MAY TO JUNE 2004
				ALAN WAS TOWED DOWN THE CANAL BY THE BOAT, HOLDING ON TO THE REAR WITH THE BOATHOOK
		I had to leave Jemima to go south to sort out problems with my mother, leaving Alan alone on the boat for what turned out to be two weeks! He decided to journey along alone, negotiating the locks. Fortunately all the locks on the canals he took around the back of north Birmingham were single width and, therefore, easier to handle. The trouble is he got quite cocky on his way back, which was all "downhill" whereby he had got it off to a "T" in putting the boat into forward gear on tick over to come out the lock whilst he then shut the gates, went down the steps and stepped onto the boat as it went by. However on the last occasion the phone which was hooked onto his belt, rang and he didn't notice that the stones were wet and he slipped into the canal, thereby missing the boat as it chugged on without him. Fortunately he was holding the boat hook which he used to shut the opposite lock gates to save having to cross over to the other side, so he managed to hook onto the rear button fender and was thus towed down the cut behind Jemima wondering what to do next!! No one was about at all which was a great shame as a few photos would have been good. He then decided to move hand over hand along the boat hook until he reached the boat and then making sure he was clear of the prop managed to haul himself up by using the side fender rope. The phone had stopped ringing by now and was very hot so he took the battery out and left all the parts on the roof of the boat to dry out in the sun and as luck would have it, it worked perfectly OK when he put it back together to make the call to Zoe, who it was had made that fateful call. Thank goodness it was not me or it would have been all my fault. I joined Alan back on Jemima and we journed down to Shardow for the Kelvin & Vintage Marine Engine Rally over the late May Bank Holiday. Alan had a great time talking to all these like minded people about old engines. There was a good programme of events including a visit by Daystar Theatre who put on a canal related play which was first class. We have just spent a week at Great Hayward Junction with an oil leak from the crankshaft seal which has meant Alan had to get the flywheel off. No mean feat and all in scorching hot weather. We have set off again, making for a Marina on the Rufford Arm of the Leeds & Liverpool where we will leave the boat to go south again for my Mum's cateract operation.