Saturday 12 March dawned with us arriving at the boat on a beautiful, sunny morning. John got cracking fitting the new oil filter from Braunston, then added the fresh narrowboat oil without additives. The new air filter was badly needed. 50% glycol antifreeze/water mix finished the engine maintenance for the moment. Liana cleaned out the stove, cleaned the bathroom and read the newspaper, she tells me!
After a cup of tea sat in the sun on the towpath, enjoying the lovely Clayworth scenery, Sam's newly welded engine mounting bracket needed fitting. Stood one side of the engine, leaning right over the other side was ..... challenging! Removing the air filter and bunging up the hole helped, but the best rhings were my ratchet socket set with universal joint, plus ratchet spanners with hinged shafts (from Lidl or Aldi last year), which were brilliant in confined spaces. Mounting on, bow thruster pump fitted and belt adjusted, bow thruster working - hoorah! I must get at the front weed hatch and grease the bow thruster, next chance I get.
We watched the Six Nations rugby on the boat, then in the clubhouse with the crowd. England managed to frighten everyone towards the end, before we won. :)
Later, we attended the Awards Ceremony and Race Night there, which caused much hilarity from all in the full function room at Retford and Worksop Boat Club, where Annie is moored. Liana and I were awarded the trophy for Longest Cruise in 2015, for our 800 mile journey to Bath and back on Annie .... SLOWLY! Canoeing daughter Jo isn't the only one who can win a cup on the water! The target for this year? Yorkshire!
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| Liana and John receiving engraved tankard and award certificate from RWBC Chair John Redfern |
We would have stayed on the boat, but went home, as John had to run the bell ringing at church in Market Rasen next morning, followed by serving, reading a lesson and giving out wine! We then dashed back for the Boat Club AGM at Clayworth - a very well organised event conducted professionally and with good humour.
A dash down the A1 to Newark and Nottingham followed, before watching the Scotland-France match and seeing Liana's mum, Flo, and our daughter, Rachel. That night, we played Settlers of Catan, at which I often get slaughtered by wife or daughters, but I won!
Dropped Rachel off at train station, visited sister Dianne and Ivan on the way back, so what about tonight? Well, I'm President of Market Rasen Lions Club this year, and it's their Business meeting tonight, shortly .... retirement keeps us busy!
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