General Witterings -
Modernising Rosy

During the first half of 2003, I hope to update Rosy's received broadcast system to digital, by getting a digi-box and satellite dish.  I'm hesitant about this if only because all physical activity might cease on Rosy, as, given the opportunity, I'm a bit of a telly-addict.  However, a digi upgrade will result in two very positive results, namely:

1.  The reception of BBC Radio 4 (and other BBC radio services) will be immeasurably improved.  At the moment, I can only get Radio 4 on 198 long wave.  Hence ...

2.  The beer on Rosy will be markedly colder.

This latter is because, at present, when the fridge motor kicks in, AM radio gets distorted.  Not FM, just AM.  Hence the fridge has to be off during the day when I'm listening to the radio, hence my 6 p.m. beer (the first of the day) is not really REALLY cold.

I've mentioned 'Falcon' several times - the narrow boat of David Long.  On page 58 of the June 2002 edition of Fluvial (the French waterways magazine) there is a piccie of the arse end of Falcon.  On the roof, two people have their back to the camera.  One seems to be a tallish, ambitious, but very sincere looking gent.  The lady (at least, one assumes that she is a lady) is somewhat shorter, though she looks competent, if rather harassed, and a bit judgmental.  Tony and Cherie, perhaps, on a flat-buying trip to France?

I keep forgetting to mention that Briare town takes considerable trouble to keep the town pretty.  Tubs and troughs of flowers abound, and empty spaces are often landscaped and turned into flower gardens.  The gardens outside the tourist office are currently edged with ... cabbages!!!  Not the sort that form a tight packed heart, but varieties with a more open habit, and crinkly leaves.  They use two types.  Both have green outer leaves, but one has its inner leaves beetroot-coloured, the other's are white.  It takes a time to recognise that they ARE cabbages, but they are.  They taste OK too!!

Fanny continues to amuse and bemuse other people.  She and I are getting on OKish, but the constant chewing is causing some friction.  In one place, she has chewed through the cabin lining AND the insulation, and has reached the steel hull.

I've checked the bilge-pumps, and one was actually not working too well.  When I say that it wasn't working too well, this a 'spin' way of saying that when I switched the 'ON' switch on, the pump didn't start pumping!!!  Anyway, it's been replaced and the new one seems to be working just fine.

Fanny STILL hasn't learned about stinging nettles, and on our return from a walk she sits down and cries, and licks her paws.  Any cunning ways of teaching her about nettles?

Her cleanliness is still very good.  One pee on the boat over the past 7 days.

Toodle pip!!

Bill