May 2018

Wednesday 2nd May. What an awful day. Again we had to switch our electricity off because Abdul was doing welding on the boat. So we had no lights, nor water. Tashi is not happy with all the noise, and wanders around in the dry-dock going between Ni and me while we are applying anti-rust paint and filler to the boat. Having spent all day doing this, Serge came along and tells us that he needs to wash the boat down again, to ensure the removal of the gel the surveyor applied to attach ultra sounding pads! So we hope that our days work wasn't in vain.

Rust patches down, and losses filled!

Serge now tells us that we will be in here until 11th May at the earliest!

I had to go to the office and sign for a key to the gate of yard, without which I would not be able to get in or out. It said on the form that if I lost the key I would have to pay €400 to replace it!!!!

A gold plated key?

I explored the high street to find the launderette, and will take the duvets there, before we leave, as well as normal laundry. It seems the supermarket, Casino, rent out carpet cleaners, so I will try and book one of those the day before we leave also.

Toby made a good job of sanding down our French windows, and they are now ready to be revarnished.

 Feeling lonely as Guy, in his boat has gone, as well as Bridgit and Greg in theirs. At least its an incentive to get on with the work, and get it done!

See you soon, Drumsara.

Goodbye Guy,








For some reason all of a sudden the lights came on inside the dry-dock.

Luckily they went off again at 11.30 as the some spotlights were directly overhead of our cabins roof lights (windows).

As we came out our friends, Louisa and David, on the Piper boat Tesserae went in. Photo of Serge, Ni, Abdul, Serge (VNF), Louisa and David.
The passerelle sealing off the dock from the pond was in 'interesting' feature. Because the pond is lower than the canal, when the water is drained from the 'dry' dock, the silt from the canal fills the locating sides of the passerelle. The VNF fill the empty dock, then pull the passerelle away by hand, so the silt rushes in. When the next boat is in position they pull the passerelle back towards position. But it won't fit into the side slots, so an operator shovels  the silt out with a large scoop.

Man with long pole has scoop in the water.

Once the passerelle is finally in position, having spent an hour scooping out the silt, he then 'fills' the gaps with a material from a wheelbarrow.

The area where the dock is situation is called Des Duex Demoiselles. At the nearest bridge (Pont Demoiselles) there is a building with a painting of two women on it. So I asked 'Who are les Demoiselles'? This caused much amusement, as apparently the area being 'dockland' was of course where the prostitues were based for the dock workers.

When I said to the chap who told me about the area that I thought these two women looked very serious, he told me "it was a serious business"!

It's rather sad to think that this dock might have to close down because of the VNF not wanting to continue operating it.

Sally and the poodles visited several times so that they could paddle and swim in the pond behind us. Tashi wasnt quite sure what to make of all this enthusiasm for water! This guy below, a Slider Terrapin, liked to sun bathe on the edge of the pond, but stayed well out of sight when the dogs visited!

We celebrated both Tashi's birthday (11yrs old) and that of Delilah (6yrs old) this month.

With all the necessary work completed it was time to leave the dry-dock.

Serge, Abdul, Serge (VNF), Louisa and David.

So it was out with us, and in with Louisa and David onboard Tesserae.

Once back at the marina, it was just like being back in Castelnaudary. So many other over-winterers from Castle were there, Antonia,(Frances and Jon) Yanti Ho,(Wenday and Alan)  Boschplaat (Sally and Glenn) and Clara Stark (Pierre). Elaine and Clive (Le Cochon Noir) and Muriel and Hans (Polaris) passed by, and the list went on!

Sally got us all organised taking us to her friend's musical The Sound of Music up near Colombiers, and also a shopping trip to Ikea. Though Frances discovered that there is now a free bus service from the museum (Toulouse) to Ikea. Brilliant!