After Daniel had reported a lack of attendance by our gardener at Paxton, we found out by telephone that he had been accepted at UEA for his Computer Science Degree. I worked on all evening servicing the boat and ran into great difficulty but I finished the job and then I stayed up and wrote up my logs and journals before turning in, very tired, at 11.00pm.
All the news is of the Iraq conflict and the UK and USA are out on a limb with their blockade until they can get UN backing. Bush warns that Iraq will be held responsible for the safety of US citizens.
We had another slow morning on with Di laying in and Della coming into my bunk to play before we could get going. After having my drinks, I enjoyed a shave, hair wash and bath in Heronshaw and then telephoned Daniel again after breakfast. He worried me again by reporting that he had seen no gardening activity and no writing in the gardening book. We set off to Wroxham for morning coffee and shopping. I had a melancholy interlude; a bit depressed about the non-performance of the gardener and concerned about Daniel's chances of getting into university with his low grades. Once back at the boat, I made some organising telephone calls and tried to arrange for an electrician to come and fix the thermo-stat on our immersion heater as well as get the forms for registering our "Jolly".
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It was the first day that Daniel could telephone the UEA with his marginal grades, but the telephone was so busy, he could not get through. I then settled down to do a major service on the Paxton Princess including an oil and filter change which is always very difficult. Later, I got Daniel to make one last try and, to our relief and delight, he found that his place at The University of East Anglia was confirmed! Diana had taken the girls out to the swimming pool, but I telephoned his grandparents so that they would be the first to know. When Di returned, she could hardly believe it and nearly cried with relief as she had been very worried. I worked on all evening servicing the boat and I ran into great difficulty changing the Port engine oil filter as usual but, with Di's help. I did it in the end. I had another bath to remove the oil and grime and, as the family went to their bunks, I stayed up and wrote up my logs and journals before turning in, very tired, at 11.00pm.
It was sunny for most of today but blustery and so quite cool. Rain came this evening for the second day running but it was hardly enough to make an impression. All the news is of the Iraq conflict and the UK and USA are out on a limb with their blockade until they can get UN backing. Bush warns that Iraq will be held responsible for the safety of US citizens.