Apologies for lack of posts

but nothing to report really. Bryan is doing the boring but essential stuff like sanding and oiling. The galley units should arrive this week so maybe by end of week will have something to post.

Had a weekend away in Louth and went to watch the Sand Racing at Mablethorpe.

Other than that I now have to do some work?!

Below stairs

The cupboard at the bottom of the stairs is taking shape. The washing machine will go underneath the gas locker. The fridge freezer in the section nearest to us with the combi microwave above. As the washing machine is much smaller than the 700 wide cupboard there should be useful storage for miscellaneous stuff next to it. Including the broom the handle of which should fit up the left hand side of the gas locker in the gap left especially for it!

We are having to do clever things with the door fronts in front of the washing machine as the diy kitchen place do not do 1245 x 345mm door fronts. Only 1245 x 297mm. Bryan I am sure will save the day!

A little bit here and a little bit there ...

The walls are closing in on me!!! It is now possible to see the dimensions of the bathroom, loo and front bedroom. Bryan was having fun with polystyrene so there is soundproofing in them there walls! It is the ones around the loo that really need them though :(



Mel has put in the hatch opener/umbrella holder on the front of the hatch above the keyhole. I can now lock my narrowboat up and put up an umbrella for sunny days - not rainy ones. Rainy ones normally come with wind. It will also take a whirly gig clothes line. So versatile and so borrowed from Belle. www.railwaybraking.com/belle Thanks Chris for the technical drawing.




and this is my engine vent in situ. Perty aint it.

Beacon Boats

Thought it was about time I admitted to everyone that the lovely people at Beacon Boats have been extremely helpful with regards to my boat fitting. Everytime I have a query they give me an answer. I have visited them on two occasions and the quality of their workmanship is brilliant on the two boats I have seen there. I was originally seduced by the boat they had at Crick way back when. So consistent quality and bags of good ideas.

Update on Canal restoration

I have heard it on the grape vine that the ring road may indeed now go on the other side of the river.

Chesterfield Canal clear up

Some people just cannot stay out of the water! Here are the diving club clearing the weir run off thingy.


George only prevented from joining them by the strength of his waistband. We can until next autumn once again open and close the flood gates.

Don't ask but one of them is going to do the plumbing on my boat.

and some people can make litter picking fun. There was a whole flottilla of these clearing the rubbish from the waters edge along the River Rother into Chesterfield.

I however had to leave 'injured' at lunchtime. I trapped my sciatic nerve shoveling some of the muck dredged from the canal into a wheelbarrow. Ouch. I am getting too old for this malarky. Still it means I have caught up on my blogging. What a marathon - off for a soak in a lovely hot bath.

Meanwhile back at the boat

Bryan has put front bulkhead and side panels up as well as the wooden panels and frame on the hatch doors. There will also be internal glazed door to further reduce any drafts down the back of our necks. He has also part boarded the ceiling. Due to a bit of swearing on behalf of the electrician who hadn't yet fitted the famous grommets the panels had to come down again at the front and port side. However the 1st fix is now complete apart from a minor item the wiring from the Mikuni in the front locker and the control unit which will be in the port beside cabinet. So long as this is done before the water tank is installed not a problem.

This is the frame for my 'office'. There will be a full width desk flap but the topright hand section above the desk height is actually wardrobe hanging space accessed from the corridor.

This micro space is the loo. One natures head to be installed here plus small hand basin.

External view of my lovely hatch doors.

This wont be seen but it is my low level vent which will be venting out below the starboard bedside cabinet. So I can't be Arrietty any more.

Mel has also been busy. A lot of grunt went into making these locks as he discovered that the key can only be removed if the lock is either fully open or fully closed. So he had to measure exactly the distance travelled by the various components and place the support brackets just so.

and this will be my vent into the engine space. Bespoke item. Funky huh? Will obviously look better in situ.

Thursday Bryan, myself and the electrician worked out where the solar panels are going so that we know where the wires will be coming through the roof. Bryan will then do clever things with pipe ducting above the ceiling boards so the aesthetics of the ceiling boards are not compromised.

Yesterday I ordered the kitchen units and extra door fronts etc from www.diy-kitchens.com (I think it is a fabulous site and I got my house kitchen units from there. In my humble opinion they are much better than Howdens/B&Q etc) They should be with us week beginning 30th March. Once they are installed in the boat we can dismantle the temporary back access and the engine/batteries/electrical stuff can all be done. Until all the big items are safely on board we don't want to make life hard for ourselves. But I obviously can't put the boat on the water until we can steer it! Such a fine line we tread.

I also spent Saturday boning up on plumbing so that I can order most of the pipes and T joints etc.

Spain part 4 - Gaudi

The sacred family Fox

Detail

The not so pretty side of Sagreda Familia

Casa Balti

"The Quarry"

The ready to run.

Apparently it is hilarious when the police arrive suddenly there are men running all over the place with bags over their shoulders trying to scatter whilst the police try their best to herd them back together.

Spain part 3

Figueiras

Monday Paula took us into Figuerias and set off for her doctors appointment. We were supposed to look around the Dali museum before catching the train to Barcelona. However it was Monday so it was closed!

Here is the outside!

Had a very nice lunch then caught the train to Barcelona.

Barcelona

Micky met us off the train and he had found us a very cheap Hostel 15 euros each/night compared to the cheapest hotel at 50 euros. It was up umpteen flights of stairs in a shopping arcade. A bit like a rabbit warren inside but clean. The room had a basin in and overlooked the internal courtyards so no night noise. There was a selection of WC’s that also had showers in so no problems at all. We stayed two nights. They have lived there for 36 years and one tenant came for one night and has been there for 30! Because the shopping arcade and the cinema closed at midnight the proprietor’s father remained on call all night and we could buzz from outside and he would open the door for us downstairs. He was indeed there all night because when we left early on Wednesday morning he was snoozing on the sofa.

We ate and slept well however poor Micky and Paula didn’t sleep so well as they stayed in the flat he is doing up for someone and this has no furniture in and only cold water. Tuesday night they were ringing around for a blowup mattress.

On Tuesday we rented a couple of bikes from 11am to 6pm and were taken on a whistle stop tour of the outside of Gaudi’s architecture. Rob’s knee held up well as Barcelona is fairly flat. The bikes were not ideal as the back brake is actioned by pedalling backwards. This meant that you had to have the pedals at the right position when you stopped for setting off again and some hairy moments were had! Micky darts all over the place and my stomach was in knots. However we had a great time and survived. What more can one ask for?

Do you think they would appreciate a narrowboat in here?

Spain part 2

The wind making pretty patterns with the sand.


A view over Girona






A view over Cadaques

House at Cadaques

So annoying this cat didn't want to be photographed. They looked brilliant all in a row and equidistant from each other.

Spain part 1

Girona

Our next door neighbour sweetly offered to drive us to Robin Hood airport which saved at least an hours travelling time if not more. My bag had to go through the viewing device twice but I was passed fit to travel!

At Girona airport we were met by Rob’s brother in his car. Apparently it had just passed it’s MOT (not an English one let me tell you!) at 20 years old it wasn’t doing badly. I was given prime position of front passenger seat as I was unsure about wiggly roads and car sickness. This meant I had a seat belt. There was no passenger side mirror and the car groaned going around left hand bends and also around right hand bends. It also grumbled going in straight lines!

As Micky was unsure of how to get away from the airport back to his home we went around most roundabouts at least once. He ended up taking us to Girona first

and we had some coffee and a bit of a stroll around but not before he had locked himself to the car via his jacket. The car was not central locking and only the driver’s side unlocks so a bit of a palaver to extricate him.

We then set off to his flat. The yurt had been packed away for the winter and he had rented a flat which was a good thing. The area is noted for the wind and this started blowing the next morning and didn’t stop until Saturday night. It made things very unpleasant as you really couldn’t go out in it. I had a slight headache the whole time and Rob’s Migraine Man came to stay as well. Now I met MM in New Zealand and didn’t think much of him then at least this time he arrived in the night and all I had to do was get him a wet flannel (twice) and also a saucepan – just in case. I could then lie still and ignore him until I fell asleep again!

Rob thanked me for not tutting this time when we woke up the next morning!

As we drove we came upon an obstacle in the road and were about to go around it when we realised it was a roll of carpet. Micky is an inveterate pick-up-stuffer. Pippi Longstocking would have been proud. So we reversed back and they checked it out. Apart from a smallish discolouration and a hole (blood? Cue scary music Da da dun) the carpet was squeezed into the car with us. It smelt very damp!

Friday we attempted a walk to the beach we did a circular walk keeping the wind behind us most of the way. It would have been unbearable the other way. We found a sort of hide/lookout point and I was able to practice my flying. I look like a pink inflatable doll. Not a good look.

Saturday afternoon we had had enough of the wind and drove to Cadaques which is the pretty village that Salvador Dali liked to paint. Here the wind was just a gentle breeze. Big improvement. As it was out of season we saw the outside of his house only.

Saturday evening Micky’s friends arrived at his ‘restaurant’ for band practice. I eventually got up the guts to play and sing with them. They were very forgiving and the drummer was very kind. By the end of the evening I was even attempting to put a rhythm on the keyboard. Thoroughly enjoyed being a rock chick.

Sunday dawned nice and quiet. We did some washing then set off into the village for a walk, cup of coffee and a trip around a nature reservation.

Micky had to rush off to Barcelona to fix a water leak.

Why isn't anything simple?

Got a phone call this morning from Mel to say categorically that the Mikuni MX60 cannot go in the engine room as it is too far from it's diesel tank in the bows. Alternative place is in the front locker (ie down the garden shed) Apparently Andy from Woodworks has fitted one there already. So panic email to electrician (he would be asleep at that time) followed by a phone call in the afternoon to say we now need another set of 12v cables running to the pointy end otherwise the Mikuni would have to share a tank with the engine and the front tank would be wasted.

Sorted

On and off switch will be in the bedroom which is not a bad thing cos when lieing in bed on a cold and frost morning we can switch the heating on without getting out of bed.

Radiators will have thermostatic valves to minimise the Mikuni cycling and hence coking up and the calorifer at the back end of the boat will be "just another radiator" as far as it is concerned.

Oh my brain hurts.

I need a holiday - Oh yes I'm about to go on one - that's lucky.

Barthelona here we come.

A good sign

Got to the boat today and this lovely sight met my eyes. Work was finally starting on cutting holes in my boat. Yes more holes. This one my low level vent which means once the electrician has fitted his grommets (Yes still waiting!) Bryan can fit the front 3 panels and get cracking generally.




This will vent down behind the front bulkhead panel and pop out at the bottom of my bedside cabinet. Bedside cabinet is perhaps a rather hi falutin (sp) word to describe something which is only about 8 inches wide! We are squeezing a 5 foot wide bed under the tug deck which doesn't leave a lot of room either side. We will mostly be climbing into bed from the foot end! Especially in my case as at floor level I have the box section enclosing all the pipework etc so it would not be a good idea to stand on it!

Now to stop the mice gaining entry I spotted a grille in the yard on an ex bit of equipment and Mel has cut a bit out of it to put over the vent on the inside. Outside will have a homemade letter box doo hicky. (Technical term)




I feel a bit like a borrower looking out of my under floor grate.


Just call me Arrietty.

Boards to Barcelona

These boards are for the ceiling under the tug deck. Bryan has oiled them ready to go under. They will also be going on the ceiling on the rest of the boat as and when but these specific ones will be out of sight.

As he says seems a shame to paint them white but I think in the long run it would make the boat too dark and my remit is 'light and airy'. Will take a closer look tomorrow.

Whilst at Rob's this weekend I half inched an offcut of bamboo flooring so that when Bryan makes my 'office' cupboard he knows how high the bamboo flooring will be so that the door holding the desk flap up is the correct height off the current floor. It makes sense really.

We went out for a lovely lunch at the Bear at Alderwasley. It is a very popular pub for a Sunday lunch as they do a brilliant carvery and normally you have to book acres in advance however they had a slot at 3pm. We will not need to have supper tonight. There was a gentleman going up for seconds and he had a selection of all four roasts and presumably for his firsts he had the same. Credit crunch? Was he was getting one weeks worth of meat in in one sitting, or just plain greedy? Who can tell.

The pub must make a killing on a Sunday that keeps them going for the rest of the week. It was still heaving at 3pm and they had had at least three sittings at every table. We reckoned about 4 to 500 people at £9.75 each.

I followed this with a Baileys Creme Brulee. Yum. Now I am not a foody so take it from me if I like it - it must be good. (I was not prepared to share it as I had no interest whatsoever in his banana and chocolate cake with custard and my portion was a lot smaller than his. I did however let him have some of the raspberry coulis supplied with my brulee.) I'm so kind.

I am all packed ready for our week away in Barcelona with his Brother. Remember the Ice Man? I think we are staying in a Yurt will report back if we do. So excited. I can practice my Portuguese with his girlfriend who is Argentinian. (I know they speak spanish but she has had a lot of Brazilian friends so can speak both).

If I do a lot of lisping I think the Spanish can understand me anyway!!!

PS this doesn't work with the Basque as I have found out.