The world.............

...............is full.

The world is mostly full of forking idiots.

And the world is full of idiots forking.............

Tonight, Jackie challenged a man at the lock who was allowing his daughters to run across the vee-gate lock beams.....

(Danger of death by drowning: HIGH............)

He accused her of being 'aggressive' and 'a lefty'.

Personally, I think we should have left the twat to drown his children.

Then he would have had to explain it to his no doubt ex-wife.

But Jackie intervened.

Was abused.

But was absolutely right.

People, if you are going to let your children stand into danger, willingly, because you are a 'businessman' and 'this is the school of life', and you think my wife is somehow wrong for calling you out on your arrant foolishness and stupidity, then you are in no shape or form a fit parent.

End of.

Good luck with your continued attempts to drown your daughters.

Is this some attempt to get back at your wife?

We don't know.

But accusing Jackie of being 'abusive' says a lot.

You have been reported to the E.A and Cam Con.

We don't know if it will do any good, but we can only hope you will not be putting your children into danger any further.

Stormy weather.......

The mooring was hit by a mini tornado at tea-time today.

I was still at work but have surveyed the aftermath.

Bottisham Lock is out of action for the weekend at least: One or more of the poplars that grow nearby have fallen across th lock pen and blocked it.

From the red cross on the lock itself, it looks like a power outage would prevent it's use anyway.

The big willows at either end of The Parish have suffered badly. It all looks very unstable. I hope they won't have to come down as they are venerable and picturesque.

On board Pippin, everything is a bit damp : one of our side hatches blew open which led to considerable ingress of rain.

All the hopper windows were open too....... water droplets formed some very pretty patterns on the recently painted ceiling.

Our wooden table, the chairs, and my lovely Captains chair are heavily watermarked.

But old towels have been deployed, the worst of it is mopped up, and we shall probably be reasonably dry again by Tuesday.... (The sofa, the cushions, the curtains etc are all very damp.)

It's going to be a humid night on board, as the thunder continues to roll and the rain falls, denying me the chance to let some fresh air in......

But no-one came adrift and no-one is hurt.

And our newly re-conditioned Rutland 913 Wind Turbine hasn't been struck by lightning.....

Yet..........

Touch wood.......

Or rubber.....

Or anything non-conductive, really..........

Hope you are all okay out there in the greater blog-o-sphere.......

Keep safe, all.

Emma Chambers

It is with the greatest sadness that I write this.

Emma Chambers, film and television actress, has died at the age of 53.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43183354

I was at The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art from 1983 to 1986. Emma was there at the same time, though we were in different classes.

I remember her as one of the good people: kind, warm-hearted, never nasty, and so, so funny, both on and off stage.

Webber was a hard, nasty, bitchy school. Such attributes were in short supply. So Emma stood out, not only because of this, but also because, even then, it was clear she was possessed of a truly stellar talent.

As my own career popped and banged before fizzling out like some defective firework, it gave me true joy to see her doing so well, first, as Charity Pecksniff in the TV adaptation of 'Martin Chuzzlewit', then later, running rings around both Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in 'Notting Hill'.

She will be best remembered for her superb comedy timing and wonderful characterisation in the role of Alice Tinker in 'The Vicar of Dibley'. I remember watching the episode of Alice's wedding. My mum had tears of laughter rolling down her cheeks as Alice made her way down the aisle accompanied by Telly-tubby 'bridesmaids'.

Although I knew her, I can make no claim to having been a friend of Emma's, either at college, or afterwards.

But I feel truly stricken that she has died so young, and at the height of her powers.

She was one of the best of us, and definitely one of the nicest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EViB5epHMn8

God bless you, sweet one, and may you rest in peace.

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