Monday 17th March
So what have I been doing these last few months. The honest answer is not a lot. I stopped myself from going stir-crazy by purchasing some Paint by Number kits, first a cottage scene and next a turtle, which eased the boredom somewhat. Also, many an hour was spent watching films on Amazon Prime and I binged watched Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Downton Abbey and Father Brown. How sad am I???
As for Ian, he has kept busy by getting the motorhome ready for our European tour in May, (more of that later) completely re-siliconing the shower, sink and toilet surrounds, polishing both sides of FS and with the weather improving earlier in February, taking the windows out, removing the rust surrounding the windows, treating with fertan, undercoating and finally replacing said windows with only the top coat of green to apply. (Temperatures have to rise sufficiently for that.)
Mid-February contractors to the Environment Agency arrived on their workboat. This email message arrived in my in box.
Maltby Land Surveys Ltd on behalf of the Environment Agency will be surveying the full 18km length of the Erewash Canal starting from Trent Lock on Monday 17th February, finishing at Langley Mill Lock on Friday 21st March.
During this time contractors will enter the canal using a small inflatable craft. Bankstaff will ensure that the towpath and navigation remain unrestricted.
Passing craft are asked to navigate the works location with caution and in single file. Towpath visitors should be aware of this increased activity.
Being the nosey cow I am, I sent Ian out to have a chat. He returned a shade bemused when told the plumbing of the depths had revealed no problems at all. In other words, there was no issue with boats grounding or scraping the bottom. Well, they obviously hadn't taken boats drafts into consideration, and I do wonder what they think is sufficient! We often scrap the bottom, FS's draft is 2' 5" and the historic boats moored at Langley are even deeper! Anyway, Ian said as much, but I very much doubt any dredging will happen any time soon!
With our European holiday coming up in May, the motorhome had to be in tip-top condition for the trip. This meant many a visit to a garage to check tyres, have its service, look at the timing belt, and make sure we are compliant with the emission laws. Then the MOT was due and all these tasks happened over several weeks. So I had to face my fear and get behind the wheel of our car to fetch Ian from the garage and follow him back to the storage yard. It was traumatic! He happened to book a time slot during the school run. OMG....talk about hair-raising! So glad to come out of that trip unscathed. Still, it did make it easier on the other driving occasions when the roads were quieter. I stupidly said that I may have a go driving the motorhome abroad seeing as the traffic is light and roads wider there, but then I remembered which side of the road Europeans drive on. Hmm...maybe I was a tad too hasty! Anyway, the motorhome sailed through its service and MOT. Tyres had an advisory on the rear, not because of the tread, but because they are 10 years old. The emissions have been checked and deemed okay and the timing belt was put on the back burner as to change it would mean the whole front of the vehicle would have to be removed. The mechanics at the garage said it would see us through another couple of years. Fingers crossed they are not just fobbing us off!
