BBC pays a visit.

Slight change of plans to when we leave. No longer is it to be next weekend as the NHS has taken a hold of us again! Nothing serious but nevertheless a necessary visit. So maybe the beginning of March will be our new 'escape' date. In the meantime several things have occurred, one of which you may find welcoming.

 Remember the post back in December about restrictions to the residence during restoration work to expose the first lock on the Derby and Sandiacre canal? Well, the work to excavate the lock was changed from the beginning of December to February this year.  Ian popped down last week to see how far the dig had progressed and was pleasantly surprised to find most of the work completed. There had been one major setback though when a second sewage pipe was found. Only one had shown on the plans and unfortunately, the second pipe had been damaged during the work. So the expected works, which should have been finished within the week, ended up a tad longer than expected. With the brickwork exposed the Trust are now in the position to repair the lock walls and cill at a later date. A more detailed explanation can be read by visiting The Derby and Sandiacre web page  Maybe the canal WILL be finished in our cruising lifetime after all!

Then yesterday our Chairman, Norman (ECP&DA) had a message to say the BBC East Midland team wanted to take a trip on the societies workboat, Pentland, to see what sort of work the society was to undertake for C&RT. One of the first jobs is to replace the rubbing plates on the bottom gates of Eastwood lock. Today, then, bright and early Carolyn Moses (presenter) and Boris (cameraman) boarded Pentland and, accompanied by Roland, Mac, Mike and Norman, made the two-mile journey to Eastwood. Muggins here walked the route to take photos and I must say I only just kept ahead of Pentland as this workboat certainly had a good turn of speed. Considering she is nearly 40 years old and has a reconditioned engine, she's not doing badly!

Being filmed going through the swing bridge.

Into Langley Bridge Lock.

Norman posing for the camera

The plate is positioned

Carolyn Moses

 Hopefully East Midlands Today will show this on tonight's programme at 6.30pm and fingers, toes and anything else that can be crossed that no major news bulletin will take precedence over today's feature.  If it is shown then those not in this region can iplayer it at a later date.