42nd US President George H. W. Bush pledged to halve the budget deficit
42nd US President George H. W. Bush pledged to halve the budget deficit

On my second day aboard The Rolyat Princess, I enjoyed the convenience of the new Webasto heating controls     which warmed the boat for me in the morning and helped counter the very icy weather later. A day working aboard on the wiring and surveying the electrical equipment for safety and security of performance, stopping to enjoy a fine roast lunch in Wroxham and watching Norwich draw an exciting televised football match with Liverpool. Quite late to bed again on a very cold night during which I had to get up to get a hot-water bottle to keep warm.

U.S. President Bush announces budget plans intended to halve the deficit and arguments through Congress will centre on whether defence or welfare will be the main casualty and at least three American bases in the UK will close. More gales are forecast, and the blame is falling on the global warming effect.

I was pleased to have the new Webasto boat heating controls as I set the heating to come on at 8.00am and for the alarm to sound half an hour later. Had a breakfast of cereal with a cup of tea and then took some time to wash, dress, do the washing up and generally prepare for work. I inspected all the wiring that was directly connected to the ship's batteries, rather than being switched via the isolation switches. Having run out of tea bags as well, I changed and broke off for lunch, drove to Wroxham, bought my teabags and a Sunday Independent newspaper and then had a nice lunch at the Bridge Restaurant. I had Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding and a wide range of fresh vegetables which were each beautifully cooked to perfection. Home-made apple pie and whipped cream followed to complete a fine Sunday lunch.

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Back to the boat for more work and I watched Norwich draw an exciting televised football match with Liverpool, as I changed the water filter under the sink for our drinking water and then sorted out the electrical connections for the starboard domestic battery which had become detached when showing Daniel the other day. The rest of the evening, surveying much more of the electrical equipment and ascertaining how it was connected and fused in case of future faults or other difficulty when under-way. Quite late to bed again on a very cold night during which I had to get up to get a hot-water bottle to keep warm. In the morning, there was ice on the slipway to prove the point.

The news today is of the U.S. budget plans announced by President Bush intended to halve the deficit. This will lead to some cuts in expenditure and the arguments through Congress will centre on whether defence or welfare will be the main casualty. They will probably end up with a fudge as usual, promising spending reductions but ending up with the familiar overspending and deficit. At least three American bases in this country will close down anyway. More gales are forecast and the blame is falling on the global warming effect. Most unpleasant weather and concern for my trip to Wroxham tomorrow.