Wednesday 29^th August 2018

A Happy Birthday to our Manny who is 13 today and so becomes a teenager.

   

We set out to do a few jobs today. Not many have been done these last few weeks it seems. Fitted the backdoor trims which makes it look so much better. Then started to fit an extra lock to the back door but snapped my M4 tap. It was only a cheap one from Winsford Plant Hire but it has done well considering. Will have to get another.

We went for a walk to see Claymills Pumping Station although it was not open. It is housed in a grand building and we must return, preferably on a day when it is in steam.

           Claymills Pumping Station

Both on the way there, and back, we got caught by the railway level crossing and finished up having to wait almost 5 minutes both times. We walked into Stretton village, a small place, a suburb of Burton with a large church, bought a few things from the local Co-op and returned to the boat via the pub and a pint.

We found out there is a Screwfix just around the corner so we dropped the things off and went on a wild goose chase for a new tap. Screwfix only had cheap tap and die sets which do not last, a Tool Station next door only had the same. A guy told us off a place “just two minutes down the road”. This turned into a 35 minute hard walk. The next person to tell us anything is just two minutes down the road gets a poke in the eye. It’s a long way when you are walking.

Then we were told he didn’t have an M4tap but there was a place the other side of Burton ……. So it was back to Screwfix for their cheap set.

Back at the boat the extra lock was fitted and we both feel a lot safer having that although there is still more work to do on the back doors. The latch has to be moved, more woodwork sealed up and a couple of bolts fitted to the sliding hatch.

Then it was showers, settle down for the evening and early nights.

We have decided to add an extra line on each day’s diary with a summary of the day’s weather. We have been spoiled with a long, hot summer this year.

Bridge Street went into the water on 17^th May and we moved on board on the 21^st. From that time, up until about the 10^th August, with a few exceptions, the weather has been continuously hot and dry, although it did start to cool off a little towards the end.

After the 10^th August there were a few days of rain and since then it has been reasonable weather again although noticeably cooler.

Today it was chilly in the morning but then turned out to be a nice afternoon with sunny periods but quite breezy.    

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