Up to 18 November 2013

Friday 08 November 2013 - Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal

Over to the Kenyan Embassy to collect Jules’ passport and visa, then to Euston to get train tickets as I’m Jess sitting while Jules is away.  Then to Victoria to meet with Helene (a friend over from Spain).  While waiting I went to Platform 8 where the British Unknown Warrior was held overnight on his journey from France to Westminster Abbey.  Helene’s plane was running late so a rush to the hotel before changing to go to the Victory Services Club for the London Transport Old Comrades Association Annual Dinner.  Thoroughly enjoyable.

Saturday 09 November 2013 - Paddington

A day spent shopping in Oxford and Regent Streets.  Helene bought me the latest Terry Pratchett book (Raising Steam).  We took time to visit the Bomber Command Memorial (it is in Green Park but the quickest way to it is from Hyde Park Corner station).  Then in the evening we went off to see ‘The Mousetrap’, which has played every day (except Sundays) for sixty years.  They didn’t even have a break when they moved theatres or redid the scenery!!

Sunday 10 November 2013 - Cenotaph

Off to 55 Broadway (St James’s tube station) for breakfast and Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph.  It is an impressive event and this year it was reported that 10,000 were on parade, we seem to be going through a positive period after a few years of dwindling numbers.

Sunday 17 November 2013 - Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal

Off to St Columba’s for morning service – our new associate minister having her first go on her own.  There was a meeting of the Fabric Committee where we discussed improvements to the sound system ready for the Kirk Session next Friday.

Monday 18 November 2013 - Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal

A miserable day overcast and cold – I’ve caught bug so I have cried off the Mission Committee meeting that I should have gone to.

 

Monday 04 November 2013

Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal

Eviction Day!!  Travelled over to where I had been on Friday, arriving at about 10:00 (the time the tenants had been told the Bailiffs were due) but the house looked empty.  Waited until 12:30 when the locksmith and bailiffs were present then into the property and inspection.  Paperwork all signed off and locks changed then a full inspection by the Inventory office with pictures and a verbal record of damage.  Mostly it was holes in the walls where the various TVs had been and nails where pictures had been put although there were marks on most of the walls where furniture had been moved.

Then back to the boat.  The weather has been warm and sunny with no rain.

Sunday 03 November 2013

Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal

Today was a trip in to St Columba’s Church, Pont Street in Knightsbridge where I am an Elder.  Today was a special service as it was the service for a new Associate Minister (Reverend Andrea Price) as our last one (Reverend Alistair Cumming) had gone to be Secretary to the Presbytery of England.  Andrea has come down from the Orkneys so it is going to be a major change for her and her family.  There were a lot of ministers as we had the Moderator (Reverend James Dowswell), representatives of the Presbytery of England, the next Chaplain General to the Forces, and the Minister of Dunkeld Cathedral (Reverend Fraser Penny) all present.  Fraser ‘preached in’ Andrea as the introduction to the Congregation.  There is always a Sunday Lunch after the service and I ended up sitting at the same table as the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Afterwards it was a journey back to Uxbridge in sunshine.

Saturday 02 November 2013

Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal

Friday was a non-day as far as the boat is concerned.  I went off to ‘house-sit’ for the friend who is hoping to get re-possession but has to be away.  The Bailiffs are due on Monday and last time there was a cancellation letter delivered by hand late on the Friday before the Monday, so I was asked if I would stay in the house in case the same thing happened and notify them.  At about 14:00 the tenants started loading a van with furniture and when I was ready to go (after the latest that a court letter would be delivered) the van had gone.

Saturday was life in the marina – time to go for a pump-out and fill the water tank and generally tidy up.

Packet Boat Marina

Grand Union Canal – Thursday 31 October 2013

Forgot to say that on the way back from TNA on Tuesday I called in to Hammersmith to collect my second pair of spectacles and took the opportunity to visit the Bus Station staff.  While there one of the new ‘Boris Buses’ broke down blocking the entry ramp.  Obstructions like that require extra staff, so with permission I donned a HiVis vest and assisted by guiding incoming buses round it (they had to go over into the exit lane).  It took about 30 minutes before the bus would restart.  It felt quite like old times and I thanked the staff for laying on a broken bus just for me!

Today I had a run into town to go to the Kenyan Embassy to get an application form for an entry visa.  While standing and queuing we were all ordered to sit down as “people standing obstruct the entrance” (which was in a different room).  Anyway all safely got and sent off to Jules.

The weather is mixed with sunny patches then rain.