And there I stood in Wistman’s Wood

Yarwood

I was minding my own business working away at my desk when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something very very shiny.  I went out for a closer look to see it and to my delight it was NB Yarwood heading back up the canal after their jaunt on the river.    I grabbed the camera just in time for them to meet another boat in the narrows.

Quarry and Devon

We had a brilliant day out at the quarry a few days back.  The time passed so quickly and the fire burnt so brightly.

In no time at all it was time to come home. I sauntered up the back to start the engine and nothing happened.  It seems that the starter motor needs a bit of TLC.  A gentle tap with the hammer got us home, the starter motor was removed and I packed my suitcase and headed for Devon.

And so, there we were in Devon amongst the topsy turvey houses resting along side rivers lined with trees and hills. Yachts bobbed around nonchalantly lapping up the sunshine. It was a glorious place to be.

a ride on the steam train

a trip to the beach

and a meander up to Wistman’s wood – where we stood listening to the cuckoo.

Dartmoor is stunning and I absolutely loved it.

The starter motor is fixed and after a test run I am going to start my rather delayed summer jaunt. I still haven’t done any painting preparation and I really do need to get stuck in to it.

Boots on Holiday

Boots pretty much scowled throughout his holidays. He felt there wasn’t enough basket time.

Pelsall Boat Festival

Cor.. that was fun!

I like it when NB No Problem venture to our southern quarters. It seemed that they were miles away but then, all of a sudden, there we all were having supper together.

I didn’t have my camera with me, but NB Yarwood did here and so did NB No Problem here we all met with NB What a Lark and Maffi.

I am looking forward to their grand return!

Boxes. More boxes.

This year I have been far more stationary than normal.  It has paid off because the boat is really beginning to beam under the changes and I am mostly pleased; I feel as though progress is being made well.  I am having another shake down cruise on Sunday and then I hope to be ready for the off. I am getting seriously itchy feet but I have had to remain put and it has been beneficial.

While pootling along I am going to get lots of sanding done. I still haven’t quite managed to master the whole paint preparation/painting thing, but with the help of Herbie’s comprehensive postings on painting I am hoping to get better and better each year.  This year I must do the front deck, one side and a bit more of the roof.

In the meantime though I have been making boxes.  Boxes plural. I don’t think I want to make another box ever again.

and so to the sea

Molly’s Photo shoot

I am NOT opening my eyes for your silly picture

Oh go on then:

QUICK! Before I laugh

Thrupp Canal Cruising Club Fun day…

was fun.

A spot of twiddling, fettling and untangling added to a lot of string and you get duck racing.

and bunting.

A puzzle of foam

In an unfortunate incident, that lead to another bizarre occasion, I found myself to be chairman of a certain wildlife society.  It was a bit of a poison chalice because the previous committee had managed to get the whole society banned.  

I, as you would expect, took the situation seriously and took steps to deviate away from drunken riots and decided that  I, and others, should take an avid interested in a serious topic; Fungus.  We all learnt a lot about fungus. Indeed, the topic was rather more popular than I had and I am amazed we didn’t get banned ourselves.

I often forget this part of my life and periodically, when I am reminded, I wear a wry smile.  It was quite an extraordinary journey.

Today I was reminded of my past history in both the wild-life society and the boat when the former left me brain dead and the latter left me stripping the floor.

and the point of the post….

Sonflower has something he doesn’t recognise. I recognise it, but I don’t know why. So – ‘foam from the bilge’ what is it?

Them heads…

is for leaning on

Them dogs…

…is for standing under

…it doesn’t quite work the other way around

Shake down cruise

Blogger Spotting

Not that parking is a problem or anything…

 

Stoke Bruerne

Sunshine and boats.

Pummelled

Sunshine and more boats

and then down a crazy little lane to visit friends at Braunston.

Boots was rather norty at our friends.  He terrorised the cat.  I was most impressed at the stoic grown up nature of the cat during the ordeal…. it is all in the impression for my delightful friend told me their cat sat in its litter tray for an hour after our departure.  I felt sorry for the her until I discovered recovery involved sitting on the laptop watching birds in their nest on a webcam… not *that* different to Boots watching cat through the patio door….