The day began foggy and frosty and Nick Wolfe opened the boats up at 8.20 and lit the fires. DB joined him shortly after, followed by Andy Belton, Dave Davies and Roger Davies. Following a quick safety briefing and the discovery that the water pump had been slacked off to prevent freezing, thus not allowing water to circulate in the engine until it was tightened, we set off at 09.45, with both fires going well. The winding hole being only a short distance away, we backed up to it since Stoke locks were closed for maintenance. Dave Davies steered the motor through the tunnel, with Andy Belton on the butty, and by the time the boats had arrived at Gayton junction the weather had cleared and a brilliantly sunny day developed. The boats went down the northampton Arm to the top of the locks, where crews undertook narrow lock working. Since it would have been impractical to traverse the whole Arm because of time constraints, only the first two locks were operated, but some useful practice in butty work was undertaken.
Both boats returned stern first to the top, winded, and then set off for the main line. Crews now had a chance of experiencing main line work, and the pair ran as far north as Furnace Wharf, where they winded and returned to Stoke, changing crews in the meantime so that everyone had a chance of steering. After winding the pair backed up to the basin at Stoke top lock ready for the morning.
Sunday 19th February. This was a cold and foggy day, much less pleasant than the previous day. The plan of the day was the same as before. Crew was: DB, Fabian Hiscock, Derek Palmer and Nick Strivens. The boats were away by 9.40. On arriving at the top lock of the Arm, we discovered that the second pound down had been emptied in the night, apparently deliberately, for a brick was jamming the top gate slightly open. Apart from the butty training, this afforded the crew some extra training in refilling and removing the offending brick.
Afterwards we once more went to Furnace Wharf and winded. Nick's proposed turn at steering the butty was frustrated by his taking an unforeseen dip soon after. DB also managed to drop the keys in while locking up. however, provided a magnet can be obtained, they should be relatively easily recovered. Otherwise both days went without serious hitches, and all the crews, even Nick, enjoyed themselves.

David Blagrove.