Rugby yet again.

Yesterday we left the mooring and headed up to the marina at Hillmorton. After a lot of manoeuvring we managed to reverse onto the mooring there. Barry and Roy came on board did a lot of measuring up and now we have to return first week in October for the work to be done. True to Andrew at Blue Sky Power's word the solar panel turned up not long after we did. We spent the night in the marina and set off this morning for Rugby. We called into Clifton Cruisers for diesel and a gas bottle. We noticed that they had a sign on their pump saying that as of 1st September they would only sell their diesel at a 60/40 split unless you are already a registered customer. This is because the staff have taken a fair bit of abuse from boaters who wanted to declare a full 100% as domestic and the staff wanted proof. Luckily for us we registered with them back in April for our winter fuel at a 20/80 split but we did our summer split 60/40,(it is still summer till October) this time I wanted to declare 30/70 but because we are registered as 60/40 I couldn't do that, must admit I was a bit peeved but there you go. Apparently they have received correspondence from Customs and Excise and also have been to meetings, the onus is now on the marinas to make sure that the boaters are declaring legally, we were led to believe it was down to us to declare what we wanted then if we were boarded prove these declarations were right. Will be interesting to see if any other marinas follow suit. I think in future we will be using the work boats for our diesel again after all it only takes a phone call to find out where they are.

Any way we are now moored up in Rugby have already been to Wickes to get the metal strapping for Paul to sort out the new panel, he has also bought himself yet another drill a Bosch this time hopefully it will last a bit longer than the last one. We also picked up some really nice brass light switches,

well I say picked them up we needed 3 double and 6 singles and there were only 3 doubles and 5 singles on the display but according to their stock record there should have been 6 singles so hopefully they are going to check to see if the missing one is in the warehouse and give us a call once they have found it or some more will be ordered asap. Lets hope that they don't discontinue them if they do those that we have bought will be going back. We plan to get a few things done while we are here, have to go to Specsavers for our eyes to be tested and I need to pop back into the Vodafone shop to clarify our contract. Have another bag of stuff for the charity shop as well, seems to be only me that is de-cluttering. Must also get more dog food.

Paul has just come below to tell me that the new panel is now fitted and is up and running. He will be monitoring these 2 over the next few weeks to see what the advantages are with having the extra 50w (would you expect anything else of Paul). We will be staying here until Monday was very surprised when we came past Brownsover park this morning as there were only 2 boats moored up with our friends on Chickadee just coming in on the 24hr by the park, needless to say once under the bridge there was only one space left which we grabbed.

Paul also says if anyone wants a cheap 10amp control box for a solar panel get in touch. It will save you a few a quid.