Oops barely a week into the blog and I've missed a day. I had a long day yesterday ending in extreme frustration. The rewiring work I had just completed needed to be connected to the consumer unit. V straight forward. Mcb off connect wires mcb on .... nothing. Hmmm doesn't make sense so check with meter - volts on load side of mcb - 27????- off/on again volts 46 ?? I dont think the mcb had ever been switched off since new so it had decided to protest over the intrusion . It's in the bin now, I don't take that sort of insubordination lightly. New one works OK and all is fine and dandy.

Went to visit an old friend of my dads this morning. From our conversation I realised I hadn't talked to her for about 6 years. Her son and I were mates as kids so we had lots to chat about. Then she mentioned how sad it was my uncle dying last year. ( I've only had the one) Trouble was nobody had thought to mention it to me. (So now I have none, apparently. Nothing like a close knit family is there.)

Right I've done my four days hard graft, it's time to think about the boat again, off to swanage in the morning.

Is it me or does shopping take forever. I nipped out to the hardware store with a specific list of items all of which I found relatively easily, but it still took more than 2 hours. Am I in a timewarp? Talking of which, what does anyone think about the much publicised TV series Torchwood? I was expecting better, bad special effects, terrible storyline, and the acting's not much good either. "It's dark, wild and sexy" it says in the press release, well not for me. Adding swearing and sex to a kiddies storyline is a switch off from me.

All the family round for dinner this evening, followed by some photograph viewing.


Hounslow weather
A couple of showers this morning; otherwise, colder with sunny intervals
Max 15°C Maximum RealFeel® 12°C
RealFeel Shade® 12°C Winds W at 16kph [10 mph]
Wind Gusts 35kph [22 mph]
Thunderstorm Probability 4%
Amount of Precipitation 1.0 mm
Hours of Precipitation 1
Arthritis Index (0-10) 9

Today has just flown by. Did a bit on the upstairs ring main but needed some stuff from te builders merchant by the time I was on the way home thinking about lunch, I realised it was 4:40 and tea was next on the menu. I feel like time has cheated on me.

Hounslow weather 23/10/06
Mild with sunny periods Max 66°F
Winds S at 7mph [F2] Wind Gusts 16mph [F4]
Maximum UV 1
Thunderstorm Probability 4%
Amount of Precipitation 0.00 in Hours of Precipitation 0
Arthritis Index (0-10) 10

Elbow is real painful today which is a pity as I have to do some plastering soon, then it will be worse.

So much stuff! we have filled the previa twice with stuff from the boat and we still need a third journey today. Anyways everything should soon be dry and warm in storage. The boat new though it is is damp. After such a dry summer we haven't noticed any water getting in, but with the rain in the last few days it is now becoming apparent that rain water is coming in at a couple of points. The sail locker is one point of entry anything that gets in there goes straight down into the forward floatation chamber, not all that great huh. but we know what this one is and how to mend it. The other is proving more difficult to find. The water, only a small amount so far, drips down the centre of the master cabin locker door. On inspection today I found the roof lining forward of the windows is wet all across.so it may be the windows or where the baby forestay anchors on the deck. Tell you more when I find out which.


Swanage weather forecast Rain Max 16°C
Winds SSE at 14 mph
Wind Gusts 29 mph
Maximum UV 1
Thunderstorm Probability 12%
Amount of Precipitation 13.7 mm
Hours of Precipitation 9
Arthritis Index (0-10) 10


Had lunch at the Sailing Club to give us a chance to catch up with friends before setting off back to London. The weather forecast is spot on RAIN buckets of it. The M3 was a mass of spray but apart from being a bit slow it was a good trip back. Diwahli is very noisy up here, Fireworks going off all over the place despite the rain.