Dumped vegetation and power lost.

I hadn't noticed when we arrived at Sandiacre, call me unobservant if you like, but Ian was very annoyed at what had been left outside the side gate! From our bungalow, the gate leads out onto the path by the lock. The bywash is opposite and with the lock drawing water towards it, as well as the continuing flow coming down from Langleys 'feeder', all manner of stuff gets caught on the grill bars. It was very obvious from what Ian told me that the floating reeds and other vegetation had been pulled out and dumped by the gate blocking our access.

 He was not a happy bunny and would have had words with C&RT had I not seen them first walking along the towpath from the overflow bywash further along the canal. Collaring one of the team I asked why they had left it by our gate. It was then brought to my attention that it was most unusual for C&RT workforce to remove the stuff and leave it on the land as their policy these days was to flush it down the bywash instead of removing it. "Can't take it to the tip because of the expense and we are no longer allowed to spread it on farmers fields" was the reply. But the answer I didn't get was why then leave it lying below the hedges instead! Anyway, they were pretty decent about pulling the stuff away from the gate and leaving it slightly further along. The assurance was it would be removed as soon as a pickup truck was available. We will wait and see.

Thursday afternoon and all power were lost on FS. We had connected to the shoreline and wanting a shower I switched on the emersion heater. Ian then turned on the electric kettle and bread maker. Going outside I was in the process of washing FS's roof when I heard loud expletives from inside and I gathered that Ian was not best pleased with something. Soon found out what it was when he came out to inform me that there was no power getting to the boat sockets Out comes his tool (careful!!!!) one that when placed on a wire will light up if it's live. Power was getting into the control box and going into the inverter but from there on all was dead. Oh help...bread machine on with rapidly collapsing loaf, and worst of all my fridge had gone off and with the freezer full  But thankfully all was not lost as Ian plugged the bread machine directly into the mains and I kept the fridge and freezer doors firmly shut. It took 2 hours to fix as my man that can 'mister fix it himself', deduced that a fuse had blown in the inverter. To gain access the circuit board had to be removed which is why it took two hours!  Who in their right mind would put a fuse where it is almost impossible to get to?.

All those wires from the control panel. Good job Ian knows where they all go. But....oh no....Ahhhh just seen the dust!!!

The fuse was behind the circuit board.

Friday,

Had a lovely surprise from a couple off of Nb Dormouse. A knock on the cabin side and gentlemen who read this blog enquired on which camera I used for my wildlife photos. Well, I had to show him my Canon complete with 70-300mm lens. There ensued a discussion on the merits of this lens and I gave him the camera to feel it's weight. He had thoughts of going up to a 100-400mm lens but that makes the camera a lot heavier and not as easy to handle. I found out his name was Keith and his wife Jenny and it is almost a certainty that we will see them on the return from Langley Mill.

Saturday,

All day was spent looking at motorhomes. We now know what we want, narrowing our search to the Autocruise Starburst, Starspirit or Wentworth. Just need to find one at the right price!

And wildlife in the Derby Arm, a Rat and Kingfisher