The heads debacle - Part deux

.......so as I said, last night we did another pump out, and then returned to our berth in the marina - or strictly I should say a different berth, since the wind saw us dancing around the marina entertaining the onlookers, decorating the starboard hull in the process. However, we were now ready to proceed to the next phase of the holding tank drain clearing operation. Again. We knew that the Little Princess twirling baton was probably not the choice of the professionals as a drain clearing tool, and we resolved purchase something that was properly up to the job - a piece of proper hose pipe we felt sure would fit the bill. Unfortunately the chandlers, apparently the only shop in town that sells hose, was closed to day because of the Bank Holiday. However, we tracked down Halfords and bought a 'syphoning tool' comprising a bit of plastic hose with a non-return valve incorporated at the end. Confident in our purchase we relaxed with a sea front coffee on our way back to the boat. On returning, I tooled up once more for the operation - a rubber washing up glove this time, plus various plastic bags taped around my arm by Crown Computing Steve. (Thank you to everyone at Crown Computing who has supported us by the way! We really appreciate your support!). I unscrewed the accusing inspection hatch cover and thrust my syphoning tool - the bit of plastic tube - into the smelly disgusting plastic box. The planned procedure saw me simply poke the hose down the tank drain - easy, n'est ce pas? Negative! The tube had a mind of its own, and every time I tried to thrust it in the direction of the tank drain it simply turned away and snaked around the inside of the tank instead, like some wild serpent! Surely I could simply push it down the drain hole with my hand? No. I found I simply couldn't get my hand far enough into the tank to do that - just as I got my arm in almost to the elbow, I found it wouldn't go any further because my wrist came up against the back of the tank. Drat and double drat!

I was all ready to march back to Poundland for another twirling baton when Roger and Crown Computing Steve came up with am alternative. They had noticed......lurking near the rubbish bins......was.........A STICK! A bit off a tree. It was quickly cut to size and poked into the holding tank and...voila! Slurping noises and draining of the tank followed! Hurray!!! We cleaned up, detolised everything this side of Dover, and decided to incorporate the 'stick' into the ships on-board tools, specialist section, stored in the cockpit locker for future use if required. Skipper Roger has asked me to point out that it wasn't just any stick that he found. The specialist nature of the stick was a small 'v' section at the poking end. Apparently this is what makes it so effective at drain clearing. OK. Anyway we then binned the syphoning tube that was by now pretty disgusting, as well as useless! Roger thought about asking for our money back, but we weren't sure Halfords would take it back.

The we had lunch and, motored around to Ramsgate. Sharp intake of breath! 'There won't be any room' the doom mongers warned - 'all those little ships returning from Dunkirk for the 75th anniversary of the evacuation'. We radioed, as required, for permission to enter the harbour of the supposedly excessively busy port (the answer is nearly always 'yes' because somehow all of the ships are never there when you call). We radioed the marina for a berth...'there are so many small ships here today that you will just have to find somewhere yourself' said the man, so we entered the marina cautiously. Blinking 'eck! What was the problem?! There WERE lots of small ships, but there were still loads of berths free too, so no problem.

Queenborough tomorrow perhaps. I wouldn't bet on it though.