| This Month's Totals and Average | |||
| 27.62 miles | 0 locks | 11.07 hrs | 2.50 lmph |
A bright sunny day throughout Tuesday to finish the month. Shopping in Hinckley for items to last out the week, then a quiet afternoon.
Overnight rain and strong winds. Spent Monday clearing e-paperwork and, with the planned and extra work complete and a poor forecast reducing the chance of getting out this week, starting to get ready for a return to the house at the end of the week. The wind died down leaving a peaceful evening and night.
Clocks forward 1 hour.
Along to Alrewas again this week, for a joint Communion service for Palm Sunday with All Saints (Anglican) led by Rev. Jo. The early morning sunshine had faded and rain was making itself felt. Heavy rain and strong winds during the afternoon, cleared by evening. Once again, general pottering.
Up promptly, heading over to Sarah first thing to help (if possible) with a problem on her computer. Spent until mid-afternoon tracing cables and testing connections - unfortunately, we couldn't find the answer (possible reason is a failed router, but couldn't prove it with what we had. Stopped in Hinckley on the way back for fuel ready for tomorrow. Generally fine, with occasional showers of rain and hail. Wind increased over the day.
Generally cloudy but bright, with occasional showers of rain. Had a very quiet day - with Nick's help sorted a connectivity problem between my laptop and a remote drive, procured perishables to last over the weekend.
A bright but cold morning, much better than I had feared from the forecast. Cleared out my cabin lockers and back steps once again to enable the engineer to get in, and awaited his arrival. He arrived at 12:30 and got straight into running the new water and fuel pipes. Another engineer, who happened to be in the area and unemployed, rang him and suggested he came and worked on the electrics. With some difficulty, everything was finally in place, the radiators topped up, and fuel and water supplies bled of air (took some time), the boiler was restarted and tested. The remote 'app' was installed and tested. Once he was satisfied, he cleared up, and left at 17:30. I could finally get my cabin cleared and made habitable. Dinner and a quiet evening. The rain had stayed off, keeping the engineer dry.
A wet and windy night led to a bright start to the day. It then alternated between warm sunshine and showers of sleat. Stayed tucked in with the stove lit all day!
By morning, a breeze had picked up, making it cooler, with little sun on offer. Got a call from RCR saying that Andy would be back again to finish the heater work on Thursday afternoon. A generally quiet day. Heard through the grapevine that Dean had terminated his employment at the marina - no reasons, but plenty gossip. The breeze had increased by bedtime, with rain setting in.
General cleaning day - windows/port glasses, floor vacuumed, surfaces wiped down. Noted that the island in the pond had dried out a bit and the swans were assessing the damage to their nest area. The bright start to the day gradually clouded over to dull by evening.
Duller today, the sun not really getting through the high cloud. Drove to Alrewas for the service with Rev. Ken, then back to "Paws" for lunch. Pottered most of the afternoon.
A mixed day weatherwise on Monday - sunny spells interspersed with rain showers, warm when the sun was out but the wind was chilly. Shopping in the morning, then a quiet afternoon. Received a call from RCR advising the parts were on order and they had pencilled in for next week for the job. Relay phone calls between Sarah and Ann (from Trinity) arranging for Sarah, Leigh, Simon and Eleanor to come to the Passover meal at Horeston Grange.
Beautiful sunny morning Tuesday so walked up to the village for my TV paper (a 3-mile round trip). Set the washing machine while I was out. General chores, then another quiet afternoon with my book and puzzles.
Had a generally quiet day on Wednesday, pottering and enjoying the sunshine. Doors and windows open to let in the fresh warm air. Had my (compulsory) walk. Not getting too excited, though, as the forecast has snow in it for next week!
On Sarah's recommendation, took delivery of some new (to me anyway) briquettes which advertise staying 'lit' for up to 8 hours. Can't fault the service - the parcel was with me in less than 24 hours from ordering! Another generally quiet day on Thursday, reading in the warm sunshine.
Another sunny day on Friday. Generally pottered between my walk and a quick trip for perishable stores.
Saturday was another pottering day, taking advantage of the remaining sun before the weather breaks at the beginning of next week - freezing temperatures, rain, and possibly snow forecast (so much for the start of spring).
Church in Alrewas again - I was on one of the readings. Drove down to Ventura (Tamworth) for lunch at Costa (insufficient time to go back to "Paws"), then on to Amington for afternoon coffee with Sarah. Great to have a catch-up with her again. Back at "Paws") just after 18:00 for dinner. After a beauitful sunny start, rain arrived by lunchtime, but it had cleared again by late afternoon.
The overnight rain into Wednesday had cleared to another sunny morning, but the cold wind was still present. Paperwork to the marina office as part of my morning walk, then investigated the new heater's two controllers, as to what I could do to assist in advance of the engineer returning. After lunch nipped out to initially Hinckley, then Ventura (Tamworth), for DIY merchants for a replacement bleed tap for a radiator (the square had become rounded on one of them). When I returned, fitted the replacement cap and looked further at the controllers - completed mounting one and assessed the other (parts needed). Remained sunny and windy throughout.
Heavy rain overnight continued during the whole of Thursday as showers. The high winds continued as well. Another quick trip for DIY parts in the morning allowed me to complete mounting the two new controllers ready for the engineer's return. Collated electronic copies of all the manuals for the new equipment. Collected more coal during another of the gaps in the rain. Generally not a very pleasant day.
After a night of torrential rain and gales, the rain had ceased by Friday morning, the clouds had broken to sunny spells, and the wind slowly eased during the day. Routine "household" and food shopping, then a quiet remainder to the day. Unfortunately no new contact from RCR.
A beautiful day on Saturday- practically no wind, no rain, about 80% sun throughout (and the sun felt warm). Generally pottered, with walks and a phone catch-up with Fhi in Italy.
Up promptly on a lovely sunny morning. A quick trip into Hinckley for urgent items then back for an early lunch.
Hannah at RCR had suggested the engineer should be here just after mid-day, so made everything ready for him (locker doors removed for easy access, engine 'ole clear etc). He arrived at 13:30 and got straight into it although he was concerned that the job may be longer than the office thought. Started by fixing the new burner unit in the old location, but found that the (now) separate fuel and water pumps had nowhere to go. Started resiting the unit and found the pipes and cables were too short. Eventually we concocted a plan and he fixed the burner and water pumps in their new locations and looked to sourcing the extensions he needed. He left at 17:30 having done all he could, with a list of parts and an assurance he would return as soon as they were available.
By the time the engineer left, it had clouded over and a breeze was picking up (he got the best of the day). By bedtime the wind was strong and rain had set in for overnight.
Dull and cool again today. Routine chores in the morning, then e-paperwork in the afternoon. Received a call from RCR (pre-empting my planned call to them tomorrow) advising that the parts for the heater had arrived and they had a cancellation tomorrow - "would I be available for fitting". Yes! Texts and phone calls to update the family, and a quiet end to the day.
After a small amount of light rain overnight, today dawned dull and cool. Drove to Alrewas for the service this morning (longer than usual), and a catch-up with our friends there. On return to "Paws" had a late lunch, my daily walk, and a quiet afternoon with my book and puzzles.
A dull day throughout, although it felt warmer than yesterday. A generally quiet day, but I did get some "housework" done, and my walk in the afternoon.
Up early to try to beat any forecast rain. A cold, dull morning requiring heavy jacket and gloves. Set off to the winding hole and turned for the journey back to base. Headed south again through Snarestone tunnel and on to Shackerstone. Only one of the fishermen from yesterday was out this morning, and he didn't even speak to me. Continued on south past Congerstone and Carton to the marina, mooring just before midday. Essential mooring activities only, then inside for soup to warm up!
After lunch, finished the tidying up, then went out for some shopping. On return, had a coffee break then updated the diary, before a quiet evening. The forecast rain never materialised.
It was great to be back out again, and I look forward to going out again as soon as possible (mostly dependant on weather, and when RCR look to do their work).
| 6.97 miles | 0 locks | 2.75 hrs | 2.53 lmph |
 custom.footpath.walks |
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Another beautiful morning, without a cloud visible. Up and on the move quickly, although I did take a few minutes to chat with a group working on behalf of CRT - electro-fishing to control the numbers of non-native species (particularly zander). On the move by 09:15, returning northwards past Shenton, Bosworth and Carlton. Noted a red kite circling over Carlton. Onwards again past Congerstone and Shackerstone. Unfortunately, the day was marred a little by the reaction of a couple of fishermen to a boat passing - they appeared to think that the water was theirs (particularly in winter when the hireboats weren't around). Noting another red kite over Snarestone, I arrived at the "official" end of navigation for a late lunch.
Took a walk to the end of the ACA water and back after lunch, then got the diary up to date.The sky had become a little hazy by mid-afternoon, with a forecast of rain overnight, cloud tomorrow morning, turning to rain by lunchtime - hope I can get back in before I get wet.
| 10.42 miles | 0 locks | 3.88 hrs | 2.68 lmph |
| spurted.townhouse.snored |
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A beautifully quiet night led to a misty morning. The early mist burned off quickly to a lovely sunny day. Let go around 09:30, heading north again, through Dadlington. The dredger was at work on its planned schedule, dumping the spoil in a field between Bridges 31 and 32. Arriving back at Sutton Cheney, there was no change in the mooring situation so took the one-day next to the services berth.
Walked along to the café for lunch (just as good as usual), and had a chat with another boating family also in for lunch. Usual e-paperwork once back at the boat, then a quiet late afternoon and evening.
| 1.90 miles | 0 locks | 0.95 hrs | 2.00 lmph |
| bowls.takeovers.crown |
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Finally, out of the marina!
A dull start but warmer, so decided to take a chance. Headed out just after 09:30 and turned south. A lot of birdsong - the usual culprits (blackbird, robin, song thrush, great tit, blue tit, wren. Headed past Shenton and continued past the battlefield site and on to Sutton Cheney, intending to stop - no space on the visitor pontoon. Continued south past Dadlington - plenty skylarks shouting as they rose into the air. Also noted a red kite. Passed through Stoke Golding and headed to the winding hole at Basin Bridge, turned and returned to the visitor moorings at Stoke Golding.
After a late lunch, walked up to the village, collecting next week's TV paper en route. Returning to "Paws", I got the first diary (movement) entry for the year written up and edited the maps. The sky had brightened, but the sun never really got properly through. Very poor signal for internet and phone, but had a lovely evening listening to the(excellent quality) bell practice.
| 8.33 miles | 0 locks | 3.48 hrs | 2.39 lmph |
| belts.onwards.explained |
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A dull start considering the forecast, but up promptly expecting to get on the move. After a short chat with Nick (next door) while getting ready, I was frozen, so scrapped the plans! Quiet day with the new laptops. Sun did come out in the afternoon, and I got my walk.
A bright, sunny morning to start the new month (and the first official day of Meteorological Spring). Spring is certainly showing itself - the buds on the hawthorn bushes are sprouting into clusters of leaves and the birds are singing brightly, although the swans attempting to reconstruct their nest on the island were having a difficult time due to the extra high water level lapping over the borders of the land. Church again at Atherstone in the morning. With a few days of better weather forecast, and the possibility of getting a few days out, spent the afternoon making ready for a departure tomorrow.
