Cruising from Godmanchester to Waits Quay, St Ives, via Huntingdon on a blustery day and taking Daniel to an auction after enjoying our new efficient boat heating system and then getting supplies by dinghy before dinner in Floods Wine Bar as news of falling oil prices depress stocks and shares with IBM PC price cuts further lowering Hi-tech shares
After some early unsettlement, a comfortable night and I woke first and therefore put the kettle on and made some drinks. Della woke later, but surprisingly did not want a bottle straight away, but enjoyed the company and close attention. We have the boat heating on, but it is a fine sunny morning and it must be classed as a luxury. Turns to wash and dress and then all down to a breakfast of cereal and toast. After, the children out to play in the park and we establish that the list of forgotten things included Daniel’s coats and my socks and handkerchiefs. When ready, we all walked to Godmanchester shops, bought magazines, bread and carton milk to last us over the long Bank Holiday weekend. Back to The Lady and, stowing the dinghy safely on the davits, we cast off and lock through to the Huntingdon reach beyond. The weather is still blustery and we have to cope with it. Onward also through Hemingford lock and that complete, all four from St Neots that were set for us, which must be the first time ever. Onward to moor in our favourite place at the Waits Quay and time to spend an hour shopping before lunch.
I take Daniel to the auction and he is fascinated by the goods for sale, which include a CB radio. Unfortunately, the auction had just about finished, but I promised to bring him one Saturday during the school holidays. We rendezvous at the Cromwell Statue at 12.30pm and cross the road to have lunch at Tooks opposite. After, I make to catch the bus for Huntingdon and Hinchingbrooke antique fair, but the bus is 20 mins late and so change my mind. I buy two thermometers for The Lady before returning to find Daniel out in the dinghy. He takes me across to L H Jones boatyard and we buy 5 gallons of diesel and a hose reel for our water supplies. Safely back, I try out the hose, which reaches to the water tap without difficulty. We also adjust the outboard motor and make a great improvement. I rig up the dinghy as a sailing boat and take off, sail well reefed, for some sailing. I repeat the process later and successfully avoid any repetition of last times misfortune. Di and I change and we walk along to Flood’s Wine Bar and enjoy a fine evening meal and relaxation. Back to The Lady on a warm night to write up my journal and read the Guardian and this morning’s news. Overnight news of a nuclear recycling plant to be built at Dounreay – close to our forestry plantation in Caithness. Also of falling oil prices and cash calls depressing the stock exchange and IBM personal computer price cuts undermining further the hi-technology stocks. The weather ended the day bright and warm and our barometer rose to 1015.