Just 9 more days to go!!! Why might you ask? Well on Tuesday17th we set off down the Erewash to Sandiacre for the annual Pie and Pea at the Lock Cottage. Can't wait to pull pins and get going again. Winter...such a long season to be held captive and, although Langley Basin is pleasant enough if one likes a limited outlook, I long for the open spaces and quiet nights. So with little time left getting FS ready for sailing was top of our list. Batteries have been replaced, oil and filters changed, electrics checked, solar panels checked and leaks finally sorted. Yep we still had a leak from the water pump. This time it was Ian's turn to tread the wet carpet so once again flooring was raised and more silicon pasted around the joint. After a few hours the floor had dried and carpet once more put down. Thinking all was now okay, we were disturbed last night by the pump cutting in and out. With little sleep to be had Ian decided to turn the water off all together and have another check in the morning. On getting up, first thing was to strip the bed, lift the mattress and boards so he could get to the hot water tank underneath..........no leak. Next look at the pipe fittings in the bathroom......... no leak. Then lastly into the galley and again no leaks!!! Still baffled as to why the pump kept running all night, no rhyme nor reason for it that I can see, but just relieved that, for the time being at least, all seems to be okay.
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| New batteries ready to go in. |
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| Fitted in nicely. |
Work has progressed with the fence on our mooring and having the wooden panels to burn has really kept our coal consumption down. Only trouble is how hot the inside of FS gets by burning the wood. We have had to resort to opening windows and doors 'cause of a rise in outside temperature. I suppose we could have let the stove go out but not quite ready for that yet. Too cold late afternoon/evening! Still the chilly conditions are set to return and, with a tree having been removed at the end of the mooring to accomadate the new fence, more lovely boaters gold for us to burn.
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| Hmmmm.......nice hole. |
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| Norman behind the fence ready to secure the stump. |
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| Stump out with the now knew chainsaw. (Note the attire. All 'kitted up for 'elf & safety') and new fence post is finally set in the 'hole'. |
As for me I have been busy finishing the curtains. What a nightmare to cut 8 curtains out 5mtrs of material especially as it was double width making it 2.5 meters wide. Ever tried laying all that fabric out on the floor in a narrowboat no wider then 6'6"???? Not easy I can tell you! Anyway they are all made. Only the bedroom curtains have been put up. With the stove still lit billowing loads of dust and ash every time we empty the ash pan, and with us going on dry dock over Easter, I didn't think it a good idea to put them up until we dispense with the fire. These will now be my summer curtains and the old blue ones, winter.
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| Replacing our blue ones. |
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| All double lined to dispel the light and for insulation |
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| Old blue ones. |
Today I have given the duck family a makeover. We have managed to increase the numbers thanks to Christine and Josh finding a sorry looking duck floating in the canal. A bit of TLC and it's now the latest member.
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| Latest duck....the one with the blue eyes. |
All we have to do now is somehow fit them onto the omni aerial!
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