Well it has been a while since my last update; once again I cannot work out where all the time goes.

Due to the fact that people do not seem to understand what retired means and Pauls nature being what it is, he finds it hard to say NO most of the time, he hasn’t spent as much time as he would have liked doing the boat. Despite this he has put the wiring in, fixed the tongue and groove to the ceiling (which looks amazing), fixed the bottom panels and has now started on the top panels - some of the area above the gunnels is being done in panels and some of it in tongue and groove. The window liners have now arrived and they look great. Paul has made the plinth that the fire is going on and tiled it.

We are now in the process of deciding on varnishes for the wood, sample after sample has been tested and we are still undecided. The one thing that has become clear to us during all this is how long it takes to decide and source all the stuff required for fitting out a narrowboat yourself. It is amazing just how time consuming it all is.

During all this activity by Paul I hear you asking what am I doing, well I have had fun buying all those everyday bits for the boat, bedding, crockery, cutlery etc. clothes that do not require ironing and anything else I can find. I have also started trying to sort out the cupboards, deciding what to get rid off, what to store and what we are taking with us. I must admit we seem to have collected a lot of stuff over the years and its hard deciding what to do with it. I think the best plan of action will be that as Paul progresses with the boat I fill it up with the stuff we are taking and see what’s left.

We are off to the Beaulieu Boat Jumble this weekend to have a look around and Crick at the end of the month where we are camping so will have plenty of time to wander around. There are still lots of things to look at for the boat and ideas to be gleaned.

Our schedule of being on the water in June has definitely moved, I think it will be more like August/September, as long as there is light at the end of the tunnel I think I will be able to cope with working for that long.