Nigel joining me for the trip to my Broubster estate in Caithness
Nigel joining me for the trip to my Broubster estate in Caithness

Spreading the last of the former dredgings and meeting up with the operator before leaving Heronshaw and then driving back via St Neots for a hair cut and to buy waterproofs before getting to Nigel in early evening for our drive to Scotland, with me working on the way as Nigel drove..

I had the curtains drawn wide so that I was awoken by the light of dawn at 5.00am. The day started cool and so I was able to work at a good rate, pausing to rest at regular intervals. I had imagined that the dredger driver would come at 8.00am, so I was determined to get as much done as possible by then. As it happened, he did not show and so, by the time I had to leave at lunchtime, I had cleared all of the mound left the last time. He then arrived which was the best of both worlds as I was able to discuss with him how I wanted the dredging to be done and, as I was leaving, I was pleased to see him active in the new boat dock, making it deeper.

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The journey home was delayed by some horrific road works at Thetford, but I heard from Nigel and put back our rendezvous until 5.30pm which gave me more time. I dropped off at St Neots for a hair cut and to buy some waterproofs for my Scottish trip and then packed up so as to get to Nigel's house by 6.00pm. Some minor panics getting everything ready to go and then we had a fast trip up north with Nigel at the wheel and me making telephone calls and typing up these last couple of days journal on my portable computer. We made it to Edinburgh by around 11.30pm and, after getting a bit lost on the ring-road, eventually found our intended Thistle Hotel who managed to put us up for the night. The rooms were expensive at £85, but they through in a nice Scottish breakfast for free and, after getting some rather small chicken sandwiches in the bar and a few drinks, we turned in.