I get all the good jobs!!!

Today Paul said he had a little job for me if I wanted something to do. Now I thought to myself I cant really refuse as he has been so busy doing stuff just lately that it is my “wifely duty” to help out. Well, to say I get the bum jobs would be a bit of an understatement but there you go I was up for the challenge. And this was the challenge,

Now this here headlight is supposed to be nice and shiny, to say that it has been neglected is apparent. Paul’s quip was to tell me “it will need a bit of elbow grease”. After a couple of hours my elbows needed more than greasing.

Half a tin of Brasso later. It looks a bit better but still a long way to go.

By the time I got this far I was bored with the whole thing so that is where I left it and I will do a bit more tomorrow(or the next day, or the day after that!!!!)

Last night we had a bit of a “soiree” the gang came aboard and we had a nice evening drinking and nibbling, we had a selection of cheese and biscuits and I splashed out and bought Keith a couple of bottles of Guinness Paul said “he can drink bitter” like me and Graham, I said, “that isn't very neighbourly”, Paul said “okay then but only buy him one bottle”, I said “go fly your kite I am buying him 2”. So I did.

Today Paul has been busy making a holder for our pins (picture to follow when the varnish is dry and it is in place) He has also put up a shelf above the washing machine for powder, eco balls etc. He is getting his engine room with some semblance of uniformity now, there is still quite a bit of staining and varnishing to do hopefully that will be completed before we leave here.

Change of scenery.

Last night saw the 6 of us going out for our Christmas meal, okay so its nearly the end of January but we didn't forecast us all being iced in at different parts of the canal system when Christmas arrived. Any way we had booked a table at The Stag and Pheasant, Paul and I like this pub the food has been good each time we have visited and it is a reasonable price. We had a very pleasant evening, I know we see each other on a daily basis but going out and socialising is different somehow and we don't often venture out in the dark no scaring the locals for us.

This morning we all set off around 10, there was a little bit of ice on the canal and it was bitterly cold, we are now all moored up at Rugby, park side was full so we are all on the tow path side. I have a trip to Tesco lined up and Paul has to go to Wickes, nothing changes once we are here we spend money.

Paul has been busy while we were at Hillmorton the steps are now varnished with sand on the treads to make them anti slip.

They look okay but another 2 more coats of varnish need to be applied, so I am told.

Not too sure how long we are staying here, I have a trip to Kent ear marked in a couple of weeks so need to be with in easy access of the station.

onwards and upwards!

Off we all went in a nice convoy after we had all done our ablutions at various points around Braunston.(Betty and Graham had to get a pump out, along with Keith and Anne we needed water.

Oakfield was in front with Tranquillity the filling in the sandwich us bringing up the rear. We passed Harnser going towards Braunston. Our new prop performed very well with Paul commenting on the fact that the tiller was more responsive. We found that 550 to 600 revs suited us just fine, although Paul did give the engine “the gun” for a bit just to see how things went. Of course it was raining but we didn't care as it was nice to be on the move again.  

We are now moored up at Hillmorton above the locks. Once settled it was into Tranquillity for “Tiffin”. We knew Graham had a leak on his calorifier so the boys went to investigate and give their opinions on the best way to solve the problem. It transpired that it was a fitting that was leaking. Things got really serious when a pad and pen was requested to write a list of bits to get. I have suggested that us girls go shopping on the day that this is tackled, think its best we get out of the way. Engine needs its first oil change so this must be tackled while we are here.

New prop on!!!

Woke this morning to a thin layer of ice on the canal, just our luck as we were off to have our new prop fitted. It was a bit of a tight squeeze getting to the slipway.

Bit of shunting back and forth and all was well.

This is the contraption the boats sit on to be hauled out.

Here we go!!!

Up out of the water.

Old prop coming off, we found that the size on this prop was 20/15.

Pauls “little” helper.

Old prop and new one side by side, quite a bit of difference in the size, new one is 20/20.

What are friends for but to give you a leg up when you forgot your tape!

All fitted and nice and shiny.

Jake the peg?

Braunston church from a different angle.

Not often the canal here is this quiet, tap was frozen though so couldn't top up with water.

Coming along on tick over, Paul is well impressed as now he is travelling on tick over and actually moving, where as before he was doing 1200 revs and just about travelling now he can do 600 revs and coast along. We had to bite the bullet and buy two new bow thruster batteries, they had them on special offer at The Wharf House so got them while there. They have also ordered some Morrison's oil for Paul as the first oil change is due, we pick that up on Monday.

We returned to the same mooring spot but believe it or not cannot get all the TV channels we had before.

Paul has fitted the new batteries and struggled to make them fit in the locker,  they are obviously a tad bigger than the old ones. so the battery box has had to be redesigned to accommodate them.

It is nice to have the sun shining and a clear blue sky even though it is freezing cold.

Signal at last.

Typical of Braunston the internet signal has been very intermittent. The dongle has been in the boat, out of the boat, in its rubber sleeve, out of its rubber sleeve and today it is back in the rubber sleeve in the container shoved up the coil of the CB Ariel, so I am taking advantage and writing again.

It goes without saying that Paul has been busy and very short tempered. The new cratch doors have been stained and varnished, but not before they had been dismantled, including the frame and surround, these have all now been fitted as best as he can get them. The woodwork has all been made good, rubbed down, stained then given 3 coats of varnish. Paul is pleased with  the finished article. At least we know that this job has been done properly.

 

As you can see the windows weren't cleaned but I did clean the brass vents. Paul spent ages getting the colour match right and I think he did okay. Will take a bit of time for the colour to age a bit.

Back doors were next and when they were taken off Paul discovered that the bottom of the doors hadn't been painted no primer, undercoat, nothing , as you can see rust is on its way now there's a surprise.

So now that is another job to be done. These have to be primed and painted. The wooden inserts were rubbed down, the lock refitted the staining done and tomorrow the varnish will go on.

The new prop arrived and will be fitted on Friday.

All nicely polished, and no, I wont be keeping it like this once it is in place!!!!! Even though Paul offered to buy me a wet suit.

Paul has found that the old engine bay (our new cellar) had signs of condensation so a fan has been installed to give air movement hoping that this will dry the moisture up. With reference to the paintwork, as we weren't given any touch up paint Paul had to go to Homebase to have some paint mixed, this came up a shade or two lighter but as we had some of the old darker green Paul has done a mix and he feels that he has a pretty good match so has gone round touching up the chips that we found after we left the yard. The real test will be the bottom of the doors and the deck boards which they omitted to do.

There have been a few nice get togethers between the “Intrepid 6” with plenty of banter and a few cans of beer being sunk which goes without saying really.

Settled once again

This morning we moved up to be near our friends and away from the mud. We stopped and filled up with water, while doing this Paul nipped into Midland Chandlers to pick up his new prop and some other bits and pieces like an amp meter a volt meter also an oil filter. lucky for us we had a 15% off voucher so we saved £79 on our purchases. Midland Chandlers were true to their word the prop turning up when they said it would with the call to say it had arrived.

As soon as we moored up I jumped in the shower then our buddies descended on us for coffee, as usual the banter flowed, with Paul teasing Graham about his sloping shelves and Keith and Graham having a pop at Paul about the state of the brass on his engine and the exposed copper pipe throughout the boat, oh it is so nice to be together again. Couldn't offer them boat cake as Paul has eaten it all so it looks like I shall be baking tomorrow. Oh forgot its a girls trip to Rugby in the morning so the cake will have to wait. Shopping is more important!!!!!

Today Paul fitted the new glass in the fire taking the opportunity as the fire went out over night. Last evening we were so hot we  even had the cratch doors open and we were down to our vest and pants while watching the tele. I kid you not, I was in my vest and Paul was in my pants oops I mean his pants. Not only that at half past two this morning Crystal was barking to go out which is very unusual, but the snoring from Paul meant it was up to me to get her off the boat. Once back in bed I could hear dripping ,it was like a Chinese water torture I realised it was the rain dripping off of the solar panel not that made it any better. Then to top it all in between the drips I had the snores so it was drip, snore, drip, snore it is a wonder that himself saw the light of day, he even had the cheek to ask me if I had slept okay. Just let him snore tonight I have a sharp stick that I will poke him with.

Prop sorted.

On our journey here we found that we had to have the engine revs higher than cruising speed and Pauls assumption was that the prop had no bite (original prop was reinstated). So yesterday endless phone calls were made to prop suppliers to ascertain which would be the correct size to go with our engine. Paul also spoke with the hull and engine manufacturer and apart from one prop supplier they all agreed that the original prop was a total waste of time. So a new prop is being delivered tomorrow and will be fitted next week.

Have met up with our friends although Betty and Graham have the dreaded flu so our time with them was short. Anne and Keith braved the mud and came for a cuppa this afternoon. Hopefully the space further up will still be there in the morning as we want to move nearer the junction.  Just hope the tv reception is as good there, I am also having trouble getting internet connection here.

Once we are settled again  jobs will be done, varnishing is first on the list.