Too cold to paint.

What can I say about this weather other than its been too cold, to wet, and too blowy to finish off the painting. The side has been rubbed down and a coat of red oxide applied then the weather turned and that is how it has stayed.  A few days ago after we had moved off from our mooring we met Del and Al they pulled up alongside and we had a chat for a good half an hour catching up with the event of Al’s birthday bash.

Today is blowing a hooley yet again but the forecast is better for tomorrow and the rest of the weekend which will be good for the Crick show. Plenty of boats have past us recently on their way so hopefully they are safely moored up now.

Normally at this time of the year the double glazing has been removed and the fire cleaned out who would have thought we would still be in “winter” mode in May? Lets hope June lives up to its reputation of being “flaming” need to get the shorts out and air these lily white legs of mine…….

Change of scenery

I have been away for a few days visiting family coming back yesterday, trundling from Braunston to bridge 100 in the wind and rain with a rucksack was exhausting. Would have liked to have put some photos on here but I left my camera at Jacks.

This morning as it was relatively calm leaving at 8am we went and turned round then made our way to Braunston to get water etc. We then set off cruising for another hour or so until the weather closed in and we decided to stop rather than get wet. Next on the list is to replenish the food stocks I haven't actually been food shopping for 2 whole weeks so the cupboard is very bare. So it means moving again  to get close to a bus stop.

Paul also needs to get the other side of the boat painted luckily we are facing the right way to get that done when the rain stops, that's if it stops, the weather doesn't look too clever for the rest of the month but its a job that has to be done. 

Phew!!!!!

To say that yesterday was a tad blowy would be an understatement. We had planned to go and turn round but that, of course never happened. Although there were quite a few boats that did move and they certainly didn't look as if they were enjoying the experience.

This is how the canal looked here.

More like water ski-ing weather than boating weather thank goodness it is a bit calmer today.

Will he, wont he, shall he, shant he?

Well in the end he did! Paint that is. After yesterday when it rained and the paint brush was left in situ today dawned cloudy and Paul was convinced that if he started to paint it would rain. Well that was the wrong assumption because by 2pm the sun was shining. The sides were taped up the paint pot opened and off he went. This is the finished article.

All nice and tidy with only the odd insect stuck to the wet paint.

Yesterday we were invited onto Yarwood for a cuppa. as we hadnt seen the boat we said yes please. As a lot of you know Yarwood is lovely and we were both really impressed with her. We had a lovely welcome from Joe Lesley and the “boys”, thank you all for your hospitality.

Paul likes to keep things ship shape…..

As we are in the country Paul has set to getting the sides of the hull sorted out as there is 2 years of damage to the paintwork. Paul decided he was going to make a proper job of this so the damaged paintwork and touchings was rubbed back to shiny steel and then given 3 coats of red oxide. Yesterday the toe rail was given 3 coats of red oxide as this is now the finished colour. In the past Paul has had the green paint colour matched and mixed but as this is now so expensive he has decided it will be finished in gloss black

 

The gunnels now are red oxide not green.

Ready for the top coat black.

It will have taken  3 days hard graft to get this far and Pauls back has been giving him gip. Now people have been asking us “why go to all this trouble when you are selling the boat?” Well Paul has always looked after the boat and kept in good condition just because it is up for sale is no reason to let things go.

Betty and Graham have just left us after being here for a few days. Graham also got the paint brush out it must be all this sunshine. I have not been idle the cooker has been cleaned you can only leave that job for so long.

Peaceful evening.

Stow away…..

The other day we were sat watching the tele when out of the corner of my eye I spotted  this great big spider crawling over Crystals leg, it was a good job she was asleep as it wouldn't have survived to see another day.

Big bugger wasn't it, I don't like stow always like this at least Paul rescued it and I am sure it is better off on the tow path rather than in the boat.

We are now all done and dusted at the docs so on Tuesday we had an early start and made our way through the Crick tunnel and down the Watford locks getting to Norton junction to be with Ann and Keith. We spent a very pleasant afternoon on the towpath in the sun chatting and drinking the odd alcoholic beverage. Both Ann and I ended up with very red arms from the sun our noses were a bit pink too but that may have been from the drink……..

This morning it was through the Braunston tunnel and down the double locks luckily for us Betty and Graham came up to give us a hand so Paul and Keith just sat in the locks chatting while the rest of us beavered away.

So now here we all are back at Braunston together until Saturday at least, its is good to be with ours friends again.

Quick well done to my son Jack who got a fantastic time of 3hours 6mins for the London marathon on Sunday.

Thank goodness……

For the sunshine, its funny how all it takes is the sun to come out and you feel in the mood for doing jobs.

So this morning the boat has been cleaned inside and out by little ol me while Paul has set too and  the button he made two years ago has had a coat of bitumen and the new bow rope has been installed.

 

That looks better especially with the newly blacked bottom.

Where we are the tow path is above the gunnel so not good for painting, but once we move and if the weather stays fine that job will be done very soon.

The dogs have spent the day on the tow path with us and are now exhausted from doing absolutely nothing.

So from laying in the sun all day to laying in front of the fire, true what they say about it being a “dogs life”.

Yesterday we went to Daventry on the County Connect bus as Paul had ordered 3x 5 litres of engine oil from Autoworld. This shop is very good  they also get our filters for us well worth a visit.