A "Kingsground" Day!!

Tuesday 7th August, 2012 at Bradford on Avon.
We were expecting Simon from Kingsground, but were a bit surprised when his van appeared driving down the towpath! He took advantage of the fact that there was a gate on to the towpath in order to get his van right up to us, so all his tools were close to hand.

Simon is our lovely engineer, who was part of the team that built MM and knows her inside out, so we were very pleased that it was he who came to do the 300 hour service. After a cup of tea, chocolate biscuits and an exchange of news, he set to work. He declared that all was well in the engine bay; the next service will be at 750 hours, which will be sometime next year at our current rate. He also attended to a few other jobs that needed doing. R helped him to remove and re-fit the solar panels, as water had got underneath them and started to blister the paint and to cause rusting and staining around the fixing screws. Cleaning the rust stains under the panels required a lot more elbow grease!

We just managed to get the job done before it started to drizzle with rain. After a very late lunch, Simon departed and we waved him off as he drove down the towpath into the distance.
Soon after, Annie and Paddy arrived. It was lovely to see them as the last time had been in February. We sat down and had tea and a catch-up. They presented us with the most beautiful sampler, lovingly stiched by Annie in the style of "arrival of a new baby" with a perfect picture of MM. It now graces the wall above the sofabed.

They were interested to see round MM as a fully equipped home, since the last time they saw her was at the launch, when she more resembled an empty show house.
In the evening, we walked into Bradford on Avon to find somewhere to have dinner. We decided that the Swan Hotel looked to be the best; it's a charming hotel right in the middle of the old town. It turned out to be the right choice as the food was excellent and good value. We walked back to MM via the Tithe Barn and then along the towpath before waving goodbye to Annie and Paddy.
Another super day!
Just 1.1 hours to charge the Batteries.