Up to a considerable thaw on a much brighter and milder day and Jack came round and I took some addresses for following up on the Mr Lincoln incident. Off to the shops for materials, grocery, and some fried plaice for lunch and then I worked from mid-afternoon until bedtime on my projects and then had a hot bath and bedtime drink before falling asleep. Iraq's offer to withdraw "with conditions" is rejected as "a sham" by US President Bush.
We had quite a thaw on what proved to be a much brighter and milder day. A dredger had broken a channel along the dyke, and it was beginning to look much more hopeful that I would soon be able to get the Paxton Princess out. Jack came round this morning with names of a man in Racing Reach who had been complaining before about the activities of Mr Lincoln in avoiding planning constraints and that of the local councillor. I telephoned them both later and obtained a positive and helpful response and I will now have to write letters when I get back. I spent some time measuring up for the remaining materials needed to complete the garage work and listed other things I needed for the boat work.
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I went out to get them this morning as the shops would be closed tomorrow and it was also a chance to buy some nice fried plaice for lunch and then some grocery. I bought some large sections of timber for the garage floor and also to board up the sides of the drive to retain the raised levels I am intending to create. Then a complete length of 3/8in copper gas pipe and fittings to completely replace the existing 1/2in one. I could thus eliminate any junctions within the boat and ensure that the automatic gas shut-off valve operated in the gas well at the stern which is vented to the outside. I organised all this first by telephone and then placed the order for the new autopilot to be installed in about two weeks’ time. There then followed a hard-working session from mid-afternoon until bedtime where I stopped only once for some tea and to telephone home.
I disconnected the 1/2in gas pipe and replaced it with a continuous length of 3/8in, feeding it successfully through cupboards and panels and along bulkheads. I epoxied engine-overheat sensors to both engine blocks ready to connect them into the system next. The full system not only acts as an intruder alarm to deter people from breaking into the boat but also detects engine overheating, gas leaks, fires in the engine room and cabins and unusually high levels of bilge water both forward and aft. There is even an external loop alarm for threading through vulnerable items such as the dinghy and outboard motor. After another very tiring day, I went in to have a hot bath and bedtime drink before falling asleep. Iraq's offer to withdraw "with conditions" is rejected as "a sham" by US President Bush and the war goes on.