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Though we had shore power, the timer did not work so we had another cold start to the day as I studies navigation books and then worked on the boat whilst the girls went shopping, replacing an engine mounting nut, checking oil levels before we set of for the Waveney Inn (Burgh St Peter) for diesel and a pump out. The attendant and his father had never known a winter’s flood like last one with the shop under two feet of water for weeks. We cruised on to Brundall , moored at the shop and took the inflatable dinghy off to the pub and Daniel gave the girls exciting trips.
TV reception gave news of Gorbachev threatening to impose rule on Lithuania by intervention, Ulster "loyalists" protest against the visit of Republic of Ireland Prime Minister Charles Haughey to Belfast, the French have done a deal with the Libyan-backed Abu Nidal terrorists over the release and the worst floods for 40 years have hit Tasmania. 4,000 homes have been washed away and 52 people killed.
Though we now had shore power, the timer did not switch our heating on this morning for some reason. I was reading my navigation books both before and after breakfast and the subjects this time were buoys and lights. Then, whilst the girls went shopping, I worked on the boat for a couple of hours. I checked the oil levels and the engine outsides for fuel and oil leaks and then had to refit the nut to the starboard engine offside/rear mounting bolt which was a bit alarming. The lack of a grease gun meant that I had to leave the prop-shaft greasing until another time even though they say it is to be done every 10 hours running.
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On a cold and frosty morning, I was researching tides and tidal streams today before and after our trip go shopping in Beccles where we had coffee and buns at Tooks and I bought supplies for tea giving ‘piggy-backs’ to Della. The harbourmaster and I see this year’s exceptionally high-water levels as due to global warming.
We then moved to Oulton Broad, took the bus to Lowestoft for more shopping and a taxi back after tea at MacDonald’s before an earlier cold night but now with shore power available.
A late start for most of the family but I awoke early and read my books on tides and tidal streams until the others were about. It was cold again with lots of condensation on the windows to mop up. Once we got going, we went shopping in Beccles and had coffee and buns at Tooks. Then, Di went back to the boat and I stayed behind and bought the tea in the form of rolls, sliced ham and cheese etc whilst taking Della in and out of the shops by "piggyback". I then gathered the family together for lunch at the pub before we left the moorings. I could have sworn that one of the other people in there was an old flat-mate of mine from my Brighton student days - Willy Baird, an heir of the Irish building family - but I did not get a chance to approach him.
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The stiffening wind took away the bitter cold but still made the weather too cold for the girls to go across to the playground, particularly as Debbie had a very bad cough and was weak and tearful as we cruised on to Burgh St Peter. Daniel was at the helm as I spliced the ropes but then we found the indoor leisure centre pool and changing rooms too cold and Debbie coughing and crying so we cruised upstream afterwards to Beccles. Diana got cold and fed up with the weather this evening as I worked on my navigational studies.
The prison riots were spreading to jails other than Strangeways with a prisoner being found dead at Dartmoor after 100 prisoners barricading themselves into a wing. Two prison officers were injured at Bristol and there was also trouble at Leeds and Cardiff prisons as well
It was not quite so bitterly cold with the wind keeping the frost at bay at first but then we became quite chilled by the wind and wished it would go away. I would have happily stayed at Oulton Broad with the shore-power until the weather changed but the family wanted to move on as it was too cold for the girls to go across to the playground, particularly as Debbie had a very bad cough and was weak and tearful. We filled up with water and returned the power adaptor, secured all things on deck against the wind, and then cruised to Burgh St Peter. Daniel was at the helm as I spent time on the fender ropes and spliced them to the fenders in replacement of the rather un-seamanlike knots we had. Everyone was keen to go swimming at the indoor leisure centre but once there they found the pool chilly, the changing rooms cold with the girls arguing and Debbie coughing and crying and so I wished that they had taken my advice and stayed at Oulton.
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After a cold night, a windy day followed which developed into gales later, but the sun shone ad the boat soon warmed up at Burgh Castle. With everything folded down, we cleared St Olaves bridge as the tide was high with still 9 inches to spare, but then Somerleyton Swing Bridge opened to let us pass and we cruised on to Oulton Broad and moored up at the Yacht Station and shopped in the chandlery before visiting MacDonalds for tea. We all watched Perry Mason on the TV and then Diana's Hospital drama and Daniel actually achieved a couple of hours studying today
A cold night and windy day and gales later on. The sun shone, however, and the boat warmed up at Burgh Castle moorings in consequence. Di did a little shopping with Debbie and I mopped the boat. We set off upstream and had to fold everything down for St Olaves bridge as the tide was high. We still had 9 inches to spare with the gauge on 8ft 6ins which is encouraging for the Great Ouse. Onwards and relieved and fascinated to see Somerleyton Swing Bridge opening to let us pass.
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