General Witterings -
Fun Times on Rosy

NO APOLOGIES!!!!

After I sent it, I re-read 'Leaks on Rosy' and concluded that it was something I wanted to write rather than something that others would wish to read.  Hence I was going to start this week's missive with a grovelling apology.  However, it elicited more e-mail responses than any previous newsletter, so I fear that there will be no apologies.

HELP WANTED

I'm insulated (by the slowness of the mobile phone connection) from surfing the internet, so certain bits of vital information are tricky to come by.  Hence I'd be grateful, please, for a plain text e-mail (NO attachments, they take too long to download) from some kind person, explaining some of the things about the new Pace digital TV (Free Channels) box.  The BBC says it is a "small box, with one wire going into the TV".  Great.

Question 1 - I assume that it needs to be connected to a mains power supply.  Is this so? 

Question 2 - I also assume that it needs to be connected to a satellite dish.  Is this so? 

Question 3 - Apart from picking up the free TV channels, does it also pick up the BBC radio channels (as the Sky system currently does)?

Question 4 - What does the owner of a Pace box have to do if/when new, free channels start broadcasting?

BODILY HEALTH

Some interest has been expressed in how the elderly Scottish gentleman neighbour is progressing.  It could be said that he is getting better.  I'd prefer to say that he is recovering from the after-effects of his operations.  I regret that I am going to disappoint those folk who requested a plop by plop account of the frequency, density, consistency, weight and colour of the more solid of his bodily outgoings.  Suffice it to say, he had an extended international telephone conversation with his surgeon about such matters, and that I have developed a variety of successful ploys to avoid any further discussion of these matters.

T-SHIRTS

I recently a few old t-shirts, ostensibly to be used as engine cleaning rags.  One was of Australian origins, and was of the cycling type (in that it was smothered on bright, fluorescent adverts) combined with the American Football type (oversized), and made of cotton, not lycra.  I've donated it to the elderly Scottish gent, and am looking forward to when he enlivens the local scene by wearing it when he goes out shopping.

DOGS

The effects of the elderly Scottish gent's operation are still being felt.  Jess the Woof seems to spend more time on Rosy than she does on her own boat - where her master spends most of his time groaning and straining.  In all this, I like to feel that Jess the Woof is showing a certain amount of discernment.  I'd certainly prefer to live with me than with an elderly, groaning, straining, Scottish gent.

Summer is a-cuming in .....

My long flowing locks, carefully cultured during the winter months, have now been shaved off with a No.  2 clipper, and its back to being a bearded skin-head.

KNEES-UP

Party night a few nights ago.  A French boaty couple who are both pretty well permanently pissed, moi and the elderly Scottish gent, and Gilbert (a gentle guitar playing Frenchman) repaired to the Frenchy boat when the bar closed.  Madame made it home first, divested herself of all her clothes, and slipped on a tufted cotton dressing gown, that kept drooping open revealing vast stretches of her ample body.  Monsieur kept giggling and producing bottles of beer.  The elderly Scottish gent groaned and strained in the corner, whilst Gilbert played wonderful guitar music.  I played the kazoo, a bosun's call and an Acme Siren Whistle that makes an ear-splittingly wonderful 'Wheeeeeeeee' sound, that, I have to admit, didn't really complement Gilbert's playing.  Luckily, everyone had heard of Françoise Hardy, so Gilbert played some of her stuff, ditto Edith Piaf.  At intervals, the elderly Scottish gent started on names like 'Harry Lau...', 'Moira...', 'Kenneth M...', but on those occasions when he wasn't interrupted by his own guts going into spasm, I managed to head him off.

ON THE BOATY FRONT…

The engine tweaks are now complete.  The cooling system is now full with 70 litres of antifreeze (having been hauled (as the Americans say) to Rosy in 5 litre plastic containers in the pannier bags on the bike).  I ran the engine for 15 minutes, and there don't seem to be any leaks.  Wow!! 

There is some painting that I'd like to get done before we set out for the summer cruise which will be to ...  (haven't decided yet!)

On the French Food front....

The market now has asparagus for sale at 5 Euro (£3) per KILO!!!!!  Oh!  Joy!!!! 

Toodle pip!!

Bill