Jeckells arrived to fit a new canopy for the Paxton Princess
Jeckells arrived to fit a new canopy for the Paxton Princess

A busy day, working on the brickwork of my garage foundations whilst receiving Jeckells to fit a new canopy for the Paxton Princess and a spray hood for "The Jolly", Daniel to do three loads of his washing and then Jack, and farmer Gedges, who agreed to help me take delivery of the long ‘crossing timber’ sleepers. I then worked until after dark and drove back home in the fog and frost.

 I was up at dawn on and would like to have been out earlier but I decided to have a bath and hair wash for reasons of decency (I was due to meet quite a few people today). I got straight down to the brick-laying and had achieved quite a lot by the time of my first visit. It was Jeckells with a new canopy for the Paxton Princess and a spray hood for "The Jolly". I went aboard to see it fitted and it seemed all right, if a bit tight although the weather was quite cold. It had started quite dull with the odd shower but had cleared up with sun by the time they had arrived.

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I got them to fit the old canopy back on afterwards for the winter and took the new one inside for safe-keeping until the boat is back in use. By the time they had left, it was time to think about lunch. I had a call from the auto-pilot supplier to say he was going to be late and so I enjoyed my meal until he had arrived. Then back to the boat with him and we took covers off and opened panels to review the boat design before we could see the best way of installing the unit. He will quote me accordingly. Daniel arrived in the middle of all this and had come to see me and to do three bags of washing at the Heronshaw laundry! I went and sat in the lounge with him once I was free and we chatted a while. He is still all right with the studying and remains on the same terms with Angela.

Then Jack arrived and I told him about my problem of getting the sleepers down the lane and he was back with local farmer, John Gedges, soon after who offered me help with the job. By the time all this was over, it was mid-afternoon before I could resume the brickwork. All I had managed to do this morning was to redo the front of the support wall that I had first erected yesterday evening and that had looked crooked this morning. This left the whole of the final supporting wall to do after dark. I worked on until about 8.00pm and then cleaning everything off and loading up was not easy in the cold and dark.

Then in to do the washing up and to fold away my new Paxton Princess canopy and stow it nicely. The task of loading all of my things up and then the journey home quite late. Unfortunately, it had turned bitterly cold tonight with a clear sky and a frost and fog was forming. I hoped that this would not affect my brickwork too much but most of it is under cover in any case. The fog caused quite a problem on the journey with me being tired and late, but I made it in the end.