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The new mat

2009-09-03T04:30:00.003-07:00

How sad is this, I loved this mat so much I took a picture of it. Problem is - I put it outside on the pontoon while I was cleaning my beloved wooden floor and the rotten wind blew it away.

Its at the bottom of the marina together with a folding chair, fishing keep net, clothes airer and a pair of sunglasses.

Our nephew

2009-09-03T04:30:00.001-07:00

Our Nephew steering the boat - he actually holding his line really well. Our family came down from Scotland and stayed with us for a few days, I hope they liked it. I think they were a bit shocked by how small our living accommodation actually is compared to what their used too. Just right for the two of us but a bit of a tight squeeze for four adults, a five year old and two jack russells.

My babies

2009-07-20T08:05:00.001-07:00

Summer hols!

2008-12-22T00:42:00.001-08:00

Just found this picture on the phone from 1st July 2008. We travelled from Ely towards Bedford and found a mooring site just outside St.Ives on a small island near Houghton Mill. We stayed for an afternoon and overnight and it was just perfect. I later found out that this was an old haunt of my mothers when she was younger. She used to visit the mill when it was a youth hostel and told me that she had spent many happy hours on the island just like we did.

Basil - the meercat

2008-12-22T00:32:00.001-08:00

Our Basil, just loves to look at reflections in a picture that we have hanging across from the window. In the reflections he can see the boat next door and see the comings and goings of all the dogs that live there.

I know he loves his life here, he's a completely different dog. More relaxed, better behaved and so much more loving - he's the best!!!

The cake

2008-12-22T00:24:00.001-08:00

Who says it can't be done in a kitchen the size of a postage stamp ! I haven't made a proper cake in years, so when the eldest son suggested that the whole family go to his for Christmas, I decided that I would do the traditional thing and make the family cake. I was really pleased with the results and at the same time I made some mince pies for the neighbours and delivered them along with the Christmas cards, all nicely wrapped in a silver and blue Christmas parcel. I am definitely feeling festive.

Finished!!!

2008-05-07T04:00:00.001-07:00

All that space!!! Not as much as I had in the house, but plenty for me and hubs. Serving dinner is so much easier now - I don't have to put the washing up bowl upside down to make more surface space. The telling will be when we have people over. Cooking and serving a meal won't be a problem, but they will have to go outside to eat it!!!

The next job is a wall cupboard over the microwave, hubs will sort it!!!!

Lovely!

2008-05-07T03:50:00.001-07:00

I promise!!! I will clean you everyday, I will protect you from Hubs bashing you about and spilling things on you. I will cook beautiful meals on you and always wipe you down after cooking. I love you!!!

Sad I know, but I have spent all my life making do and managing with cheaper or secondhand cookers. As you get older, the priorities change and I will not have to 'make do' any longer.

Isn't she beautiful!!!!

Hubs - in the calm before the storm

2008-05-01T01:40:00.001-07:00

This is the hard part, taking the tiles of in order to make to old worktop light enough to move. This is the time for retail therapy and leave hubs to it. Might have to stay away for hours!!!! A girls got to do, what a girls got to do! I do hope he hoovers up afters (joke!!)

Ooohh bloomin lovely!

2008-05-01T01:36:00.001-07:00

Isn't she lovely!!!! No more cold evenings sitting huddled up round the electric oil rad. We have our very own brand new 'Old Dutch'. Thinks I'm in love!!!!!

Its been a rotten cold miserable winter and this little baby is going to make our lives so much easier. She heats the rad up (40ft away) and bonus is that she keeps the hot water ticking over at a reasonable temp if left on long enough - I'm in heaven!!!

Old tiles - yuk!

2008-05-01T01:25:00.001-07:00

This is the before picture of those awful tiles, they looked lovely when we first moved on. I think they were put on to enhance the kitchen just before it was sold. They were so impractical and never really felt clean cause it all gets into the cracks in the grout. Be glad to get rid of them - I will take a picture of the finish thing, but the washing up needs doing and I couldn't possibly take a picture of my dirty dishes - a girls got a reputation to keep you know!!!

Nearly there

2008-04-10T04:02:00.001-07:00

Oh the joy of home cooking is just a few days away. Unfortunatly I have still managed to maintain my skills, so this means that the new cooker may get used instead of just looking good. It feels like we been 'managing' for such a long time, can't remember when we had a 'normal' day.

Well all the preps done and the boat is in the boat yard waiting for the gas locker to be done, chimney for the heater to be fitted and the diesel connected - not long now!!!!!

Summer time - Oooh can't wait

2008-04-02T02:45:00.001-07:00

This is more like it - I had a lovely balcony garden where I used to live and I really miss it. I also used to work at a garden centre while at Peterborough, so I really got the bug for having a bit plant life around. So now the weather is doing a bit more of what it should, I thought I would add a bit of colour to my new home. Even though I say so myself, I think it looks the business.

It gets worse before it gets better!

2008-04-01T00:05:00.001-07:00

All we are trying to do is put a new 'old dutch' heater in! Before you know it, the whole place looks like its been ransacked. I will be so glad when everything is back to normal. At least we managed to save the carpet and only had to replace the underlay. Though I think that at a future date, we may invest in a nice wood floor, but carpet is fine until we get the bank balance back on track.

Old newport - history!

2008-03-28T02:35:00.001-07:00

Not the best picture - I know! Probably I have skaky hands due the the extent of the mission at hand. John took the old Newport heater out yesterday and found (as you do) that the job will not be as easy as first thought.

It all started a couple of weeks ago, when we came to a much thought about decision. We decided that the Newport was neither use nor ornament and started looking for another form of heating. We finally chose diesel heating again, mainly due to the fact that the fuel tank is in place and it shouldn't be too much trouble to install the new 'Old Dutch'. We had thought about a wood burner, but Hubs likes the variable heat option with the Old Dutch and we have heard and read some very good reports.

So, we went and put the order in at the chandlers and decided to do some prep work ready for when it arrived. Last night Hubs successfully to out the old Newport, then with a little bit of a fight, took up the old tiles that were on a wooden base. After removing the base, found a problem that we had not counted on. It must have been previous to us moving on the boat, but there are signs that there had been a substantial diesel leak at some time and the underlay of the carpet was wet with diesel. No wonder we have been ill quite a lot since moving on, its strange that we couldn't smell the diesel, but we put what little we could smell down to the normal use and the fact that we had to taken everything apart a few times because of the unreliability of the current cooker and stove.

So, what appeared to be a reasonable type of job has now turned into a nightmare. Is it me, or do we just seem to be up against it all the time. I am dreading going home at the moment, I know that it will be an absolute mess EVERYWHERE!!! So, the plan is - I'm going for retail therapy. Not the most reliable form of stress relief, but certainly helps short term.

The worst thing is, this is just the start of things to come as we have also ordered a new cooker and hob, this is coming in a couple of weeks and will have to be fitted professionally due to it being gas. To date we have had no gas appliances, so there will be a fair bit of work involved including a new piece of worktop. Hubs has assured me that it will all work out in the end and next winter will be a complete breeze compared to this last one. Why am I not convinced!
The calm before the storm

Mothers day

2008-03-04T01:43:00.001-08:00

Well, what can I say! I might have sold the house from around the kids feet and run away to be a river gypsy - but I'm still 'Mum'.

I have just had the nicest weekend!, still had to do all the normal boat type jobs like filling with water, emptying the loo, washing, hoovering and cleaning but my middle son and his friend came to see me and 'Hey Presto' I was a Mum again.

I know my kids were of a suitable age for me to leave them to it (23, 22 and 20) but I have got to say I have felt very guilty. I now have a very nice life, I work part time and the rest of the time I do as I please (including looking after the boat and Hubs). Leaving the kids behind was a big wrench. The normal way is, the kids leave home and come back to visit when hungry or dirty. We did it a little differently, a couple of the kids went of to UNI and the middle son literally had to find accommodation with friends because the house was sold around him. Then we moved away from the area.

Now the kids can come and visit, but returning 'home' for any amount of time is not an option. Not having a 'nest' for my chicks does leave me feeling a little wanting. Perhaps this feeling is only natural and will pass when the warm weather comes and I can have a few more 'bottle of red wine to myself moments'.

But the weekend was a success and we even took a trip to the pub Five Miles from Anywhere on the Sunday and had a nice meal. It was a little windy and we got stuck against the bank for awhile, but thats what its all about - a little bit of adventure!, its good for the soul.

We're the one in the middle!

2008-02-21T02:08:00.001-08:00

O there we are! Only just found my way back.

Don't do it hubs

2008-02-11T00:15:00.001-08:00

Sunday 10th February 2008 - Hubs is determind to get the better of this heating problem, so even though the wheather is beautiful, we decided that he should spend the morning with his head in the oven, trying to find the problem with this blooming diesel heating. We appear to have a number of possible issues all going at the same time, such as pump overheating, points sticking and a poor burn. It all seems to work fine for a couple of hours and just when you think you have solved the problem - it goes wrong.

Poor hubs could not sort it - so while I was slaving over the automatic washing machine, hubs decided to fish instead and the three tiddlers that were caught over the course of the afternoon seemed to help a little. After a great deal of thought (over a few pints) we have now come to terms with the fact that we will need to ask for help. So we're handing it over to someone who knows and he also likes the odd pint in the Cutter. After saying that we got it going in the evening and just as we put the pizza in the oven the rotten thing went out - is it something we said!!!!
No cooking today - shame!

Start of a beautiful day

2008-02-11T00:11:00.001-08:00

Saturday 9th February 2008. This is what we have been waiting for. The weather today was absolutely beautiful, so we took a trip up to Littleport and had lunch at the Black Horse. We took the fishing gear, but met some really nice chaps and ended up chatting until about 4pm (therefore no fishing was done). As the heating was playing up, we needed to get back and plug in again because it was going to be a cold night (didn't want to be without warmth, a coward I know). It was so lovely to spend the day with just jumpers rather that layers of clothing including waterproofs. We now know that this was the best move we have ever made, we are going to enjoy this summer!!!
Lets get on the water

New bathroom!!!!

2008-01-17T00:47:00.000-08:00

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.

View from side hatch

2008-01-07T03:18:00.001-08:00

Life is good - not everyone gets this view every morning

On the move again? - post christmas 27/12/07

2008-01-07T01:56:00.000-08:00

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!

The last leg home - Christmas Eve

2008-01-07T01:13:00.000-08:00

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.

Winter cruisiing

2007-12-25T07:31:00.001-08:00

Http://johnhelen-theemporer.blog.com

Christmas is coming!!!

2007-12-21T00:07:00.000-08:00

We're picking up our daughter today, she has been with my Mother since finishing Uni for the hols, but I know she just wants to come home. I also know that she is worried about what home is these days. I'm afraid life on the boat won't be as easy or as 'flick of a switch' as living with Grandma, but hopefully she will settle into it. I have put some Christmas dec's up and acquired a very small artificial tree, just so it looks a little more seasonal. The thing is, that until we get to Ely we will still be relying on our power from the generator, so all day telly will be a dim and distance memory.
I am hoping that she will be with us for the last bit of the trip until we get home to Ely. John's not too sure about having her on board while we go through Denver. Its nice that he's so worried about her safety, never mind the galley slave - I'll be alright, seen it, done it and got the video and T-shirt!!!!
We are starting to prepare for Monday, checking diesel, oil, water etc. I'm going to get some extra provisions in today, as when we get to Ely everywhere will be shut for Christmas.
We phoned ahead to the marina and we are going to have to pick a key up today, they're closing for the hols as well. Looks like its going to be a very quite time and to be honest that's what we want after what we have had to go through.
All I want for Christmas is a safe mooring with electric and water. Its funny that our needs and wants are so much more simple than when we lived in a house. Then I would perhaps of wanted some fancy electrical gadget for the kitchen or maybe toiletries to fill up the shelves in the bathroom unnecessarily, things I would never use, they would just sit there filling space and gathering dust. Now it's a case of - I just don't need it anymore, I manage with what I've got. You can only wear one set of clothes at a time and when you have only got very limited storage you just can't have everything. Before we moved onto the boat, we got rid of so much stuff. Years and years of rubbish which we had just collected and stored. We were paying a mortgage just so we could store our crap. Now I know that every item on the boat is there because it needs to be and if we don't use it then it has to go. My Mum must be so proud of me, she has wanted me to have a good clear out for years.
I have a good feeling about the last part of our journey, it has been a long and hard one. At times I wasn't sure if I could physically or even mentally cope, but I have and I think it has made me a better person. I have seen how it has effected my husband and I am so proud of him for holding it all together. There were times he could have just cracked and walked away from it, but he didn't. As for our relationship as husband and wife, we are stronger now than we have ever been. We work well as a team and although there have been times that have caused us to be a little prickly towards each other, I know John is my rock and would never let any harm come to me. I trust him with my life and my home.
I think I will finish my blog at this point or at least until after Christmas and say - Yes I am happy!. Happier than I have been for a long time. Thank you John for my wonderful new home and my wonderful new life.

The Further Adventures & other stories - 17/12/07

2007-12-17T02:45:00.000-08:00

My god this boat business is something else!!. We managed to move from Warmington on Friday 14thDec. The Environment agency chaps were a great help and were there ready at the locks ready to go at 8.00 am. They stayed with us for 3 locks to ensure that we were safe and they're help was very much appreciated. During our trip on Friday we stopped at Peterborough Boat Club and topped up with diesel (yet another helpful boater). I had phoned a good friend to say that we were going through Orton Locks and she came down on her bike with her baby daughter to see us through the locks. She was a much needed breath of fresh air and it was like I was staying in touch with reality (all be it briefly). Seeing Tiz really cheered me up and it gave me a real boost. Friday night we stayed on Peterborough embankment and met up with one of Johns friends and had a couple of drinks and ate later on the boat.

Saturday morning was calm and the water was still, we wanted to make an early start. Mother just caught us as we were just leaving and bought me some clean washing and a warm smile. We were ready for another day on the river. We got to Stanground locks 10 mins early and she saw us into the lock. We had a horrible experience trying to get out of the lock, as the bottom of the boat got caught towards the side of the lock, we tried to stay in the middle but it was quite difficult. The lock keeper had to let some water through in order to lift it enough to move. Once through, it was a steady slogg. There were some patches of thin ice on the way but it started to get worse at Floods Ferry, we were even breaking ice for some plastic boats that had got stuck and needed to return to Peterborough.

From Floods Ferry to March really wasn't that inspiring, just cold cold cold. We stayed in March town on Saturday night and had a take-away for supper. It was quite noisy that night, especially at kicking out time and we were woken up a few times by some drunken idiots on the bridge but other than that, it wasn't too bad.

Sunday was going to be the big day, we really needed to push it to get through Salters Lode and Denver, we wanted to be the other side in order to get to Ely (home) on Monday. It was a miserable day, there was thick ice all the way (1" thick). We didn't think that we would get through Marmont Priory, she had told us that she was iced up. When we got there the locks were free of ice, but painfully slow to get through, it must have taken us nearly 45 mins to clear them. It was more and more ice all the way. Just after Upwell and Outwell we had to have an emergency stop. Rope had caught round the prop and John had to get his arms in the weed hatch up to the elbows in the icy water. I had to have a bowl of hot water ready so he could thaw out between trying to cut the rope. I have never seen my husband in pain before and I didn't like it, watching him constantly put his arms in the icy water and then dip them in warm water to get the feeling back and then back in the icy water.
Throughout this trip, I have felt an intense pride for my husband. He has gone up against things that he has never come across before and not let anything phase him. I don't think anyone I have ever known could live up to him.
We eventually got to Salters Lode about 2.30pm on Sunday. As we reached Nordelph we were joined by a walker and thought it was odd that he was walking in pace with the boat, not difficult though as we were struggling to do 2/3 mph due to the ice. When we reached Salters, we realised that he was a fellow boater, stuck in the ice for three days and very grateful that we had broke it up for him, allowing him passage back to March. After a few words of advice from him to us and visa versa, he made his way and we checked in with the lock keeper. The keeper was quietly confident that we would get through, although he did say that we had missed a better tide the day before. He saw us through the lock and consequently we immediately became stuck on a silt bank. After some forwards and back action we got free and had to really open up to get the boat forwards, then push it nose first into the bank, to allow the tide to turn us around. Scared! is an understatement for what we felt, I had thoughts of being stuck on a tidal river over night and ending up out at sea. After some heart jumping moments and a wave to the keeper, we made our way up to Denver where there was somebody there to see us through. Unfortunately there was that much silt in the channel, we couldn't get any clearance to see us through, we tried and tried to no avail, we had no other choice but to go back to Salters. We knew that in returning we would not have another chance to move until Christmas Eve!.
We felt so disheartened and miserable as we returned and I knew that John my husband was at his lowest, he so wanted us to get to Ely, he had tried so hard to get us there.
Getting back into Salters was worse than getting out, due to the tide going out. There was less water and we had to creep back in as we were just getting stuck all the time trying to get back into the lock.
When we got back to the landing stage, we moored securely and thought about our lot. There was absolutely nothing we could do but just to wait it out, this was going to be our home for awhile. Luckily there was a very local taxi, virtually next door, so he ran us into Downham Market for a much earned drink and something to eat.
At this stage John is really feeling the pressure and I can't blame him after standing at the tiller for three very cold days and we are stuck yet again.
So, its a case of thinking about what we have got, instead of what we haven't got. We have got food, water and heat. A warm dry bed and a generator when needed. We can arrange for the car to get picked up from Warmington and we only have a week left of work. We might be stuck in the middle of no-where again but when all said and done - Home Is Where The Boat Is!!!!!

Becoming a home - 11/11

2007-12-11T04:16:00.000-08:00

On Monday evening, even though we had to walk across two fields, manage the logistics of two dogs, food and water over and through two sets of gates, taking into account the ankle-depth mud - we did make it HOME!!! at the end of the day.
The boat was comparatively warm and cosy and I soon got into the swing of getting the tea on, even though I had to peel potatoes and wash up in about 1" of water. John got the generator on and we were soon watching a bit of telly while the dinner was cooking. Due to the pressures of the day, John forced himself to indulge in a beer and I had the obligatory glass of red wine. I actually felt really really comfy, warm and well fed. Home comforts make all the difference.
Today, the water flow still seemed fast, but it was clear skys and and an icy start to the day. We got the dogs ready, empty petrol can for the genny and made our way to the van over the cold, wet fields in the semi-light of the early morning. It was quiet at the office and I got into rearranging the filing, John went back to the boat as soon as he was able and tried to sort out the lack of water problem. While he was there the Environment Agency turned up as they were aware that we were stuck and they were a great help. They helped John with the carrying and emptying of 20 litre water containers, its nice to know that they are concerned with our welfare (even remembered that we were there). They told John that although the water levels are going down, it will be a few more days yet. That leaves it a bit of a close call to get through the rest of the locks before they are all closed for the winter. We are reliant on so many influences in order to get to our permanent mooring, so maybe for the time being, home is where the boat is!

Stuck at Warmington!!!! - 10/12/07

2007-12-10T00:16:00.000-08:00

Well would you believe it! Being at Fotheringhay was taking its toll, walking across two fields and two stiles 2 or 3 times a day was just getting too much. On Friday morning (7/11) we looked outside and it was as calm as a mill pond, so using our vast experience (not) we decided that we would make a move. Getting under the Fotheringhay bridge was an experience never to be forgotten. Due to the current we swept up to the bridge at nearly a right angle, we nudged the left hand side and John managed to scrape us through very very slowly. He knew that the clearance would be tight and we very nearly lost the headlight, but John got it through and yet again our hearts jumped into our throats. We managed just over a mile before we got to Warmington locks and they were open!!!! Mainly due to our naivety we went straight in, forgetting that fenland locks are reversed in the winter due to the heavy flow. We soon realised that the gates were padlocked and we were stuck in the lock. The water flow was fast and scary and until we tied securely we were in reverse. After reading the signs at the lock, we knew that we were in trouble (again!). We phoned the appropriate agency and explained the situation, although they were very helpful - there really wasn't anything we could do, we were definitely up the creek without a paddle. The people on the other end of the phoned agreed that we could moor up lock side as it was probably more secure that anyway else. It was a fact, that if we couldn't get through, no-one else was even going to try. John and I managed to reverse out of the lock, very very slowly and secured up. So now we were really stuck, John got the generator working the electric fine, but the heating was an on going problem and by now we had run out of water. We managed a very cold and miserable Friday night, I went to bed in tears and then John decided that Mum and Uncle John would come and pick me up Saturday. At least we are close to Peterborough which is where Mum lives.
I was definitely beginning to feel the pressure, by the time Mum came I could not stop crying, I was cold and miserable and my dream bubble had burst some days ago. John has been a rock, taking everything in his stride and calmly trying to eliminate each problem as it arises. We got to Mums and had lovely hot baths, hot drinks and a warm bed. The dogs have been amazing, so well behaved, I couldn't ask for anything else of them, as long as they are with us they are happy. We went out for another meal on Saturday night, this is all very well and good, but all I wanted to do was cook for my husband in my own kitchen and keep house (boat) like every other wife does.
Sunday morning brought with it new enthusiasm. John went of to the boat very early, determined to have all systems up and running. I cooked a meal for Mum and myself and although I enjoyed cooking, I wished it was in my own kitchen with my own things.
John phoned late morning to say that the heating and the cooker was working, with a few tweaks here and there he had managed to sort it out. John went for a well earned pint with some mates that he hadn't caught up with for a couple a weeks and I met up with him in the afternoon so that we could get back to the boat before dark. Mum had said that we were welcome to stay another night or even as long as we wanted, but this was something we had started and we were going to see it through, no matter what. After all home is were the boat is!
So at 4.30 on Sunday afternoon, we got back on board with the dogs and our clean washing courtesy of Mum. The generator was powered up and we watched the telly and at the same time I cooked scrambled egg and bacon sandwiches for John and also managed to produced a bacon and potato soup. I even managed to wash up in about 3 mugs of hot water. Domestic life aahh!!!
Monday we have to work, but I intend to get back to the boat and make sure that I look after my husband a little better, I might even try and make him some more cakes!

Blooming rotten weather!!!!! 1/11 to 3/11/07

2007-12-06T03:31:00.000-08:00

Things are just fitting into place, we have started to feel really comfortable on the boat and (when everything works) everything is just fine and dandy. We were still stuck at Northampton Boat Club for the weekend due to the wind. We had been given the go ahead to move on Friday but the weather let us down. No real problems as the club continued to be accommodating, so we decided to move on Monday. We had taken mother home to give her a break from us and the dogs, its also gave us a chance to spend some quality time. Overall a nice weekend, I even made some fairy cakes in my range on Sunday, just to prove to myself and John that it is just the job.
Monday and its all systems go, we started early - posted a thank you through the door for the Boat Club including a donation for the electric used. We had done the checks and filled with diesel so we were confident that it was going to be a good day. John and I worked well together and soon found our places with regard to lock duty. I realised that getting back on the boat whilst still in the lock was a definite no! mainly due to the old arther in the hip. So we got it so that I would stay on the boat and keep it steady in the lock and John would finish opening the gates before jumping back on board. We did from Weston Favell right through to Lower Ringstead 19 miles and 15 locks. It was near pitch black when we moored up at Ringstead but we had had a good day, we were extremely tied but felt as if we had achieved something.
Tuesday another early start and again we worked extremely well, the day was fantastic and although a little gusty at times, we managed good time again. We did Woodford to Fotheringhay 15 miles and 12 locks. We had been given some very worthwhile information from some chaps at the NBC about low bridges, but I still I have never seen John jump on the roof so fast in order to save the stack, evening the satellite dish was down and still nearly scraped a couple of bridges. We had a closed call in one lock, we had noticed that there was a lot of junk floating around but hadn't realised something had got caught under the boat and as the water was going doing we were stuck on it and we were at a very scary angle for a few seconds, it gave way and we regained level, but I never thought I would feel so scared. We were held up for a time at Perio Lock as some workmen had just been called out for emergency repairs to the gates. It was starting to lose light and we really needed to get moving but after making them a coffee, they did the gates for us and we were on our way again. It was a lovely evening (red sky at night) as we got to Fotheringhay, just a we were mooring up we saw a fisherman catching the biggest carp I have ever seen, we saw him land it and I was sure it was at least a 10lb.
My uncle and Mother met up with us at The Falcon, where we had a much deserved meal. Mother was to stay with us now for a bit longer, or at least until past Peterborough. Mum is a great help, although nearly 70 with two new hip joints, she can put us to shame with regard to fitness.
Bad news - we can not get the rotten, worthless heating going. The electrics are rubbish and John is really struggling to get it going. So no heating!!!!!
Wednesday - is there someone up there who doesn't like us very much, we can't move because the weather is so poor, high winds and pelting rain, so we are having to spend the day moored next to a sheep field, which is fine in high summer, but in the middle of a rotten wet winter - no fun at all. John bought a little generator so we can have some power while we are at a standstill. Let me think shall we have the heater on or a cup of tea, because you certainly can't have both. Got the say, I feel pretty miserable at the moment, we don't really understand the systems on the boat very well just yet and we need to get moving so we can get somewhere we can call home for the winter.
Thursday - had to go to work! They're going to think we work for someone else at this rate. The weathers really bad so we wouldn't have gone anywhere anyway. Feel really bad that we have had to leave Mum with the dogs and nothing but the genny for power, but she insists that she will be fine and I really know that. Just feels like abuse of the elderly. Hopefully tomorrow will be a more productive day.

Social life - 30/11/07

2007-11-30T03:08:00.001-08:00

Last night we went over to the club house belonging to the Northampton Boat Club. I was a bit nervous at first, us being the novice boaters and everyone there appeared to have many years experience. It was actually really nice, everyone spoke to us and made us welcome. We stayed talking boats till around 10 and then it was - walk the dogs and back to the boat. I could get used to this life.

By the way - we just had the go ahead to move the boat - HURRAY!!!! So get what we will be doing this weekend.

We live on a nb - official!!!! - 29/11/07

2007-11-29T01:17:00.000-08:00

Well - we are no-longer homeowners, the keys have been handed back and completion of sale is final. But we are boat owners and what a feeling!!!!!!!.
I have always dreamed of waking up in the morning and looking across the countryside, feeding the ducks the scraps of my breakfast toast, long walks with the dogs through places I have never been. Its not quite happening at the moment as we both have to journey an hour to work and back every day, so we leave in the dark and get back in the dark, but the weekends coming up and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.
Today - I am going to cook a complete meal in the range, it might not sound a challenge to some, but it is to me. Especially when I tried to boil an egg for breakfast and realised that that life of things being an instant at a flick of a switch is just not happening anymore. I must admit we have not really been eating properly, mainly due to the upheaval of moving etc, but now things a calming down - we are (or should I say me) going to make more of an effort.
We still have some of our stuff in storage and I know I will feel more settled when we have more of our things around us, so that is our challenge this weekend. Plus spend some quality time.

Hurray - it works 27/11/07

2007-11-28T03:28:00.000-08:00

The house is clear, just borrowed the washing machine for one last wash. The keys are being handed back on Thursday and then the last ties are cut to the 'normal' world. Got home in the dark again, its a long drive to where the boat is but it is so worth it when you get HOME. John finally managed to ensure all the connections to the ranges fuel pump are secure and 'Oh my god - heat at last'. It is finally feeling like our home and not some mad adventure that we have embarked on.
We celebrated with a stella, glass of wine (can't remember - was so happy). I managed to cook my husband a meal while we were listening to the radio and later on watched a DVD. We had brought a few more things out of storage and are getting very skilled in finding places to put things - also getting rid of things that aren't really needed.
It was so lovely sitting in our new home, well fed and well watered, the dogs sleeping like contented children - this has definitely got to be the life. Can't wait for the weekend, Mum is going home and it will just be to two of us. (not that I'm pleased to see her go, but we need to manage without her).
Still can't get away from Northampton until Wednesday next due to the lock being closed - but who cares - what's the rush!!!!!

26th November 2007 - Back to Work

2007-11-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

It was very odd getting up this morning, it was dark and deathly quiet out in the middle of no-where. John walked the dogs and we managed to have some tea and toast. Even though we left ourselves an hour to get to work, it still felt a bit of a rush. But as I left Mum and the dogs on the boat - I knew that I couldn't wait to get back after work.
I only work four hours a day, so I spent some time back at the old house, cleaning and finishing of the last bits, we will need to hand the keys in on Thursday. Luckily I have only got the kitchen floor to wash and the yard to tidy and then it will all be done.
As I was washing the floors, I was thinking to myself - the floor in the new bathroom and kitchen are so tiny - its pointless have a mop. Goodness - I have got some things to get used to.
Its a bit of a pain, being moored up so far from work. Its a case of needs must and we are so very grateful to the Northampton Boat Club. Even after an hour long journey - it is beginning to feel that the boat is now our home.
Mum had had a tidy up and it was warm and inviting when we got in, after a welcome cup of tea we started to bring on board some of our own things, such as Hi-Fi and microwave. John also hung a couple a pictures that we had in our old house. It was very apt as both the pictures were water/boat scenes and yet we got them some years ago - it must have been fate!!!!
We had got the stove working the day before and so John wanted to try lighting the range again, as soon as it was alight the stove started to fade (we just don't seem to have any luck). John seems to think that either we have run out of diesel or the power to the pump is faulty. He decided to leave it and have another look at it tomorrow. Luckily we have a portable electric heater (OK when hooked up - not a lot of use when on the move) We really need to talk to someone who knows what their talking about (we certainly don't at the moment).
Well I'm afraid it was another early night for me, can't hack all this fresh air. As I was falling asleep I know I felt very warm and comfortable in my new home. Just a few things to iron out, such as the heating, be able to cook, understanding the power systems on the boat and trying to get the boat past Whiston and further nearer the new base to make it easier to get to work. Most important of all - to get our things around us instead of having them stored all over the place.
I have faith and I know life will be good.

25th November 2007 - Sods Law

2007-11-26T06:49:00.000-08:00

We got up early again - cold and crabby. We had no heating, we still hadn't figured how to work the inverter so we could even boil the kettle. All time, I'm thinking about the fact that we out in the middle of no-where, totally inexperienced and taking on a task that even the most seasoned of boaters would not attempt.
Uncle John was taking me back to get the car and then we had arranged to meet the boat further down at an appropriate stop. Before we even set off there was a problem, Uncle john had opened the paddles at the next gate in preparation, but we had not un-hitched, so the water level had gone down and we were stuck. Uncle john had to shut the paddles and my husband john had to walk back to the last lock that we had been through and open up the paddles to let some water through. We through we were in trouble, because a waterways chap stopped and asked him what he was doing. After a apologetic explanation, he was fine and worked the paddles for us. Lesson 3 - understand how the river and the locks work.
So, we were underway again. Husband John and my Mum on the boat and Uncle John and me (with dogs) walked back to his car in order to fetch my car from the marina.
This part was really uneventful apart from Uncle Johns map reading, but we managed to pick up my car. We then made our way to Billing Aquadrome which is where we were going to meet up.
Husband John and I were already aware that Whiston Locks were closed for drainage, so Billing was as far as we were going today.
Although the staff at the aquadrome were very helpful, there was nothing they could do for us. They were closed for visitors and we could not moor up. They suggested that we try Northampton Boat Club and thankfully we did.
The people at Northampton Boat Club are the nicest, most helpful and friendliest people I have met in a long time. They bent over backwards to accommodate out boat and are understanding of the fact that the boat may be there for awhile or at least until we can get through Whiston. So for the next few days, we will be staying at the boat club and we will be having to use this as a base for to and from work, because we can no longer get back in our house - theres nothing there anymore.
After saying goodbye to my uncle, my husband John got his maintenance head on and had a good look around the boat. He got the inverter working, and as we were hooked up - we all managed hot baths - o'heaven!!!! He got the stove working after figuring out that it was a faulty connection to the fuel pump. We'll have a go at the cooker tomorrow.
We found a pub in Northampton for a hot meal, but we all admitted that we were tired and the noise of the pub was giving us a headache. We must be getting used to the peace and quiet of the river. So it was back to the boat for a quiet game of cards and yet another early night.

24th November 2007 - Taking the boat out for the 1st time

2007-11-26T06:07:00.000-08:00

Got up and wiped the ice from the windows, not a good sign. Managed to boil a kettle and have some toast as we were still hooked up. After walking the dogs and waiting for the marina office to open. We told the office of our problem with the heating, as no maintenance staff work on weekends, we found that there was no-one there to help us. The office chap said it may be fuel starvation - this made sense!.
My husband and I had never had a narrow boat before, although we have had cruisers. We had begun to realise that taken a course in handling might have been a good idea. The marina was full of boats for winter storage and we need to fill both ends of the boat with diesel, one tank for the heating and the other for the engine. Turning a 54ft boat might be easy for some, but not an easy thing to do, with no instruction and really feeling under pressure. I have to say my husband was great and although it seemed to take an age, he got it done and I was very proud of him.
The initial part of the journey was fine. I made myself busy in the galley, making myself familiar with everything. I even got the cooker and the stove working and thought that was the end of our heating problems. When the cooker reached the right temperature, I cooked some bacon and sausages for sandwiches and put some sausage rolls in the oven. A hot meal always makes the going a little easier.
We had arranged for my uncle to meet us on route. This way he could run one of us back to the marina to pick our car up. The reason behind this was that come Monday we would still need to get to work from wherever we were. Uncle John met us at Rothersthorpe Top Lock, where he left his car.
Like the inexperienced idiots that we were, we decided to attempt the next 13 locks. We started at 2.30pm and finished when it was dark. We will never again attempt to do anything so stupid, I have never been so tired and exhausted and so scared. We certainly learnt some very valuable lessons this afternoon. The very first lock we went through we nearly got the back end caught on the lock gate. If it wasn't for my husbands quick action, we would have lost our new home after only going 11 miles. We had to shut the front paddles - fast and at the same time open the paddles behind us to let water through to get enough water to move the boat forward. I was so scared, the boat was visibly caught on the locks and we thought permanent damage had been done - IN THE VERY FIRST LOCK. Lesson one - keep the rear of the boat away from the lock gates.
The next few locks went quite well and then we got complacent, my uncle and mother started to open the paddles before I had shut the gate behind the boat. My husband was screaming at them to closed the paddles, it happened so quickly. Luckily my gate was past half way, but the surge of water ripped the gate away from me and slammed shut, at the same time a tidal wave of water came from no-where and slammed into the gate and some going over the top, just missing my husband on the tiller. There were a few choice words, about taking notice of what others were doing and concentrating on what you are supposed to be doing. As I said later - this is not a holiday on some tatty hire boat - this is my home!!! Lesson two - do not open paddles until you checked it is O.K. to do so.
By the time we had finished 13 locks, we were all absolutely exhausted. Our second night was spent moored up just after bridge 7 on the Grand Union (Northampton Branch). We had no hot food as we still couldn't light the cooker, but we did have a few beers. Uncle John ended up staying to night on the sofa with the dogs for company. Husband John and I had an early night, we were too cold and too tired for anything else.
I have got to admit - the beautiful dream of this idyllic lifestyle, cruising through the country, mooring up in beautiful surrounding and cosying up was not coming true. I even thought at this stage - what have I done? - is this what I really want?

23rd November 2007 - To day is the day

2007-11-26T05:56:00.000-08:00

Day off work in order to get on the boat. We started the day really early in order to get everything organised. The essentials were packed, just needed to pick up mother as she was helping us look after to boat while we were at work.
We drove to the marina, with the car packed full. Just enough room for me and the dogs in the back. When we got to the marina everything seemed to go great, sale completed and keys in hand all we had to do was load up and sail into the sunset - o how wrong could we be!!!!!!!
We moved our essentials out of the car into the boat and problem 1 raised its head. The husband had not loaded our bedding - it was potentially going to be a cold night.
The maintenance men came to the boat to show us the procedure on lighting the diesel stove and cooker, and while they were there, everything went really smooth. We decided to stay the night in the relative safety of the marina and go and get some shopping (basics and a high tog quilt) and a meal. When we got back to the boat, it was dark and the temperature had dropped dramatically (-4). This is when we found that neither the stove or the cooker were working properly. There were no staff around to ask for help and to be honest - we did not have a clue. So, we stayed up as long as we could but it was an early bed just to keep warm.

The start of our new home

2007-11-26T05:36:00.000-08:00

We have been searching the country, trailing the web, reading the magazines since March in order to find the home of our dreams.
It started with a silly little comment, just after we had dropped the daughter of to Uni. "Well, now all the kids have grown up and left home - might as well sell up and live on a boat!!!". Within a couple of weeks, we had started to research properly. We had secured a mooring and starting to go into things in a little more depth, especially with regard the cost.
By May the house was up for sale and we started to prepare ourselves for a move. By August we had started to empty the loft, either give away to charity, sell or even just give away years worth of possessions. Then things started to get hectic, the sale of the house was agreed and we needed to find a boat.
After many months of searching, we found the boat of our dreams. We had been on board so many, some were great but beyond our pocket, others were just dogs and not worth the water they sat on. As soon as we got on the Emperor, we just knew! She felt solid, no smell on damp, just a little neglected. We both knew she was the one for us. We had planned for us to look at another couple of boats the next day and I had said, if she is still there tomorrow - she is meant to be ours. When we drove away and stopped for a drink and a meal, she was on our mind all the time, so we decided to put our offer in. The first offer wasn't accepted but the second was, so we went back the next day and put our deposit down.
The next few months were just hard work. Selling a house is stressful enough, but downsizing a huge 3 bedroomed place, full of years of kids growing-up is another matter. I have never been through such a stressful experience, worrying about the kids, worrying about all out stuff, worrying about the boat and out new life.
During this time we had to cope with my husband losing his mother to cancer, our eldest graduating, a weekend away due to a company function, all within weeks of actually getting the boat.
The Emporer failed her survey and had to have some hull work and a few minor things done, but at the time it feels like a huge weight on your shoulders, and actually getting the completion of the house timed to the completion of the boat purchase and given us both grey hairs - but we here now and would like to tell you more!!