Today I Have Mainly Been - -

Friday 27th January 2012.

Out collecting wood, British Waterways contractors had left a pile about 1 mile along the canal from the Marina, it was difficult to get to as it was on the opposite side to the towpath and the water wasn't very deep but persistence and the plank got the job done.

We Passed

Friday 20th January 2012.

Yesterday our Boat Safety examiner turned up and carried out his inspection of No Direction and it passed, I did have to have a quick fettle of the Alde Bubble tester on the gas system but once that was sorted everything else was ok.

If you need a reliable boat examiner in the Midlands/Staffs area then we can recommend Jeff Greatwood, he's based at Alrewas and his details are on the Boat Safety website or leave a message on 01283 790611.

I am writing this quick blog while sat in the car outside Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital having brought my mother here for an appointment to get her Knee's fixed, isn't mobile broadband brilliant, it doesn't seem that many years ago when I had an Amstrad with a green screen and programmes on cassette tapes.

Cycling Permit

Tuesday 17th January 2012.

Back in the late eighties/early nineties you were supposed to apply for a permit from British Waterways before cycling on the canal towpath, it cost £3, coloured green and white and was laminated so in didn't disintegrate when tied to your handlebars, I had one but didn't see many more around.

Looking through the Waterscape site recently I noticed that you still need one but now they are free and that you have to download and print them yourself, so that's what I've done.

So, if I spot Halfie or Jim riding their bikes on the towpath I will of course ask to see their permits.

38 Not Out

Saturday 14th January 2012.

On Monday 14th January 1974 at 2 o'clock we got married, that's 38 years ago today and to celebrate we are off for a short cruise towards Rugeley collecting the logs that the British Waterways contractors have left.

New Laptop

Thursday, 12th, January, 2012.

Our Laptop was over 4 years old, a long time in computer life and, was getting very slow, so we have bought a new one.

After a bit of research we decided on a Acer Aspire 5750 with i5 processor, so off we went to PC World at Burton upon Trent, they had a lower spec one with a i3 processor on display but told us that they didn't have any in stock and and couldn't say when new stock would arrive, so back into Lichfield.

What next, Jayne suggested Tesco's, it must be an age thing but I have difficulty with buying electrical things from what has always been to me, a grocery store, but they had the required model in stock and a choice of black or red.

So our old Acer Extensa 5210 has been pensioned off, the increase in speed is more than I had expected and the graphics are much better.

Fast Service and Other Things

Friday, 6th, January 2012.

You may have noticed (or not) we haven't blogged over the Christmas/New Year period that's because we hibernate and wake up when it,s all over.

So now it's Friday and time for another blog, Jayne has gone into Lichfield for lunch with a friend and left me to finish off the vegetable samosas for mine, but spicy food and Planet Rock on the Radio is heaven to me so don't worry.

With our boat approaching it's 4th birthday next month we needed a couple of warning stickers to comply with the B.B.S. inspection which it will need to pass, so Wednesday lunch time we ordered a set from the "The Graphics Boat", they arrived at the Marina Thursday morning, super fast service.

Jayne's been looking pleased with herself as she has got the next 12 months boat insurance for £69 less than last years and, with the same company.

Retro look radio, no, it's a Biscuit tin.

And the back of the tin.

The Biscuits were a Xmas gift from Paul and his wife who moor their boat Black Bart next to us, we were surprised when they gave us the biscuits as we only see them maybe once a month.