More problems on The Lady to fix but we survive overnight heavy rain and so leaks are not amongst them after my recent varnishing. Watching Frank Bruno knocked out on TV after a good fight and then back through Houghton and Hemmingford to arrive at The Waits in St Ives where we bought a new fridge but a family swim in St Ivo delayed its installation. Now India have withdrawn from The Commonwealth Games due to Thatcher’s obduracy.
Awoke at 4.00am to the sound of falling rain and went round the boat with a torch checking for leaks. There were remarkably few and so this first test of the season went well. Back to sleep again and then Di woke me with my morning tea much later. Up, washed and shaved in the confines of our small toilet and then joined the family for a breakfast of cereal in the saloon. At 9.30am Dan and I watched the Frank Bruno fight on TV, as the girls went shopping. A good fight, but he went down and out in the 11th round of 15.
Then all aboard and we set off downstream through Houghton and Hemingford locks, arriving at Waits Quay, St Ives, after lunch. The showers were heavy and alternated with hot sun and overcast humid heat, but the conditions did not affect us. We had lunch of sausages, beans and potatoes at Hemingford Lock and so were ready for the afternoon’s activities when we arrived at Waites Quay. Daniel and I set off in the Blue Peter dinghy for L H Jones and we bought a new fridge for The Lady. We also looked round the boats and, after Daniel insisted that the outboard motor was running out of fuel, I pulled over to the fuel jetty, but we could only get ½ pint of petrol in for 25 pence! Once back, the family insisted on a trip to the St Ivo Centre for a swim and so it was late afternoon when I finally settled down to starting the refrigerator installation. It went reasonably well and we had the new unit in and working by dusk, but the automatic lighting system is faulty and we will have to look at it again tomorrow. Late to bed, after our final hours cleaning up. News today was of India joining 1/3rd of the Commonwealth participants in withdrawing and they had the biggest team. The Edinburgh organisers are continually rescheduling the planned heats and it is a shame that the Games will be spoilt by the obduracy of Thatcher. Late to sleep, tired after my exertions and with still the water system and front toilet to fix, as well as the fridge lighter!