The Morning after the Night Before
by: Buffs
And so to the Western Depot on a cooler, more grey morning
and there standing proud above the new beach was Patricia. Resplendent in her
newly painted battleship grey hull all that was missing was the pennant number
D6 painted near her bow. A moment’s reverie crept in with a vision of the
boat’s team mustered on the quarterdeck, the Bosun at the gangway with his call
waiting to pipe the side and the Yeoman at the mast waiting to hoist the
Commodore’s pendant to the yard arm. In the background the massed bands of the
CCT (kazoo section) was playing ‘When I was a lad’ from HMS Pinafore by Gilbert
and Sullivan to greet the project manager as he arrived to mount the gangway
and inspect his team.
A good finish by Patricia’s team of helpers
A cry of “tea’s made!” broke the spell and it was on to the
day’s briefing. A smaller attendance
today befitting the cooler weather. Tasks allocated; small groups left to
collect a bench for repair from Saul, to raise the pole for the solar panel at
Gough’s Orchard and to lubricate the lock paddle gear at Blunder and Newtown.
At Newtown the team started a bonfire to dispose of a mound
of clippings and weeds removed from the canal. The fire was reluctant to burn
and started to smoulder.
They then investigated the fastenings on the lock gate
walkways as these are to be replaced as they have started to rot quite badly in
places. Finding that the nuts on the bolts nearest the lock wall were seized in
place plans were discussed as to how the timbers could be removed whilst still
retaining the bolt holes intact. Back to the yard to collect some more tools
and the grease for the operating gear. Returning to the lock after a short
sojourn in the new accommodation they were greeted by the sight of the first
two planks already removed by our carpenters. It was with a little gleeful
smile that the chippies explained that the only two bolts they had trouble
removing were the two tested earlier and the rest had all but fallen off.
Meanwhile the bonfire started earlier smouldered on.
The planks were used as pattern for the new planks. After
lunch, which was taken to the novel musical accompaniment of a planer and
electric saw rather than the usual grinder the new planks were taken to be
fitted to the gate. This was accomplished after some onsite adjustments were
made. Large hammers were not required. As
ever with jobs on the canal lessons were learned and will be applied to the
reaming three gates
And all the time the bonfire refused to leave its hiding
place and sat sulking and smouldering, lost in its own world.
The afternoon threatened to become sultry but the sun sat
sullen behind the veil of cloud refusing to come out when expected and the day
began to drift away drawing the volunteers behind it.