Friday 22nd May 2020



There had been a lot of rain overnight and, when we woke, there were signs water had been dripping from around the chimney flue. On inspection, the sealant around the joint between base plate and flue was completely detached. This had only been resealed in December so has lasted no time at all. Gaia is fitted with a much more substantial cast iron roof top flue plate, where roof plate and flue are integral. One has been found on the internet so we will ask if Susan can order one for us.

It was Jacob’s proper birthday today, 7-years-old. Gaia has been decorated for him and we had a card and presents to give him. The lad was so excited. Jemima spent the day decorating a cake she had made and in the afternoon we were invited over to share in some before Jacob returned to his mother for the weekend.  





The boat licence and insurance were renewed. £994 for the licence and £581 for the insurance. Together, a whole hell of a lot less than the council tax we were paying on the house. CRT have also granted a one-month extension to the licence because boats were not supposed to be moving during lock-down.

It had been windy throughout the night, but the winds became very strong as the day wore on. This did not stop a lot of boats passing, still disregarding the lock-down. ‘Life’s Too Short’ for one, had travelled out from their Aqueduct Marina mooring again, headed for Nantwich. This is the sixth time they had passed since we have been moored here. They moored close to us, complaining that people had threatened to report them if they passed through Cholmondeston Lock.

Another person I know from Middlewich passed by, headed for Nantwich as he had last weekend. He boasted that he has been out cruising every weekend of the lock-down and yet, in all the years we lived in Middlewich, his boat had never moved.

While we just observe, many people have been quite vocal about the number of boats moving, including comments on social media. If we are not careful all this could well split the boating community into ‘them and us’ which would be a shame. Live and let live, especially on the canals, whether you agree or not.








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