Well - I am sure you will understand fitting a new bathroom in a house is not the easiest of jobs. Has anyone ever tried fitting a new bathroom in the smallest room on a boat?. We thought that if it was the smallest room it would be the easiest - how wrong we were.
It all started with finding a weak spot in the bath, which was conveniently covered with a bath mat when we purchased the boat. We decided that the bathroom was an area that could do with a bit of work and looked into purchasing another bath. We did get a little enthusiastic when we found a lovely deep bath that would have looked beautiful insitu, but we found out at our cost that we couldn't get it through any of the doors on the boat. So after feeling a little stupid, had to take the bath back to the chandlers and make do with the slightly shallower bath.
We then found that all the fittings in the bathroom are actually original and this was realised when we found that the bath must have been one of the first items fitted when the boat was built as we had to take out the bathroom sink, bathroom cupboard and bathroom door to get the old bath out.
After not being able to turn the water off (we should have drained the tank first), lots of towels and jugs later, John finally got the bath out. Unfortunately the bathroom sink got damaged in the process which meant we needed a new one. We couldn't find a sink the same size, so guess what - we had to buy a different sink and a new unit to go with it. We have now started to think new tiles and fixtures such as towel holders and floor tiles etc and all this is the tiniest of small rooms.
The only problem with any DIY on the boat is the mess, it can really get out of hand so quickly. Building the boat from scratch would have been easier, because at the moment, we have no water and no sink in the bathroom. The boatman's cabin has become a spare shed and any inch of spare space is temporarily used for the contents of the bathroom cabinet. Even the kitchen hasn't escaped and the old taps etc are sitting in the sink awaiting disposal.
When we sold our house and decided on this adventure, we were at a stage where everything had been done in the house - you know - central heating, double glazing, fitted kitchen, wall to wall wardrobes and the biggest most beautiful bathroom you could ever imagine. The shower alone was the same size (nearly) as the current bathroom. Now, we have 54ft by 6ft something of very compact living and because we can't stop touching or just leave it alone, we have become a floating DIY project.
Its a good job a love my husband.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Monday, 7 January 2008
On the move again? - post christmas 27/12/07
Christmas day on the boat, not the huge celebration that was anticipated. Just a very quite present opening, just the three of us, Me, John and our daughter. We travelled back to Salters Lode in Johns work van that we had already left at the marina. We needed to pick up the car and also drop some beer of to the Lock Keeper, he was a great help to us. Lots of much needed advice given in a very practical and friendly fashion, many thanks from some very grateful (not quite so novice) narrow boaters.
Boxing day was a lovely meal at mothers, with the whole of the family. I think I had mentioned to Mum on a number of occasions that this was the first Christmas dinner she had done for me since I left home at eighteen. It was a lovely day, the food was great and much appreciated. There was not a cat in hells chance of getting the whole family on the boat for dinner, so I just sat back and enjoyed the day.
The day after boxing day, we decided in all our wisdom that we hadn't had enough of travelling over water in the winter. So we made out way the Stretham in the afternoon, getting to the Lazy Otter just as it was getting dark and spent a very pleasant evening enjoying some good food and a log fire.
I really like this feeling of being able to move whenever we want to, you don't even need to pack! I thought that perhaps I would want to stay put for awhile, but it is so easy - you just untie the boat and go, how easy is that. This is the life.
It was really windy the next day and for a short while I had visions of being stranded against the bank. We did have a little problem trying to push off as the wind kept us tight to the bank, but now that John has become quite an expert it took a little manouvering and we were off again and back home to Ely. I don't ever want to live in a house ever again!
Boxing day was a lovely meal at mothers, with the whole of the family. I think I had mentioned to Mum on a number of occasions that this was the first Christmas dinner she had done for me since I left home at eighteen. It was a lovely day, the food was great and much appreciated. There was not a cat in hells chance of getting the whole family on the boat for dinner, so I just sat back and enjoyed the day.
The day after boxing day, we decided in all our wisdom that we hadn't had enough of travelling over water in the winter. So we made out way the Stretham in the afternoon, getting to the Lazy Otter just as it was getting dark and spent a very pleasant evening enjoying some good food and a log fire.
I really like this feeling of being able to move whenever we want to, you don't even need to pack! I thought that perhaps I would want to stay put for awhile, but it is so easy - you just untie the boat and go, how easy is that. This is the life.
It was really windy the next day and for a short while I had visions of being stranded against the bank. We did have a little problem trying to push off as the wind kept us tight to the bank, but now that John has become quite an expert it took a little manouvering and we were off again and back home to Ely. I don't ever want to live in a house ever again!
The last leg home - Christmas Eve
We woke at about 6.30 on Christmas Eve morning. The atmosphere was electric with the anticipation of getting through Denver Sluice. I don't think that I have ever felt so excited or scared at the same time. We were all ready to make a move by 7.00, so John went to see if he could raise the lock keeper. Luckily he was already about and took John to look at the water on the other side of Salters Lode. He explained that we were at the optimal time and that the going should be good, then he explained slightly worryingly that the tide had already turned and we needed to move NOW!. Luckily we had got everything ready and within minutes of John returning to the boat we were off.
We were in the dark, cabin lights still on, headlight on and the moon was still out. We got into the lock without any difficulty, we had turned the boat around the night before, so we were facing the right direction and in doing so we had broken up some ice, so everything went really smooth. This time in the lock was completely different, as the keeper opened up one of the paddles, the force of the water entering the lock was incredible (if not a little scary) in comparison to our previous experience this actually felt like it was going to work.
The lock was full and we only just managed to scrape under the walkway of the lock, now we understood why the keeper had told us to clear everything of the roof. The gate was lifted and it was full throttle out into the middle of the waterway. We pulled to the right with no problem at all and with a quick wave to the keeper and a shout of 'Thank you' and 'Merry Christmas' we were on our way again! At this stage I know my heart was beating twice as fast, I looked at John and I could see the pure concentration on his face. This was it - if this didn't work, we would be stuck again and that was not going to happen - not on this trip - not again!
We really went for it, John told me to hang on tight. Jade was inside with the dogs, I think she was holding her breath too. We came up to where the silt bank was and John shouted again to hang on. I think he was so determined to clear the bank, nothing was going to stop us. He did ease of slightly for fear of not being able to stop at the sluice, but without any incident at all, we just glided over the problem silt bank and came to a very professional stop at the pontoon. We tied up quickly and both of us just whooped and jumped for joy. We would be home for Christmas, the feeling was indescribable, I could have cried.
We had a short wait for the lock keeper, he didn't work the same flexible hours that the keeper at Salters Lode kept. While we waited, we got talking to a fellow boater who was waiting to come through the other way in order to get to where we had just come from. It was going to be close as the tide was going out fast and you could see the level drop before your eyes. Our fellow boater, a wide-beam was joined by another narrow boat and it was important that they get through the lock first, we were happy to wait as we knew that we were clear and would be home by the afternoon.
Unfortunately, the narrow boat got stuck on the bank even though he came out of the lock first, we told him to keep to the left, maybe he didn't hear us. The wide-beam just made it across but we heard that the narrow boat was stuck there all night and only got clear on Christmas Day morning. We did feel a little guilty, but we couldn't have gone back for him, the tide was going out so fast, we couldn't afford to get stuck as well.
After the Denver sluice excitement, the day went really smoothly, with no problems or hitches at all. Was this the same journey? after all we had been through, this was a piece of cake. We knew some of this stretch, we had had a holiday some years previous, but it did look a little bleak this time of year.
Seeing Ely Cathedral was something else, I can't tell you how I was feeling. This was like all the problems we had had on our months journey just drifted away and all I could focus on was our new home. We moored up where the marina had instructed, filled the water tank up, emptied the cassette loo, hooked up to the electric and took a huge sigh of relief. This was now going to be our new home. We we safe, the boat had got us there and after such a horrible rotten time of it, we could finally start our new life as liveaboards. Wow what an adventure we have just had.
We were in the dark, cabin lights still on, headlight on and the moon was still out. We got into the lock without any difficulty, we had turned the boat around the night before, so we were facing the right direction and in doing so we had broken up some ice, so everything went really smooth. This time in the lock was completely different, as the keeper opened up one of the paddles, the force of the water entering the lock was incredible (if not a little scary) in comparison to our previous experience this actually felt like it was going to work.
The lock was full and we only just managed to scrape under the walkway of the lock, now we understood why the keeper had told us to clear everything of the roof. The gate was lifted and it was full throttle out into the middle of the waterway. We pulled to the right with no problem at all and with a quick wave to the keeper and a shout of 'Thank you' and 'Merry Christmas' we were on our way again! At this stage I know my heart was beating twice as fast, I looked at John and I could see the pure concentration on his face. This was it - if this didn't work, we would be stuck again and that was not going to happen - not on this trip - not again!
We really went for it, John told me to hang on tight. Jade was inside with the dogs, I think she was holding her breath too. We came up to where the silt bank was and John shouted again to hang on. I think he was so determined to clear the bank, nothing was going to stop us. He did ease of slightly for fear of not being able to stop at the sluice, but without any incident at all, we just glided over the problem silt bank and came to a very professional stop at the pontoon. We tied up quickly and both of us just whooped and jumped for joy. We would be home for Christmas, the feeling was indescribable, I could have cried.
We had a short wait for the lock keeper, he didn't work the same flexible hours that the keeper at Salters Lode kept. While we waited, we got talking to a fellow boater who was waiting to come through the other way in order to get to where we had just come from. It was going to be close as the tide was going out fast and you could see the level drop before your eyes. Our fellow boater, a wide-beam was joined by another narrow boat and it was important that they get through the lock first, we were happy to wait as we knew that we were clear and would be home by the afternoon.
Unfortunately, the narrow boat got stuck on the bank even though he came out of the lock first, we told him to keep to the left, maybe he didn't hear us. The wide-beam just made it across but we heard that the narrow boat was stuck there all night and only got clear on Christmas Day morning. We did feel a little guilty, but we couldn't have gone back for him, the tide was going out so fast, we couldn't afford to get stuck as well.
After the Denver sluice excitement, the day went really smoothly, with no problems or hitches at all. Was this the same journey? after all we had been through, this was a piece of cake. We knew some of this stretch, we had had a holiday some years previous, but it did look a little bleak this time of year.
Seeing Ely Cathedral was something else, I can't tell you how I was feeling. This was like all the problems we had had on our months journey just drifted away and all I could focus on was our new home. We moored up where the marina had instructed, filled the water tank up, emptied the cassette loo, hooked up to the electric and took a huge sigh of relief. This was now going to be our new home. We we safe, the boat had got us there and after such a horrible rotten time of it, we could finally start our new life as liveaboards. Wow what an adventure we have just had.
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