Tuesday 8 February 2011

Henley Festival 2010



I mentioned going up to Henley for the Festival last year. I'd never been before and I was treated to see Nigel Kennedy with his Orchestra.

We moored Jane Morris by the Rowing Museum and were horrified to see the mooring charges so we managed to squeeze in just upriver of the Town and spent the money we saved on a very nice meal at Loch Fyne.

We've been to a few Loch Fyne restaurants around the South. Our favourite is the one in Winchester. Lovely building, good atmosphere, very good cooking and attentive staff. Henley was almost as good. Reading has a nice outlook overlooking the K&A. Oxford is a bit bland, similar to Bristol. Just my opinion of course.

And the highlight of the Festival weekend (for me at least), was bumping into Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee looking absolutely gorgeous (Debbie, not Paul, obviously).







Joblist for Spring

I'm starting to get a list together of the things needing doing on Jane Morris.

Last year flew by, and the early Summer was good fun. We travelled up to the Henley Festival (silly money for mooring) and saw Nigel Kennedy in fine form.

Jane Morris behaved herself. New holding tank is working fine, engine and outdrive were serviced by young, enthusiastic marine engineer called Charlie Best. He served his marine apprenticeship in Poole and is looking to expand his business (or, at least, was last year). Can't rate him highly enough.

Antifouling was slapped on when the boat was hauled out for engine service. But my preparation was poor, and I've noticed the antifouling is peeling away at the waterline. I should have stripped back all the old antifouling and primed the hull. I didn't and so Jane Morris will have to come out again this Spring and I'll do it properly. When the boat's out I can get Charlie to check the outdrive and sort out why the depth sounder has stopped working.

So, all in all, looking forward to using the boat again. And we hope to venture further afield this year.