Google Sketchup

Thanks to Herbie I have been introduced to google sketchup and have been using it ever since to show Andy what I want as sometimes my explanations and the excel drawings were a little confusing.

Also the ability to show items in 3d really helps to work out what will work and what wont.

I am nowhere near as proficient as Herbie but am getting there.

Designing the half dinette has proved interesting as you have to bear in mind the dimensions of the cushions relevant to sitting as well as in the lieing down positions!  All good clean fun and it keeps me off the streets.

Felt like a boater today

I spent the day cleaning out the boat taking out 4 full bags of shavings.  This was because I didn't clean it out last week for whatever reason.  I showed Philip (the boater behind) around my boat and in turn got to have a nosy around his.  He is fitting it out himself but has been working so hard he hasn't had time to work on the boat.  He therefore wanted Andy's number!  I told him on no uncertain terms that he wasn't allowed him until I had finished with him.  I think this fits in with his plans anyway so is not a problem.  He has done a nice job on his boat and like me all his equipment is rapidly dropping out of guarantee before we have even switched them on!  Such is life.

The reason I felt like a boater was I had got a voice message from my sister whilst in the bowls of his boat and I rang her back standing in the hatch of my boat in the glorious sunshine.  Felt fabulous.

Today I attached the licence plates (sticky back plastic ones). The one on the water side may be a little wonky but I can't tell for sure until I see it side on (by which time it will be too late to do anything about it.  I am confident that the one on the boardwalk side is straight but have not taken a ruler to it!

I also managed to not get any bubbles of air trapped.  Result.

Bed frame

So not yet finished as the front section still doesn't have it's wheels on nor the Ash facing but this gives you an idea.

Bed fully out into the room.  It is 4 foot 6 inches wide and 6 foot 6 inches long.

 

 I am pleased to note that fully extended I still have room to wriggle past the bottom of the bed.  

Before making the frame Andy and I re measured the space and it looked like we only had 9 inches at the end instead of the 12 inches I was expecting I ummed and ahhed as to whether I should reduce to 6'3" but decided length was more important in the bed department.  

So pleased I hadn't lost those 3 inches anywhere.  Very important those 3 inches!

And back in the sofa position.

All that untidiness under the window will be hidden by Ash plus there will be a hinged upholstered back board above the bed area.

The front legs etc will be hidden by Ash which will also form a lip to prevent the mattresses parting company in the middle of the night!

Drawers to go underneath.  Cubic capacity approx 74" x 50" x 8".

Unlikely voyage of Jack de Crow

Fabulous.   I notice that this book is now for sale in the IWA shop. 

I thoroughly recommend this book as being the funniest book I have ever read.  It will especially appeal to anyone who owned a Mirror Dinghy in their past.  This was the reason I bought the book for my Dad in the first place as he made one (also with red sail - kit form?) and we had many Swallow and Amazon type adventures on a resevoir called Barragem de St Lucia. Our dinghy was called Lucy II.  Another family also had a dinghy on the Barragem - different design - that we raced against.  They called their boat Bremner's Wake!  My position was that of Roger so I cannot take any of the kudos for sailing technique and results. 

When we moved to the Algarve for a bit my parents took part in Regattas on the sea and actually came second in one.  The silver cup they got is so enormous that it's role in life has been as an umbrella and walking stick stand ever since.  My brother was ill on that occasion so I was crew in the morning whilst my sister took care of him and then in the afternoon we swopped over.  He decided to take his own temperature and read it as being dangerously high so I had to mop his brow with wet towels.  I eventually got bored with this and left him a bowl and flannel to do it himself whilst I read a book.  When they came home I calmly informed them that he was dieing.  His pillow was totally drenched.  My mothers reading of the thermometer was within safe levels now whether it was due to my tender ministrations or he misread it we will never know for sure!

Whilst I hope I do not suffer the same ignomonies as Sandy I do hope that I set off on a voyage of discovery once Bobcat is finished and we are off.

Back to the boat build.  The bed is coming on apace and I have ordered the mattress.  Woo Hoo.  Second time I have cycled to the boat this week (trying to get fit for the summer!) this time I went the road way and it was much quicker and no hills.  There are two going across country.  Downside of the road is you do have to share your space with cars and lorries!

Bed and bathroom mirror

Progress goes on in the bed making department.  We have sliding panels either side so can access space behind.  In the case of the starboard side obviously access to the water pipes etc.  And this afternoon Andy has started making the bed frame.

There is now a lovely panel separating off the water tank.  This will come down if we need to adjust the fittings at some time.

Looking quite civilised under there now.

And my led heated mirror is finally installed ready for the electrician to fire it up. 

As it were!

As you can see we also have Ash 'coving' and 'dado' installed so the bathroom almost looks finished.

A fest of oiling and varnishing over the weekend I think.

Perhaps I had better do evening stints as well now that the days are longer.

Beds etc

At the weekend himself and I spent a happy time lounging around on various mattresses.  We think we know what we want now so we can design the bed frame around the depth of mattress.  Then we go back with accurate dimensions for the mattress to be made in two sections.  Large square piece 4'6" for the lieing down part and 18" for the seating part.  To firm up the seat area this will have a solid base whilst the sleeping part will be slats.

Helped Andy load all the Ash onto the boat and discussed what needs doing in what order.  We have a deadline to meet after all!

Ran the engine for a bit on Saturday to check on the leaking joints in the calorifier (yes they leak quite badly!) I was disconcerted by how rough the engine sounded.  However I am hoping that it is only sounding like that because a nut on the engine is up against Lord Voldemort's sturdy leg totally nullifying the Noise Killer stuff we have put on.  Spit Spit Mutter Mutter.  Andy reckons not a problem to cut a notch out of this leg so they are no longer touching and hopefully the engine will sound a lot better. 

If I was like Bones I would of course attempt to remove and replace the two leaking joints myself.  Not a difficulty in themselves - I am confident I could manage that just fine.  I just don't want to empty all the contents of the engine cooling system all over my lovely interior!  I also want MM to listen to my engine and confirm that it is fine and dandy and that I am just a neurotic fool.

I wish I had bought High Fidelity I really do!

Honey I'm back!!!

So here are my pictures from my Grand Day Out

A dismal view of the canal in Nottingham (would have been better if it had been a sunny day)

I thought it appropriate to have my lunch at this pub.

View of my bamboo flooring in the bathroom.  It goes all the way under the tug deck at the front.

Office desk flap down.  Resting on the side shelf and the open door of the little cupboard.

And closed up ready for the 'bed' to be pulled out to turn the 'office' into the bedroom!

Start of bedside cabinets/sofa arms.

Today I have mostly been travelling on the bus.  My car's tax and insurance run out on the same day so when I tried to tax it on Saturday I couldn't because I had no insurance valid for the 1st.  Today I rang the insurance and I am valid as from midnight so I phoned dvla but you don't get to speak to a person so once again I fell at the 'no valid insurance hurdle'.  Hopefully tomorrow all systems will have been updated.

My replacement modem arrived over the weekend but it didn't work either so I took laptop into Worksop by bus to go to the 3 shop.  They couldn't get the modem to work in their machines either but at least my sim did work in one of theirs so that at least is a result of sorts.  I came home.

I rang 3 again and we tried all sorts reinstalling, changing cables etc but no good.  Lad at the 3 shop had said I was better off getting a different dongle (usb rather than cable) as they seemed to work better.  Man at call centre said okay go back to the 3 shop.  Try the different dongle in your laptop with your sim if it works buy it and we will refund you by putting cash into your account.  So a dash for the bus again.  Into shop, it works WAY HAY so while it was downloading all my emails I bought it!  Back on bus, nice man at the call centre called me back and put the money in my account.  Sorted.

My neck hurts.  I will definitely be buying a smaller laptop SOON.

I met lots of lovely people on the bus.