Easy Wins, Monsoon February, an early engine service and Fast Freeze foolery.

 Hey up.

NOW that dry January is over,  a week into February I declared it to be known as 'Monsoon February.'  Having proven to myself I don't NEED a drink, I've pretty much let myself have one whenever I've fancied one of late - it's not helped with the weight control - ergo I've put on a couple of pounds of that stone I'd lost ... Still, it's not the end of the world and I've been continuing my daily walking routine.  I'd much rather be boating - even skippering helps keep the weight off but until we leave here in late March, I'll just have to rely on the walking.

I do admit to have been avoiding this place again - no particular reason other than just pottering along doing little jobs here and there.  It's very difficult to keep motivated at the moment - perhaps a little less so now we've had (as in the nation) a carrot dangled our way by Boris.  

I don't know if you're aware, but here in England (can't even say UK anymore thanks to Sturgeon and that Welsh chap) we're still in an open ended lockdown - which began 4/5th Jan and was suggested to be at least until 15th Feb... that slipped to an announcement being made on 22nd February about the "route out" of it. 

Long and short of it is, (and think playground here) IF we all behave like we are being told/ordered/guided - (pick your own synaptic) we MIGHT be let out to play - a bit at a time with a few key dates being suggested.... and that's the bit - they are SUGGESTIONS that can be changed to suit what ever the agenda of the day is at the time.   I'll just roll with it and take each day as it comes.  I have to say though, that this continued hysteria is grating now - more so with over 17million already been vaccinated.... I mean, if the whole point of crippling the economy was to "save the NHS" from being overloaded by covid patients, once the higher risks have been jabbed,  WHO are we protecting it from being overloaded by?   

If I were cynical, I might be inclined to think that a lot of people who have tasted "POWER" for the first real time in their lives have rather gotten to like it!

I'll say no more about it for now - point is, since I began typing this, we're probably closer to 18million folks protected by one of other of the vaccines which can ONLY BE GOOD news.  

SO then - 'Ellis's' winter works program has been continuing in fits and starts.  The exterior really does need some warm dry days so I can deal with touching up the paintwork here and there - AND the blacking needs tidying up down to the water line... much of last years NEW stuff, having been knocked off on the Llangollen I presume.

The grass at the back has been replaced with a ribbed rubber mat which I'd ordered from Ebay on a 'click and collect' basis to a pick up point a mile away... suffice to say, 5 m x1.2m rubber matting is VERY heavy!!!

There was enough on the roll to cut a spare for the  counter, replace the grass in the well deck too and also make a few 'mats' to go under coal bags on the roof.  All in all, a good value easy win.  

I've sika-flexed it to the weed hatch cover so it doesn't blow away but lifts up on the hinges for access... a lesson learned there losing a previous matting during high wind in Granary Wharf Leeds.

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Since I was last here, Winter briefly made herself known and one morning (sods law some ginger idiot  the Capt. had let the fire die down too much overnight) it was  down to Minus 6.2 outside and only 15.3 indoors!

It looks nice I'll grant you but the problem with being frozen in is - when the winds blow and the boat moves around a bit on it's ropes, you end up slamming into the ice around it which is both noisy and disconcerting during the night.  I DID have a brain wave on the 2nd day of the freeze to run the engine in gear (reverse) for half an hour whilst tied up...my thinking being that the friction of the prop on the water would generate HEAT, pushing warm water under the boat to the front and thus melting a decent area around the hull - it worked too.  The result being a more comfortable night's sleep... until it froze back over again and the cycle needed repeating the next day.

JOB wise,  I've had a squeaking floor board outside the crew loo... you don't notice it until you reverse in during a middle of the night wee ... but it's very difficult to avoid and like most noises in the night, seemed really loud.

The solution was to take up the oak floor, cut a hole in the subfloor and then brace it... simple but effective and squeak is now totally cured.  WHAT took 5 seconds to type however, in true Ginger style, took most of an afternoon!

I did take a video clip of before and after but can't for the life of me find it now - trust me, it's sorted though.

Another easy win was the remote inverter switch - I'd bought one when I got the inverter eons ago... it had been 'filed' away somewhere...  well, whilst servicing the engine, I found it (whilst looking for an oil filter)...  Alas, having fitted it, I discovered that 4 years stored in an (un airtight) box in the engine hole isn't conducive to working operation of delicate electronics .

The "on" switch element works fine but the "power save" side didn't... so I took it apart, sanded down the connections and briefly brought it back to life... I say briefly as within a couple of days it had stopped working again... SO a replacement has been ordered from Photonic Universe (now only 14 quid - twas 29 when I bought the first one)

The reason for fitting it now was because (if you cast your mind back to the new fridge freezer installation) when we are away from shoreline, the inverter needs turning off on a night before bed and back on first thing... mainly because 'something' in the fridge wouldn't let it go onto power save mode... ahem, well... I might have found what that was.  You see, INSIDE the fridge is a button ... on or off...  I presumed it was power on off ... well,  For some or other reason the other day, I opened the fridge from the 'wrong side' and noticed a label ... THIS label .

In layman's terms - the ginger idiot installer had had (good English) the thing on FAST FREEZE since it was fitted.  NO WONDER the inverter couldn't go on to power save mode!

Idiot!

ANYWAY - Having disconnected from the mains power, turned off the fast freeze and "waited" - sure enough the power save mode kicked in and the inverter went from drawing 5 or so amps down to 2.  Ergo, the batteries MIGHT last another year after all.  Time till tell on that one as it's an expense I can really do without right now.

So, when the replacement switch arrives, I'll remove the old one, wire it in and then have the convenience of not having to open my tool cupboard to control the inverter.  Simple things bring so much pleasure sometimes.

I mentioned a few paragraphs back  I'd done an early engine  service - 125 hours early to be exact but not without good reason... you see, last time an oil change had been due I'd not been able to get hold of the right stuff so 'made do' with an api sf grade instead of the cc it SHOULD have.  The result being a bit of white smoke on start up ... NOT the end of the world, but this engine needs to be in tip top order given all I ask of i so having now picked up a few containers of the proper stuff , it seemed a good idea to do a pre-season service.  

I'm very pleased with the compatible diesel filters I've sourced instead of the engines plus ones...  they are  26 quid a pop whereas when buying a few, I think they are now coming in circa 12 quid each.  Result!  I've also FINALLY found an oil filter too to use in place of the deadong ones...  not such a saving (circa 5 quid cheaper) and on handling them, I noticed they are WAY lighter... so much so, I actually put them on the scales... the "proper one" being 15 oz and the compatible one only 11 - on that basis, I think I'll stick to the "proper ones"...for the sake of a fiver, I'd rather know the engine was getting  the clean oil it deservves.

Until next time...

TV woes, Scratch removal and 'Heath Robinson' foot rests.

 A while back , I mentioned I'd been having TV problems - to be more accurate, a certain fat arsed ginger person slightly clumsy Capt. scratched a big mark down the middle of the screen with his floaty key ring whilst a little bitt worse for wear. during high-seas.  The result being whilst watchable still, it was blooming irritating.

So, I took a deep breath and logged into Amazon to source a replacement.  I'd heard about the new generation of Cello 12v tvs that NOW include a built in battery pack - the theory being they charge up during the day from the solar panels/engine running and then can provide between 6-10 hours viewing from the internal battery.  This seems a very good idea for a boat.  

Having found the closest size model to the existing one (so it would fit in then 2nd generation tv cabinet I made) it was ordered to be delivered to a hub at a local shop... I say local, it's about half a mile a way on foot - far enough away to be a pain in the bum carrying a big box.  No matter, it came next day  but on opening it, I discovered it appeared to be an already returned  item.  Not TOO deterred, I began the assembly instructions (which included taking the back off and connecting up the internal battery) - only t find this had already been done.

IT wasn't the end of the world but I did feel a bit irked at being sold a 2nd hand item without a discount... ergo, I got on the phone (well that was the plan but it turned into an online web chat) with Amazon and after a while, they offered a partial refund.  FINE .

OR at least I thought it was fine...  NEXT evening (after leaving it plugged in all day to charge) I tried it out on the battery...  it lasted all of 12 mins before going off.

BACK on line with Amazon I asked for a replacement battery pack - assumingly (wrongly ) that it was faulty...  Their reply was far from helpful... "send the telly back" was the only option.  BUT they can't collect from a hub only HOME address - very helpful with me in Manchester and that being in Wakefield...

Anyway -I tried charging it again and then spotted the voltage on the battery being 12.8... the charger supplied being only 12v.  THEN it clicked... you can't charge a 12.8v battery with a 12 v charger... you need a higher voltage.  Having now decided it was the wrong charger, I got on the phone to Cello in Bishop Auckland and they couldn't have been more helpful.  The lady explaining it should have been an 18v one... AND she could send me one to the marina here.

Armed with that information, I got BACK on to Amazon to explain I'd like to try and keep the TV once I have the correct charger (having already tested out the theory by bastardizing my jumpstart thing which has outputs from 12 - 22 volts... and finding it worked to charge the battery).

Amazon were not keen to help with the supply/cost of the correct charger - after many different people joining the support chat however, they finally agreed another partial refund and I could keep the tv.  IT took 3 hours of circular conversations but we finally got there in the end - AND once Cello had posted the right charger, the TV is now operational.  It's not perfect though as despite what the manual says about it having a headphone out socket (to connect to a sound bar) it doesn't have one... I can get around that in due course with a soldering iron and 3.5mm socket when it arrives from ebay.  It also doesn't have a dvd player built in (like the old one did) but it does have built in Satellite decoder - although I don't have  a dish (or plan having one)...  swings and round abouts spring to mind lol.

Moving on from the telly faff, I've been meaning for a while to get around to doing something about some scratches a guest skipper made down the starboard side last year...  it's hard to tell from the photos unless you zoom in, but there are quite a few.  I'd half a plan just to repaint (it's still on the cards for next year) but thought it worth a go with the scratch remover and polish first.

I've never been afraid of hard work polishing...  not so keen however doing it whilst dangling from the gunwales... a couple of close calls but luckily no 'winter bath' on this occasion.  

The result isn't bad - I will come to regret using a silicone based polish when I come to repaint (it'll mean having to really rub it down or the new paint won't stick) but it has made a massive difference to appearance .  More noticeable when it rains (which btw, it does a lot in Manchester)...  you can see how nicely the polished side beads the water compared to the other...  I'm almost inspired to have another go at it next time the rain stops for a few hours to build up a better shine.

Of course NOW I need to do the port side too... which is TOTALLY dangling over the water unless I take the boat along side elsewhere to do it... which tbf, I probably will... WHEN this next bit of bad weather is over... it's hammering down now with weather warnings for the next week or so.

In other news, the 10mm ribbed steel bar I'd ordered from Ebay arrived the other week and I did a little sketch of the bends I 'd like in it and asked Mal at the marina if he'd do it (for a fee).  Having tried, we decided to modify the design away from a 45 degree at one end and 90 at the other, to 2, 90s.  In principle this worked fine... but even when trimmed down, the resultant 'step' was too wobbly to be safely used as a foot rest.

I put my thinking head on and the easiest solution (if a bit crude/Heath-Robinson) was to cut a couple of wooden blocks and attach them to act as stabilizers.

They do the job and whilst a bit crude - given they are screwed on from behind, SHOULD be strong enough to take quite a hammering...  I'll have more of a think about a better solution over the summer... we'll see how they pan out.  Point is, they are at least usable... and once I tidy up the rear with a few more coats of dark grey they shouldn't stand out TOO Much.

Until next time...

Internal Painting, Statistics, Apathy & foregiveness

 I know I know... I've gone quiet again.

It's hardly surprising to be honest - It's that time of year when (if you've not got the money to get on with bigger projects), you have to modify your plans and do crappy little jobs around the boat which offer little in the way of reward or enthusiasm. Add to that, Dry January, DIET January and a global pandemic and you've got the perfect 'apathetic storm'.  In short - I'm struggling with motivation.

That said, I AM still dragging my reluctant ginger wobbly bum out of bed every morning by 7am and walking 10 -12 miles come rain or snow (notice the absence of shine)!  It's very dull - my routes not even varying that much as I need to include a return trip to the boat 'mid-walk' to have a wee - 5-6 miles being my optimum walking distance between tinkles.  hmff.  Still, I AM doing it and as such getting some daylight in the morning which is apparently the best time to get it.  I'm not convinced.  No matter.... I'm doing it regardless.  I was talking with my dad the other day and even HE is struggling this year - given all the crap he's endured in the last few years (deaths door, being mum's carer and then bereavement)  his 'reserves' must be about depleted too.  It's rotten and there isn't anything I can do about it -  Still, apart from a couple of "snow days" as he called them, he's a stubborn committed and self motivating sort and is somehow managing to get on with things.   I 'm quite like my dad.

Whilst chatting with him, we actually touched on a few areas of 'life' we'd normally skirt around - relationships.  When mum was alive, we used to chat a lot on the phone and pretty much could talk about anything... occasional filters applied on both ends of the line but generally most things could be openly discussed.  Then,  if she deemed it necessary, she'd update dad in her way - to illicit the least reactionary response.  I'm not writing this well - what I'm trying to get across is that if there was an area of conversational topic that HE might be uncomfortable in talking about/knowing, she'd somehow manage to broach it, discuss it and get a resolution with the least amount (well to my knowledge) of resistance.

Now the 'mum translation tool' isn't available, dad just has to get the un-filtered version and deal with it... and you know what? - turns out he can. Perhaps I'd underestimated how progressive thinking he can be and his ability to adapt and move with the times.  HE clearly has hidden depths I've never given him credit for... it turns out parents are rarely what you think they are and from talking with friends, the older WE get, the more open we are to actually getting to know them. 

I'm wandering off again - sorry.   BACK to the chat with dad ... I asked him what (elephant in the room) a side, what is getting him down.  The number 1 thing, has turned out to be my niece and her boyfriend - who (whom?) after more years together than I can remember exactly, have agreed to go their separate ways...  Dad is really sad about that as this chap was a really good influence on her, a very kind and tolerant chap and it was his father (the retired vicar) who presided at mums funeral... in short - a good fit.  He then went on to say that he was also sad last year when Andy and I split - even going as far as saying how much he liked Andy and that he'd been a good fit too.  He paused himself then and said that whilst not knowing the cause of our split (I've never really filled him in on the background to our split - there's no point) but said I hope you can forgive him.  That lead nicely on to me updating him with the news that the house  purchase Andy had been 'mid-buy' for months had finally just gone through and that I'd sent him a card/bottle as a ' good luck in your new life ' sentiment... poor chap being in limbo since he left really.  Whilst where we both are now is not what I'd ever wanted,  I have to accept it, forgive any trespasses against us (very 'Lord's Prayer' I know) and move forward.  Dad was approving of this and then we went on with the discussion about people who  bear grudges spending their entire lives miserable  - the only ones losing out being themselves... we even touched on Christianity and agreed we both lead good Christian lives but without the 'God bothering'.    

All in all it was a 'good' chat.

REWIND a bit to "wobbly ginger bums"  - since I Was last here, I've had the 3rd week diet weigh in...  Results were:

13 stone 2 & 1/8th - ergo, that's 1 stone and 4/8ths in 3 weeks.. I'm very pleased with that but boy it's been a struggle.  I'm hungry from about 6pm until bedtime... I managed all day ok - but back in the confines of the boat, fire blazing and bugger all on telly worth watching, my brain kicks in to 'feed me' mode - (think Audrey 2 off  'Little shop of horrors').  

I realize photos of scales are very boring but let's face it, you're in lockdown too so have bugger all better to do either! 😃

SINCE then (it was Friday - today is Wednesday) I've totally stalled again... hmmmf...  I'm gonna have to walk a whole lot more today and tomorrow if I've a chance to move an ounce!

 . . . . . . . . . . . . 

You'll recall the next cheap job on my list was to tidy up the rear steps.  Last winter I painted them grey but they've been impossible to keep looking clean due to the non-slip granules in the paint.  THIS years plan was to change the grey to black.  Whilst I was doing it, it also occurred that the cupboard doors either side - despite being sanded back and varnished umpteen times LAST winter, were looking rough again.  It's to be expected I suppose... a side from the fact everyone brushes past them when entering/exiting the boat, when it rains and the hatch is open (guests often stand in that space when it's raining), they get a lot of rain slashing on them - the waterborne Morrells simply NOT really the right topical application for such an environment.  Solution? - MORE grey Gloss paint (left overs from painting the shutters last winter)

I have (since taking these photos) also painted the bottom panels and it's given the area a much needed lift - at some point, the wood panel on the hatch will also get a coat - probably white though as it's quite a dark area.   really need to fit a runner of sorts to it too as despite regularly waxing the aluminum strips outside, it IS quite difficult to open.

ALSO whilst avoiding rain showers outside,  I had a brainwave to cover the foam "spacers" I've been using at the foot of the mattress in the guest cabin - there is a small gap between the bottom section of the mattress and the cabin wall - most folks don't notice it but I do ... it' means the 2 mattress sections can slip apart and a gap appears.  In a bid to stop this, last year I cut a couple of bits of blue foam  and have been wedging them down the gap to stop movement.  It works well but looks are bit rough - well more rough than the rest of the cabin does...  SO, with left over material from the dinette cushions that my friend made for me last winter, I had another go at sewing.  LUCKILY you can't see the results but (whilst a little amateur) it's better than nothing and much nicer looking than a bit of foam wedged in a hole.

At some point, I'll make (or ask someone who has such skills) a couple more removable covers.

Talking (well writing) about covers, the ones in the dinette that were made last year rather beautifully by Denise, were beginning to bobble a bit - she did tell me I'd bought the wrong kind of fabric (again) and to be fair, they've been through the wash a fair few times so it's only to be expected.  I got to thinking of ways to rejuvenate them - and ping... a 'blast from the past' came into my head ... I HAD been picking off the bobbles by hand when I remembered "The Remington Fuzz-away"...  a quick google had me with today's JML type equivalent being ordered off  Ebay.

Anyway - half an hour's shaving and 2 sets of AA batteries later, they are like new again.... I'll get another year from them now I'm sure.

Right - I suppose I had better get out on my walk before the rain starts again.

Until next time...

Why are 'dates' so significant? - stalled dieting (it must be hormonal) and tlc.

 I'll get this out of the way - I've been watching the calendar creep  up slowly to today's date - (14th)... it's the 2nd anniversary of Joyce's death.   I presume my brother and father have been doing the same... and probably her brother too (I suppose I could have just said 'other members of my family) ... I can't believe it's 2 years already... it certainly doesn't feel like 2 years have passed.  I still quite often make mental notes to phone her about something that's just happened/or is planed "later" - only to be jerked back to reality.  Most odd.  I'm no further down the road of understanding grief - all that 'five stages' stuff and it being fluid etc. perhaps finally making a little  more sense but not in a useful way.  It does annoy me that my dreams vary from back in the family home as a child to those of an crematorium worker (no idea what their job title is) who's having trouble getting the 'oven' (for want of a better term) to light.... MOST odd... Anyway -  mum, if you are reading this waffle, just know that dad is lonely but managing and (as you know) remains just as stubborn but selfless as ever... you've also missed nothing by dying as last year was a total bummer for everyone and this year isn't looking much better either! x  

, , , , , , , , 

I'm approaching my 2nd 'weights and measures' day tomorrow and (me being me) couldn't resist a quick early viewing... I wish I hadn't - I'm stalled completely... ergo, I've not budged an ounce in 6 days now - unless today is some kind of miracle, when I write down the figs tomorrow, they are going to be exactly the same.  No Ok - I've NOT just been drinking the slop - I've been having 2 meals of slop during the day followed by a nice tea.  Perhaps I've skipped the 'losing' stages and gone straight to 'maintenance' - hmmf.

It might

 be a portion control  that's to blame - but I can't sleep when I'm hungry so unless I go to bed, half an hour after I've eaten tea (that's dinner/supper to you southern folks), I lay away feeling miserable... ADD Dry January to the mix and it's a pretty long night!

Oh well - perhaps if I'd measured thighs, belly and boobs I might have a hidden reduction... I suppose I'll never know .... what I DO know is that I too can be a stubborn bugger (like my dad) and will keep at the regime and see what the end of week 3 brings in 8 days time.  My liver if nothing else will be pleased with the break from gin.

MID January is a miserable time for everyone - the 'news' (if you can call it that) - most of it's lazy reporting about bugger all... making a fuss cause Boris went 7 miles away from home on a bike ride...- Radio 2 even debating it on their lunchtime show (which I generally turn off cause it really does let the whole schedule down)...  Anyone over the age of 4 who's ever ridden a bike - certainly for exercise knows you can cover 50+ miles quite easily.  My "walking" is quite often 7 miles away from the boat in one direction before I turn back.    Poor news (or lack of news) reporting really is diluting the reputation of the beeb which is a shame.  

The weather is crap, lots of people have historical family deaths in their minds and daylight is severely lacking... add covid into the mix and I'm surprised folks aren't jumping in front of trains! - perhaps they might be, were we not 'locked down' !

Still, there is a little light at the end of the tunnel (although it feels like Harecastle with the doors shut behind us at the moment)  with vaccinations... delivery of them still a concern but things can only get better... surely!

When the weather permits, I'm still out walking 10-14 miles a day... alas, I'm not good a walking in the rain.  RAIN does mean however, that I feel obliged to do "inside jobs" - Yesterday, I gave the bulkhead above the bathroom basin and hull sides a bit of TLC.  The wood was looking a bit tarnished with 'splash marks' so I sanded it down and gave it 3 coats of morrells - it's hard to see from the photos, but it has made a big difference. 

 Today, (it's hammering down again) the walking might get skipped or reduced to 5 miles) I might do the ceiling as that is looking worse for wear too.

After that, I'll turn my attention to the rear steps - which you'll recall last winter I painted Grey - well, what with the 'non-slip' granules, they've proven VERY hard to keep clean - ego, they are now going to be painted black so the foot fall doesn't show quite so much.

Until next time...

TV troubles, website still sulking and Dry January endures...oh and I Do miss having a vice!

 It's true - most of my life I've had a place where I could either clamp a vice to (easily) or access to one without TOO long a journey...  These days, now I'm not working in the fairground unit and no longer have my own garage, it's one of those things I set out to buy... then remember a) a nice  good one will be expensive/big/heavy b) Trying to find a home for it on the boat will be a pain, c) I  in theory  I don't REALLY need one -  MOST of the time that's true but trust me... I've lost count of the amount of times doing a 'little job' (that's turned into bigger one or a repair from something I broke during the little one) I think "THIS would be SO Much easier with a vice"...

Why am I waffling on about this? - I'll explain.   Outside at the back of the boat, I've got 4 folding steps that I use to climb up on the roof or get a higher view point - the higher view point being needed when the flowers on the roof grow taller than my line of sight.   They are also useful as a foot rest when chugging along in a seated position.

It's been suggested by a few guests - generally ones with shorter legs, that some kind of  longer foot rest might be helpful for them.  EVER the amenable host *read don't have much cash but have plenty of time atm*,  I've come up with a simple and (more importantly) economic solution to the problem;  10mm reinforced steel bar between to two rests either side. 

BACK in fairground days this would have been a 2 min, easy fix... for free - in any workshop there is always a pile of left over bits of steel/wood etc. that has NO cost associated to it directly as it's already been paid for during whatever 'build' it related to - I'd simply ask my boss if it was ok (and I always did btw ... ask the boss) and then cobble something together using scrap.   

These days it's not so easy - especially NOW that we're all back in 'Lock down' again (I'll moan about that later) .    In a bid to get this done however, I was chatting with the accounts manager at the marina I'm temporarily trapped in the other day and she mentioned they had a vice (of course really) in their back room.  Thing is - I understand 'business is business' and whilst perfectly capable of heating and bending a bit of steel bar to requirements .... well it's just not 'cricket' is it? THEY have to earn a living too.    I know they'd' be perfectly willing to get a couple of lengths of bar and do it but in an attempt to be helpful, I've ordered some from eBay (grand total of a tenner) that will be delivered to a 'click and collect' point about a mile away and I feel sure they will bend it for a few beer tokens.  I'll report back when it's done.

That was a lot of waffle to say "I'm making a couple of simple foot rests for the back of the boat" wasn't it? - hmmm!  MIND you, I suppose with us all in the same boat (no pun) in regards 2021's National lock down, I suppose it doesn't matter.

We're 10 days in to January now and of course that means I've not had a gin for (what feels like months) 10 days now...  ODDLY, for a change I'm not missing it. I don't generally do Dry January AND a starvation diet at the same time.  This year, given how tubby I've become (starting weight 14 stone 2 and 5/8ths - don't you  just love accurate scales?) SOMETHING had to be done.

The thing is, because I'm SO SO SO SO SO hungry all the time (my belly tells me every 2 hours it needs something to do), I've sort of forgotten that I'm missing having a drink  - the hunger pangs 'top-trumping' the booze cravings I suppose.  

My Body fat % WASN'T as high as I expected it to be - 22% ... ANYWAY - after a week of drinking vanilla creosote (Thank you Ms. Wood Rip) I'm down to 13 stone 7 and 1/4. - a 9lb loss in week one which I'm very pleased about.   

The scales ALSO keep track of Water %, BMI and Muscle %. so I'm making sure the water stays level (well actually it's gone up a bit cause I'm drinking GALLONS daily ), muscle increases and BMI goes down... ALL of which are on track  - I'm not naïve enough to think I can maintain this loss however...  no - IF I can shift another 3-4 lbs in week 2 I'll be very pleased but not disillusioned if it's less ... my aim is for the 1st stone to be off by the end of Jan.  Historically, I COULD lose weight faster - alas, my exercise at the moment is restricted to 10 miles a day walking... my knees/back won't take any more vigorous punishment.  IN fact, if I'm honest, they are already grumbling a fair bit as it is!

82.96 miles up until last night since the 1st... not bad really.

Don't' worry btw- I'm not relying on the "slop" totally - having realized it's not a true ketogenic regime, I'm having some normal food each day too AND eating frozen grapes and honeydew melon as an evening treat.  

IN other news (this is a boaty blog apparently) - I'm still having problems with the website...  Since I clicked on something to do with dynamic pages when I tried creating a template for the 2022  cruise diary, every time I try and change something on the 2021 listings, it replicated throughout 22... it's proper pain in the arse and I only have myself to blame... Trying to be clever in the first place... I should have just stuck to solo pages and applied the KISS principle (Keep it simple stupid).  You live and learn - well except I don't... I keep repeating mistakes cause my memory is that of an old gimmer these days.

Whilst it's annoying, it doesn't really matter as I keep a manual record of who's booked for what etc - THAT said, with things as they are, folks are (understandably) reluctant to commit to much for the year ahead .... we may have 3 vaccines approved now but getting everyone jabbed is never going to be a quick process - especially given the lack of trust most folks have in the government's ability to do... ANYTHING.  Too much red tape as usual.   There HAS been talk about using dentists and pharmacists etc. which I think is great but I'd be happy to include VETS and not rule out famers!  Whatever  methods are employed it just needs to be as fast as possible if there is any hope of saving 100's of 1000's of businesses thus livelihoods from going down the pan.  

It's odd though - when Boris came on the telly box the other night and  kept his hands firmly gripped together whilst saying whatever it was he said,  a 2 month possible 3, national lock down was about to start,  my brain just thought 'oh well -' and that was that.  I think the term is brain-washing conditioning... January on a boat, unable to move easily, ALWAYS feels like a lockdown anyway... it's miserable for the most part.  OK, there are a few bright days when you actually FEEL like having a chug but for the most part, it's an endurance... ergo, a 'National Lockdown' doesn't really make bugger all difference - if anything, it just give folks who live in houses a feeling of what January CAN be like living on a boat lol... with exception they don't have to still fill up with water, empty their poo tanks and consider how much heating fuel you've got in.  That isn't a moan btw - even when I'm trudging along the towpath, trying to de-ice a frozen tap and hosepipe, I STILL love my life (and day dream of warmer days ahead)...  HAVING to try and get somewhere though on a deadline with Icy stretches really isn't nice.

This winter, with lockdown in place again,  CRT have suspended the 2 week ruling for continuous cruisers which is fair enough.  It's shame however there will always be the odd few that think THEY can stay on water points/service areas during this time - boaters on the whole being a good bunch, as in any facet of society, there'll always be a few that that take liberties and are inconsiderate towards others.

It's time to get my arse outside and do some walking - it IS getting boring but has to be done.

Remind me to explain about the TV trouble  when I'm next here as  I've run out of time this morning.

Until next time...