Summer hols!

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

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

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!!!

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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.