Well that's a bit more like it...

Well that's a bit more like it...

I think my natural default is 'early to bed, early to rise'. I was awake at six again today but it was much milder than yesterday morning. I listened to an hour of music on my phone before leaving Deb to her rhythmic rumble and getting up to fire up the stove. 

One of the last tracks on my random compilation was Sheep by pink Floyd. It is a pretty random song itself chastising sheep for their lack of fulfilment in life and then warning of the potential dangers or predation in rural life. It did take me back to my early teens in the '80s though. 

I had thought that the track was wringing in my ears when I turned off the music player, but it was the field opposite our mooring with a herd of woolly backs bleating in the morning sun. Whilst out getting some coal I bid them good morning and offered felicitations for their inspiration for the song. Although I should imagine that the subtext was a demonstration against the conformity of the populous to follow the herd and bumble through life towards old age (ohh look at him, gone all Freudian!)

Nice sunny morning

Don't be a sheep

The stove picked up quickly so time for a coffee pot treat and some toast with phili and chilly, a phrase coined by Jess, my spicy chilly jam topped with cream cheese... Bloomin yum :-) I even had enough juice in my DAB radio batteries to listen to a bit of Chris Evans on Beeb 2. First news(ish) story is that women need more sleep than men and that's why they are grumpy gits  in the morning... that explains it then. I tiptoe round the boat and leave Deb to her rhythmic rumble, not for long though, she woke up and smelt the coffee (no not a Freudian slip)

Stove lit, coffee pot on and a full DAB signal. 

Chris then went on to play two of my favorite childhood tracks from the same era. Iron Maiden's '666 the number of the beast' and 'run to the hills'. I've not heard them for close on thirty years but could remember them word for word including key and tempo changes. Funny old thing the brain. The tracks were well received by the listeners, not sure Sir Terry would have approved, its not very radio two is it. 

Yippee, Boat Safety passed!...

Yippee, Boat Safety passed!...

We are all OK for another four years. I had the surveyor who did our original survey come back for the examination. I figured that he had a lot of info to hand anyway and it would make it a easier for both of us. He went through the engine bay with a fine toothed comb as there were lots of 'advises' there on the original survey. I had spent a few days last month doing everything I could think of to tidy the wiring including shortening some cables and shrouding lots in protective spirals bought from Maplin. All other areas were fine with no more advises to add to my maintenance list. We had a brief chat about routing for gas if the prop gen ever failed again and he was off, exchanging his certificate for my was of notes (discounted for cash)

Before Michael arrived we had a bit of a boat tidy session. The couple of sacks of smoky coal briquettes we had bought have been quite messy so all shelves, wall coverings and even ceiling have had a wipe down. Its so much easier if its done regularly and only took a couple of hours with both of us working at it. In fact we have just got the cupboards and drawers to wipe out tomorrow and the whole boat would have had its monthly (spring) clean. 

With no van to collect we had to stroll the three miles or so into Hillmorton to get the shopping. We would have usually combined picking up the van and shopping to save a few bob on petrol. Deb is going to reactivate her tesco internet delivery so we can get the main shop delivered. Sue off of retirement no problem has a guide on her blog to help set it all up so we will see how it goes, no option really there are very few supermarkets or even big shops along our path for a while. 

Still no letter from the Bank of Ireland so we may have escaped for a while. 

Well thank gawd for thermals...

Well thank gawd for thermals...

We meant to stop in Rugby yesterday but the visitor moorings near the car park were full so I carried on a bit further. The journey was a bit uninspiring I really needed at least a glimmer of sunshine to warm the soul but I was denied any. Luckily the driving sleet was coming from the side so at least I could look forward. The rhythm of the engine and the tapping of the sleet on my hood was oddly therapeutic. 

I decided to pull over in the middle of nowhere on a good mooring point next to a golf course and opposite gently sloping fields. We had a satellite signal to watch the Rugby so I was happy. 

The mooring would have done for a few days but I was a bit worried about getting iced in and we had to be close to roads and parking for the safety examiner on Tuesday. So up and off first thing today to see what the moorings below Hillmorton were like. 

Chilly ropes

Snow again

Pretty when the sun is out

Waiting in the snow for a boat to wind below the locks

Balaclava and wooly hat

Hiding from the wind

Slippery lock approach 

The weather looked better today because there were a few sunny spells but by golly that wind was cold. I dug out my last line of defence, my old motorcycle thermal balaclava. There was no ice on the canal I think because the wind was so fierce but the temperature was -2°C with a wind chill closer to -10°C. The ropes took a bit of untying and I thought that I would have to get a kettle of water to defrost the knots. So layered up with balaclava and wooly hat we set off to Hillmorton. Not a long trip but our first flight of locks and with pelting snow and forty mile an hour winds to contend with. 

We moored in a familiar spot where we knew there was parking for the examiner just as the wind picked up to a door rattling crescendo. Right time for lunch. 

Not a nice day for a stroll...

Four miles in the cold rain was enough though. I wrapped up in my full winter kit, more as a test than anything else really. When the weather does turn colder I'll need to be prepared. 

So with thermals on, and waterproofs we set off back in the direction of Braunston. The rain soon changed from light to incessant, and about two miles in the first of the clothing items were failing. Neither of us had waterproof gloves, my thinsulate ones did a lot better than expected and lasted about a mile and a half, Debs mittens looked a bit saggy though! My leather, non waterproof Mendle boots have done a fantastic job over the last ten years or so and in wet weather are supplemented by waterproof socks. Debs goretex  ones bought at the same time now leek in places. If anything I got too hot, we were walking at little over three miles per hour and the last mile in increasingly heavy sleet I could have done with loosing a layer.

Rather than move the van further up the canal (and increase the walk by another three miles) we parked as close to LJ as possible and retreated to the fire to start drying out. The following day we moved to the top of hillmorton locks in chilly morning sun. In fact the temperature had dropped below freezing in the night and the cabin temperature was hovering at about 8 deg C (colder in little pockets) when we woke up. We have used the stove to tick-over during the day at the mid twenties but backed it off at about 8.30 to save on coal. The problem being that not enough hot air is getting fifty foot further to the back of the boat. 

So cold today my blister pack shattered!!!

I have been looking at stove fans and the one I really want, based on a sterling engine is back in production so I may have to give the ISA a hammering and splash out. I think that coupled with something 12v and made from computer fans half way down the boat should do the trick and even out the temperature a bit. 

Whilst we were moving I had a text alert from Birmingham hospital reminding me of an appointment to see my consultant on Tuesday. Its a good job they do the text reminders as I hadn't had a letter from them. I called to see if I could find out a bit more info but all the call centre could do was confirm the appointment time. As I still hadn't had any results from my liver MRI scan I presumed it was to discuss the results. The evening before going back to Brum Pip had got back from holiday and in the postie pile was a letter from the MRI department saying that there was nothing abnormal which was a bit of a relief. I have been reading the blog of a fellow boater couple who have been a lot less fortunate and sadly the gent is undergoing the necessary evils to rid his liver of cancer. My appointment confirmed no nasty liver problems or any stray stones left in my bile duct and I am now on the list to go back and have the offending gall bladder whipped out. Unfortunately its only an over night job so I doubt I will be able to sample their goat curry ;)

We even went out for a beer and burger at the local in hillmorton which for £5 each was better than expected. Actually Deb had two pints of cider and spent the rest of the evening laughing at me cos I had hiccough's.