taken to the cleaners

Pff...the smallest washing machine at West Drayton laundrette now costs £5. What a rip-off for the poorest people. Here's where I meet old folk, migrants, homeless people, single mums, travellers, students. Oh, and the odd wealthier person whose machine has died just before guests arrive and need showing how to work the machines. That happened this morning and I was amazed at the person's apparent helplessness over everything from finding change and the right setting, to where to put powder and how to lock the door. I'd have been less judgemental if I hadn't seen them manage to park their huge 4x4 outside with competence.
Ok, I'm just annoyed by the price-hike!

'my' otter!

my otter and other animals

(I can't seem to upload any of my photos from my phone at the moment.  Disappointing but maybe I'll manage later)

We had a great day out at the British Wildlife centre at Lingfield where I finally fulfilled a long-held wish to see a real otter. It was fantastic! There were 4 of the beautiful creatures, who obligingly came out of their pond when one of the keepers brought food.
The animals are either rescued creatures or were born at the Centre, which used to be a dairy farm. Set feeding times meant that otherwise shy or nocturnal animals came out of hiding for their treats, which did seem unnatural but was a rare chance to see badgers, foxes, pine martins, stoats, weasels, hedgehogs, rats, rabbits, voles, owls and of course, otters, close up.
We came to a display board with large photos of the animals, along with names of people who had adopted each one. I noticed the label next to the otter had 'Carrie' on it and was just pointing this out to Simon when I saw the date underneath was that very day. The penny dropped as I realised Simon had 'adopted' me an otter! It was such a lovely and funny surprise. There was an 'adoption' package, including a birthday card from the centre and laminated pics of 'my' otter. A bike ride via a pub and pool table ended a petfect day out.
I will try to add pics later!

be afraid, be very afraid..

If you're a female boater that is. And if you listen to the guy I met on a boat in central London today! Yes, I know I've posted about this before but I really do get a bit fed up with being told how I should live in fear, as I'm female and living on a boat. I was informed that a boat break-in was 'like a rape' for women and far more traumatic than for men.
I'm not quite sure how having a penis would save me from the apparent certainty of break-in and violent assault, unless I maybe used it to beat the assailant around the head with it.
Anyway, the unsolicited advice given by the boater was this: to put a pair of mens boots on my roof, to get bars welded over the windows and, most importantly,  to enrol on his martial arts course for women. All became clear. By playing on stereotypes and reinforcing fear and timidity in females, he can keep em coming to his classes.
I did wonder if his attitude might be based on many bad experiences on the cut but no, turns out he's been renting his boat for a short time only and is new to the life.

slow improvements

I'm fitting a smart new cratchboard and painting the front well deck. Things aren't going that smoothly though as I bought the wrong colour paint, initially fitted the board the wrong way round and am making a big mess of trying to repair the old torn cratch cover. The new board makes everything else look tatty! Still, I expect it'll all come together in the end once I've re-painted, fitted the porthole, mended the cover. I want to do the board that Simon made, justice.
Here's the work in progress...

blackbird

Terrible lizards!

The man who invented the word 'dinosaur' (terrible lizard), went on to design a display of concrete dinosaurs in Crystal Palace park. He was Richard Owen and along with sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, they did their best to recreate dinosaurs based on their knowledge at that time (1852). Anyway, we had a wander through the park on Sunday and it was well worth a visit. The gaps in anatomical understanding at that time make it all the more appealing and of course we still don't know everything about dinosaurs. I especially like the way one dinosaur is facing away, head in foliage, because no skull fossil had yet been found and they honestly had no clue what it looked like!

Back on board and just for fun, I made my own dinopark with some of my 'crew'.

Just as convincing, I reckon :-)

ROAAAARRRR....!!!