The weather changed overnight, so we woke to rain. I had put the full cover up over the back so that I would be able to work in the engine compartment even if the weather changed earlier than forecast. The Aylesbury Arm bridges are not compatible with the cover, so I set about taking it down. I’ve done this many times and I’m getting pretty slick at it. I usually take the canal side panel down from inside – it is slightly awkward. The bank side panel I more often do from the gunwale, it’s slightly easier and I can step on to the bank. This time just as I’d finished, my foot slipped. I’m not sure quite what happened next – gravity doesn’t hang about when it gets going. I stopped with one elbow on the gunwale and the other on the bank, wet to above my knees. I hauled myself out, stood on the back deck and shouted my frustration. So now we have no heating and I have wet clothes and shoes! And a bruised rib.