The Journey -
Aaarrrggghhh!!! from Rosy

This week has been a particularly frustrating week.  Getting the engine into Rosy hasn't progressed very much.  Admittedly some plans have been firmed-up, but us men of action don't want plans and agreements, we want ... well ... ACTION!!!  All that I've really done is to use the angle grinder and some black paint to turn what looked like a rusty, chewed up bit of steel into a rather smart black plate to support a pump.  More in later witterings.

Rumours continue to abound about when the Canal du Centre will close.  The latest 'official' story is that it will close from Digoin to St Leger on 1st September, but we shall see.

The computer problems persist.  The laptop works for 15 minutes in the early morning chill, and between 15 seconds and 5 minutes in the heat of the day.  As and when I can, I'm transferring data off it, and onto the S L O W desktop.  Hence I can now e-mail again.  Well, I can if the signal on the mobile phone is strong enough - I don't fancy carrying the desk-top computer up onto Rosy's roof for a better signal.

Following remarks about how some French bread doesn't keep very well, I was asked if I'd thought about having a bread-maker on Rosy.  The answer is 'No', and for several reasons.

First of all, there is plenty of French bread that does keep.  I'm eating lots of pain au cereales - a brownish bread.  The last mouthful is still good, three days later.

Secondly, when I can't get bread, I have all the makings for Staffordshire oatcakes, which are absolutely scrumptious (recipe on this web site)

Thirdly, Rosy is a mere 52 ft long and 7 ft wide, so space is severely limited.

However, more importantly, and without making a fetish of it, I try to keep the use of electricity to a minimum, and where I do use it, I try to have alternative back-up systems.

So, there is a 12v lighting system, but there is a stock of candles, one wick type paraffin lamp and three pressure paraffin lamps.

There is a water pump and a pump to drain the shower, but if I had no electricity I wouldn't go waterless.

There are two radio/tapes/CDs systems - a mains system and a car type system.

There is a 1500 watt inverter, so I can use mains equipment, and a 50 watt inverter in case the 1500 one goes down.

I do a weekly wash.  I usually try to use a launderette, but if none is conveniently near, I hand wash with the help of a (non-essential) spin dryer.

Mobile phones and Palm hand-held can be charged from 12v supply, or via a small inverter.

There is a 12v fridge, but I would hardly call it essential.

I compute and watch some satellite TV - the TV is 240/12v.  The computer is more necessary for me than the TV, though without electricity, I would still stay sane and survive.

I now need some 12 volt electricity to start the engine (the Kelvin started by hand) so I have just bought a Quick Start (basically, a nicely packaged, sealed, 12v battery).

I cook on gas, but have a paraffin pressure stove as standby.  Heating is by coal (in a coal/wood-burning stove that I could also cook on) and red diesel (in a stove that can also be cooked on) or, in the spring and autumn, by the paraffin pressure lamps.

There is a small vacuum cleaner.

The water tank lasts, at normal usage, for at least two weeks.

As for kitchen etc. equipment, there is a small (500 watt) electric kettle (only used when we are connected to shore power), a smaller non-steaming iron and a small food processor that is used so rarely that it is in danger of being thrown overboard.

I guess that I'm trying to lead a simple life.  The all-electric boat has many advocates but, at present, I'm not one of them.

As I see it, there are four places to get electricity from:

1.  Batteries (which in turn get it from one or more of the next three)
2.  The main engine
3.  An on-board generator
4.  Shore-power

Batteries are a problem.  They are heavy, expensive and don't last for ever.  Charles Sterling (who makes the Sterling chargers and inverters etc) has been writing in the 'boaty' press, explaining that the cost per amp, used on boat, over the life of a battery, is lowest with a simple, vehicle type, lead acid battery.  Freedom batteries and gel batteries may last longer, but their extra, initial cost outweighs their extra life.  He suggests that gel batteries should be considered in sailing ships etc., where the battery could be heeled over at an angle for long periods of time.  Long life batteries are useful where the batteries are so tucked away that replacing them is a long and difficult job.

The main engine can usefully charge batteries on the daily cruise.  Of course, a decent alternator (50 or 70 amps or more), plus pulleys designed to spin the alternator within its maximum output limits is a boon.

Non-cruising days are a problem, as one has to run the engine to top up the batteries.  This is expensive on fuel, and is noisy both for those on the boat and (more important) for those moored nearby.

Hence the on-board generator which avoids using the main engine, but which is still noisy, and thirsty.

(I know that the BETA Marine Whispergen solution is neat - one cocooned engine for propulsion and power - but, personally, I'd hate to be wholly reliant on the proper workings of an engine, alternator and a bank of batteries).

Finally, shore power.  Rare in UK, reasonably common over here in France and Belgium - indeed, for short stay boats, it is often free.  Personally, I very much enjoy mooring in the middle of nowhere.

All this stuff has been brought into focus, watching Jeff the Engineer here at Montchanin.  Most of his jobs are to do with electrical problems.  Inverters getting fried through over use.  More and more electrical items going into boats either means that the batteries get a hammering or, as soon as the kettle is switched on, the generator bursts into life.  Or both!

Many of the live-aboard boats and barges here are pretty luxurious, with all home comforts - fridge, deep-freeze, central heating, satellite TV and hi-fi, computers, mixers, ice-makers, waffle irons, toasters, air conditioners (yes, really, even on narrowboats), hair driers (up to 2 kw!) etc. etc.  AND battery problems.

Not my scene at all.  I'm here to get away from that life style.  They say that you can only achieve true contentment if you get rid of all your things - 'things' are a worry - where are they? - are they lost? - or stolen? - or broken? - how will I replace them? - how long will they last?  - where can I get a replacement? - etc. etc. etc. - I don't go quite this far, but I'm certainly more contented here, like this, than I have been for many years.

Proceedings were considerably enlivened by Chris Mathew at our Friday barbecue.  Chris lives on a cruiser, and is the son of Bryan Mathew (the DJ) who, aged 70+, has just had his contract renewed by the BBC for a another year to present 'Sounds of the Sixties'.

Chris used to be Station Fire Officer in Kent until ...

A plumber was called to a two-storey house to do some work in the (lead) plumbing in the attic.  The house was old, and had been thatched, but was now tiled.  Plumber goes up to the attic, fires up his blow lamp and is about to start when he is called down stairs for a cup of tea.  Down he goes, and ten minutes later the fire brigade is called out.  Chris et al arrive, and Chris goes up a ladder and in through a window, as that seems to be nearest to the seat of the fire.

Now, firemen have a routine drill, whereby if anyone attending the fire notices something that was not included in the initial briefing, and that alters upwards the severity rating of the incident, they sound an alarm signal upon which all firemen exit the building, as fast as possible, via their original entrance.

The alarm sounded.  Chris nipped back to his window, and jumped out of it onto his ladder.

Except - some person or persons unknown, and strictly against regulations, had moved the ladder.

Chris fell, and was just thanking his lucky stars that he'd fallen into a substantial bush and had, therefore, suffered no harm, when he saw that a dreaded 'Senior Officer' was on site and had witnessed the fall.

In my view, there are still certain unconstructed groups in society, whose personnel management systems are still rooted in the Dickensian era.  I include the long weekly hours still required of junior hospital doctors, the long daily hours that some prison officers are allowed to work in order that they can squeeze their working week into three or four days ... and the fire service.

Chris was retired from the service, even though he suffered no discernible injury, and even though the fall was not his fault.  The 'system' is concerned that he could blame future hurts and disablements back to that incident, and hence claim compensation.

So he now idles his time enjoyably away on a Fire Service Pension.

C'est la vie.

Toodle pip!!

Bill