Only a week late!….

On Friday we at last managed to get up to Pillings Lock Marina to empty the saloon ready for Neil to start work on the alterations to the dinette.  We had planned to go the week before, but we had another heavy fall of snow and decided that our journey “wasn’t really necessary”.  Then we had planned for last Monday and again the weather stopped us.  The next tentative date was Wednesday, but on phoning Ali when we woke up to even more snow, she said that it was really treacherous on the roads up there and not to come.  So, when it started to rain on Thursday, we decided that Friday was the day!  I can’t remember being so pleased to see rain.

The boat was freezing, but we didn’t plan to be there long so we just put the Webasto on to take the chill off and to have somewhere to warm our hands up (the radiator!)  We managed to get the bases off the chairs and squeeze them through the doors into the bedroom and the rest was easy!  All in all it took us less than an hour.  Anyway, all done now, so Neil can start.

Hopefully it won’t take him too long to do the work – will keep you all up to date with progress.

Just a quick update…

to let you all know that we are still alive and kicking, and residing at Mum’s!!!  Rog has an infected big toe which has required frequent trips to the doc, and 3 courses of antibiotics (so far!)  so we thought it wise to stay near our own doctor for the time being, as we don’t want to neglect it for fear of it becoming worse.

We took Mum down to see Emma, Ben and the girls on New Years’ Eve, and had a lovely day with them, then spent a quiet evening in with the telly.

We are planning to go back to the boat on Thursday to clear out the saloon for Neil to begin work on the dinette.  We had also hoped to move the boat nearer to the car-park, but unless there is an unexpected thaw, that will be a no-go, it will just have to stay where it is for the time being.

Don’t give up reading the blog – I know there is nothing of interest for everyone at the mo, but we will be back in business eventually!!

A quick trip to Pillings….

After a very quiet and restful Christmas at Mum’s in Northampton, we made a quick trip up to Pillings Lock Marina to check up on the boat, and to meet Neil from Beacon to discuss the changes to the dinette.  There was still a lot of ice in the marina, and sight of the ducks standing on top of the ‘water’ made me chuckle.  The boat was fine – we turned everything on again, and checked that water flowed out of the taps, and not all over the floor!  It was freezing inside, so while we waited for Neil to arrive, we lit the stove and turned on the Webasto then decamped to the cafe for a warming latte.  Neil arrived just as we were settling down in the warm, so joined us for a cuppa, after which we returned to the boat, which was much warmer by then.  After much discussion and measuring up, Neil left and we closed up the boat again, and returned to Mum’s.  We will need to go back next week to clear a bit of stuff out of the saloon to make room for Neil to work, and to move the boat to a pontoon nearer to the car park so he doesn’t have too far to carry stuff when he’s working.

We hope you all have a happy and safe New Year.

Christmas Greetings….

 

                     

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year

                          

The launch of Singing Hinny…

Today saw the launch of Beacon Boats No 10 – no longer are we their newest ‘baby’ on the system!  Being moored for a while at Pillings Lock Marina, we were in an ideal situation to watch and photograph the launch.  With fingers crossed that it would go more smoothly than our launch, we wandered up to the slip at about 10 o’clock.  The boat was just arriving on the lorry, shortly followed by the crane, and Ali and Neil.

 

Still on the lorry

Mick and Ingrid, the proud owners, Mick nervously clutching his bottle of beer to ‘christen, the boat

Up

Up a bit more

Around

And down

Heading for the water just as it started to snow!

Bottom wet

The moment she was afloat for the very first time

Free at last!

At which point we repaired to the cafe for hot drinks and a full English!!! 

The launch went without a hitch, thank goodness.  Congratulations to Mick and Ingrid on a lovely boat – we hope you have many happy hours aboard.

A spooky experience…

We made an appearance at Beacon’s Open weekend on Sunday – what a spooky experience that was, walking into the workshop and seeing an almost identical boat to ours.

Mick and Ingrid, the owners have chosen what seems to have become Beacon’s signature colours – everyone who sees them likes them so much that they choose the same for their boat!  They also have scrolls the same as ours, but in a slightly different position.  We chatted with some prospective customers, and made the most of the coffee and mince pies – although the wood burner in the workshop was going it was still freezing in there, most of the heat going out of the chimney.

A lovely week with my ‘girls’

Last Monday I went down to Wheeler End Common, near High Wycombe, to spend a few days with daughter Emma, and granddaughters Flo and Milly  (son-in law Ben was away).  On Monday afternoon we took Flo to ballet (Milly was itching to join in as she loves to dance, but she’s not old enough for the 3-5yrs class yet).

Flo in her ballet outfit  -  sweet enough to eat!

On Tuesday evening Emma went to work (she’s a Slimming World Consultant) and after I’d put the girls to bed, I indulged in the one thing I miss living on a boat – a long, hot soak in the bath!!!  It was divine!!!

We spent some time sorting baby clothes for the new baby, and then promptly broke the washing machine when we put the first load in – all fixed now though.

Flo and Milly on a walk with the dog

Emma and No3 on the same walk (told you I’d get you back for taking the p**s, Emma!)

We took Flo to Gymnastics on Thursday afternoon, but I got told off for taking photos without permission (none of which came out as they were taken from behind glass!)– do I look like a pervert??  I know that they have to be careful, but it was quite obvious that I was a grandma!!

On Friday, Rog came down to pick me up and we went to the girls’ Pre-school Christmas play – they were both wonderful, singing a little song that Flo made up about Pudsey Bear.