Battery Madness

Good weather for ducks!!    The wind seems to have gone and now rain showers are the pattern today and last few days - with Missy Sun poking out for minutes just to remind us she is there ---- somewhere!!


Not moved very far this week ---- left Congleton and had a couple of days at bottom of Bosley Locks, then up the 12 locks to Bollington where we’ve been since Sunday.   Am always surprised there isn’t a mooring time restriction here - not that we’ll be staying for 14 nights but could if we wanted!     We like Bollington and Foxxie likes the big playing field just down the lane!     


The beer at The Vine is just as good as last time we were here and, in fact, Bollington Brewery have just opened their second pub - this time in Macclesfield so obviously other folks like their brews too.


Had fun and games with the batteries this week.    We have 6 batteries for the main bank (plus one for the starter motor and one for the bow thruster)  - and suddenly they were not holding their charge.     Charged up ok but dropping like a stone after switching the engine off.     After several consultations with other boaters and the loan of a hydrometer, Dai ascertained one battery was completely kaput and the others were on their way out!     More consultations led to Dai disconnecting the whacko battery.    Hey presto - yes, after charging again the five remaining batteries were good.     For some time now Dai has been saying he’s getting sealed batteries next time as topping them up with distilled water is not one of his favourite jobs (nor mine as my ears are terribly assaulted when he does).   We phoned a nearby chandlery but they wanted £100 per battery - lordy lord!!!    So we called into the nearby car garage and asked them for price of normal batteries ---- £89 each.    Do we look as though we have grass growing on our heads or what!!!   We just hope the 5 batteries keep on going till we can get a reasonable deal somewhere!!


Kevin commented on last week’s blog asking for recipe for the mint aero cake I baked last week in honour of Amy’s visit ------ just a normal sponge cake, then I added several heaps of that Mint Aero hot drink powder (do not like it as a hot drink as the powder just won’t mix properly and you end up with a mouthful of undissolved powder - yuck).   So added after the flour --- sorry, can’t be precise about how much mint powder but I would guess about 3 heaped tablespoons).    Then I added 2 of the small packets of Mint Aero Bubbles chopped into quarters.    Normal butter cream icing with some peppermint essence to sandwich the two sponges halves together and on top for the 3rd packet of Bubbles to stick to.    Must admit I wondered if I had gone OTT with mint flavouring but hadn’t - it did taste very very nice!!


Since last blog we have done …  13 miles and 12 locks
Total since Setting Off ….. 1262 miles and  1050 locks  


sorry, no photos this week ---- not managed to take any between the rain storms