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!!