Its not us!

Someone asked us the other day if we were the"Piston Broke" on the Canal Forum. Well we're not! Have just about enough hours in the day to write the blog, watch the tele and moan a bit (Paul) go onto Facebook (me) and do the other general things associated with the boat, washing hoovering, cleaning etc. So although Paul has been on the Forum site to have a quick read he admits its best that he doesnt get involved with leaving comments, anyway it would have to be me that did the typing and I would get really stressed out if he was making derogatory comments.
Yesterday Dave from Granthams came down to discuss with Paul the STRETCH, they went through the plans that Paul had drawn up and the specification. Dave got onto Beta to find out delivery dates and prices for the new engine, after a couple of hours Dave returned to the yard with plans and spec under his arm and he is going to draw up an itemised quote for us. Paul is now on tenterhooks as to what the quote will be. Hopefully within our budget. Paul is not hedging his bets on one quote he is going to get two others so then we can decide who will get the work, not necessarily the cheapest but the best value for money. Paul also phoned John (Johns Canopies) to warn him that we will require a new cratch and pram cover as we are going to change the livery colour and the green covers wont match the colours we have in mind, so at some point we will be selling our green covers on, will let you know when so if any one is interested they can buy them at a very good price!! Cratch cover is Wilson's and the pram cover Johns Boat Canopies.
Today I felt the need to get the bus to Rugby. Paul was glued to the Iraq inquiry hoping to see Tony Blair squirm but not much hope of that I think. Any way I had a good wander round popping in shops I don't normally visit. I then went into the Orange shop and bit the bullet changing from Pay as You Go to a contract got a nice new phone that will probably take me ages to get to grips with, Paul is having my old phone as his is well past its sell by date.
The wind has been absolutely bitter and I was glad to get back onto the boat. Paul sat in exactly the same place as when I left him about 3 hours ago glued to the tele and he is still there uttering the odd comment when Tony Blair responds to questions. The most used comment is "you lying b******d".
Will soon be Monday and the dreaded dentist visit first of two next week. Wednesday will see us heading for Rugby and then Thursday I am off to Kent. Feels strange being on our own, feel the need to make a cake of some sort.

Next mooring.

This morning we went through the locks and then had to queue for water, Nb Twinkle was on the point there was another boat waiting but his hose wasnt long enough to go between his boat and the other tap so he was waiting for Twinkle to move off, space behind him was too small for us to go into so we had to be patient. Paul noticed that we had lost one of our fenders so I trotted off to the bottom lock where I found it floating in the canal back for the net and I duly fished it out. We eventually got onto the water point I put another load in the machine and about an hour or so later we were able to move up round the corner to our current mooring where we will stay for about a week.
Around 2.30 a boat came alongside and it was Betty and Graham on Tranquilty they are now in front of us and we have been invited in tonight for a drink. Will be nice to see them again, its been all of 24 hours.

Change of scenery at last!!

After spending a very enjoyable boozy evening with our friends last night (thanks for drinking all Paul's beer fellas he has no excuse to not dry out for a bit now) we decided that today would be the day to move. Gosty had arrived Saturday morning so we are topped up with fuel. We made a quick call on Dot and Derek nb Gypsy Rover who had passed by us yesterday afternoon. Sorry to get you out of bed Derek but it was quarter to 10. After a welcome cuppa we made our way back to the boat to get ready for the off. Keith and Ann nb Oakfield had already set off to the winding hole by Blue Haven so the "Braunston 6" were down to 4 we said our goodbyes to Graham and Betty nb Tranquilty, then there were 2. Is sad to leave everyone, we have had such a good time together these past few weeks.
It was decidedly cold on the back of the boat in fact it was bloody freezing good job we bought those salopettes they certainly keep the chill out. Just approaching Barby Straight and who was coming towards us but Oakfield on their way back to Braunston. Ann had the camera out and snapped us resplendent in hats, scarves etc thanks for that Ann.
We carried on to Hillmorton deciding to moor up by the top lock for tonight then through the locks onto the water point tomorrow and hopefully onto the 14 day mooring near the Kent Road Bridge. Now moored up behind Ian and Carmen on nb Kerasea.
Paul has gone to see Dave in the marina as we owe them 25p from our last visit. Sky looks a funny colour hope there isn't any more of that white stuff waiting to come down.

Moving soon.

Well it looks as though we have all decided to make a move in the next couple of days. George the BW guy came past on Thursday just checking things out and asking if we were moving anytime soon. Wasn't pushing just asking, when Paul said he had dentist appointments he said all we had to do was tell them in the Stop House that we would be around for a bit and it would be okay to stay if we wanted to. Very accommodating I thought but we need to move as we are getting bored of the same scenery.
Thing with being in one place for so long is that Paul starts THINKING and that is not a good thing. His little brain goes into overdrive so now I am surrounded by drawings of the new boat layout once it has been stretched and I had to type out a specification of works as well. All this has come about because Paul went down to Dave Thomas's yard to get a couple of bits of steel (don't ask) and got chatting to Dave about stretching and the cost etc so now the original drawing has been scrapped and the new one done, just have to run every thing by Dave to see if it is all viable then hopefully we will get a quote from him. We will get other quotes as well but like to keep our options open. Of course with Caxton going to Dave for a stretch soon Paul will be watching the ongoing work.
As we are all on the move soon I decided that tea and cake in the afternoon was a bit tame so tomorrow we are all meeting on board Piston Broke for a farewell booze up with, wait for it ,NIBBLES oh we are so decadent. Will be strange not to have our friends around us we have had such a good time together and I hope we will all meet up again in the not to distant future.
Have been in touch with Ian and Alison on Gosty Hill and they are on their way to Braunston hoping to get here today, his leakage problem has been sorted a plate being welded onto the hole. Bad but not as bad as feared.
Chores have been done this morning, Paul has had a shower (about time) a hair cut and a shave so looks quite respectable again wont last long mind. Blow me he has had a brain storm he is making coffee first time this decade.
Met Chris and Debbie nb Ubique yesterday at the bus stop, we were all on our way for some food shopping. We all caught the same bus back well laden with grub.
Well coffee's ready I'll be off.

Coals arrived.

Well we have been busy doing nothing since Friday. Yesterday the coalman delivered our coal to bridge 90 40 bags of the stuff, so yet again the men were up and down the tow path with their barrows ferrying coal. The canal seems to be thawing but when I walked the dogs to bridge 88 the canal Hillmorton side was still heavily iced over. Bit deceptive really as Braunston is free of ice.
Sunday Keith Ann Paul and I went to The Old Plough for Sunday lunch and very nice it was too couldn't even manage a pudding I was so full.
It was Betty's turn to provide "afternoon tea" yesterday and she gave us warm apple cake which was to die for. This morning the girls went to Rugby I had to go to the bank and do a few other bits Betty and Ann had to hit Asda, when we got back it transpired that the men had gone to the pub. Paul and Graham to have a pint of Pedigree and Keith wanted to avail himself of the WI FI. Poor manager had his ears bent over the terrible curry night we had had and he said we should have complained at the time. Oh yes, would it have done any good I ask myself. When the men went up for a second pint they had run out of Pedigree YET AGAIN. So up they got and walked out much to the consternation of the manager.
Have decided that I will visit the family in Kent at the beginning of February need a bit of family time.
Wonder if we will get the snow tonight.

Snowy Pictures.

When I started this yesterday the snow was just beginning to thaw, this morning after torrential rain all night everything is now a sodden mess. There is still ice on the canal so I don't think that anything will move for a couple of days. I finally made my "boat cake" and dispatched Paul with warm slices to our neighbours, hope it didn't give you indigestion.
The pictures were taken over the time we have been iced in here. This winter has been far worse than the last two, so glad we have had neighbours, a bus service and facilities close by. Lets hope we can move soon just have to wait for the coal delivery now.

What did I say?????

At the end of yesterdays post I said I couldn't wait to go to the pub (the boathouse) last night, well at one point we couldn't wait to get out. As I mentioned there were 8 of us, Ian and Carmen are the latest editions to join our "happy band" hope we didn't put them off too much. Any way as I was saying, first thing no Pedigree beer the barrel had run out and they had to wait 12 hours for the new one to settle. Now why didn't they stand the next barrel alongside the one in use then they wouldn't have to wait 12 hours for it to settle. Paul and Graham weren't too happy as this is their favourite pint. We have even weaned Graham off of lager onto REAL beer. Next problem we had was, that when Betty and Graham selected their vegetarian curries they were told "there isn't any" now I ask you. We had got to the place by 7.15 there were our table of 8 a table of six and one of 2 you cant tell me everyone had had a vegetarian curry. At this point if it had just been the 6 regulars I think we would have walked out. Still the waitress returned to the kitchen and came back saying they could substitute a spicy Jambalaya for the curry so all okay so far. Paul chose a beef madras and when it turned up it looked like the insides of a meat pie with no hint of madras or spices just a bland goo on a bed of rice n chips. The Jambalaya looked like cat sick in fact Betty was convinced it was the scrapings of left over veg mixed with rice. The other non curry meals were okay 2 beef stews (ah that's where the meat for the madras came from) and a meat pie (maybe it was here). I had ordered a Jalfrezi which arrived just as every one else was half way through their meals was not happy about that I can tell you. Meals finished we all decided to have a pud Paul went really OTT and ordered a Banana and caramel sundae at £3.55 guess what!!!!! no bananas lots of sundae but no bananas. It was at this point that Paul made up his mind never and I mean never to return to this pub again, even if he is dying of thirst. When we ate there New Years eve the food was nice in fact we had high expectations oh how wrong can you be.
Today was the first trip to the dentist, I had a hair appointment so left Paul to his own devices giving him strict instructions to get to the dentist in plenty of time. Well we met up again with me nicely coiffured and Paul looking well normal, no funny lopsided face or blood oozing from an extraction. What have you had done I asked him, bugger all was the reply all the dentist had done was tell him that one of his teeth was past saving and had to come out and then they went through the plan of action for the rest of the treatment. Next appointment is for two weeks time when the treatment will begin in earnest so it looks as if we are going to be stuck in the area for about 2 months.
Don't know what it was like everywhere else but we woke to thick fog what else is there left just thunder and lightening I think.
We had just returned form Daventry when there was a knock on the window and it was Ann with a malt loaf she had made now how kind is that, what a lovely friend you are, that's another 2 inches on the waist line.
Paul also ventured to the sanitary station by Midlands with the cassette and he was gone for ages when he came back he was spitting feathers and got straight on the phone to BW. The Elsan point was literally full to overflowing and there was s*** running everywhere. Someone had put a notice on the door saying the pipes were frozen but the whole thing is blocked up. The BW guy could not believe it, luckily he was in Braunston so was off to check, also couldn't believe that the contractors had been mowing the snow a few days ago. Is this a case of the Right hand not knowing what the Left is doing I wonder.
Any way tomorrow I am doing absolutely nothing all this too-ing and fro-ing is wearing me out.