Completing some necessary paper-work, reconciling bank accounts and paying bills after which I could then set off to Norfolk with Steven to find much dredging completed and heaps of mud awaiting distribution and spreading. After a good day's work, we went to The Bridge Restaurant in Wroxham for a splendid meal and both slept soundly afterwards
I had been in touch with Steven and arranged for us to go together to Norfolk today but first I had to do some chores and some paperwork whilst the weather cleared up from the early drizzle. The morning post came full of bank account statements to reconcile and there were other bills to pay etc and these took some time to sort out. I had to have a quick look at the swimming pool which seemed to be going a bit cloudy and in need of some 'Supershock' Chlorine.
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Steven came armed with his charts from his Dutch trip and was full of the experience of taking over a 24ft boat and its elderly crew for the week. He showed them to me, and Diana and she seemed very interested and would like to go over in our boat. Off to Norfolk, stopping at our favourite road-side kiosk on the way for a bacon roll and mug of tea. We arrived to find that Amis had dredged up a good deal of river mud and made large heaps on the river frontage - with a particularly large heap on our lawn. I knew that this could be moved, and the grass would recover in short order but I also realised that Mrs Vincent would not be happy about the mess and smell next door and it was true that she did not speak to me this trip.
Steven helped me for the afternoon as I was barrowing mud from the lawn to the foundation of the boat-shed and he was breaking up some old timber and laying it down beside the garage. Later, he joined me in moving the mud and, with one of us shovelling and the other barrowing, it was much easier work. We worked on until 7.00pm with one break for tea and then we got bathed and changed and I took him for a splendid meal at the Bridge Restaurant in Wroxham. They made some sea-food hor d'ouvres for me specially and then, after some nice Sole and vegetables, they made a meringue with some sorbet instead of cream.
All eaten with a couple of cocktails and a shared bottle of Leibfraumilch, the meal was very good. Steven had a huge T-bone steak and ate well. Back to Heronshaw and us both to sleep and rest as he had been missing sleep at sea and me with my recent trips. It had turned quite warm today and we were really sweating with such physical labour but did well. I was hoping to see my carpenter this evening to plan the work, but he was delayed and could not come.