Old newport - history!

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

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!

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

Don't do it hubs

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

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!!!!

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

Life is good - not everyone gets this view every morning