Narrowboat Alacrity

It was an early and very cold start this morning -6 degrees (too cold for even brass monkeys to be about) and freezing fog.

I was going to drive into deepest Essex to find “The Likely Lads” AKA Jim (on the left) and Steve (on the right), After a 1 1/2 hour drive I spotted them they were working near Southminster outside a rather dilapidated and deserted but still full of character house set back off the road surrounded by a jungle of garden.

The weather was no better where they were and having to work on a telegraph pole was no fun, but just being with Jim and Steve was enough to keep the cold out. The banter never stops, these guy’s make working fun, no one can ever fail not to be cheered up when with them no matter how bad you feel when you arrive.

With the help of a mug of Jim’s tea we thawed out and started work. The sun finally made an appearance at around 12 o’clock and the fog slowly cleared revealing some great views over the countryside. With the work done it was time for me to go back to the office and for Jim and Steve to go on to the next job.