Nelson Mandela still in South African jail on his 70th birthday
Nelson Mandela still in South African jail on his 70th birthday

After a very wet night, the weather cleared up this morning and we rose to enjoy the new day relieved that The Lady had withstood this watery onslaught and had not leaked. Up the hill to the Paradise pool in Ely for a swim, some more shopping and then morning coffee in the old Oast House to the sound of more Morris men dancing. We set off down stream and turned up the River Lark stopping at prick will oh for a tea of scones and tea cakes and a visit to the local playground. An evening fishing without success. Neil Kinnock’s party arrived at the wrong airport in Zimbabwe and was intercepted by armed troops before being released and the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela was marked by an appeal for Archbishop Tutu for his release from jail. The Lambeth conference of the Anglian church will discuss the ordination of women today.

Slept very well last night. It poured with rain all night and we can now say it has rained every day that we have been on board this time! Like magic, the rain again stopped as we got up, so that we were not to be inconvenienced. The Lady held up very well in the face of this aqueous onslaught, with no leaks at all in the rear cabin, which is more than I have a right to expect in view of the low maintenance it has been given this year. I got up and put the kettle on and watched the river scene as it boiled. I saw the rain stop and a Bream surface and so I now know that there are fish in Ely, but they are difficult to catch. After breakfast, we all took a walk up the hill to Ely and the Paradise Pool for a swim. I was a bit reluctant, but quite enjoyed it in the end, as my cold is now a lot better. We also visited the motor accessory shop and chandlery and I bought a few more odds and ends. Back at the old Oast House, we had a morning drink to the background of yet more Morris men dancing – this time with faces blacked up as sweeps and striking sticks as they danced.

Across to the island for two calor gas cylinder refills and a top up of water, then we set off downstream. The Lady cruises at up to 6 knots now without distress and at 8 knots with some smoke coming from the diesel engine. The winter work on the stern gear bearings seems to have fixed the vibrations all right. Judging from the age of the boat (20 years, I guess), the engine hour meter – at 957 hours – and odometer – at 1946 nautical miles – I do not think that The Lady has had a very active life. This would work out at about 50 hours a year running and about 100 n. Miles. We turned up The Lark and stopped at Prickwillow for tea of scones and toasted tea cakes before going for a walk. The place has changed little since we were last here, but a few more bungalows have been built. We had a nice cup of tea at the village shop and then took the girls to the playground. A bowls match and informal game of cricket were in full throw at the HIAM facilities there and I wonder just who this company are. Back at the boat, I watched the TV golf that was playing today and then tried some fishing but could not raise a bite. Daniel was fiddling around with the electrics on his boat and the wiring seems like a cat’s cradle to me. I tried to get him to tidy it up and sketch out a circuit diagram, but he did not want to know. News today is of Neil Kinnock, the Labour leader, and his party being held at gunpoint on arrival in Zimbabwe when the plane landed at the wrong airport. The 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela in South Africa’s jail was marked by meetings and an appeal by Archbishop Tutu. Some relief for air travellers, as the airlines catch up with the flight backlog and the French air traffic controllers decide to call of their forthcoming strike. It seems that tightly scheduled carrier planes are also contributing to problems when delays occur. The Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Church has assembled and will discuss the ordination of women. The weather forecast is for a bright and sunny day tomorrow, which will be a relief after this rain of late.