Boating in the rain as we give up on Peacocks Auction in Bedford and lock down four locks to Barford and The Anchor Pub for the night as The City is watching interest rises, TV journalists plan to strike against government censorship next Wednesday and Bishop Tutu is outspoken on Apartheid
Was late to bed watching the nuclear war film, ‘Threads,’ about the city of Sheffield succumbing to the problems and aftermath of nuclear weapons. Diana was ratty about the lost sleep, but we were fine this morning after sleeping soundly through what time we had. Diana made the drinks and we then reverted to our, by now, normal boating routine. We kept Daniella happy whilst Diana got the boat and herself ready and I also started and ran The Lady’s engine to recharge the battery. All out together at 9.30am and, after crossing the town backwater by the Chinese Bridge, we went up Newnham Road to Peacocks the auctioneers. A good look around the general auction on its viewing day, but nothing we could not do without and so the family left me alone to the antiques auction, having just missed the opening of the refreshments room at 10.30am. A poor antiques auction with contemporary leather handbags, magazines etc., quite rightly going for nothing and the very few quality lots being very overbid by an unfortunately large public. I left in disappointment before the end and walked to WH Smiths to find a Financial Times. I then knew why the equities had moved up and the gilts down. The pound sterling was falling rapidly yesterday and interest rates on the money market creeping up. It still seems to have been a good decision to sell my longs yesterday and I may have avoided the whole ½ point that many of them lost at close of business.
To the Moat House Hotel next and, for the second day running, made use of their well-appointed public call booth to play back my answering machine remotely and answer many of the calls. Then to McDonalds by 12.00 noon for lunch with the family and back to The Lady in the rain. Far from being the dry day forecast, it rained for much of the day and was very heavy at times. They were right, however, about the wind and when we set off we had a right time struggling with the first lock and getting wet. Eventually we found a wider spot for our 10ft 4inch beam near the centre and dropped down past the ridiculous sill that spans the length of each side of the top. Onward through another 4 locks and I paid Daniel 50p each for a total of £2.50 for working them all. Diana tended the ropes and so I watched a series of 15-30 minute spells of the test match on the television at each. England had scored 230-odd by the day’s end, within 20-odd of the Australian 1st innings score, with only 3 wickets down. We moor up at The Anchor in Tempsford and, after giving the children their tea and tidying up, I adjust the shower and Diana, Daniel & I all have an invigorating spell beneath it with the water lovely and warm. It seems that 20 ridges is the optimum position for the mixer tap and so I leave it and use the pump master switch to pause the shower prior to each session. Diana & I then dress nicely and walk to The Anchor carvery for a fine meal – though we have to chase them a little for service on a busy night. Back to the boat after on a dry evening and we watch the TV news at 9.00pm. Main news is the escalating TV journalists strike planned for next Wednesday, with ITN now involved. More news on South Africa and Bishop Tutu is still being his outspoken self. The weather is now forecast drier, warm, but still cloudy and breezy for the weekend, but we shall see for ourselves!