The Big One (13-7)

Saturday 30th June 2012


King's Norton Junction to Shepciote Street Bridge.




Even more rain overnight - how much can there be left?

It's the weekend and for some people a time of relaxation, but not for hire boaters it would seem. Just after 5:20 this morning I was awakened by people shouting. It was incoherent and impossible to tell what was being said. My first thoughts was that someone had fallen in the canal and needed help.




As I looked out of the back, I could see that an Alvechurch hire boat was coming up behind us. The engine was going flat out and a sizeable bow wave was being generated. Complete with a yellow rubber dingy on the roof. It was covered in "Pirate Bunting" which seems so appropriate.

On the roof stood fellow number one the source of all the noise. He was waving the boat pole over his head in accompaniment to the shouting.


Number two and three were stood out on the back cans of beer in hand. Totally oblivious to everything that was going on around them. A snap shot through the window showed why there was such a furore going on.








The rain was pouring down and they were all wearing the uniform of the lager set - Jeans, T-shirts and Trainers. At that moment, all of my good natured indifference melted away. I wished that the noisy one would fall in. 


In answer to my prayer, the boat hit the bank. Our friend on the roof was propelled the remaining length of the boat and he seemed to go over the rubber dingy on the front of the roof and possibly down into the bow well. The bow well was full of leaves, branches and other detritus of their various excursions into the landscape. 


This tumbling act was greeted with loud cheers.  It seems he was OK as I could hear him chanting at the top of his voice "full speed ahead." Peace and quiet eventually returned and all was well with in my world. I went back to bed. Later, we heard that it was a "stag do" that explains but does not excuse!

The consequences of what might have happened if he had gone over the side and into the prop were only too obvious. Another additional statistic for the Inland Waterways, another inquest, another family in mourning, another boat hire holiday gone wrong.

I thought at the time, I hope at some point they all learn a salutary lesson. But I hope even more that the bruises are not painful! Later we came across the boat almost  moored up. I stopped and secured the boat to the bank. No one had a clue that they were almost adrift. There were drunken bodies laid about everywhere. As I left, I noted that all the lights were blazing including the tunnel light! 

We moored last night on an isolated wharf. It was impossible to get away from the wharf. There is a gate off the wharf into some sort of compound which is however padlocked shut. There are several mooring bollards and rings available.

It seemed to be very secure spot and completely surrounded by steel railings. As we just wanted to chill out and watch TV, it was a good choice. So if you are at King's Norton and heading into Birmingham. And you don't need to leave your boat. The wharf is about 150 yards on the right after the junction. There is enough room for a 70ft boat.

A visit to Cadburys World at Bournville was given a miss as we arrived at the moorings in a downpour of rain. Moored up at Gas Street Basin for the night and we ran into the early morning hire boaters. A nicer group of young people you could not wish to meet. Very apologetic about their early morning escapade. Also looking slightly queasy, they were off for food rather than liquid refreshments. Later we were able to move onto a much quieter mooring at Shepcote Street Bridge when one came free.

Wildlife: Only the night-life around the basin! 

This Months Solar Panel Data

Average 19.6 Ah per day  High 42Ah Low 6Ah

Daily Total

Miles: 6.2
Locks: 0
Swing/Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 1
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 3.0
Diesel: 0

Accumulated Totals

Miles: 970.4
Locks: 722
Swing / Lift Bridges: 119
Tunnels: 9
Pump Outs: 11
Engine Hours: 2250.3
Diesel: 40L (49.57)

Later......

Cause célèbre

A day for rumination, I heard on the radio about a pig from the past. There has been over the years a number of "cause célèbre" which involved numbers. Covering all sorts of issues that from time to time grabbed the publics imagination.

For instance the number two, so to speak. Do you remember the "Tamworth Two" a pair of pigs who escaped while being unloaded from a lorry at an abattoir in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, in January 1998. Nicknamed by the press as Butch and Sundance, the brother and sister pigs were on the run for more than a week and the search for them generated huge public interest and media attention. The two pigs escaped by squeezing through a fence, then swimming across the River Avon and escaping into nearby gardens. 

Media interest in the escaped pigs soared across the country. The "Tamworth Two" were estimated to be worth between £40-50 each, Their owner said that he still intended to send the pair to slaughter should they be recaptured. The owner was then offered large a sum of money by the Daily Mail and animal lovers to save them from the dinner table. Eventually, the Daily Mail newspaper bought the pigs. The pair went on to live out their lives at the Rare Breeds Centre, an animal sanctuary near Ashford in Kent. 

The animal loving British public once again took the under-dog to their hearts, or in this instance the under-pig. In the process briefly made them the most famous fugitives in the world. It also shows how contrary human beings are in their relationship with animals. How we are only too happy to tuck in to a pork chop, but are outraged when others want to capture and kill a couple of pigs that have stolen our heart.

Another cause célèbre was the injustice of the "Birmingham Six." This was at a time when there was a great deal of unrest in Northern Ireland. The unrest spread to the British mainland. There was a campaign of terror bombings in November 1974. Six men were eventually arrested and all six happend to live in Birmingham. The men had been subject to a Special Branch stop and search. While the search was in progress the police were informed of the Birmingham bombings. The six men were eventually charged with murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. 

The trial began June 1975 at the Crown Court sitting at Lancaster Castle. Forensic scientist Dr Frank Skuse used positive Griess test results to claim that two of the people had handled explosives. Skuse's claim that he was 99% certain that the two had explosives traces on their hands. The jury found the six men guilty of murder. They were sentenced to imprisonment for life.

In 1991 their second appeal against conviction was allowed. brought about by evidence of the police both fabricating and suppressing evidence, The Court of Appeal stated that "Dr. Skuse" was wrong and demonstrably wrong, judged even by the state of forensic science in 1974. Superintendent George Reade and two other police officers were charged with perjury and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice but unsurprisingly were never prosecuted.

The "Guildford Four" and the "Maguire Seven" were two sets of people whose convictions in English courts for the Guildford pub bombings in the 1970s were eventually quashed. The Guildford Four were convicted of bombings carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), and the Maguire Seven were convicted of handling explosives found during the investigation into the bombings. Both groups' convictions were declared "unsafe and unsatisfactory" and reversed after they had served time in prison.

The "Cardiff Three" were convicted of the murder of Lynette White, a white prostitute who was murdered in Wales, Cardiff in the early hours of February 14, 1988. At the time of the murder witnesses saw a white man covered in bloodstains near the scene in the early hours of that morning. In addition the police had strong evidence to suggest a white paedophile with a string of convictions for violent sexual assault was responsible. They choose to ignore that evidence.

The "Newham Eight" were eight youths were arrested and charged in September 1982 when fighting took place in Newham, East London, between a group of Asian youths and three police officers in plain clothes. Following a number of racist attacks at the Little Ilford school, a number of Asians had banded together to protect themselves and their fellow pupils from further assault. Police officers called out to an incident tried to arrest a youth who was carrying a hockey stick. Others, believing they were being attacked by racists, went to his aid.

Later.....

The Big One (13-6)

Friday 29th June 2012



Waring's Wharf to King's Norton Junction.

The night was the first dry one for a while, but the wind had built up a bit by morning. The sky is still overcast though there are the odd patches of blue to be seen. Cooler and a bit less humid than yesterday. It looks like this part of the UK took a severe weather battering yesterday. 


Television pictures of major flash flooding, cars up to their roof in water and home owners surveying the aftermath. A major drought situation is followed by epic deluge. In places a months rainfall apparently arrived within an hour. Global weather patterns are changing and this is this a portent of the future. A future with global warming seemingly the driver.


There is a temptation to blame every major weather incident on global warming. and for a time I was like one of the "Flat Earth" society believers. However, unusual weather patterns on a global scale seem to give more credibility to the "pro global warming" camp as opposed to the "anti global warming" pundits.


We said goodbye to Mick and Nick as Waring's Wharf and were under way again by 10:30. The sky looked leaden with rain that would arrive at almost any moment. On our cruise to King's Norton we only experienced two short showers. Our first stop was at Lyon's boatyard for a pump-out and to top up the tank with diesel.


As we approached King's Norton Junction the wind suddenly arrived and stated to whip the trees around. Then a heavy shower started, so we called a halt to the day and moored up.

Four Spotted Chaser  © Stephen Burch 

Wildlife: Jays were seen in the hedgerows in ones and twos. Banded Demoiselles in good numbers, Small Red Damselfly, a single Four Spotted Chaser was the best spot of the day!

Not many boats on the move today.

Daily Total

Miles: 7.7
Locks: 1
Swing/Lift Bridges: 2
Tunnels: 1
Pump Outs: 1
Engine Hours: 9.9
Diesel: 40L

Accumulated Totals

Miles: 964.2
Locks: 722
Swing / Lift Bridges: 119
Tunnels: 8
Pump Outs: 11
Engine Hours: 2247.3
Diesel: 40L (49.57)

The Big One (13-5)

Thursday 28th June 2012.

The rain started the morning as a steady downpour. Then the wind got up and it went very dark. The signs were ominous. A flash of lightning off in the distance was the portent of what was to come. A sudden heavy downpour turned into largish hailstones. Then the rain and thunder returned, this time with a vengeance. It reminded me of the time we sat out a monsoon storm in India.

The roof drains were overwhelmed by the amount of rain water falling onto the roof. Then it built up and it came flooding inside the pram cover. Only to disappear into the engine room where the bilge pump then auto started and pumped it back over the side. This scenario has now happened several times. Some bits of wood and a couple of wedges have let me build a small revetment to hold back any more sudden surges of rainwater that may come.

The boat looks like a widow twankey laundry, we have items of clothing hanging everywhere to dry. We even lit the fire to assist the drying process and now with the heavy downpours when we are battened down it like living in a Swedish sauna.

There is little sign of life on the moorings as everyone is keeping snug and dry inside. We will be sitting tight and trying to keep dry for today and then planning our next move tomorrow.

This Weeks Solar Panel Data.

Average 22.7 Ah per day  High 33Ah Low 12Ah

Daily Total

Miles: 0.0

Locks: 0

Swing / Lift Bridges: 0

Tunnels: 0

Pump Outs: 0

Engine Hours: 0.0

Accumulated Totals

Miles: 941.7

Locks: 695

Swing / Lift Bridges: 117

Tunnels: 6

Pump Outs: 10

Engine Hours: 2200.0

Later......

Calm down dear - be a Winner.

Never ever loose your temper, just get even. In California a woman lost $2,000 after she threw her handbag at a passing car filled with teenagers who allegedly threw a milkshake at her. The woman was walking across the road when a white Range Rover full of teenagers drove by and allegedly threw a milkshake in her face. Authorities said the woman tried to get revenge by throwing her alligator skin handbag at the passing vehicle. A window was open on the Range Rover and the handbag landed inside the car. The handbag had several of the woman's personal items and $2,000 in cash. Police are looking for the handbag and a group of suddenly wealthy and happy teenagers.


I'm not kidding!


The USA is the worlds top super power with a nuclear arsenal big enough to obliterate a sizeable part of the world. Its also the country where in Chico, California, the City Council enacted a ban on nuclear weapons, setting a $500 fine for anyone detonating one within city limits.


$500 dollars a pop!


The USA is the worlds top super power with a thirst for petroleum  big enough to fuel a sizeable part of the world. Its also the country where the average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later they were both eaten by a killer whale.


Que Vera Lynn "Whale meat again don't know where don't know when"


The USA is where the worlds top level of homicide and other such crimes are committed. Its also the country where Police officers in at least four states are in cyber-trouble after exchanging explicit email messages with a 17-year-old Illinois girl. Eight deputies in North Carolina alone have been disciplined. The teen's mother says the cops "took advantage of her daughter's innocent adventures," but Troy Spencer an attorney for one suspended officer sees it differently. "This young woman, has made contact with a very vulnerable element of our society police officers..."


You know the ones with guns and tasers....


The USA is where the worlds top educated people live. In Ohio, a man in his late twenties walked into a police station with a 9-inch wire protruding from his forehead, and calmly asked officers to give him an X-ray to help him find his brain, which he claimed had been stolen. Police were shocked to learn that the man had drilled a 6-inch deep hole in his skull with a Black & Decker power drill, and stuck the wire in to try and find the missing brain. 


It figures that he would not find one!


Last but not least and not to be outdone, here is one from the UK. A sex line caller complained to Trading Standards. After dialing an 0891 number from an advertisement entitled "Hear Me Moan" the caller was played a tape of a woman nagging her husband for failing to do jobs around the house. Consumer Watchdogs in Dorset refused to look into the complaint, saying, "He got what he deserved."


I'm now going to look for the recorder!




Later....

The Big One (13-4)

Wednesday 27th June 2012



Turners Green to Warings Wharf

The weather made for a hot humid night. We were up a bit later than intended. We paid the consequence as Nb Atlas and butty Malus passed us just before we were ready to move off.

A short section of the Grand Union Canal before we proceed onto the Stratford Canal and the Lapworth Lock flight. We followed Nb Atlas and butty Malus up the flight and the butty was being hand hauled into and out of each lock. The main problems was that there were for half the flight three crew and then there were two as one left.  One of the crew ended up falling into the canal. What should have taken about four hours, took over six hours.

We were joined by Pete Walpole and family on the climb up the flight by Nb Alice and butty Alice Too. If you have seen a bendy-bus this is the waterways equivalent. Except that it does not actually flex. The butty at the front, locks into position on the boats bow.  A bit like a "Jebus" fits on the front of a line of "Tom Puddings." That's also another bad analogy because boat and butty have a bow and the Tom Puddings were square metal boxes. I understand that Pete refers to the butty as a shunt.


We stayed overnight at Warings Wharf where Mick and Nick gave us a warm welcome. The stop was to get access to mains power so that the Memsahib can do some washing. We went to the pub down the road for a meal and a couple of beers. 


Flora: We noted a couple of new canal side plants in flower including Saw Wort and Harebell. Poppies are out in abundance and bring a bright band of colour to the canal side and hedgerows.


Wildlife: Sparrowhawk chasing birds in the hedgerow was the main spot of the day. A yellow wagtail perched on a ground paddle on the Lapworth flight. Good numbers of House Sparrows in the area as well. The house sparrow population has fallen dramatically over the last 40 years.

Daily Total

Miles: 5.9
Locks: 20
Swing/Lift Bridges: 2
Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 6.1

Accumulated Totals

Miles: 962.4
Locks: 741
Swing / Lift Bridges: 119
Tunnels: 7
Pump Outs: 10
Engine Hours: 2243.5

Later......

Paul Daniels and BW.

What do Paul Daniels and British Waterways have in common. Apart from Smoke and Mirrors - but we already know that.  There is a second trick used by magicians that BW have mastered its called misdirection. In other words, the magician deflects your attention from their underhand manipulations.

When the Tring Summit reservoirs were approaching full, British Waterways carried on chaining lock gates to preserve water stocks. When the reservoirs were actually full, British Waterways carried on chaining lock gates to preserve water stocks. When the reservoir were full and overflowing as pointed out by a number of boaters. BW continued to padlock the gates to preserve water stocks.

BW "The wet weather has improved our reservoir holdings substantially over the last few weeks. However, the four main reservoirs within the Tring group are not yet full, although visually they may look so."

This glass is not full.

Maybe the British Waterways problem comes from to many half full glasses creating the beer goggles syndrome. I have done some serious research into the beer goggle problem and here is the result.

Now there is also one other curious side effect of wearing beer goggles. One that I believe could bring the answer to the missing millions of visitors. The effect is that beer goggles also multiplies the apparent number of visitors that can be seen walking the towpath. 

Here we have a Charlie from CaRT demonstrating that when dealing with British Waterways there is going to be lots of froth before you get to the real thing.

BW Beer

As we know, British waterways spent some of our cash buying a number of canalside pubs. Like the saying goes they could not organise a piss-up in a brewery.

From the team that brought you square bollards and self decapitating foot bridge updates. The latest idea is to use horse drawn narrowboats on the canals. As a direct replacement for those smelly smoky engines. To be combined as a method of keeping down the grass on the towpath. British Waterways releases a picture of its latest idea prototype.

I think this idea has legs, I'll drink to that!

Later....

The Big One (13-3)

Tuesday 26th June 2012


Warwick Ring Road Bridge No 43 to Turners Green

A warm night, but all the windows closed as the mosquito squadrons were in full flight. Once or twice I had to do the trick of gathering up the mozzies that managed to get in with the handheld vacuum cleaner.

We were eventually underway by 10:30 and called in to Tesco for a quick top-up shopping trip. Later we passed Nb Wey, but the crew were not around. So we set off to passing The Cape pub and up through the two Cape Locks. Soon we had passed the Saltisford Arm and we were about to tackle the twenty one locks in the Hatton Flight. 

The Hatton Flight

Half way up we stopped for lunch and the heavens opened up. This downpour was to keep up until we had completed the rest of the flight. 

Above the Hatton Flight you enter a green canyon lined with mature trees. Some of the trees are past their sell by date and one or two look a bit risky. Sure enough we came across one that had tumbled into the canal.  Next was the Shrewley Tunnel which we could see was clear as we entered. The cool interior helped to give a bit of respite from the high humidity outside.


Now we were on the lookout for a pub and "Tom O' The Wood" at Turners Green was the nearest one. We moored up above the water point. A few moments later another boat arrived and moored for the night on the water point!

Daily Total
Miles: 9.3
Locks: 23
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 1
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 14.0

Accumulated Totals
Miles: 956.5
Locks: 721
Swing / Lift Bridges: 117
Tunnels: 7
Pump Outs: 10
Engine Hours: 2237.4

Later......

The Big One (13-2)

Monday 25th June 2012


Ventnor Farm Marina to Warwick Ring Road Bridge No 43

A bit of a lay in today, but we were woken by the first passing boat of the day at 7:15 when a boat and butty passed by. We were eventually underway by 11am. The sky was overcast first thing, but by noon the sun was up, it was very warm by mid afternoon. 

The first three locks we did on our own until we caught up with a hire boat. We shared the next seventeen locks with them. They were all new to boating and on the first day of their first ever trip.  The Memsahib gave some tuition to the crew who had little idea of what they needed to do to operate a lock. By the end of the next seventeen locks the Memsahib had been renamed by them to wonder woman. 

By the time that we left them, the hire crew were a great deal happier with dealing with the locks. I gave a few tips on handling the boat to Kevin on the tiller and how to go about sharing locks and being aware of the cill. We may run into them tomorrow as we attack the Hatton flight.


This morning I spent an hour making some checks in the engine bay checking fluid levels and belt tensions. Then I turned my attention to making a belt out of a selection of wild herbs. However, in the end it turned out to be a waist of thyme.

Wildlife: The best birding spot of the day were a pair of Kite's and several single Buzzards drifting along circling on the thermals. Quite a good number of Chaffinch and Goldfinch haunting the canal side hedgerow. The aaah! spot of the day was seeing a Moorhen nest with some out and some just breaking out of their eggshells.

Daily Total
Miles: 10.2
Locks: 20
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.0

Accumulated Totals

Miles: 951.9

Locks: 715

Swing / Lift Bridges: 117

Tunnels: 6

Pump Outs: 10

Engine Hours: 2200.0

Later......

The Big One (13-1)

Sunday 24th June 2012.

Well, the overnight rain was spectacular. It was so heavy that drops that fell near our mushroom vents were splashing so hard that the mist created was being carried inside through the vent. The Braunston puddle banks have pretty good towpath and the mud is almost non existent. Compared to some sections of the towpath onto the North Oxford where a pig and a hippo would be able to wallow in comfort.


Poppy the dog decided to have her second dip in the canal for this week. To be followed by Abbey, who managed to trip on the gangplank. However I managed to grab her just before she slipped into the water!

Our visit to the Heritage Boat Show yesterday afternoon meant that we parted with some of our hard earned wonga. However, we still came away with a smile, a long throw aluminium windlass, a complete set of new ropes, some stainless fittings and a few new friends. 

soft rope shackle

One other little item, described as a "soft rope shackle" for fixing the centre line to the boat with. It was a quite ingenious little item.


If you want to have a go at making your own soft rope shackles then click and watch this UTube Link. A second UTube Link.


My best smile of the day was when enquiring about the price of a new chimney for the boat. "How much is that tall chimney at the back?" I enquired, "I dunno, I think its on the house!" was the reply!

Today is a day for all petrol heads to gather round the goggle box with a beer  in hand to enjoy another round of formula one. I wonder if we will get another new winner (8th) again.


In the late afternoon we set off towards The South Oxford. A gentle cruise to Napton Junction where we decided to turn towards Calcutt Lock (1) and headed for the water point. We found a boat moored up on the water point who had no intention to move. However, after a while they reluctantly and with a show of ill will moved onto the visitor moorings.

We then decided to moor up for the evening and watch the England -v- Italy football match.

Daily Total
Miles: 5.5
Locks: 3
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.0

Accumulated Totals

Miles: 947.2

Locks: 698

Swing / Lift Bridges: 117

Tunnels: 6

Pump Outs: 10

Engine Hours: 2223.4

Later......

Battery Observations

There are a number of companies providing power systems for narrowboats, broadbeams, GRP, Yachts and any other kind of vessel you can think of. One such company is Sterling. I have for some time been thinking of improving the underlying power systems on Rosie. We have a 1500 watt inverter and I have recently replaced and upgraded the battery bank from 400 to 500Ah.


The way that we use the boat means that we are either moving most days or moored up in the marina on the mains. The solar panels do provide some of the power requirement. However, if the alternator output is tailored to charge the battery bank more efficiently, it would be much better for us.


I have recently purchased a Sterling Digital Alternator Regulator. Modern Digital systems can control electrical systems in a way that would have been unimaginable twenty years ago. This will be combined with our 2nd alternator which is rated at 70amp. If at any point in time the alternator was to fail, I would consider upgrading to a 120 amp version.

The common denominator in all of the various electrical systems are the leisure and engine batteries. The use and abuse of batteries has been documented many many times. Over a period of time certain given "facts" get woven into the folk-law surrounding battery systems. Sometimes the evidence is ancient and based upon a misconception. Google "Conventional Current" and "Electron Flow" to get an idea. Electrons are negative and flow from negative to positive. Conventional current flow is from positive to negative. This is because early researchers in electricity thought electricity flowed from positive to negative, which is why they called them that in the first place.


Another one is the "Ether" During the 19th Century, scientists Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz formulated a theory that described electromagnetic phenomena. This theory indicated that electric and magnetic forces resulted from the effect of electric and magnetic fields existing in space between electric charges. These electric charges were produced by the ether, which was thought to be able to exert electric forces on ordinary matter.

There is a lot of mystique in this electrikery stuff!

However many times a fact is repeated, if it is based on flawed knowledge or research it is still an untruth. In other words its an old wives-tale or if you prefer the modern description an urban legend.

There is a wealth of information about different battery systems available on the Internet. It pays to be a bit wary of the information available. Some wrong information has been repeated again and again. Repeated so many times, that the myth has gained provenance and patina.


Sterling have produced a number of documents where the various power system configurations have been placed under test and then Sterling has described their observations and the outcomes.


Advanced Battery Charging.
Altenator Problem Spotting.
Narrowboat Wiring Diagram.


The documents are well worth a read.




Later....

The Big One (12-7)

Saturday 9th June 2012

Braunston Puddle Bank.

The weather improved a bit overnight the wind has tailed off a bit and the rain finally went away. The morning sunshine was most welcome, though the reports say that things will revert back to rain later today.

I woke up this morning starving, I wanted something light and easy to make. I thought to myself hot buttered toast. a quick search round the kitchen and the only bread in the boat was French. That's a pain.

Last year I wrote about the problems I had been having with British Waterways and actually paying BW for our boat licence. I even contacted the head Honcho Robin Evans and asked him to help sort out the situation. We were eventually put in touch with a very helpful lady called Jean Hicks. A few phone calls and the situation was eventually resolved.

We are in something of a cleft stick, we are out on the boat and many miles from our home. However, all correspondence conducted with BW is via the postal service. We have filled in a bank mandate (three times) but for some reason BW never do their bit. The boat licence and insurance under normal circumstances fall at about the same time. This year the BSC also coincides.

The BSC was sorted while we were moored in Boston. The insurance cover has been organised and paid for over the phone while we were moored in Braunston. We also arranged the boat breakdown cover to be organised and paid for over the phone as well. Most modern businesses are keen on cash flow. They are also keen on customer service. They know that in this busy world, new technology has become a lifeline to the population.

So, all we need to do now is sort out BW. Stop that cynical sniggering at the back!

I expected that the payment mandate would be in force, but because I am dealing with BW I decided to make a telephone call to check - Only to discover from BW that the mandate has not been submitted to the bank yet again. BW have a certain level of consistency in their dealings with their clientèle if nothing else. 

The details of the BSC and its unique identification number was not acceptable to BW over the phone. The boat insurance details were however quite acceptable over the phone. We were asked to send a copy of the latest BSC certificate to the boat licencing team in Leeds. Plus we have been requested to add a note asking the licencing team to telephone us so that we can make a card payment again rather than expect the mandate to be submitted.

I enquired about the helpful lady that we had spoken to and exchanged emails with the previous year. It seems that Jean has moved on and is not with BW any more. Its a pity that BW seem unable to move on as well.

So in desperation I turned on the radio and tuned in to radio 4. There was an item on the news about Stephen Hawking. It seems that he is writing a follow-up to his best selling book "A Brief History of Time". I thought to myself, it's about time too.

Today is the first day of the Braunston Festival weekend, lets hope the weather is a bit improved than of late.

Wildlife: At about 5am I was up and out with the pooches. There is a huge Oak tree at the side of the boat. In the branches was a Tawny Owl giving the "tew-it" call, but there was no "twooo" in reply. Most people don't realise that the "Tew-it, Twooo" is actually two birds, one calling and one replying. Its a bit late in the season for two Tawny Owls to be starting to prepare to breed. The arrangements are usually organised in February and March. Maybe its been a bad year for the Owls. At 7:30am came several weak "Twooo" calls in reply. Quick as a flash our ardent suitor left and headed off in the direction of a nearby wood. Silence of a sort has returned to the puddle banks. The Rookery is still well populated with a very noisy milling mass of birds.

The above poster has been created using a piece of software that looks at the frequency and importance of words in the above text. It makes a very interesting way to look at the content of any blog posting. It looks like BW was very high on my agenda today.

Daily Total

Miles: 0.0

Locks: 0

Swing / Lift Bridges: 0

Tunnels: 0

Pump Outs: 0

Engine Hours: 0.0

Accumulated Totals

Miles: 941.7

Locks: 695

Swing / Lift Bridges: 117

Tunnels: 6

Pump Outs: 10

Engine Hours: 2200.0

Later......