Busy day, not much achieved.

Oh why oh why did we wait to paint the gunwale. Yesterday was a great day for painting and if it hadn't been for our wimpy dog a coat of lovely shiny black paint would now be adorning one side of the boat. Jade you have a lot to answer for and there will be no doggie treats for you today! Of course it had to rain this morning so jobs had to be found inside. Ian tinkered about with the engine and finally found the water leak on the engine cooling system. I baked a cake, walked Jade, and then went fishing.

Lovely quite moorings by bridge 9

 On the walk with Jade I came across a sorry sight. This derelict shack used to be occupied by a lovely older gentleman who we first met in 2006. On our very first trip out with Free Spirit we moored within yards of his establishment. He had no electric or running water but he loved his way of life. When we came past in 2010 a notice happened to be on his gate thanking all his friends for helping him throughout all the years he had lived there but he had been forced to leave his way of life and made to live in a home.

This used to be the entrance.

 Woods, canal and river were all his back garden. It take a certain type of person to cope without gas, electric or tap water but I for one can understand why he loved it. I have no idea what became of him. It wouldn't surprise me if he died of a broken heart.

A female Linnet was singing away in his back garden.

The warmer weather has brought the insects and bugs out. Yesterday it was a sort of Weevil (thanks Sue Indigo Dream) and today a moth on the cratch front window.

And finally, my total fish caught today............... 1