Jackie (Capitaine du porte) must be getting English. Told us we couldn’t stay on current mooring almost before greeting complete. Something about private electricity. I wonder.

Moved to mooring next to loo - quite adequate (loo far enough away not to wore us, but near enough for convenient Porta Potti-ing. Electric point next to us not working - opened box with George’s (Lymie) key, but error further back. Used extension, and connected up to next box. Bit boring, all this fiddling around, but we can use electricity at will, fffr1.80 per day, so have all the heaters etc the switch in the box will take.

Gas ran out just after showers. Normally happens just before. Leave till to-morrow.

Had to change gas bottles before breakfast.

Jackie sorted electric box next to us.

Cleaned other side of boat.

Bought gas carrying bottle on Brompton trailer behind me.

S. came too on hers to ride shotgun and generally supervise. She had to pay as well - I forgot my wallet!

Crossed busy roads by pedestrian crossings as in Southsea. However, in France it appears walking on pedestrian crossings in front of cars is the same as an invitation to play "chicken". We lost, but lived!

This was a major test in intention and necessity whilst boating, at least, to be non-dependant on car.

Clearly, totally practical, and a good giggle.

Had to change inner tube on bike trailer - found nominally smaller and wrong sized tube in fact bigger than old tube, and did the job correctly.

However, we now have 6 cycle wheels, and 4 pumps alto-gether. Of these all have identical valve or valve holders, except the original other wheel on the trailer. When it goes soft we will have to change and jettison the tube.

Bloody silly.

Nother lovely bright cool crisp day.

In Roanne, still.

Cold, strong polar wind.

Spent morning doing "inside boat" jobs - too cold to work outside. Tidied up electric point in cabin - left front, strung radio arial, thought about lots of other jobs, but didn’t do them.

S. to greetings card making session with Dutch, and all other wives from moorings. Spilt her tea over everyone else’s work - how to make friends and influence people. Everyone there had gone further, more often, for more years and in bigger boats than us.

Sorted bilge pump - wire broken yet again, sponged out engine room floor - half a bucket.

Sent and received e-mails.

Very cold night - wind dropped, but still bitterly cold.

Intense personal heat loss through bald head whilst in bed, so wrapped head (native style) in blanket. Didn’t work, so wrapped it in fleece jacket - splendid, went back to comfortable sleep.

First thing whilst making coffee turned on all heaters in cabin, let sun in through curtains on sunny side of boat. Fully warmed and habitable by breakfast.

Driven, by last night’s experience, to sort stove and radiator.

Had drained it down before leaving to protect against frost. There was no drain cock fitted (hence no anti freeze) so had to take piping to pieces - and wanted to fit drain cock and central heating pump (both obtained in UK - in France you can get 14mm, 16mm, and possibly 18mm copper tube and plumbing fittings, but not the standard English 15mm/3/4") before re-commissioning.

Looked long and hard at central heating pump project. Decided too difficult.

Fitted drain cock, filled water.

Morning gone. Who was it said all jobs automatically fill up all time available to do them in? It is true.

After lunch S. went out with Mrs Riverdance - Judy - to look at probable car garaging. Successful trip. Likely home at ffr100 per month in barn with others. Beautiful run.

On boat more engine cleaning and bilge pump fighting. Checked new engine water pump impellor and gaskets for size - far too small. Then found was trying wrong water pump - it appears we have 2. Think this is a job for a mechanic.

Spent hours just gazing at engine,

Fat couple walking round port stopped to talk English. Have a Birchwood (cruiser) moored up on the Rhone. Had seen and recognised us in St Jean de Losne last year a couple of times. Ouch

Lit fire in evening - super - all worked as it should, and better than last year. Radiator good and warm.

Fought Frontpage 2000 in particular, and computer in general, all evening. Silly sod has abolished all "common" borders - i.e. each page should have a full set of hyper links down it’s side, and they’ve all gone - the borders, that is. Sticky fingers not happy on so-called "touch pad".

Went to bed in something of a frustrated rage.

Still in Roanne - chilly overcast, windy.

Chilly bleak morning - arose very late to banging on side.

Maggie from Lymie wanting a lift to S.M. or "brico".

These damn people with dogs are as bad as others with children - their day starts at 0600 - ours starts with a quiet coffee and a quieter fart at 0930 - much more civilized.

After yesterdays drama with dls decided quiet day in order

Took dhobi to Laundromat in bicycle trailer after attempt in car failed to find parking. Har bloody har.

S. won - after doing chauffer for Maggie, picked it up on the way back, having conquered "Payant". Written on road - good idea!

After dozey lunch to French style "Kwiksave" on bikes again - part of deliberate campaign to wean government from passion of leaping into car on slightest provocation.. Beer ffr 28 (£2.75) a case (24 X 25 ctl bots, 4.5% alc). Lots of wines at less than ffr10 a bottle.

Deeply doubtful about whole business.

Lit fire, but radiator not so enthusiastic as yesterday - could be that we are low on water, hence bows up attitude defeating convection - or something.

Recovered web page from Omega, but now Frontpage 2000 itself is playing up.

Can’t win - over to beer and wine tasting.

Still in Roanne - and if it gets any colder we’ll be frozen in - if not by the ice, by our own rigor nearly mortis.

Wind off North Pole direct.

March au puces where all boats sell on the stuff they have burdened themselves with and have no real need of over the last year to other boaters, who will realise next year that they too didn’t need it, and will put it up for sale again.