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From St Ives to Godmanchester after a windy and rainy night as the Jumbo row developed into a war of words
A rough and windy night with torrential rain to start the morning. But with few leaks, we are very snug in The Lady and slept dry and content last night. Unfortunately, my thermometer (which had been left outside to record the overnight minimum temperature) was either stolen or more probably blown overboard by the stormy winds. We resolve to cruise straight home today but, after some good shopping in St. Ives, I find that the steering wheel has broken – the plastic hub being worn in tussling with the wind. Daniel and I walk to L H Jones and order a replacement and spare but they do not stock the parts and I have to change back to the old ships wheel.
Eventually we move off but the high winds cause us to crash the front of the boat at the next two locks; so we stop at Houghton Mill now open this year for the first time. There has been a mill at this place for over 1000 years and the machinery is as originally run until 1930. Later we move on through Godmanchester lock and moor safely at Godmanchester playground. This evening we watch ‘Close encounters of a third kind’ on television but I am weary of it now having seen it four times.
News today is of a battle of words between America and Russia over the S. Korean aircraft crash. Also French troops in greater number to Chad. We hope for better weather tomorrow and it is forecast dry and bright for tonight but wet and windy tomorrow afternoon.
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Liaising with my office on a day of violent winds as we cruise through The Old West river and lunch at The Pike and Eel before eventually mooring at the St Ives Town Quay as Western leaders react to Russia shooting down a South Korean Jumbo Jet
A day of winds storming up to 50 miles per hour, the barometer dropping fast to 996, and slight showers during the day ending in heavy rain at dusk. The overnight 56degF minimum rose to about 70degF out of the wind and so at least the temperature was mild. I lay in late whilst the rest of the family get up and about. Daniel’s rush to be dressed and out at the swings end in disappointment as his girlfriend in the next boat sets off early.
After breakfast, I set to repair my helmsman’s chair and the ships wheel. The first had recently failed to exhibit its prime feature – pneumatic up/down lever control – and the latter had worked loose and was wearing its hub. Both were fixed. Then a tortuous journey through the rest of the Old West River and manned locks, with a brief respite at The Pike and Eel for lunch. The wind was the worst I had experienced and we were pleased to eventually moor at St Ives Town Quay in late afternoon. In the wind was carried excessive stubble burning smut and leaves. Also grit and dust. Poor Daniel suffered most with an inflamed eye.
I quickly found a telephone to contact June Hamilton as arranged. She is off to holiday next fortnight and this is my way of ensuring good communication. A full situation report and many messages is on my desk and most urgent matters are of personnel but nothing critical. John Lamb tells me of a productive Glasgow meeting but disappointment at the financial divergence between local and central accounting practise, which is resolved to be in better communication from now on. Gordon Coventry is resolved to stay but seeks a three month contractual notice period which seems a good idea and would lessen the pressure induced by the present 12 month notice period.
News today is dominated by the Soviet shooting down of the South Korean Jumbo Jet airliner. As two days have passed all National leaders have had time for research and reflection and now make comment and criticisms. Tonight, after strong condemnation from US President Reagan and all other Western leaders; and after a further inadequate authorised statement by the Russian Official News-agency, Tass; a meeting of the United Nations Security Council had been called. In Lebanon, the Israeli troops are pulling back and out of all but southern regions and in Jerusalem Begin’s coalition parties have endorsed Defence Minister Shamir as his successor. Unemployment in Britain has moderated slightly for the first time in many months but is still above 3 million or 12.8% and Regional Health Authorities have still to implement the latest government cutback orders.
Victory II lost the second match to Australia in lighter winds and the scores are now 1 each.
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After a walk around Upware, a cruise from The Five Mile pub to the Twenty Pence inn via Ely as the Russians shoot down a Jumbo Jet
After the warm evening, it was a mild night with temperatures above 53degF. Today, although The Lady’s cockpit temperature reach a maximum 80degF, I am sure outside temperatures did not rise above 70degF. The barometer down further but restored to 1011 tonight. This morning at the ‘Five Mile’ pub moorings, I took a walk around the few houses and lock at Upware. The lock-keeper was clearing weed from the gates at 8.45am and a local smallholder hard at work with a wheeled hoe clearing weeds from salad vegetable seedlings.
We set off for Ely and moor above the first railway bridge on the GOBA moorings. The whole of ‘riverside’ was full of cruisers and it is good to see the river so busy. A morning’s walk to the Ely market but on the way we enter the Cathedral by the east wing and take a good time looking around its magnificence. In the market I buy a book by Arthur Bryant on Samuel Pepys, ‘The Years of Peril’. Back to The Lady via Ely yacht chandlers with Daniel but nothing interesting to buy either there or at Babylon Marina.
A restful afternoon’s reading whilst Diana took the children to the playground then we cast off and cruise to ‘Twenty Pence Inn’ on the Old West River. There Daniel makes another girl friend briefly at the swings before the children are put to bed and we eat at the Inn. A good meal and a shared bottle of Liebfraumilch before we repair to the boat for the television news and last episode of ‘David Lloyd George.’
News today is of a Jumbo Jet plane shot down by the Russians with its appalling implications to be absorbed by all. England’s victory 3 wins the first of the seven semi-final contests against the rival Australia entry in the Americas Cup race. The Lebanon is still a prime problem.