All done!!!!!!

Well that's it the last job since the stretch in 2010/11 has been completed. Hurrahhhhhhhhh.

This is the before:

This is the after.

Nice eh certainly makes a difference and a job well done, but would I expect anything else from Paul?

We have had a few trips to Rugby in between all this work, me to the dentist and Paul back to the docs for the results of his blood tests, which were all clear but he now has to go to the hospital for a chest x-ray. Not too sure when this will be as at the moment we have about 6inches of snow in the marina although the roads were passable first thing.

Food delivery came on Wednesday so the dogs have enough to last a couple of months and us a couple of weeks not to sure if the alcohol will last that long though!!!!!

At least we are cosy here and looking at the weather it would appear we are due snow every day until Monday that should be fun, the dogs will love it.

If it’s not one thing……….

After having a few days at Jacks doing a spot of babysitting I came back last Saturday needing a rest, with a 7  and  5 year old running me ragged I was exhausted.

On Sunday we finally got stuck into the shower, It didn't take Paul too long to get the old tiles off although as you can imagine there was quite a lot of mess.

 

This was the test to see how easy the tiles came off.

All gone

Just a small amount of rubble.

So after doing this on Monday next thing was the tiling, all was going well until we ran out of adhesive. It certainly didn't cover what it said on the container. So Tuesday morning saw us in Rugby to get some more, we had now got 2 sides completed and part of the third wall, this one had the taps so there was to be a bit of hole cutting, as we were due to have our New Year breakfast get together on Wednesday morning Paul had a bit of a rest as his back was giving him quite a bit of jip.

Wednesday morning Paul wasn't feeling to good so a quick call to the docs and we were on the bus to Rugby earlier then expected. We finally got to Wetherspoons and had a very pleasant few hours not too sure what the other patrons thought of us as we got a bit rowdy when Del got out the camera to take the requisite photos. There we all were covering our faces or turning our backs I am sure everyone thought we were mad well……… perhaps they were right. After it was off to get Pauls prescription and yet more adhesive once back on the boat a little more was done but Thursday we had to go the hospital as Paul had to have a blood test so this tiling was taking a lot longer than anticipated.

Today I had to go into town for a hair cut so I left Paul finishing off the grouting and refitting the shower door and when I got back it was done and very nice it looks too.

 

 

With the tiles being lighter it certainly makes the shower look bigger. So the job that was to take 3 days ended up taking 5 but it was unforeseen circumstances that forced the delay. Next job is to tile round the sink and the toilet hopefully we wont have any mishaps to make that a long job.

To top everything that has happened this week I broke a tooth while eating my lunch (it was only toast) so I now have to go into Rugby on Monday to get that sorted I know that bus route blind folded now.

Weather forecast doesn't look to clever for the next week, as long as I get my food delivery on Wednesday it can snow as much as it likes.

That's it then!!!!!!!!

All that food and drink and it is over in a flash back to normal now. Paul and I don't do gifts but he got me a bag of coal so I would have something to open Christmas morning ……………. 

It has been a very quiet time although quite a few people arrived here at the marina to spend Christmas and the only way we knew this was by the amount of cars that appeared in the car park. Time to start planning 2013, think we have an idea of what we will be doing.

Bathroom is still to be tiled but a test area has been done to see how easy the tiles came off, the first one was a bit of a pig but the next one was a breeze. I now have a Midland Chandlers carrier bag duct taped over the missing bits. D day for the total tile removal will be around the 6th of January, why then? well, I have seconded to babysit at Jacks on the 4th so wont be coming back till the 5th and as I am chief “clearer upper” the job cant be started with out me. Just thought, it maybe the 8th as we have a breakfast get together to sort out.

Just wish this weather would improve, the dogs get plastered every time they go out and today it is very windy bring on the snow I say. We have got a bit boat crazy so caught the bus into town this morning to have a look round the sales we came back with a new frying pan and a small Pyrex bowl big spenders we certainly aren't.

One thing I have been doing while here is jigsaw puzzles Angela gave me a nice jigsaw folder where you can keep all the bits and then put it away, well the puzzle I choose had lots of trees and flowers probably not the best choice for a beginner, anyway this thing has taken me nearly two months to do and it is only a 500 piece one. I have to be in the mood and find that if I sit for hours looking at the picture I get no where then the next time I get it out I find all the pieces I couldn't find last time. Well yesterday with two thirds of it done I was determined to finish it Paul helped as well and guess what there were two bits missing I was gutted we had been looking for those for ages so back in the box it went with a note about the missing bits.  But………as I was tidying up I found one piece under a cushion and one bit under the table Paul suggested we get it out and do it again with all the pieces …now you know why I needed a new frying pan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year everyone

We’ve been busy busy busy.

On Friday Paul and I went into Rugby for a trip out more than anything. I did a silly thing taking him into Asda to look at some nice jumpers, well in my eyes they were nice. We came out of the shop with a tele for the bedroom……..A 12v tele with cd/dvd player and Freeview installed as well at a bargain price. But no jumpers. I was told this was my Christmas present, well, as I didn't want a new TV I bought myself a pair of boots instead. Saturday saw me on the train to London for the day to meet up with Jess for lunch as I wont be seeing her again before the 25th had a nice time with her and when I got back to the boat the TV had been installed just have to get rid of the old one now. (12v Phillips TV and Freeview box going at a good price…)

Sunday Angela and John invited us on board for mulled wine and mince pies along with Bob  and Brian a very pleasant few hours were spent and the mince pies were out of this world thanks Angela and John for your hospitality.

Today we were in Rugby yet again, this time to meet up with Betty and Graham who are moored the wrong side of the breach but had hired a car to visit family and wanted to see us and Ann and Keith for a Christmas lunch. It was nice to catch up with Betty and Graham as it has been quite a few months since we parted company and during that time they decided that now was the time to return to a house so their boat is up for sale. I hope that Tranquility sells quickly for them.

Paul and I would like to take this opportunity to wish every one a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful 2013.

Christmas get together.

Today with it being the 12th of the 12th 2012 8 of us got together for our pre Christmas bash. The 8 consisted of Del and Al nb Derwent6, John and Ang nb Ellen, Ann and Keith nb Oakfield and us. We all met up at the Red Lion in Crick for a really lovely lunch. The pub had laid a table for us with crackers  so it didn't take long for us to get into the Christmas spirit and as it it had been Keith and Pauls birthdays on Sunday we had extra cause for celebration. As is usual for me the camera was left behind but no doubt there will be pictures on Derwent 6s and Oakfields blogs. The time flew by and it was only the bell ringing for last orders that made us don our coats and wander out into the cold Ann, Keith, Del and Al to catch the bus and Angela John and us to wander back to the marina.

Once we were back the boys went on board for another beer while Angela and I took the 3 dogs for a nice walk. The perfect end to a smashing day thank you every one for making it such a magic time, here's to our New Year breakfast get together “Bring it on”

Ouch!!!!!

Being quite organised in as much as the Tesco delivery is booked for the week before Christmas I thought I would book the County Connect bus again for a trip into Daventry today. Email came back as before but this time we had to walk up to the PO in the village. I booked the bus for 10am and the time we were given for departure was 9.20, the bus was waiting for us when we got there at 9.15. Bus passes went on the machine and the grumpy driver said “cant use them before 9.30” now the time was 9.20 and much as we tried to keep him chatting till 9.30 he wasn't having any of it. At this point I must say it wasn't the nice driver from last time. So Paul gets out his wallet as the driver said £4.90 Paul gave him a fiver and he remarked “that's each” as you can imagine Paul at this point was ready to get off the bus and wait for the 96 to Rugby but as we wanted a particular shop in Daventry we were stuffed. As this bus is one you order we weren't aware that the 9.30 rule applied so next time I shall book the bus for 11 o'clock to be on the safe side. Now we don't  mind paying our way but £4.90 for a 10 minute bus ride seems a bit on the steep side to me.

As we had plenty of time to look around we finally got into a shop called Pigeonhole which is at the end of the high street near to Home base, this is full of antiques vintage and retro collectables in all there are over 80 different people that use this large place that is known as Moot Hall. There was so many things that I liked but we came away with only a few bits, a nice copper coffee pot, three brass table bells (that I collect) and believe it or not three brass flying ducks. So it looks like a big can of Brasso is called for.

Over the past three weeks Paul has been busy working on the panel as modifications to the slip rings had to be carried out. Mark 1 were not suitable and under engineered, they consisted of brass strip bent in such a way to accommodate tension where they  made contact with the copper tube this was unsuccessful as the brass strip wouldn't hold tension to make a good and safe joint. Mark 2: from the safety aspect a small copper shoe was soldered  to the contact end this would allow more pressure to be applied to the copper tube and not allow slip off however this again was unsuccessful as the swivelling of the panels caused the brass strip to bend and get out of shape. After a lot of thinking Paul went into overdrive and was convinced that he would have to resort to hard wiring and forget the 360 degree turning circle until he had an “eureka” moment was able to come up with a new plan.Mark 3: last week that moment came and he decided to re-engineer the slippers to accommodate a sprung loaded rolling wheel these were constructed using brass curtain rail, 3” brass hinges, 4 £1 coins and 4 2p coins (no expense spared…….) the wheels were made up by using 2 x 2p pieces (had to be  old because the new ones have a different metal content) as the outer guide and two £1 coins as the inner shoe, these were all soldered together and there was a lot of filing to get a touch fit onto the copper rings the 2 3” hinges were cut to shape and used to make up a   bogie  to carry the wheel and the spring to load the tension, the brass curtain rod is self explanatory in the photo. Apart from making an adjustment to the fixing holes of the frame where the cables  connect all went well and we now have 360 deg turn so far so good.

Only the outer plastic guard to install.

Covers done…

We did catch our Connect bus to Daventry and quite an experience it was too. Not being up to speed with which roads go where other than the Stagecoach bus routes we were a bit perturbed when the little bus headed off towards Northampton. There was one lady on the bus when we got on and on our jaunt out into the country we stopped outside a nice little house and the next passenger got on, the bus driver then offered us all a sweet and it was onto the next pick up which was heaven only knows where. The driver then asked us passengers which way we would like to go certainly a novel idea. We got to Daventry (eventually) the journey had taken 40 minutes. As we had arranged to meet Ann and Keith we asked the driver if we could return an hour later than we had booked this was sorted and we had a extra hour to get shopping and have breakfast in Weatherspoons. The return journey took 15 minutes but I shall make sure we use this service again as it is so convenient.

Yesterday we had a jaunt to Rugby the bus was late and for the whole journey the driver had a problem in as much as the horn was constantly honking it was so loud you couldn't have a conversation, the driver took it upon himself to deviate from his normal route and didn't stop at any further bus stops until we got into town.

The covers are done took a lot of measuring and checking of sizes ( you know the old adage measure twice cut once well the material was measured into an inch of its life). I got into the swing of using the machine again although there was a bit of a hic-up when the tension went up the swanee but all three are done and one is in place.

Paul has to put more fixing on but he ran out of pot rivets hence the trip to Rugby.

We are quite proud of our selves only problem Paul has is fixing the other two as they are water side and with this ice and cold at the moment I think they may have to wait a couple of days before they are put in place as long as they keep the draught out I will be happy.

A few boats here in the marina have Christmas light adorning them one of the nicest is nb Ellen so Paul being Paul made sure we bought lights while in Rugby so we can have a display as well

I think next week will see the starting of the bathroom tiling  if Paul can motivate himself………….

Last night saw us in the Red Lion with Angela John and Rodney  a very nice evening ensued and the food as usual was lovely. The walk back to the marina was very brisk as it was freezing………