On a very cool day with a hard frost, two walks for Sam today during which he seemed not very much under control. A chat with Arthur Edmunds about repairing the road and Jack who updated me about former flooding events.
My first meal of grouse shot my me on my Scottish estate which tasted good. I collected my Discovery from Mann Egerton which appeared to have been correctly repaired this time.
Word from Andy Carmichael who agreed with Dave Evans that we could park our Cambridge Street vehicles near to the sycamore tree which was a slight improvement.
The legendary Matt Busby, saviour and inspiration of Manchester United Football Club died today and the game will miss him. The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling for the replacement of Lord David Owen as their special mediator in Yugoslavia.
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The forecast was of milder weather coming but I still felt very cold today with a hard frost, much of the dykes frozen and a chill wind to greet me when I went out. At least the water level had continued to fall to give the access roads a chance. I was awake at 7.00am again and had a wash, shave and ate my breakfast before dressing up for Sam.
He had two straight-forward walks today and proved excitable and difficult to control. When I ran him across the fields, he went so far that I could barely see him and it reminded me of the time that I nearly lost a radio control plane under similar circumstances. He still comes back when called but just wants to roam widely when I cannot really say he is under control. Arthur Edmunds called me over on my way back and said that he is going to work out a quotation to fill in the ruts on the access track.
I was feeling tired this morning and, once I got in and had completed the washing up, I settled down to read the instructions on my burglar alarm and had some coffee later. Jack Edwards managed to find me at home around 11.30am and chatted to me for the best part of an hour about the history of flooding in the area and as to why we should not accept plans to improve the drainage of the marshland pastures as there will then not be the storage capacity in time of flood to keep the water from rising up to the bungalows. I gave him £10 for keeping his eye on the place whilst I had been away and, once he had gone,
I went in to prepare and cook a meal of roast grouse, parsnips and carrots which I thoroughly enjoyed for my pains. This was my first meal of grouse and the bird had been shot my me on my Scottish estate which made it taste even better! I had not really achieved very much so I got down to some work and tested out my new manual pump-out station. I used it to empty both of my holding tanks on the boat and then flushed them out and emptied them again. I set off for Norwich next to collect my Discovery which Mann Egerton appeared to have correctly repaired this time. I took Sam with me for the return trip as he had not had much attention and been confined to his run so as not to disturb my mole hunting.
The moles still escaped my attentions despite springing two of my three traps. I left him in my car on my return until I was ready to take him for a longish walk to make up for it all. The evening listening to my radio and commissioning my Harnser alarm system leaving only the pressure mats to do next time. My journal after a bath and bedtime snack of banana and fat-free Bournevita as usual. Another mountain of washing up this evening. I heard from Andy Carmichael this morning who had agreed with Dave Evans that we could park our Cambridge Street vehicles within seven metres of the sycamore tree which was a slight improvement.
I also briefed Nick Ettiene who should have updated our drawings accordingly and got Nigel to collect and deliver them. A call home to find the family well but Daniel's motherboard has still not arrived. The legendary Matt Busby, saviour and inspiration of Manchester United Football Club died today and the game will miss him. The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling for the replacement of Lord David Owen as their special mediator in Yugoslavia.