backing plate.
It was a bit of a struggle; Braidbars are lined with solid ash tongue and groove, and it's not like trimming a bit of pine. but in the end I managed it. Then it was a matter of finding out by trial and error which lead led to which spot, and wiring it so that I can now switch on either the spot over the cooker or the two spots over the sink unit and worktop, or both, of course.
After I'd done, I'd run out of the crimp on connectors for attaching the leads to the spade terminals on the switch, which gave me an excuse to pop into the chandlery. For once, I came out with just the pack of connectors at five for £1.05; this must be the least I've ever spent in a chandlery in one go. I did have a good look at the widening range of multiple LED lights that potentially could replace the halogen spots, but that's for another time.
Today I was due at the clinic a bit earlier, and it was possible that I would be anointed with the pupil dilating drops which make it quite hard walking back if it's sunny. For this reason Sheila came with me. In the event, it was a dark and gloomy morning, to go with the dark and gloomy financial news, and I didn't have the dilation anyway, but it was still good to have her company.
We were a bit early again, and again I got into see the man ahead of time. All was well, and we were on our way back to the boat before half nine, the original time of my appointment.
We made a quick trip to the council tip near the marina, to get rid of the recycling, then set off in worsening weather for the Morrison's mooring. Sheila did her usual excellent job of winding by the marina entrance, despite a gusty wind, and half an hour later we were tied up ready to go shopping.
Having got back just before lunch, we decided not to go onto Branston Water Park as we'd originally intended, but to sit tight here; the weather is due to improve tomorrow. There's some doubt as to whether the river section below Alrewas Lock will be navigable, after the rain over the weekend, but we'll just have to see what it's like when we get to Wychnor.
Meanwhile, the data connection is immeasurably better here, so I've been able to order Sheila's Sony Reader form Waterstones.com at last, and to put in an order to Lakeland for kitchen bits and bobs. I have also done the starboard side galley light switch, so now I can have any number from one to six lights on in there.
All in all, a productive couple of days, methinks.
I wasn't due at the hospital until ten yesterday, and although I wasn't absolutely certain how long it would take to walk from Shobnall, not having done it from that location before, I knew it couldn't be more than three quarters of an hour. This made for a very lazy start, which was very nice.
In fact it turned out to be just half an hour, including time to buy a paper, so I got there very early. Eye clinics can be very late running indeed, but in the event I was seen early for my bit of hi-techery, and was soon on my way back to the boat.
Meanwhile Sheila had been entertaining Lesley Love from Kala, which is moored in Shobnall marina. Her husband, Dan, has had a real bit of bad luck this year – he has a high risk lifestyle as a motorway cop for Derbyshire, but injured himself falling off his push bike, just like any of us could. He broke his arm, and has then had some complications which have kept him in hospital for several weeks.
Lesley told us that he should be out this week, so all the best of luck, mate, and here's hoping you'll soon be out and about again.
Sheila had also had time to polish her easy chair. Peter Mason at Braidbar used to be in the leather trade, and had recommended good old shoe polish as treatment for the inevitable staining that's occurred over the last four and a half years. I must say that a dose of Cherry Blossom has done it as much good as any of the fancy and expensive treatments would have. The Cherry Blossom was 49 pence for the tin.
After lunch, I started a job I'd planned the last time we were down this way, namely splitting the switch control of the lights in the galley. Sanity's through galley has three 20 watt halogen spots over each side, and as built, these were switched by one switch on each side, so that the choice was to have no, three or six lights on.
Over time, this seemed a bit extravagant of our available battery power, especially if you were just making a cup of tea, or pouring a glass of wine. Fortunately, all three wires had been brought from the individual lights to the back of the switch, so in theory it was easy enough to get a double switch for each side and rewire.
Six months ago I got the switches, and finally yesterday started work on the port side. The new switch fitted onto the same backing plate as the old, so the main challenge was to enlarge the hole in the lining behind it to take the double switch where it poked through the backing plate.
It was a bit of a struggle; Braidbars are lined with solid ash tongue and groove, and it's not like trimming a bit of pine. but in the end I managed it. Then it was a matter of finding out by trial and error which lead led to which spot, and wiring it so that I can now switch on either the spot over the cooker or the two spots over the sink unit and worktop, or both, of course.
After I'd done, I'd run out of the crimp on connectors for attaching the leads to the spade terminals on the switch, which gave me an excuse to pop into the chandlery. For once, I came out with just the pack of connectors at five for £1.05; this must be the least I've ever spent in a chandlery in one go. I did have a good look at the widening range of multiple LED lights that potentially could replace the halogen spots, but that's for another time.
Today I was due at the clinic a bit earlier, and it was possible that I would be anointed with the pupil dilating drops which make it quite hard walking back if it's sunny. For this reason Sheila came with me. In the event, it was a dark and gloomy morning, to go with the dark and gloomy financial news, and I didn't have the dilation anyway, but it was still good to have her company.
We were a bit early again, and again I got into see the man ahead of time. All was well, and we were on our way back to the boat before half nine, the original time of my appointment.
We made a quick trip to the council tip near the marina, to get rid of the recycling, then set off in worsening weather for the Morrison's mooring. Sheila did her usual excellent job of winding by the marina entrance, despite a gusty wind, and half an hour later we were tied up ready to go shopping.
Having got back just before lunch, we decided not to go onto Branston Water Park as we'd originally intended, but to sit tight here; the weather is due to improve tomorrow. There's some doubt as to whether the river section below Alrewas Lock will be navigable, after the rain over the weekend, but we'll just have to see what it's like when we get to Wychnor.
Meanwhile, the data connection is immeasurably better here, so I've been able to order Sheila's Sony Reader form Waterstones.com at last, and to put in an order to Lakeland for kitchen bits and bobs. I have also done the starboard side galley light switch, so now I can have any number from one to six lights on in there.
All in all, a productive couple of days, methinks.
Labels:
Morrison's,
Shobnall
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Into Burton
4th & 5th October
With a fair bit to do before we could get lunch, we made a prompt start yesterday in a cold wind. Our decision to change over the wardrobes the day before had been providential, as we really needed the Guernsey jumpers below fleeces and heavy waterproofs.
We followed another couple of boats through Alrewas, Wychnor and Barton Turn Locks. There was a good bit of traffic on the cut, including Shakespeare and Canaltime hire boats. We stopped below Barton for water and to start a washload, then went on through Tatenhill and Branston Locks into the more pleasant bit of canal alongside the Water Park which gives a much needed break in what is otherwise a rather grimy and noisy stretch. The A38 is your constant companion, and a quarry and the Marley Block Works do their best to provide an interesting view.
On arrival at the Morrison's mooring, we found just the one other boat tied there. In the course of a wild afternoon a few came charging past, but only two stopped. The first of these was the Town Class motor normally tied at Tatenhill, Hadley, seemingly out for a quick pootle up and down the cut, as later on they went off and presumably winded at Shobnall before coming back past us.
The other was a Shakespeare which really struggled to moor in the strong cross wind, but eventually managed it. I guess they were just looking for somewhere to take a break from the rigours of boating, as they didn't seem to go off shopping, and after a bit set off again.
We treated ourselves to a mega lunch of soup, pasties and sarnies, feeling that our performance in the wind and rain justified it.
This morning dawned much less windy, but with an unpleasant fine rain that really required the full waterproof kit. We only had 30 minutes boating to do, fortunately, as far as the Shobnall visitor moorings. There were three boats there managing to take up five spaces, but we succeeded in tying on the end, with the stern on a pin. The boat in front of us was another Shakespeare, and as we expected, they set off a bit later on, and we pulled a bit forward so as to be fully on the piled moorings.
Using Cheetahwatch was revealing here. The signal strength was much better than it had been at last night's mooring, but the throughput is very slow. I guess there's just not enough bandwidth for the demand here at the moment, so T-mobile need to increase the capacity of their local tower.
After lunch the weather had picked up a lot, so we trolled into town in search of the Waterstone's and a Sony Reader. Guess what; they didn't have one in stock. They had had six, apparently, and sold them all in three days, but then were told that as a branch they were too small to have any more stock. Waterstone's really needs to get its act together on this. Having advertised the things vigorously, they are making it very difficult to get hold of one. I think that what we'll have to do is order one on line, and then send it back if it proves to be a disappointment.
Back at the boat, Elanor looked in on her way into town shopping, and has just called back to show off her purchases (shoes and boots, mostly)
Tomorrow we stay put, as I've appointments at the Eye Clinic both tomorrow morning and on Tuesday.
With a fair bit to do before we could get lunch, we made a prompt start yesterday in a cold wind. Our decision to change over the wardrobes the day before had been providential, as we really needed the Guernsey jumpers below fleeces and heavy waterproofs.
We followed another couple of boats through Alrewas, Wychnor and Barton Turn Locks. There was a good bit of traffic on the cut, including Shakespeare and Canaltime hire boats. We stopped below Barton for water and to start a washload, then went on through Tatenhill and Branston Locks into the more pleasant bit of canal alongside the Water Park which gives a much needed break in what is otherwise a rather grimy and noisy stretch. The A38 is your constant companion, and a quarry and the Marley Block Works do their best to provide an interesting view.
On arrival at the Morrison's mooring, we found just the one other boat tied there. In the course of a wild afternoon a few came charging past, but only two stopped. The first of these was the Town Class motor normally tied at Tatenhill, Hadley, seemingly out for a quick pootle up and down the cut, as later on they went off and presumably winded at Shobnall before coming back past us.
The other was a Shakespeare which really struggled to moor in the strong cross wind, but eventually managed it. I guess they were just looking for somewhere to take a break from the rigours of boating, as they didn't seem to go off shopping, and after a bit set off again.
We treated ourselves to a mega lunch of soup, pasties and sarnies, feeling that our performance in the wind and rain justified it.
This morning dawned much less windy, but with an unpleasant fine rain that really required the full waterproof kit. We only had 30 minutes boating to do, fortunately, as far as the Shobnall visitor moorings. There were three boats there managing to take up five spaces, but we succeeded in tying on the end, with the stern on a pin. The boat in front of us was another Shakespeare, and as we expected, they set off a bit later on, and we pulled a bit forward so as to be fully on the piled moorings.
Using Cheetahwatch was revealing here. The signal strength was much better than it had been at last night's mooring, but the throughput is very slow. I guess there's just not enough bandwidth for the demand here at the moment, so T-mobile need to increase the capacity of their local tower.
After lunch the weather had picked up a lot, so we trolled into town in search of the Waterstone's and a Sony Reader. Guess what; they didn't have one in stock. They had had six, apparently, and sold them all in three days, but then were told that as a branch they were too small to have any more stock. Waterstone's really needs to get its act together on this. Having advertised the things vigorously, they are making it very difficult to get hold of one. I think that what we'll have to do is order one on line, and then send it back if it proves to be a disappointment.
Back at the boat, Elanor looked in on her way into town shopping, and has just called back to show off her purchases (shoes and boots, mostly)
Tomorrow we stay put, as I've appointments at the Eye Clinic both tomorrow morning and on Tuesday.
Labels:
Morrison's,
Shobnall
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