Holidays!

I am off on holidays - two weeks crusing the Thames and the River Wey. I intend on plenty of reading, chilling and relaxation. There are quite a few ruins to tiptoe around too!

Laundrettes

Many boaters these days have washing machines on board. I was reminded over the weekend by one of my neighbours that when we first met he was hope to get a washing machine - apparently I was terribly understanding and told him I was hoping to get electricity. I did.

Washing machines on boats are becoming more and more common and those who don't either visit friends and use theirs, or go to a laundrette. Here is an extract from my diary a couple of years ago when I had a favourite laundrette...

"Infact it is so good I would be prepared to travel accross the country - much like one does for a favourite dentist. Something I adore about laundrettes (you must understand I am talking about my favourite one) are the people that pass through. On thursday when I was reading the paper and waiting for the spin to stop shaking so violently that the lady standing nearby wobbled, a beard walked in. A rather large beard who clearly had something resembling linin and spotty y-fronts in a tumble dryer. Once his (I hope this will not be regarded as sexist, I do realise women have beards, but I am obviously too polite to notice)drying was done, he felt he had to chat whilst folding the goods - quite an interesting chap. He is a fellow boater and on closer inspection I have come to realise he was infact captain birdseye - although I suspect his wife of being a russian spy. Another lady came in, sat down with what appeared to be empty washing bags, talked about boats for rather a long time; said how good laudrettes were and promptly left announcing 'she was pleased to have been able to get that all done' having done no washing or drying at all!!! Its incredible that as soon as I enter the 'zone' I find myself ruled by the 20p - I nip to the shop next door and make sure I buy something that will require 20p change, a few moments later I do the same again. The attendants providing a service also provide change, and I found myself constantly wondering whether I had enough change. I would clutch my brow, count the ones I had, stare frantically at the machines, and then sidle up to the attendent and say nervously that I felt I needed more change. On thursday I went up just before closing time and was very anxiously requesting change... I was delighted to see the beard and spy looking urgently at eachother and then joined the change queue. Laundrettes aren't about washing - they are about POWER. "

Painting Prep

This evening I had a really good go at the paintwork on the bow of the boat - I started off with a 1cm chisel and ended up with a storming great tool that did wonders! This was thanks to Chris near my moorings who had one in the back of his car! The loose paint came of really well, and it now looks like I am actually doing something!!!! Someone did suggest I use nitromors (is that the correct spelling!) but to make sure I wash it off properly and don't get any in the river.

Insect Bites

I have been eaten alive and am covered in mosquito bites. This reminded me of an entry in my diary a couple of years ago, so I thought I would post it here!


"It is good to have pets, and I have several on the boat. My favourite is felix the fake cat (honestly he is lovely), who is accompanied by quite a few spiders. My other pet is from the diptera family, is small, and has a rather high pitched whine. I thought he might devour me but as he didn't we built up quite a bond - until last night of course. The pet known as Mosquito is known to transmit diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue, filariasis and encephalitis. For me, I am suffering from the 'itch'.... I have mosquito bites on the soles and side of my feet, behind my ear and on my face. Mosquito is clearly not a man, but a women (men can't peirce the skin)... ooh she is a vicious lady and war has begun. I am practicing my murderous swat and pinch as I write. Not all pets are good."

Or Purple?

Or there is purple. Purple has always been my favourite choice, but I am not sure I can get the colour! Also, at the moment the green and cream or the grey scheme are winning for me. Green and Cream because they are Triumph colours, and grey because its non-imposing and more "Bones" like.

Place your votes!

Here are some piccies of potential paint colours. Not as good as Maffi's but they do the trick. I know I can get green and red paint, I am still working on Grey....

Grey Nomads' pictures of the cut

I often struggle to find words to sufficiently express the things I find adorable about life on the water, particularly the wildlife and the peace. Here is a boater who does it excellently with the most beautiful photographs recording sights whilst travelling the waterways: http://www.greynomad42.blogspot.com/ for the blog and http://www.gnscrapbook.blogspot.com/ for the scrapbook. Both are excellent!

Sanding for painting

I borrowed a sander earlier in the week, and this evening I decided to see how well it worked. Unfortunately it didn't work as well as I had hoped!! I did find some pretty rough paper for the sander, but the pits and paint seem pretty firm on Bones so I am not sure what to do next. I am thinking of getting my wire brush out and seeing whether I can find some even more industrial strength sandpaper to smooth it all down.

As the budget is tight I am going to go for Dulux Weathershield which has been recommended to me. Unfortunately they don't do purple or grey which is a great shame. I did think about mixing it myself but I can't guarantee I would be able to mix the same colour again. I am not sure whether I should be looking at other paint makes - such as crown, but I haven't heard others talking about them.

All advice welcome!

Many moons ago I was on the Oxford canal. As I came off the cherwell and Shipton on cherwell approaching Thrupp I saw what looked like a ruin across the fields. I moored up and took a stroll across the fields and game across the delightful village of Hampton Gay - more precisely the church and a ruined manor house. Not far from the manor house are the remains of the paper mill. If you are passing that way I recommend a visit! Here are some photo's.
the church across the fields:



the manor house:





the remains of the paper mill (honest!)

Glorious Gas

Today was the big day of a new gas system being installed on the boat by the fabulous gas man. He has done a most pleasing job, and I am delighted with the results.
The pipe runs from the cooker through the bulkhead and under the gunnel:




I now have a bubble tester in my gas locker:


I am delighted. No more salad for me!!!!

I'm going to put a link to the gas man on my links section, if you are in this area and need a gas man, an electric man or an engine man - he is your man. He's also corgi registered.

Pedometer

I was up bright and early this morning sorting a few things out before heading off to the River Wey to meet some forum chums. The river really is beautiful, the boats rest on it gently and the ducks float around peacefully. I felt completely tranquil - that was until I suddenly realised my sandled shoe was headed for some dog excrement (BLAH!). The stroll along the towpath is beautiful, but it is increasingly becoming a canine lavatory - a factor that severely decreases my enjoyment of walking.

I seem to be able to walk along a towpath for miles without so much of a whimper, but when out strolling with my walking chum I am often heard to proclaim exhaustion after what I am SURE is at LEAST ten miles. My chum invariably announces we have only walked a mile or two - his answer for all walks regardless of lengths. What I wonder is why don't humans have a pedometer area in the brain? Insects (well ants) do!!! Ants use an internal pedometer