Not going any where.

Boat was due out yesterday but as the canal was frozen they weren't able to move her. So work has started again on the inside.

View towards the bottom lock.

Paul has sorted out the remaining plumbing including my washing machine. The new cratch doors are in the process of being fitted, there is some work being done to the engine, some wiring has been done and we MIGHT by the end of the week here the pitter patter of 3 pistons going up and down but Paul isn't holding his breath.

Pauls journey to the yard was a bit on the white knuckle side this morning. The bus route is very hilly and these hadn't been gritted so there was plenty of vehicles slipping and sliding all over the place.

I had a bit of a result yesterday I had checked the internet for stock availability of these blooming chairs. They had 4 in stock and 6 more expected so off I went on my lonesome to Ikea. I am pleased to say they had plenty of the chairs and covers so I was able to make my purchase, I arranged for a delivery and was told it would be today between 10.30 and 7.30 with a phone call half an hour before from the driver. Believe it or not I had a call at 10 am this morning to say they would be 30 minutes I then received another call to say they were at the yard 30 minutes later. This is so unusual a store actually delivering on the day and at the time they say they are going to.Well done Ikea you have finally got something right.

I think the outside temperature has risen a degree or two not that we are appreciating it. Understand Gosty Hill is stuck at Braunston on the way back towards Rugby.

Spot the difference!!!!

Well the minor amendment has been done to Pauls approval so here are the before and after pictures.

Before.

After.

Can you see the difference? Paul says if you can you have an eye for detail.

Looks better with the scroll work.

I had a trip to Kent at the weekend, was invited out for a meal with some old work colleagues. The evening flew by as they were very interested with our life on the cut. Every time I rang Paul he was bemoaning the fact that he was very, very cold. I was in the luxury of a nice centrally heated house so I was okay, but now I am back on this ice box I can appreciate why he was moaning. Last night the little electric fire struggled to raise the heat above freezing so we watched TV with a nice fluffy blanket round us. Went to bed with a hot water bottle each, our joggers on and in Pauls case his shirt and socks as well. I did draw the line at the socks. It brings back memories of when I was a kid and money was a bit tight and was allowed to have the paraffin heater in my room for an hour before bed time oh the good old days!!! Today is no better.

This boat does have a Morso  solid fuel fire but it is in such a dangerous position that we don't want to light it because it could catch the sofa alight and the dogs would singe their coats every time they walked past it. So I hope you are all feeling very sorry for us.

Boat is due out of the paint shop tomorrow so hopefully it wont be any longer than a week to 10 days before we can get back on board and I JUST CANT WAIT even though the inside looks like a bomb has gone off and there is flakes of paint all over the place but hey its only surface dirt I can sort that I am good at cleaning.

What do you think?

Well here is the side panel virtually completed. There is a minor adjustment to make but we’ll see if you can spot the difference when we post the amended picture.

Before

After.

Brass is now back in situ, roof is uncovered but the photographer didn't take any snaps of that!! Paul is going to go back to the yard on Saturday as we think that may be the day she comes out of the paint shed. But as there is this minor alteration to do it may be Monday. We understand there is still at least a weeks work to do to complete the inside of the boat.

Canal here had a thin covering of ice this morning looks like winter has come early this year.

I am getting very frustrated with Ikea as we have seen  a couple of armchairs that we like. We had been to the store a couple of weeks ago but no stock. On Saturday I had checked on the internet and they had about 8 chairs in stock. Monday I double checked and they didn't have any, so I rang up the store in Coventry and the girl on the end of the phone tells me they have 7 chairs but not the covers I want. (no problem) So off we go on the bus, get to the shop where I ask a very nice young man to get the chairs down from the racking for me, only to be told they only had 1. I related the conversation I had only an hour an half previous “oh” he says “there is a discrepancy in the stock on the computer” as he said this Paul kind of lost it big time venting his frustration on the trolley which he shoved into the nearest bay muttering what a totally useless shop Ikea is and its no wonder they are always on Watchdog (or words to that effect). He has now washed his hands of the whole armchair buying sonario and has left it up to me to sort out. I have contemplated buying these on line but in store there is £25 off each chair and the delivery is £10 . On line its full price for the chairs and £35 delivery. I did want to take advantage of being in Hillmorton to have the chairs delivered there. Today, I had another peak at the stock situation and lo and behold over next weekend they are having 24 chairs and covers delivered,great, you may think but no, I am off to Kent this weekend to catch up with some old work mates so that's it then. I wonder if there will be some stock left next Monday I know for certain that Paul wont be on the bus with me if these elusive chairs ARE in stock.

Undecided!!!!!

Here is the nearly completed sign writing.

Not a good picture but you get the general idea. Must say that there is still some scroll work to go on the name panel. It is so different from the original that it is going to get some getting used to. The panels are cream and look better in the flesh and of course the roof is still covered in polythene. We keep looking at it, have we made the wrong choice? Will reserve judgement for when it is completed, it is just SO different from the original. To late now!!!!!!!!!

No need for words!!!!!!!

The pictures say it all.

 

This morning was spent discussing the sign writing with Tony with a bit of input from Jeff, finally it was all agreed what would go where and which colours would look best. Paul can’t contain himself and will be off again in the morning for a look at the progress.

Next bit.

Yet another trip to the yard today not too much to say, you can draw your own conclusions. We are getting excited now.

We have given Jeff carte blanche on the cheek design.

As you can see it is hard to define all the colour lines due to the overspray and masking but it has all worked out to plan D.

We are really pleased with the colours as it is hard to imagine until you see them in the flesh.

Dave is giving the finishing touches to the masking up before the main colour is applied. Unfortunately they were about 2 hours away from spraying the main colour and as we were cold we left them to it and we must contain our excitement until tomorrow. Paul checked the shading of the overall colour and it met with HIS approval.

This is Dave saying goodbye to us and if you could read his lips it would be along the lines of “ you have been here long enough now bugger off”. Bless him!!!! see you tomorrow Dave when we will be back again to see Tony the sign writer. Hopefully tomorrow all the masking will be removed and Piston Broke will be seen in her full glory.

Bit more paint on.

After spending a very nice weekend with number 2 son and his family in Egham its back to reality.

Yesterday we met up with Betty and Graham nb Tranquillity for a coffee in town. This morning Paul caught the bus to the yard, the two panels at the stern of the boat have now been sprayed in cream these are to accommodate the sign writing.  The red coach lining will be done this afternoon and all being well the main colour will be applied tomorrow in fact Paul is popping back down tomorrow afternoon to make sure it is the correct shade of ?????????????

The roof sections are now completed in raddle red and battle ship grey, not a good picture as these are masked up in polythene.

We have a meeting with the sign writer on Thursday to finalise the design and colours. Its all getting exciting now as hopefully it wont be too long before we can get back on board. Paul can’t believe just how long the boat looks now that she has some paint on her. He reckon that it looks bigger than it actually is.

Can’t believe how cold its been in fact I went out an bought two hot water bottles today we are getting fed up with the bed being so cold as there is a void under it which allows the cold air to circulate so the mattress never warms up. Keeping our socks on in bed at night has helped a bit doesn’t look very elegant but who cares about that!!

What a filthy day.

Needs dictated that we had to go out today, Paul to the boat, me to the hospital to have half an arm of blood taken!!!!

When we left it was overcast and windy, Paul stayed on the bus to Hillmorton I got off in town and walked to the hospital. Sat there for 45 mins waiting my turn and then it was out in to the worsening weather. I had only gone a few steps when the heavens opened and I got absolutely drowned, luckily I had an umbrella so had a bit of protection but there was nowhere to shelter so by the time I was back in Rugby it was pointless to even go into the precinct. I just soldiered on and by the time I was back at the boat I looked like I had just got out of the shower which is a bit of a bugger as I am off to number two sons in Egham tomorrow and my warm coat is now sodden with no chance of it drying on this freezing boat with only a 2kw heater to keep us warm, and this we have to turn off when we want to boil a kettle or use the toaster.

As I am writing this the heavens have opened up yet again and it is lashing down in broom handles. Trip to Tesco to get supplies for Paul has been put on hold for a bit.

This is the progress on the boat, first coat of “raddle red and battleship grey” are on the roof.

As you can see it is being masked up in readiness for its second coat after the anti slip grit has been applied. Now that there is some colour on the boat various suggestions have been put forward as to the design but Paul has given Jeff carte blanche (on some of it anyway).

Getting there.

Paul has been down to the yard this morning and now all the colours have been chosen and what is going where. After our discussions on Friday with Jeff the painter I thought everything had been decided but it would appear NOT. When Paul came back today more discussions have taken place and design changes have been made. If he changes his mind again I think a quick dunk in the canal is in order.  The boat has been sprayed with etching primer and is now in  high build primer, where there are imperfections a bit more filler has been applied.

 

So there we are, things are progressing. Paul is going down again on Thursday and fingers crossed there will be some colour on the boat.

Oh yes all the brass is now clean hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rugby in Autumn

Yesterday afternoon I wrapped up and took the dogs for their walk. This time I remembered to take my camera with me. I do love this time of year (made even better if your travelling) the colours have been amazing.

View towards Rugby from Willow Wren.

Don't know how I got this picture this big but this is looking towards Newbold.

Crystal had seen a Magpie and was just getting ready to chase it.

After experimenting I have after all this time found out what I can do with my pictures, can just imagine what my 13 year old granddaughter would be saying at this point or my 5 year old grandson come to that. 

Paul is bored silly, TV is playing up because of the weather so I know that blasted play station is going to be turned on soon. Ear plugs at the ready me thinks!!!!!!!

Thank goodness for motor sport!!!

We have had a break from brass cleaning today. Paul has been on cloud nine as we finally have a half decent TV picture due to the fact that the leaves have fallen off the trees. I have suffered 3 races in MOTGP and now F1 is on so I get my chance to be on the laptop.

Yesterday we met up with Alan and Francis nb Lazy Days and spent a very enjoyable 2 hours in Costa coffee catching up. On Friday while at the yard colours were discussed, we have finally decided on two of the colours so now Paul has to go down there on Tuesday to talk it through where panels are going and colours of coach lining etc. Also we wont be having grit under the roof box as this will be a bit of a waste, so box needs to be positioned so Jeff can mark that up. In the next few days we should see primer and undercoat going on. 

The rucksack is still full of stuff to be cleaned at least the mushrooms and the rack are shiny once more.

I had to bite the bullet and make an appointment at the hairdressers as I am beginning to resemble an Old English Sheepdog with my fringe hanging over my glasses.

Things here in the arm are very quiet not many hire boats going out seems only the very hardy are taking breaks at the moment. 

1 Mushroom down!!!!!!!

Well yesterday we started on the brass, having bought a tin of Nitromors Paul set to getting all the old coating off the mushrooms and plank rack. Bearing in mind we have only bought 3 of the mushrooms back there are still 2 at the yard along with the cleats and the brass steps. Any way the first mushroom was duly washed down and then the Brasso was put to good use. It is very difficult to clean stuff when you don't have the luxury of a table or decent flat surface on which to put things, I had to sit on the bed with a towel covering my legs and literally polish my heart out. I have to say at this point that Paul was tackling one of the racks. What seemed like hours later all the black marks had been polished out and at last we had 1 shiny mushroom. I did start the next one but after about 15 mins gave up and we put the kettle on and made some tea.There's no rush after all.

Today I went for my weekly visit as I, note the I, had to make a decision on the colour of the boat. I offered my opinion and we are going for the colour Paul wants, this is what is commonly known as a JOINT decision. All the redundant holes have been filled and rubbed down the new water filler has been put in on the foredeck so I think that's it, next job is primer.

  

Two 70 footers in the paint shop so things are a bit tight.

Just a little bit more to come off.

Nice shiny bow.

Filled and sanded.

The remaining brass was bought back so this weekend there is going to be a lot more cleaning hope I don't run out of Brasso.

We are hoping to meet up with Alan and Frances off of Lazy Days haven't seen them in a while so will be nice to have a good yarn.

As I write this Paul is taking all of his frustrations out on the Playstation.  Controller hasn’t been thrown yet so he must be quite calm.

It’s brass cleaning time.

On Monday we walked to Cox’s to see if they had the catches we wanted and this little Aladdin's cave of a shop had just the things. Just shows you, we couldn’t get them in Midland Chandlers but Rugby came up trumps. Yesterday it was off to the yard to collect the brass to be cleaned. The boat is nice and shiny now ready for the primer to go on.

 

Paul couldn't get all the brass in his rucksack so we have the mushrooms and the plank and pole rack to be going on with. We have to remove the coating that was put on first which is a real pain but it will give us something to do I suppose.

The pen and cob that have this arm as their territory have been visiting quite a lot now that they have evicted “the kids”

It never ceases to amaze me how smooth the feathers are.

This was the view that greeted us this morning when we opened the side hatch. We are also seeing a lot more birds here now coming to eat the few berries that are left on the trees.