'Edge to edge next time misses' said the lad with the strimmer!

Lovely peaceful night was had without those crab apples falling and, refreshed from a decent night sleep, we were up early so Ian could get the car in for it's MOT by 8.30am. It wasn't long after he left that the sound of a lawn mower and strimmer could be heard. A sound both of us dread when the grass cutting crew arrive and, before I had a chance to get outside, the man with the mower had come and gone. Okay, I know they have a job to do and they must get very frustrated with all those moored boats. I suppose mowing next to the boat isn't too bad but as for the strimmer.... we do however object strongly to that! The chap had to stop when he saw me and I did ask him not to strim next to the boat. He complied with my wishes but said that next time, as it's the last cut of the season, he would have to do an edge to edge cut as it was C&RT's policy that it be done. So I told him in no uncertain terms, not if I have anything to do with it! It's the stones that are picked up and flung damaging the paintwork that we get annoyed at. The bloke said he was dammed if he did and dammed if he didn't. 'Like a double edged sword' says he. Anyway he went off down the line of boats without any thought of the consequences. I wonder if C&RT would carry on this practice if they got a hefty bill from us boaters due to a complete repaint because of the stone chips.

Ian phoned later to say the car had failed the MOT. A wheel bearing had gone and something to do with high carbon emissions. All to do with the Catalytic converter apparently. Would cost over £400 for a replacement or for £100 they could try cleaning it. Well no contest really, Ian said to go ahead with the clean and, as luck would have it, this procedure worked. A new bearing was also put on so we are now road worthy again.. Seems we will be here for another night after all. Mind you with the Rugby starting tonight at least we have a good TV signal. I'm not a big fan so will leave him to it and disappear to the bedroom to watch our small TV instead.

Did you know swans liked Crab Apples??? No neither did I until today.

Eyeing up the apple