Not all plain sailing

Where to start???

1.   First, there were the mooring problems. Reed clearing went well but discovering massive boulders against the bank was a blow. Still not rectified although a solution was in the pipeline as C&RT had paid for a ton of sand and 100 Hession sacks so we could make sandbags to make a safe platform for the trade boats. Trevis Perkins was to be the suppliers but when we asked for delivery we were informed their delivery wagon had broken down and would not be repaired until after the bank holiday.
2.   All those no mooring signs and zone areas for the boats that had been shredded by mindless idiots all had to be replaced.
3.   Discovering that Dave with his historic boat Bath, instead of towing Chesterfields Cuckoo boat to Anchor bridge, wanted to breast up on the return with the band. This meant that all Ians mooring plans with boats three abreast went out of the window. This morning VERY EARLY Ian and I went down the towpath moving all the zone areas to increase the length of moorings. The boats now on F mooring will find themselves a lot further away from the site.
4.   Having ordered rosettes for the dog show weeks ago and started to panic on Monday that they still hadn't arrived, on sending a frantic email discovered that we had forgotten to send payment for the order. Quick bank transfer and the rosettes arrived first class today...phew!
5.   Our chairman Norman had placed an order for 100 blue rally plaques and 100 end of navigation plaques, 60 to be done in green and 40 a brass colour. The order arrived yesterday but....100 end of navigation plaques were all in blue and as for the rally plaques, well 60 were in green and 40 in brass! They were immediately sent back and now all we can hope is for a quick turn around to get them back for Friday.
6.   I spent days on writing labels to stick on the boaters packs such as boaters name, if they had ordered carvery, whether they had paid for wristband for the entertainment at night (those that paid for a mooring or paid to have a caravan on site got these thrown in but historic boats and trade boats had to purchase these as they attended the rally for free) if they had a dog for the dog show and those that didn't want a rally plaque (not everyone collects these). Started to stick them onto the bags only to discover the labels wouldn't stick to the 'bags for life' supplied by Asda. All had to be stuck on with sellotape which took forever!
7.   The skip for the boaters rubbish promised for today didn't arrive. Apparently, the hire company decided that the wouldn't be able to get the lorry through the gates. Our chairman then said that if a 60-ton crane and a low loader lorry carrying Pentland could get through, a lorry half the size of the loader would certainly fit! This is still to be resolved!  

  On a more positive note, the marquee is finished, lighting installed but no electrics as yet. Ian is trying to juggle two jobs, Harbour Master and Electrician both needing his full attention but not being able to give it. The bar is up and the donated wooden structure of a narrowboat named Argy Bargy (thankyou Swadlincote Museum) looks the bee's knees. The stage has been built for the entertainment and the PA system is set to arrive on Friday. Water has been laid on for the boaters below the lock (4 standpipes and thanks goes to KFC for this) and Asda has sent volunteer litter pickers to clean up the site and all along the towpath. So as you see, even though things have gone a bit pear-shaped, we are still feeling very positive that it will all come good in the end

No photos today but will post some tomorrow.