‘Enjoying’ our visit to Ely as Daniella still suffers badly from her cold but Daniel does well when taken to the restaurant this evening after we moor at Clayhithe ready for the trip to Cambridge tomorrow but there was no news today due to the journalists strike
Another early awakening following an unsettled night for Daniella. Cool again this morning, but not as cold as yesterday. We try the heating again unsuccessfully and I determine that the remote power cable is to blame, by leading to a voltage drop. A brief chance for the children to play on the twenty pence swings in the wet grass and then we cast off and cruise the remaining stretch of the Old West River to Popes Corner and then the main river to Ely to arrive at 9.45am in a light shower. A little trouble finding somewhere to moor in a gusty wind, but then to the Ely town centre, where we divide for our shopping trip. Daniel & I to the chandlers, where I buy a new propeller for the outboard, some rond anchors and non-smoking stickers as well as some spares for the for’d sea toilet. Up to the market square and a slow walk along Market St to see the School House antique shop and then back via Cutlers ironmongers to the Market Square to meet the girls by appointment for lunch at 12.00noon. In the antique shop I was impressed by their 1610 and 1667 editions of Speed Maps of Huntingdonshire and also by a variety of prints of Ely, past and present. Ely has become my impression for the last refuge of the traditional ironmongers shops, there being two survivors. These days St Neots, Huntingdon and St Ives (in that order) have gradually closed them down or turned them into ‘improved’ self-service and pre-packed wonders.
We failed to find Daniel for lunch and so ate without him in the old café by Ely Cathedral. A difficult time with a wailing Daniella, now full of head cold, but time to enjoy their old fashioned low-chair for small children and the tea served in old silver plate sets, engraved ‘The Ely Central Café.’ These days most traditional tea shops have sold their plate to favour ironstone and the dishwasher and so it certain to make a pleasant change. To the boat in continuing drizzle and to meet Daniel en-route, who vociferously claims to have been in the Market Square at the appointed hour, but either he was late and dare not admit it, or was distracted by the shops and entered them at the key time. We stop at the Ely Marina water tap to fill up and then, not being able to find my item from the auction, take off for the Cam and a journey upstream. By now I had developed a fair headache and Dan & Di help for some time by steering the boat. One lock only and then we moor at the empty landing stage of the Bridge Inn at Clayhithe. We give the girls their tea, bathe them and then take Daniel as a special treat to the restaurant for dinner. Back to The Lady at dusk, but no TV news tonight because of the journalist’s one day strike and so only my journal and then to bed. The day ends with a cool breeze, but with sunshine and we hope for a fine day for our trip to Cambridge tomorrow. We conclude that Daniel did not behave too badly in the restaurant tonight and went to bed quietly and willingly afterwards, which bodes well for future opportunities.