It's beginning to look like a proper boat.....

We received these photos emailed from Ali yesterday - Andy has really been able to crack on with the painting over the last week as the temperatures have at last been high enough. And doesn't it look great? (battleship grey never was my favourite colour!) The red and grey are still undercoat, but the black is the first of the top coats. The cream on the roof is finished, I think, but I can't quite tell from the photo if Andy has put the non-slip on yet. Not sure about the cream on the cabin side - I can't tell if it's top coat or undercoat. We will be going over again next Tuesday, so will find out then.

A few more photos....

Just a few more photos from our quick trip to Beacon today - made so that our son Russ could inspect progress!!!

This is the small cupboard on the end of the sink/drainer run that I will use to store small foodstuffs.

The cupboard run that will house the hob - it will have set of 5 drawers, a large double cupboard, and another small cupboard for more foodstuffs at the end - and only a small corner space that will be easily accessible.

The same run, taken from the other end

At last - the weather has warmed up enough to start the painting - the roof is almost completed, just waiting for it's coat of anti-slip paint. Andy has started to mark up the cabin sides and will be starting on them next week, temperatures permitting.

Russ

White Goods galore....

Our fortnightly visit to Beacon took place yesterday, and we were pleased to find that the galley is taking shape now. All the appliances have now been delivered so Neil could get on building the cupboards.

The oven and grill, with the fridge underneath - the fridge is 'integrated' - so it will have a door that matches the rest. In the corner is the calorifier cupboard - the top part will be split into two - a wet cupboard and an airing cupboard

The fridge (aka 'the beer cupboard')

The condenser dryer

Big cupboard over the dryer - for all sorts of stuff, but not food as it may get a little warm! Originally washing machine was going to go in the bottom of this cupboard, with the dryer above it - but the washer proved to be just a little too deep, so we had to have a re-think. The washing machine and dryer cupboards will also have matching doors, although we may have to leave the ones on the dryer cupboard open while the dryer is in action - Neil has put loads of air grills and holes in the sides and back of the cupboard, so hopefully it will stay cool enough to leave the doors closed.

The washing machine is now going under the draining board, leaving a small cupboard under the sink, but big enough for the drinking water filter, and a few bits of cleaning stuff, which is all I would keep under the sink in any case. The big cupboard over the dryer will be far more use than a big cupboard under the sink and drainer, so I'm not too bothered about the change in design. There is also a small cupboard which opens the other way (into the corridor) for small packets and tins etc.

The shower room doors which Rog forgot to take a photo of last time, leaning against the bulkhead out of the way.

Neil and I deep in discussion about something! Captions please!

We also went up to Whalin Upholstery at Pinxton, north of Nottingham to choose the fabric for the dinette - there were so many to choose from that it was a bit daunting, as we hadn't really even got an idea what colour we wanted. We finally settled on a wine colour with a figured flower (a lily, I think) in a beigey colour, with a chenille type feel to it - difficult to describe, and, as usual, we forgot to take a photo! We did fall in love with a much paler fabric with a terracotta lily, but, with Cassie around, we knew it wasn't practical so we reluctantly discarded it.

We will be back at Beacon on Saturday, as our son has decided that he's coming home for Mother's Day, and wants to see the boat, so hopefully, more pictures then.

Getting a handle on it.....

Our latest trip up to Beacon and we found that lots of handles have appeared on our cupboards, and very nice they look too! The bedroom is almost complete. All that remains to be done in there is for the over-bed cupboard to be put in, and for the reading lights to be attached.

The small basin that we chose when we went to Midland Chandlers was in place inset into the vanity unit in the shower room. This is also almost complete. The tiling around the basin and on the vanity top needs to be done, the loo only needs to be put in place, and the shower unit assembled and put in place. All the plumbing is there, as is the shower mixer tap etc. The shower unit gets in the way a bit when they are carrying stuff up and down the boat, so they tend to put that in towards the end of the build. The door between the bathroom and the bedroom has been made, but not yet hung, but no photo of that as 'himself' forgot to take one! Neil was about to hang it when we arrived, so that would be his next job when we finally left him to get on.

The dinette is now finished, also the bits to make it into a spare bed. Neil has made a very clever 3 fold frame which fills the gap, and then 3 boards to make the sleeping platform. I have to admit that when I first saw it folded up and leaning against the side I thought it looked a bit Heath-Robinson-ish, and complicated, but when Neil showed us how it went together, it's a piece of cake, takes about 30 seconds and is sturdy enough to hold even the most energetic of visitors!!! He made the sleeping platform boards in three parts so they would store away under the dinette bench easily, and not be too awkward or heavy to handle. The man is a genius! There is a drawer in the return part of the 'L', with the Shoreline 12v freezer inside.

Freezer drawer closed

and open

And last, but not least, the front step is made, although I've made more work for Neil because the first riser is a bit high for me. We discussed options and because of the cupboard doors he can't now change the level of it, so he's going to put another little step in front of it, as there's loads of room. In the photo it looks as if the height from the step to outside is bigger, but I think that's an optical illusion caused by the angle of the photo, and because I am stepping out over the lip and then down again a few inches, it doesn't seem so high.

The next job on the agenda, according to Neil, is to make the other door (from the saloon into the bathroom) and then begin on the corner boatman's cupboard for the saloon. This idea is blatantly filched from Nb Caxton, but mine will be a bit different as it will have a glass door on the top cupboard, so I can display my small collection of pottery jugs, without which the boat won't feel like home! "Glass door!!, pottery jugs!!" I hear you cry, as you throw up your hands in horror! "What happens the first time you misjudge the entrance to a lock? The whole lot will come crashing down" Well, I've thought of that - it will be toughened glass, with a lock to stop the door flying open, and the jugs will be stuck down on the shelves with sticky pads. If, despite efforts to the contrary, it does all end in disaster, we will have the door replaced with a solid one, and if any of the jugs have survived they will have to be found another home.

Back to our boat owning beginnings....

Yesterday we accompanied Ali and Neil to Midland Chandlers at Penkridge to choose some of the fixtures and fittings for Windsong - wall lights, bathroom basin etc. It also gave us the opportunity to get a few things that we needed at trade discount. We bought an eco-fan, a sea-searcher magnet, a long throw windlass for me, and some piling hooks, along with the BW keys and, of course a floating cork ball keyring (can't possibly go boating without one of those!)

As soon as we arrived I had this horrible, wobbly feeling in my tummy. We started our boat-owning career from this very spot about 12 years ago - well, Teddesley's yard next door, actually. To cut a very long story short, we had bought our very first second hand boat from a broker a little way further along the Staffs and Worcester, and were having it re-fitted by a bloke (who shall remain nameless, but with the initials LL) who was recommended to us by the broker. LL was renting space from Teddesley to do the work. We should have been warned by the very reasonable (cheap!!) price he quoted us, but, as complete novices at the time , we had no real idea idea of the cost of this sort of thing. Suffice to say, he did a bit of work, and then did a runner.

The first we knew of it was when Teddesley's manager (can't remember his name) phoned us and informed us that LL was removing stuff from the boat, and we'd better come. When we arrived, he'd already legged it, taking everything movable off the boat, just leaving the bulkheads, plumbing and gas fitting etc. We were gutted!!! All we could think of was to get the boat away before he came back for more. He had even taken the start-up battery, so Rog went and bought one at Midland, and off we chugged - down the canal to our already arranged (luckily) mooring at Hatherton. When we worked it out, we hadn't lost any money, because all we had given him so far was the money to re-plate the bottom, which we know for a fact that he did, the rest was payable on completion. We suspect that he owed loads of money to Teddesley, and that they were about to take him to court and that was why he'd done a runner. We bought all the stuff and finished the boat ourselves.

It nearly put us off boating for life, but after we had fitted it out (not very professionally!) we were in love all over again. We loved our old Harborough Marine ex-hire boat named, by us 'Teasel' (Greygal - note the Swallows and Amazons connection!) but had to admit defeat and sell her several years later when she really did become a hole in the water that we poured money into. We had many enjoyable holidays on her though, and certainly learned a lot about boating, and about boat design.

We have cruised past the spot numerous times since that horrible day, and I always get that sinking feeling when we do! Perhaps it will go away when we are at last 'living the dream'. I do hope so.

Finding Sid the Slug....

As planned we went over to Foxton Locks to have our first go at Geocaching. We fired up the Garmin and set off along the towpath below the locks as instructed, and who should we spot but Hadar! Unfortunately there was nobody home, but we took a pic anyway.

We continued on our merry way, and a few minutes later the Garmin gave a loud beep - we were there! We had a root around and found the first cache quite easily. It was in good order, and well hidden from the casual passer-by. After checking that nobody was around, we signed the book, and had a good rummage around the contents.

We found Sid the Welsh Travel Slug, who is travelling around from cache to cache, looking for watery places to stay and decided that we would move him to a new home, so Rog put him in his pocket. We also had a look at who had found the cache, and discovered that Sue from Nb No Problem had been there.

After returning the cache to it's hiding place, we retraced our steps to see if we could find the other one on the towpath somewhere near the top of the locks. Of course, we had to stop and have a latte from the cafe at the top, and do a bit of gongoozling while we drank it. We got chatting (as you do) to a lovely couple on Nb Shimshams as they exited the top lock. A beautiful Braidbar Boat - No 101. Lovely to meet you both - sorry, forgot to ask your names - hope to see you again at Crick.

We then carried on to find the next cache. Again it was quite easy to find if you were looking for it, but well hidden from the muggles. This time we took nothing and left nothing - we had decided that Sid could do with a new watery home somewhere over this way - he hasn't travelled this way yet, so it would be a new experience for him. Sue had also found this cache - we're right behind you, Sue - Swallows and Amazons Forever!

After replacing the cache where we had found it we returned to the cafe - by this time our tummy's were rumbling, so we sat and had a lovely Cornish pasty for lunch. We were joined by a very cheeky robin who hung around until I tipped my crumbs on the ground - he obviously knew that it was a good spot for an easy meal.

We enjoyed our first taste of Geocaching very much, and plan to go and find a nice new home for Sid during the week.

Update on the new walking boots - my toes didn't drop off, and I didn't have to change into my trainers. I wore thinner socks today and they were a little less tight, so I will let them stretch a bit before I try them with the thicker socks again. Phew, what a relief, I haven't wasted £90! I find it a nightmare to buy any shoes or boots from an ordinary shop as I'm a size 5 EEE fitting, and 'normal' shoes just don't fit me. As it was I had to buy the boots in a size 6, but they seem fine.

Trains and Boats and Planes.....

Well, not really! No trains, a good few boats (mostly splitters, Tupperware boats and gin-palaces) and no planes. We decided to brave the National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show at the NEC in Birmingham on Thursday. I've never seen so many caravans and motor homes in all my life! And very luxurious most of them were too! If we weren't such boataholics, we might seriously consider buying one.

We had a look in a few narrowboats on show, and I have to say that several of them didn't impress us at all - the external paintwork on one (naming no names!) was absolutely dreadful. The standard of finish on the carpentry also left a lot to be desired. We did think the Alvechurch boat was quite nice, and we also liked the Ownerships boat (we always have a look at those wherever we see them, as we used to own a share in Nb Kinver - and we sometimes meet up with people we know)

We really went to the show to see if we could get a good deal on a TV aerial and a Kerston satellite dish but were disappointed. RoadPro didn't have any dishes with them, and we have seen the TV aerial that we want for the same price in the local camping and caravan shop. We will now buy the dish from the Internet, it's cheaper than RoadPro anyway.

We did, however, get a bargain - two thick fleeces with quilted, padded linings for boating in cold weather - a mere snip at £14.99 each. Rog also bought a Garmin Oregon hand held satnav, complete with maps at a bit of a discount - yet another gadget for him to play with. We've been reading on others blogs lately about GeoCaching, and it sounds like fun, so we thought we'd give it a go. This is it below.

We are going to go over to Foxton Locks tomorrow, weather permitting , to do our first one. There are two over there, within easy reach of the towpath, and not too far to walk. That's important because I want to try out my new walking boots, and to start to break them in. I wore them to take Cassie for a walk this morning, and my toes were numb by the time I got home, so I need to stretch them a little bit. We are, however, going to take the little rucksack, then I can put my nice comfy trainers in it, and change into them before my toes drop off!!
Will blog again tomorrow or Monday and let you know how we got on.