Ice Breaker – Update
Saturday 26 May to Monday 18 June 2012
This is a précis of what I intended to publish day by day.  Internet has been unavailable and a brainstorm occurred when I went up to London – I left my dongle behind so have had to get a new one.

Sundays I have continued to visit local churches and have been to services at St Martin’s Church in Welton, this was at Pentecost which is deemed to be the “birthday” of the Church, a traditional C of E service with the addition of champagne because it was the 90th birthday of one of the parishioners.  Next a Boaters’ Christian Fellowship service at the Crick Show, held in the Beer Tent while other show visitors were having breakfast.  Then a brief return to London for the annual St Columba’s Day service and Meeting of the Friends of the Church.  The last was the Braunston village church (called the Cathedral of the Canals).

While looking round the graves at Welton I noticed a very ornate one to Robert Francis Burton, who had served in the 102nd Regiment at Lucknow (relief, siege and capture) and various actions in Oudh.  Just nearby was a standard War Graves headstone (one of the white ones seen in Military cemeteries) to a Private T Wooton, Northamptonshire Regiment died 19th July 1917 aged 37.  Crick has the grave of George Smith, a Victorian who did a lot for getting child labour regulated and the children of boaters into schools (even if they didn’t like it!).  There was also another War Graves headstone to T Arthur who died 23 March 1919 and served in the Non Combatant Corps.  Braunston has a lot of boaters including the Nurser family.

The run up to Crick was uneventful with help going through the Watford Locks (seven locks with a flight of four in the middle).  Crick tunnel was also no problem with the new builders’ light on the roof – it means I can see properly.  It should be possible to moor at the back of the HGV park of Watford Gap Motorway service area, but I went past.

Crick show was over four days this year and numbers seem to be lower than other years.  Braidbar boats had a few of the Owners Group on hand to help - “Eleventh Heaven” (the Show Boat), “Shim Shams” and “Bunnies Warren” (their home is in the Marina) “New Dawn”, “Dolce Far Niente”, “Sanity Again”, “Just Siviting” (that is not a spelling mistake), “Cala”, “Priscilla”, “Briar Rose”, “Islay” and “Ice Breaker” (all moored along the canal) so a good turn-out.

As boats arrived time was spent getting them ready for interested parties to view them, cleaning paintwork, polishing the brass and coiling ropes.  Peter and Susan arrived on the Friday and the organisation of the Braidbar part of the show was soon under way; final cleaning of the show boat, both inside and out, and putting plastic runners over the carpets before people walk through, literature into gazebo and organising shifts.  The evening was spent in ‘The Moorings’ the local Pub/Restaurant for a meal (23 of us). 

Saturday usually seems to be for those who are serious about having a boat built, the weather was normal for Crick, it chucked it down!  The metal trackways put down for pedestrians and safety vehicles tried their best but had to be supplemented with bales of hay so it looked, and smelt, like a farmyard.  There were less Show visitors, due, no doubt, to parties and other functions at ‘home’.  On the Sunday I had visitors, but because of the lousy communications (although they sent 12 texts from within the show ground) we almost failed to meet up.  I also had time to wander round the show and bought a TV antenna and mast.  Tuesday was the last day, when again I had visitors, but this time managed to meet at the entrance.  The ‘Best in Show’ boat was announced, unfortunately not “Eleventh Heaven” which came second.

During the show Peter came onto the boat to sort out the stern gland which is leaking, and he’s shown me how to fix that, part of the cause is that I’ve managed to bend the tips of the propeller which is the cause of the judder I experience at certain revs so the boat needs to come out of the water which will be an opportunity to re-do the hull blacking.  He’s also measured the front doors as I want to replace the roller blind with infill boards, and he has measured for two cratch lockers to give extra storage and seating.

I have fixed the TV antenna and although not at full height and through trees have got a good signal.  Will from The Graphics Boat “Robyn” has fitted the Houdini hatches and Cratch with window film.
It has rained on and off all month – more on than off!
When I returned from London the footpaths were all dry but no surprise that didn’t last stayed on boat using computer as it was raining.  On the Wednesday I travelled down to Norton Junction on the way to Calcutt Marina to get the boat out of water.  Crick tunnel was cold and wet as usual and I had assistance through Watford Locks (they had seven boats going down and none up so traffic was controlled by lock-keepers).  Sun has shone all day and has cheered everything up.  Good TV signal so I’m pleased I can now keep up with the news! 

Continued to Braunston for the week-end, the tunnel and locks caused no problems.  The new light means that I can see in tunnels so have not hit the walls.  Friday I went to Daventry to see a company called Road-Pro, their gadgets look useful!!  Also in to Rugby to replace my “MiFi dongle” which I have left in St Columba’s (not back there until October)!  Expected to have to pay full price but I was allowed to upgrade, thanks to very helpful staff.  Hopefully from Monday will be able to use email again.

Saturday I spent day doing odd jobs on boat – it has rained all day, while I’ve been moored in Braunston “Priscilla”, “Islay”, “New Dawn” and “Eleventh Heaven” have moored and passed through.

Monday 18 June 2012 – Travelled to Calcutt Marina.  More fun with boat names – near Calcutt top lock were “Trespassers W” and “Pooh Sticks”.  Booked in at Marina Office and plugged into mains electricity so used the vacuum to clean the inside of the boat.  I am ready for tomorrow.