31st March 2007
Just about everyone seemed to be at Calcutt today, the car park was almost full but most people seemed happy to sit on their boats in the sunshine. We were tinkering again. I've cleaned out all the gungy water from the area under the engine. It's separate from the bilge and acts as a drip tray but I think fills up with water if the self draining channels can't take the rain. My sump emptying syringe seems to be too big to go down the dip stick hole. On the plus side I think the can I use to drain the sump on my Triumph Herald will fit under the engine and I've found the drain plug. Jo cleaned out the lights, 13 years of dead flies!!! We've also got a carpet for the lounge.
29th April 2007
Had another weekend on the boat, the plan was to change engine oil, oil filters (it's got two), fuel filter, air filter, start painting and hang up my new barometer.
We stopped at Bicester on the way and had lunch in the high street, bacon rolls and coffee! I realised I'd forgotten the tray I use for changing oil on the car. It doubles as a container to take the oil for re-cycling. Fortunately, the local car shop had one.
Off to the boat via the Calcutt office to hand over a copy of our insurance and BSS, bought some bio-magic to try and then to the boat. The next door neighbours (Pearl) had just arrived and decided to go for a quick cruise.
I got in the engine bay, Jo started on the roof. The new oil container wouldn't fit under the engine! After some thought I decided to use the bowl I'd brought to clean the paint brushes in, drain a bit at a time and empty the bowl into the container. Unfortunately, the oil drain plug was too big for my spanner, too awkward for the adjustable and I had forgotten the socket set. End of oil change.
Jo carried on painting, I poured some bio-magic down the loo, hung up the barometer (£3.50 from a charity shop) and fitted the cot end on the middle cabin bed (hopefully Grandkids will be on board soon). Son in Law is in the Army and off to Iraq in May for 7 months so I think we'll see quite a lot of daughter and Grandkids.
We went for a walk, had dinner, watched Dr Who and 'Allo 'Allo. We slept well.
At breakfast two ducks seemed to like us and kept staring in the window
Must be my cooking, Jo seems to like it.
The boat batteries are suffering with our pottering on the boat without going anywhere so we've asked Calcutt to fit a charger and all the electrical gubbins that go with it. Should be done by next visit.
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