Hesperus III

Hesperus travelled through the locks to The Slipway in order to have the planks of wood removed. They will be stored there until the circumstances are ready for the boat to be repaired.

Hesperus II

Hesperus is still floating.  Apparently the chap heard about bunging up the holes with spray foam so that is what he has done.

He has removed some of the wood, but these huge planks remain

Hesperus

This old wooden boat, Hesperus, was mentioned in a thread on canalworld forums when Mike went past it on his boat a couple of weeks ago.

last night when I was pottery by there was quite a bit of activity

and she was definitely on the way up.  This morning when I headed out for a morning walk she was still floating with the help of a pump.

Litter?

This amused me - a poster '...help us create a beautiful butterfly corridor and nature trail for everyone to enjoy..' by leaving posters stuck about the place without any information because we all like litter in the countryside....especially when it is stabled nicely.

Easter

It has been lovely being able to slowly pootle over the summit and stopping at all those places I have wanted to stop at before but never quite managed to.  On Friday I walked over to Priors Hardwick.  Priors Hardwick used to be a manor belonging to the priors of hard wick. With it being Easter there is a cross and thorns near the alter.

 The organ was open so I had a bit of a flurry.

It was a lovely walk over the fields up to this pretty little village.  The HS2 is a real threat to the quiet calm and tranquility of this beautiful countryside. The walk up from Bridge 124 isn't long. The pub is actually a swanky restaurant

Moving on

After a walk with the most lovely frightening dog ever it was morning.  Boots was rather disappointed not to have his play mate with him but after coaxing him past her front door we had a wonderful walk in the morning light.

but then it was time to move on.  Maffi took over the tiller and I swanned about.

Someone got a bit cold

and then we were all moored up in Banbury having a lovely time.  

West Norwood Catacombs

I finally visited the beautiful, not particularly dark and dank catacombs at West Norwood. The arches along the corridors with their iron gates were the front to ‘rooms’ inside the shelves were lined with coffins. I was able to peer into one coffin but there wasn’t let of any particular note.
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West Norwood - Catacombs

FINALLY!  There was great excitement on Saturday morning for the day came when I was standing at the start of the West Norwood Cemetery tour with a surprisingly large group of other people.

 I was rather attracted by these shoes - owned by an American who has recently sent her book to be published. Her late husbands last words were 'finish the damn book' so she did.

Our tour guide made it clear right from the start that certain organisations had done their best to ruin the Cemetery and as we climbed through the undergrowth (or 'hacked our way to the catacombs as put by the other guide') we were told this was a taster of what the cemetery used to be like.

I was so pleased to see this danger sign - it is always a welcome sight to see such a warning before entering the very place it warns one against.

I really didn't know what to expect (particularly after my visit to Kensal Green Catacombs below the dissenters chapel) but as we descended the steps and our eyes adjusted to the light I was delighted.   The architecture was magnificent and the rooms amazing.  What an incredible experience standing there under ground breathing what others have left.

More later!

Snoozing away the summer

Somerton Deep lock continues to be picturesque but the bottom gate is incredibly hard work.

When I came out of the lock I noticed these trees having an afternoon snooze.

For Sale and View from the Bow

This Property near Nells Bridge has come up for sale

and the view from the bow…..

BOLLOCKS!

I decided I would add some insulation to the bedroom. My lovely friend 8ch had a bit of a bubble wrap insulation frenzy a couple of years ago. He loved the stuff so much he lined his slippers out with it.  The success story was so incredible  that I decided I would add some bubble wrap to my bedroom ceiling.  I had a roll of it in the workshop waiting to be used and this afternoon in-between doing sums I found myself with a handy 'sticking bubble wrap in the ceiling' break.

It took a bit longer than I expected.  When I took the lining down there were a few gaps in the insulation already there. The solution was simple - spray foam, especially as I had a tin of the stuff.

Everything was going swimmingly well.

I positioned myself and sprayed away.  I was incredibly careful not to get any on me until I suddenly realised I had somehow, heaven knows how, got it stuck in my hair.  When such things happen there is only one thing to do.

PANIC.

So I did. I panicked straight into the bathroom with shampoo and water.

It wasn't terribly effective because I couldn't see the spray foamed mass  as it was at the back of my head and I wasn't really getting anywhere.  I needed help.  With visions of shaving my head and wondering if that was such a bad thing, I decided I needed to make an effort to get the stuff out.  I levered my neighbour out of his boat to come and assist - I handed him my thinners and a rag and eventually I managed to get it all out.  Copious amounts of shampoo followed to get rid of the thinners too.

What a pain.

Anyway. I finished the job without any further ado.  I think it went OK.

but I still smell of thinners.