Our own Springwatch in Christchurch

Down to the boat this evening and to my delight I spotted this new family swimming just behind our boat on the mooring. They were nested on the island just nearby in the river - not the same ones I blipped earlier.

The boat has been a nightmare this season - despite spending a fortune we feel she is still not right and we couldnt use her at the weekend. The engineer checked and said 'nothing wrong with her' but again we couldnt use her last night ...when not too mechanically minded it makes you wonder if you are doing something wrong. Rationally we are in our fifth season and have the same routine which has always worked before so while not being able to fix engines we do know how to start them and when they wont start!

I couldn't face the argument but D took it on and this evening arranged to meet the mechanic at the boat...
.. arriving before the men and finding these swans made my day ... I went for a walk and returned to find the mechanic had rapidly found we were right and has identified the problem.... reassurance that we aren't mad and a bizarre sense of happiness that there is something wrong!

Again canoeists passed ...no engine ...minimum cost and much more exercise...maybe a lesson to be learned!