Two trips to Muriel this Bank Holiday weekend - neither, I'm afraid to say, to take her out of the marina.  We're in a funny old situatuion at the moment, one where we're happy and sad at the same time.  We had hoped to be out on Muriel most of the summer, but due to our house not selling we are both still working - sad.  We had hoped, despite this, to be using Muriel on our days off, but as Jack, our ageing and sick labrador, is still with us, this has not been possible - happy.  Yes, happy, because Jack is still here.  

 

So, in the short time we have left with him, one of us stays at home to look after J while the other goes to Muriel.  A trip last week saw the engine run up and the batteries charged, while on another, Sue took keys for Foxton Boats who are going to sort out some of our warrenty issues.  I had hoped to take Muriel out this weekend on my own - the weather, though, has had other ideas.  On Saturday it was very windy and today, Sunday, just plain wet.  There seemed little point in taking her out if I would not enjoy it, so I didn't bother. 

 

Instead, I polished a few things and did a bit of adjusting to Muriel's mooring.  When I say polished I actually mean oiled.  Chrome is built up, so I'm told, of little flakes.  Light oil will get in amongst these and keep corrosion at bay.  Armed with rag and cycle oil, I gave our mushrooms and fittings a good going over.  They needed it: even in the short time she has been at Pillings Lock marina they had deteriorated, looking dull and unkept. 

 

Muriel's mooring is another matter, not one of maintenance but of adjustment.  Pillings Lock uses short finger jetties and mooring piles, or posts, to which the bow or stern of a boat is tied.  Muriel being a Cruiser is stern on, so the bow is out on the post - sometimes literally.  On days where the wind is strong enough and in a certain direction, Muriel bangs on her mooriing post, sending a judder through her hull every time she strikes.  All around the marina there are old tyres strung from posts and jetties at every angle and position imaginable.  We are not the only ones with the problem and now have an old tyre suspended on the post.