Innovation?

I had a very pleasant drive up to Lincoln with Rose, deciding to take the more direct scenic route via Kings Lynn rather than the A1 around Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough and Newark. It also chopped 50 miles off the round journey.

It was good to see Rosie's flat and her current surroundings - it all looked very nice, friendly and secure.

After a sumptuous lunch at the local MacDonald's (my second in a lifetime), we said our goodbyes and I headed south again. This time though, I turned off at Sutton Bridge and went to the boat. Despite the fact that Outwell bridge was closed and there were no diversion signs to Ely, I eventually found my way to Littleport. From there it was a quick scoot down the A10 to Stretham.

I reached Skylark at about 5.15pm and it was already getting a bit dark with the last rays of sunshine dipping behind the distant clouds. Not wanting to continue the drive home or to stay in the marina, I unhitched the boat and went down to Ely. By the time I got there it was dark and I found a mooring near the Maltings. Incidentally, I found cruising in the dark quite a change from the daytime but it was very enjoyable. Obviously I needed to keep a keen eye on the way ahead, not so much for other boats (in fact there were none) but more for floating logs, weeds, etc. The journey had 'an other worldly' feel to it. Through the darkness I could see distant lights of the city, and occasionally passing trains and car head lights through the trees but, with the quiet drone of the engine, it really felt like I was the only person left. Turning into the lighter Ely I found there was still some life about - but not much. These darker evenings really do affect our behaviour.

The next morning, I bought breakfast in the market, and negotiated the purchase of a copper coal bucket which I polished up and hope to sell at the Christmas sale at home.

I also completed an innovative seat for the steering position on Skylark. I had come across a nicely weathered piece of wood measuring about 4' long by 4"x2". My original idea was to turn it into something useful (like a fire) but it was too nice to burn so I smoothed off the uneven edges, painted it with a dark woodstain and placed it across the brass runners on the rear hatch to make a handy 'rural-looking' seat.

I thought at first it would be a bit tricky to get on to it and stay comfortable but having had the experience of riding motorbikes and knowing you really can't sit in one position for more than an hour, I didn't worry too much. In fact, I found it was more comfortable than it looks and that, with an occasional shifting of my weight, I was able to sit there for quite a while before I needed to move. The other good things are that it can be moved easily and didn't cost anything.

In these days of space travel, the interweb, blueteeth, HS2 and Teflon coated trousers, it's nice to make do. Perhaps I should join the Ray Mears Society for Making Innovative Things out of Rubbish.