Oh so pretty so pretty and ...

Now you might think this was a mistake but it was intentional as we didn't want the sink too close to the electric sockets.



So it was measured and cut







Quite a lot was cut but we managed to save the hinges for the doors. We did think they would have to be moved. Which would make them open from the middle of the cupboards.

Having the sink there means it is right under the porthole which is always better than slightly off centre.

All the lids down.

and with the sink lid removed.

And this little cuty is my bathroom basin.

Phew what a weekend

It started with small boy and I heading down to London for my brother and his wifes joint 50th Birthday Party (and midsummer party). We set off at 12pm so that we could stop at the George (Kilsby) for Lunch. And what a lunch - we had pudding and everything. The journey was going swimmingly despite Great Britain appearing to be at a standstill. Roads closed in Scotland. Manchester ring road a no go area. M40 northbound stationary. M1 a disaster and the M25 it's usual Friday evening. We then arrived at the M25 and suddenly they admitted that it was also bad on the bit we wanted 16 to 15 and on the M4. My little Panda at that point was averaging 76.4mpg. Two hours later we were down to 74 something. We arrived at 6.30 party was 7.30 so a quick change was in order. Sister then said Saturday she was going to Hyde Park would we like to come? I liked the line up. Pretenders, Seasick Steve, Ben Harper and Fleet Foxes (didn't know these two) and then Neil Young. We booked quickly on line and went to party. Brilliant hoe down.







That is Seasick Steve at Hyde Park - for those who do not know of him he is a hobo who was finally 'discovered' aged 57 appeared on Jules Holland in 2006 and released his first album. He thanked us for finding him which was nice!

The Pretenders were good, as was Steve not so sure about Ben and the Fleet Foxes were okay (small boy thought they were brilliant) and then I got a text from small boy who had surged to the front for Neil Young.

"He's an old fart with more presence than most bands ever dream of!"

I think he was impressed. And for the encore Macca came on stage and performed a Beatles cover with Neil Young. Result.












For about half an hour in the afternoon the heavens opened. No one was on stage so we found our own entertainment. This is small boy, cousin and cousin's boyfriend sharing a poncho.

Next year I may be doing Hyde Park again but with my own accommodation. How near does the canal get to Hyde Park?

On the way home Sunday we got a text saying his other grandma was in hospital and were we going to his cousins birthday party?

So we didn't go straight home but did a small detour to cousin's house and bit of a knees up with the exlaws. They are always good value.

Grandma had apparently fallen down the stairs Friday morning bringing Grandfather his early morning cup of tea. Top to bottom splitting her head open on the chair at the bottom by the telephone. They have kept her in for observation should be out soon.

Cat is quite pleased to see us.

Creswell Crags

For those who might want to know where the poppy field is I will tell you.

It is near Creswell Crags. The woods you can see to the left of the picture actually have a gorge in the middle of it and this is what must have been a des res back in the day.

I enjoy reading about the stone age and loved the Clan of the Cave Bear. On the basis of this if I lived in the stone age I would want to be here. Caves on both sides of the gorge with a stream running down the middle. A couple of the bigger caves have water trickling past them as well. Protected from most of the weather and with running water! Bliss

Although I believe the site was not lived in as such but was a summer hunting ground only due to the proximity of the glaciers. They used to herd deer etc over the cliff edge.

If you use google map satellite view you can see the fields that are currently bright red although in the satellite they are parched stubble fields. The bigger of the two near the farm house has a footpath running through it I took the picture from that path. Also the white blob in the green field may be my ex horse Macuba or it may have been Drummer who sadly died a couple of years ago from liver damage due to Ragwort.

On a different note I had to go to have my blood pressure taken as my head is falling off (due to accident in 1997 see first entry) and my Chiropractor was worried about my low blood pressure. Apparently I have the blood pressure of a teenager! That explains my behaviour then.

I will probably have to have an x-ray of my neck done before she dares to manipulate it just in case it really does fall off!

Don't you just love ...

POPPIES

Wow I was impressed

This year's Woodsetts Summer Festival was well worth going to see. Many more stalls than usual and decent stuff too. They had a Farmers Market - no veg as far as I could see but then I didn't get there early so may have missed them - but lots of nice looking cakes and jams etc etc.



The Chesterfield Canal Trust trailer was there but I didn't help. I did have a chat does that count?

In fact the stalls there were so good that I had to go home get my card nip to the post office get cash out and return to buy a lovely present for my sister in law. Sorted. The stall holder kindly set it aside for me as all her things were individual, similar but all different. Wont tell you what it is because her party is not until next week! And you never know my family might follow my blog.

They had a tarot card reader, army cadets with laser quest inflatable room, african drumming, dj instruction, normal stalls and roundabouts found at these events, and this little beauty.












We missed the Dakota fly past on Sunday as we were collecting Rob's dad from RAF Cranwell (?) he had been to a bit of a do there as an ex cranwellian. On the way home we called in at Sawley Marina and had a look around Windsong. Didn't see Pip and Roger but did have a chat with Ali. Again learned something useful for my boat.

Finally some progress to report

Due to Bryan doing lots of important things in his workshop nothing has been changing on the boat worth taking pictures of. However now that Mikuni Man has finished the plumbing first fix Bryan has reinstalled the cupboard in the office/bedroom oiled jointly by small boy and myself.





Complete with hanging rail.
















And small boy helped install the boards under the tug deck that he did most of the oiling of as well. So the water tank is now ensconced on its polystyrene with some behind as well.










Now Mel can see where the water filler point is required as well as the vent. The old diesel taps etc that we thought we needed and then didn't have been capped and foamed over. Unfortunately the watertank was replaced before I knew of this to take pictures to prove to the Surveyor that we have indeed done this. Ho hum. Hopefully when the tank is removed again for Mel to do his hole drilling we can take a photo then.

Wonderful Weekend

I went to pick up my canoe on Saturday Morning from Desperate Measures in Nottingham. The staff were lovely and made me a cup of tea and everything. One of the lads was designated official photographer and he took some wonderful shots. I know cos I vetted them!

Unfortunately I have since been told that his camera was stolen. They caught it all on cctv so hopefully they get it back. Upshot is you may or may not get a photograph of me receiving said item. The alternative is one I sent to them of me in the canoe taken by Rob on our maiden voyage. To keep you in suspenders I will not upload that photo onto the blog!

As I realised the logistics of carrying a 16foot rigid canoe on top of a 12foot Fiat Panda were not good I asked for an inflatable one as an alternative.

So I now know that my tender does not want to be called Skidoo as it has a perfectly good name of its own...


Please meet Tomcat, Bobcat's little friend.

We took our maiden voyage on the Cromford Canal and as a Derbyshire Ranger caught us setting off we were given instructions to go all the way to High Peak and speak to the lady in the information centre who would take our money off us. As it is an area of scientific whatsit you have to book apparently. Well we know for next time.

It was all going swimmingly until just before High Peak when we met this. It was a toss up whether we turned around or not but being an honest soul we kept going intrepid explorers that we are.

This is Rob doing his Shallow Hal impersonation when I got out to fetch icecreams and pay our £1.50. We have since moved his seat further forward so hopefully in future we will not pull weed in through the back self bailing holes! Yeuch.

It is tough paddling when you are unfit and your partner insists on doing manly paddling on his side of the canoe. You can imagine our track was not a straight line.

So it was a relief to see Cromford in the distance. Back to base, brilliant.

Then on Sunday we went on his BMW (no squealing at all even though he did creep up to over 60mph) to the trotting races.


We were doing well on picking horses with a vaguely watery theme but by the end of our sixth race we were down our original bet each of £1. We would have done better but when it was Rob's turn he couldn't see a watery theme so chose Best Mate which came in second to last whilst Reed Lark came in first - I ask you!

Slightly different view

Courtesy of my Mikuni Man I now have two holes in my roof. As we leapt into this event without thinking things through we discovered that the vents did not come with seals. Sealant was required and none to be found and it was threatening rain!

Steve came to the rescue with a roll of adhesive sealent from seals+direct that he luckily had left over from fitting his portholes! I was then sent out on an errand to get the correct bolts to fix the vents to the roof and also a tap and die set as Mikuni Man does not do self tapping screws.

I visited Screwfix in Mansfield but no joy on the M4's (admittedly didn't check on the tap and die) so went to nearest B&Q. Got the M4 bolts but only bigger stores do the tap and die set. I misheard and went across town to the other B&Q on my way back to boat and they too were a small store but there was a mega store in Sutton in Ashfield. Of course there was - idiot girl - that was where I was told to go in the first place if only ears and brain had been in the same gear. In my defence I was now starving hungry and rapidly losing the will to live.

So I complete the triangle of Mansfield located the tap and die set and drill bits etc etc and also a Bakewell tart that was like sawdust but saved the day.

I now have two solar vents that are wurring away nicely. The starboard one is for the Compost Toilet the port side one for the gas hob. I don't actually need them for ventilation purposes as the vents on the pigeon boxes are more than adequate. They are an active element to compliment the passive.


And here is my current oiling joy.








Isn't it the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?

I may or may not have mentioned earlier but my Dad picked up a bit of Greenheart whilst doing his early morning beach combing ten years ago. He still had some left over and did I want it? Yes I did and we discovered that there was enough to make my four sills for the hatches. Which is ideal as any condensation dripping onto them will have no effect whatsoever. If Greenheart is what they make piers out of ...

This one is for the front hatch in the office/bedroom.

I brought it home to finish the oiling and can't bear to part with it. I think it now has at least six layers of oil on. Really must let it dry so that Bryan can fit it. I look forward to nurturing the other three once he has made them look pretty.

Come to me my precious ...

On a lighter note I go to pick up my canoe on Saturday.

Stonewalling ...

Stone walling

and studiously ignoring one another.

Rob got a chance to learn how to stonewall. So I very kindly brought him a picnic and watched them work in the broiling sunshine for a bit.