Only way to secure the boat. River???? Canal????? No Basin!!!!

 Top sheets went on Bath today which meant my view of the bird feeders had vanished . We also had a problem on how to secure the bow of FS. Bath is a typical working boat over 70ft long and with us at 57ft you can see why we had a problem. In the past we have always tied onto Baths mast but Dave and Izzie have decided the mast needs a coat of paint so are taking it home. We put the mud weight down which helped but that didn't stop us drifting from side to side . Only answer was to stretch the rope over Bath trying not to touch the top sheets and tie to one of the trees nearby. All well and good if one can reach high enough so the rope is clear of the sheets. A borrowed ladder made life easier and once I had thrown the bow rope over to Ian, he then secured the rope to the tree. Ummm Ian got down and realised this tree wasn't going to be any good as the rope would still have touched the sheet. So onto to the next tree and this time the rope cleared the top no problem. We are all nicely secure again and although my view has gone with Baths sheets now in place the boat already feels warmer. Acts as a nice windbreak.

Dave in Bath getting ready to place the boards.

On the bird feeder.

And on the railing

Could have told us earlier!

Hmmmm....... Been let down big time by the publishing company we used for our Society's magazine.  You may remember we were asked earlier this year to become the new editors of the Outlook  In the past all the photos were in black and white and Howard (chairman) wanted us to come into the 21st century with colour photos. We hunted round and found a publisher in this area that would do a 24 page booklet for around £200. So we had 200 printed and had no end of praise on the look and content of the magazine. For the last 6 weeks Ian has worked hard on producing the next edition. 2 days ago it went to the printer. We thought no more about it until we got the phone call saying they had undercharged us last time and the actual price would be nearer £400. Talk about a blow! Now what to do???? Panic mode set in!!! Needed the magazine out by next Wednesday and our only option was to phone the original publishers 10 miles away ( the ones before we took over) and ask if they could possibly help us out. After being on tenterhooks waiting for them to phone us back with a price, they eventually agreed to print the magazine for under £300.  And to top it all we can collect by Tuesday of next week. We may be using them in future as a good deed deserves our loyalty.


I mentioned the Kingfisher was still in the area a couple of days ago and it seems he is fishing the top end of the Erewash canal so excellent for me and the camera. This morning I caught another glimpse and followed him down the canal until I got near enough to take these photos. The last two pictures of the Kingfisher have been edited. With me shooting on shutter priority my ISO is set very high. (over 800) Consequently I get what is called digital noise and my paintshop program removes this for me. Makes the photos a bit nicer to view. I was also lucky enough to see a tree creeper which doesn't happen very often I can tell you.

before digital noise removal

And after

Water's not suposed to come from there, is it?

There was very little to report today initially until, that is, Ian very nearly brought our bungalow ceiling down! It all started when Ian went to unblock a drain at our tenants request several days ago and, having gone inside to flush water down from the loo, Ian noticed the plaster coming away from the ceiling in the living room right by the chimney stack. A quick shimmy up into the loft confirmed his fears, a slow water seepage from one of the joints by the water tank. Today, armed with the tools needed to fix the leak, we both went back to the bungalow, me so I could walk to Dolkholm lock to see what progress was being made at the stoppage and Ian to repair the pipework. First thing on the agenda was to drain the system so he could crack the joints without the worry of a flood. Leaving him to get on with it I set off for the lock. I must have been gone about an hour when, on my return, I was just in time to see water cascading down from the ceiling. I yelled at Ian (who incidentally was oblivious to the mini waterfall he had produced) to stop what he was doing and get down quick. A few choice words were then forthcoming and a super quick dash to the garage to grab a bucket. I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn't returned when I did. Thankfully only the carpet and some catalogue's got wet so I grabbed the towel from the garage, mopped up as much as I could, laid the catalogue's out in the sun and hoped they would dry off before our tenants returned. Ian had the devils own job in replacing the joints. Corrosion had well and truly set in. In fact judging by the state of them they wouldn't have lasted the winter and then we would have been in a pickle. Ceiling down, tenants to re-home, mess everywhere, it would have cost us a fortune. All I can say it was a good job we had that drain to unblock!

Work at Dolkholm lock is porogressing slowly. Well it is only day 2 of the stoppage after all. The pans and crane barge are above the lock with only one more barge to be brought up. Having chatted to one of the guys about what is to be carried out, it appears it's not just the lower and upper gates being replaced. Walls are to be repointed and the lock floor inspected for leaks etc. Hopefully I can get back next week to see how much has been done.

Misty start to the job

Last barge waiting to be brought up

Loaded with everything bar the gates, it seems.

 This chap had been spinning for Perch by Dolkholm lock. I mentioned to him about the pollution of two years ago and the fact very few fish had been caught since then. We had a conversation about the restocking of this section and agreed that only small fry had been caught. He then wondered off towards Sandiacre lock still casting his lure at every opportunity. Well as I walked back towards Sandiacre lock I was just in time to see him bringing out this good size Perch. The big grin on his face told it all. As an angler this was a fantastic sight as it means the restocking had obviously worked and fish stocks are finally recovering.

 As I was about to post this I noticed an orange glow in the sky. Took this photo across the basin first before realising the glow was even more spectacular in the other direction. Sign of good weather to come perhaps?

Oh the joys of trying to get water!

Now don't get me wrong the mooring here in the basin is ideal as far as shopping and walks are concerned.We have electric and nearly all the facilities bar one. Ian also has the use of the workshop for his DIY so he is one very happy bunnie. Down side is the noise from the road directly above us, no view except across at the other boats and no water!!! The tap was on the far side, easily accessible by those boats moored on that side but for Bath and us a bit of a nightmare. Baths owners Dave and Izzie very rarely come up to the boat during the winter months so really it is only us that need water. So the only way to get the hose across was by a rope and pulley system. For us to achieve that goal had taken the best part of 90 minutes. First Ian threw me the rope whilst standing on the bow of one of the boats. I tied my end to the T stud on FS's bow..He then made it taut and secured it to the fence by the pub. Once back on board FS he placed the pulley on the rope. So far so good.

And then came the dilemma. How were we going to move the pulley to the other side so we could attach the hose. I came up with a brain wave (see the little grey cells do sometimes work) and suggested using my pole. At 11mtr long it should reach across without any bother and all I needed to do was get the end onto the pulley and push. Well easier said then done!

Kept missing!

To control a 11 mtr pole in mid air is almost impossible, what little wind there was kept it swaying and then when I did manage to get the end onto the pulley, I got it to go almost to the middle and the end slipped out and the blasted pulley headed back in my direction! Then I had another brainwave (what twice in one day? Steady girl, this could become a habit) and had the idea of tying a rope round the end of my pole and onto the pulley. It worked and I was finally able to push it across.

Got it half way before the end slipped off.

Success!

Untying my pole from the pulley

Attaching the hose

I must say the pulley system worked a treat after all that hassle to bring it over. Once the tank was filled Ian pulled the hose back, removed it from the pulley and then tied the rope back to a fence post. Future usage will be so much easier now the rope is stretched over the basin and should take minutes rather then hours.

Filling at last. Had to stand the coal back on top of the hose so it wouldn't fall back into the canal.

A few photos to show from my walk this morning.

Forget walking the dog, walk the pony instead.

Hiding in the thorn bush. Really hope to see him again now that I know where he fishes.

 And there are still one or two bugs about.

Senior moments X 2

I am in no doubt that the older we are the more forgetful we get. Our little grey cells no longer function as they used to and consequently daft things are done. Just like this morning when Ian snapped the padlock shut on the back cabin doors and then realised the boat keys were still hanging up inside. His expression said it all, am I an idiot or what! So the dilemma was what to do. As this has happened once before several years ago the only solution was to knock the pins out holding the front doors and lift them off the hinges He was just about to walk to ECP&DA work shop to get a hole punch when I had a sudden thought. Had I actually remembered to bolt the front doors this morning? Only way to find out was for Ian to attempt to get back in through the cratch cover. No mean feat with Bath next to us and no foot hold as such. But the answer was yes I had forgotten to bolt the doors.  Phew such a relief as no demolition work was needed after all. It seems that Ian wasn't the only one whose brain wasn't functioning properly. Must have had a fault with mine too!

Not so easy getting into the cratch with Bath next to us.

Now the reason for leaving the boat this morning was to take a trip to Long Buckby. Along the GU on the Buckby flight of locks is a little shop called Anchor cottage and run by a lovely lady called Trisha. Not only does she sell canal ware but paints them too. In October 2010 we asked her to paint a large Buckby can in our boat colours. I didn't want traditional red roses and suggested blue instead. When we got the can I was thrilled and 2 years later ordered a second middle sized can. So on our journey back this October we purchased to large wooden planters and asked if she could paint these also in our colours. Last week she phoned to say they were ready and we arranged for collection today. Love the way she has done them and can just imagine my pink, white and orange begonias cascading over the sides. Roll on Spring!

A body to feast on.

We are now in the Great Northern Basin right opposite the Great Northern pub. Moved the boat yesterday with the help of Christine and Josh. Well, Josh sat in the well deck asking loads of questions like 'Why is grandad going backwards?, 'Why is grandad going to the lock?, Why is grandad going backwards again? Why is grandad going past that boat? 'Why is grandad going through that bridge that moves? Gosh one needs the patience of a saint to answer all his questions. Still at 5 Josh's brain needs input so it stands to reason that he wants to know everything. After securing FS we headed to the pub for lunch and was told of a Halloween party starting there at 8pm. Hmmm thought I, could be a tad noisy now that we are moored opposite. Anyway after lunch we decided to let Josh run off some of his energy (if that possible) at Shipley park.

Christine and Josh

 Lovely to have Echo (Jades litter sister) for the day. We do so miss having Jade on the boat. May have to borrow Echo more often to make up for it.

Thomas getting a taste of a chocolate ice cream.

This face tells it all!!!! Too cold!!! But he wanted more, little monkey!

After the family left we decided it would be a good idea to go and join in the fun at the Great Northern pub and once the party got going we trundled over to join in. By Jove it was noisy! Lots of hilarity and loud music and the atmosphere was brilliant with everyone dressing up as witches, vampires and ghouls. In fact we felt quite under dressed going only in jeans and jumper. The landlord, Oisin, put on a magnificent spread and all for free.

Spooky looking moon

Oisin the Landlord

A bodily feast to behold.

And this photo taken with a time lapse setting. I think the coloured line in the sky to be a firework or again it could be one of the witches taking off on super charged broomstick.(:

This morning we went hunting for bathroom shower fittings. With having one of those stupid 3/4 baths in the boat since we bought FS 8 years ago, it's always been a bone of contention for me. Why have a bath in a narrow boat when one has to conserve as much water as possible. So Ian's next project is to somehow get the bath out of the boat and then fit out a new shower. Should keep him out of my hair for a while. (: Anyway watch this space 'cause will put pics of the demolition work as it happens.

Moored next to working boat Bath. Dave and Izzie are due to sheet up shortly. Shame really as I wont be able to watch my birdies on the feeder anymore.