Pouring down outside

and a bit wet inside also! We have woken up to a bit of water on the floor on some occasions over the last few days. Given the intermittent nature and the amount of rain I thought it may have been a degraded seal between the door opening and the door frame but I quick groping of the water pump revealed the culprit - again. This is the second pump we've had in a little over six years. When it happened before I bought a new pump, always intending to refurbish the old one. Well, it's gonna happen now! This

soon became this

and a quick(ish) Google later the spare parts were on order. I've learned to bite my tongue when it comes to things like this - and the costs involved (£60 in this case). After all, all I've done is swap a domestic water system for a marine one haven't I? Land dwellers have maintenance issues, just different ones to me.

Yesterday I took this picture which Elaine posted on Facebook.

We had passed him earlier in the day and I couldn't help but admire his boat, it was immaculate. I noticed brand new anodes welded next to old ones on the hull so, obviously this wasn't a new boat. Chatting to him later it turns out that he just picked it up the day before after a total repaint. Straight up I asked how much and for what. Total shotblast back to bare metal, blacked, new anodes, four coats of paint plus sign writing and windows reinstalled for £8000. Something we will seriously consider when we next need blacking in four years time. After all, it's only the same as double glazing, or new central heating, or a new kitchen, or new flooring, or a new conservatory, or......