London Boat Show at Earls Court
London Boat Show at Earls Court

Steven Bloom called at 7.30am and we took my Range Rover down to Earls Court for the London Boat Show as the river flooded as predicted. A good day looking around the boats and equipment checking out navigation software, fridge installation and developments on electric boating before buying a Yeoman plotter.

London was in a state of alert today after an IRA bomb blast in Whitehall and the police were everywhere. Home late and tired after a long day of driving and walking

Had an early call this morning and was ready for Steven Bloom when he called at 7.30am. We took my Range Rover down to Earls Court where the boat show was occupying all the two large indoor exhibition areas, the new one of which has the largest unsupported span of roof in Europe. My Range Rover is now 5/6 years old and has been a good and faithful car, towing and transport vehicle. The design is ageless and the personalised registration - VXD1 - conceals its year of registration. We looked at some of the 37-42ft Fairline and Broom cruisers first of all and then roamed the hall once before coffee. Then we tackled my list of chores, visiting Harold Hayles to see about my cutters, P.C.Maritime to check on latest revisions of navigation software and maps and Penguin Marine to get information on fridge insulation before we stopped again for lunch.

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Chatted up a nice lady opposite from a GPS equipment stand during our snack meal who, though looking young, had daughters of 8 and 10 and a step-son only two years younger than her which was amusing. She had been put off of boating by her father shouting at her when young which was an object lesson for me. Less pressure this afternoon as we roamed and chatted to such people as Richard Allen from Buckden Marina, for instance. Liked the all-electric boats for possible future day-boat use, the design of the Beaux Bateaux Fairline derivative, bought a Yeoman chart plotter after much thought and many books and things whilst I was there. We ended up quite exhausted and then stopped at an Angus Steak House on the way home for a nice meal before getting back late after a terrific day. Unwound a little by reading the post and papers and then to bed. London was in a state of alert today after an IRA bomb blast in Whitehall and the police were everywhere.