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Ratsonline

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  1. Ratsonline

    It Has Arrived

    By Ratsonline,

    Well it’s in; we now have a 59ft narrow boat in the garden.
     
    7.30am - The day started after about 4 hours of sleep. Paul still had to sort out the electrics to the workshop so that the outside camera would be working and I put the kettle on for coffee and put the sausages in the oven.
     
    8am - The crane arrived (it was enormous 100 ton) and they started setting the pads up whilst having coffee and bacon and egg rolls. At this stage Paul kept wandering up and down checking the sleepers and telegraph poles and wondering if this going to work and getting more nervous by the minute and the realisation that we must be totally off our tree for doing this. Between making tea & coffee, I kept running in and out of the house to take pictures.
     
    8.30am - Paul got a call from the lorry driver to let us know where he was (about ½ hour away) and to make sure that everything our end was going to plan.
     
    9am – The lorry arrived; it was the most amazing sight seeing the lorry with our narrow boat on it turning the corner into our road, I have to confess I started to cry. Words cannot express the feelings of joy and wonder that we experienced at that moment. The crane people, the lorry driver and Paul all got together at this point to discuss the plan of action. The strops were positioned, the crane was cranked up and everyone (family, friends and neighbours) was waiting with baited breath for the lift.
     
    9.15am – Much to Paul’s amazement he was given the bow line and the proceedings started, when the boat was first lifted it lurched forward and you could have heard a pin drop – I’m sure everyone stopped breathing for a second. Then it started to go higher and higher and to swing round, it sailed over the top of our neighbours garage/bar missing the chimney to their log burner by about an inch, then floated over towards Paul’s workshop and just seemed to sit on the wall behind it. It gradually got moved into the 8ft gap where it was to settle, the house on one-side and neighbours garages and sheds on the other, the crane was inching the boat forward when there was a loud crack from the front of the house where the pavement had moved and caused one of the mats to crack, so at this point the boat slowly descended narrowly missing the house (it did touch very lightly a couple times) until gently resting on the telegraph poles and sleepers. The weight of the boat was still being supported by the crane at this point, then suddenly we heard this groaning noise as the boat settled on the telegraph poles and sleepers – would they hold – yes, it was brilliant, the boat had landed.
     
     
    At this point the stern was sticking out the front of the house onto the public highways area so we needed to move it forward. The telegraph pole roller system was going to be put to the test. They removed the strops from the middle of the boat and put one on the stern end in order to lift the boat and push it forward. I was standing at the bow end when this was going on and it was quite a shock when it starting moving, Paul was running and jumping around making sure that the rollers (telegraph poles) were all ok and supporting the boat, I yelled its working and a friend at the stern also shouted ‘Its working Spoons’. It was one hell of a sight. They did this another couple of times until it was positioned ok; the last thing was to push the stern end nearer the house.
     
    10am – All done. Whilst the crane people packed up and the lorry driver got ready to go I produced more coffee and breakfast rolls, everyone involved in this lift was absolutely amazing – a wonderful bunch of people.
     
    After clearing up I went off to get some of the pictures printed and to finish my Christmas shopping and left Paul at home to play.
     
    That evening Paul and I (still in a daze really) popped out for a quick drink and picked up some more pictures from a friend who had been round earlier, then went home to watch the videos. The camera that Paul had set up was brilliant it got all those little moments that you never remember and all the quirky bits because nobody realises that they are being filmed. Over the Christmas period Paul is going to compile all the videos and pictures taken of the lift, if anyone is contemplating putting a narrow boat in their garden or just wants to take a look see, email us your address and we will send a copy when it is done.
     
    I must admit it is an amazing thing, looking out of the window and seeing a narrow boat, especially when you are 60 miles away from the nearest canal.
  2. Ratsonline

    10 Hours to Go

    By Ratsonline,

    Its been a very busy weekend for Paul, with the front wall down (Friday & Saturday) it left the side wall for Sunday, many thanks go to a friend who popped round to say hello and ended up being a labourer for the day, Paul would still be knocking it down now otherwise. It’s amazing how a 10ft x 8ft brick wall can create such a large amount of debris; the wall was built by the council in 1952 and was definitely built to last because every brick had to be chiselled out. I got the boat insurance sorted yesterday so that the transport and lift is now covered. Paul has been busy today sorting out more sleepers and preparing the driveway for the arrival tomorrow, in between phone calls to make sure that the boat has been picked up and on its way.
     
    I went to Tesco on the way home from work to get sausages, bacon etc for breakfast rolls to feed the friends (and numerous onlookers no doubt) that are coming round to take pictures or video the event, not sure how many are going to turn up but we have a horrible feeling it is going to be a bit like a three ring circus.
     
    On arriving home I found Paul outside still sorting stuff out, he has put some timber up on the side of the house, just in case, and sorting the placing of the telegraph poles and setting up a camera. At the moment (its now 11pm) he is disconnecting and moving all the electric, network and phone cables that run from the house to his workshop as they are in the way.
     
    The council have put up the road closure signs on the lampposts and after midnight we will be able to put out some ‘no parking’ signs. I have been to see the people who live in the houses on the corners of our road (actually it’s a close) and opposite the entrance to ask if when they have gone to work it will be ok to put some ‘no parking’ signs down, they were all ok about it.
     
    The fun starts at about 7.30am when the crane arrives and the lorry at about 9am.
     
    We could probably do with an early night really, but I can’t see us getting much sleep. The next time I put an entry on we should have the boat in the garden. Keep your fingers crossed.
  3. Ratsonline

    A new adventure

    By Ratsonline,

    After reading some of the blogs, I thought it would be a good idea to start and a bit of fun to start my own blog.
     
    So introductions first, I am Karen (Ratsonline) and my partners name is Paul (Spoons) and we currently live in a house – but hopefully not for much longer, the plan is to be on the water for the end of June 2008.
     
    After many years of camping, mainly in Cornwall we took our first narrowboat holiday in 2006 on the Kennett and Avon and fell in love, the idea was born to get our own boat. We went to the Crick boat show, started looking at magazines and on the net; we just couldn’t get enough of narrowboats. We went on another holiday this year and still felt the same although it rained most days.
     
    Since then things have got really serious, after much searching, sleepless nights and thought we finally decided to purchase a 58ft sailaway. Paul spent hours researching the different builders and finally found one, unfortunately due to personal circumstances we were unable to place the order in time to get the build slot and the next available was June 08, desperate to get out of the rat race Paul started searching again.
     
    We went to the IWA in August, where we had a most enjoyable weekend, we arrived on the Thursday night (we were camping) and although it was very wet and muddy had a great time. Lots of praise must go to the organisers for the way they dealt with all the mud and for the event itself.
     
    Paul went to see some builders and narrowed the search down, now it was just a matter of time – waiting for the money to be in place. Hooray – it’s September and we had an appointment with the builder to discuss the specifications of our build. Paul had already decided on the technical aspects of the boat, i.e. engine, tanks, windows etc. and we had decided that we wanted a 58ft simple shell with a cruiser stern. Well we got to the boat yard, had a long discussion with the builder and then had a look around at the boats. Well we stood on the back of a sem-trad and fell in love, it just felt right, so now we are having a 59ft semi-trad with a semi-josher bow. Paul now had to provide the window layout so that we could get the contract signed for a build start the middle of November. Many hours and drawings later this was sent off.
     
    Deposit paid, contract signed, we are at the starting gate, Paul is now working on the plans for the layout, sourcing kit and looking for somewhere to put the boat. I now have a washing machine in the hall and a wind generator in the lounge, an inverter and a webasto heater in the workshop and that is just for starters. I am currently clearing out the smallest bedroom to create a storage area, otherwise all this stuff is going to be all over the house.
     
    There is so much to do, the kit for the boat, somewhere to put it, the house to sort. Well at least we have got until the end of January before the boat arrives so that gives us a little bit of time to sort the other things. Paul is giving up work at the end of December to concentrate on the boat and in the meantime we can sort out the house and start clearing stuff – I have started clearing the house out, it is amazing how much junk we store, the attic will definitely require a skip.
     
    Paul has been looking at sites/yards etc to put the boat locally but so far no luck, finding something secure and accessible are not easy, so the logical idea is put it in the garden, this will help enormously with the fit out as everything Paul needs will be to hand. In the garden I hear you say, are we insane, well the answer to that is probably, but weighing up the practicality, security and making life easy it does make sense. Although I must admit that putting a 59ft narrowboat in your back garden creates another set of problems, transport, crane, road closure etc.
     
    We are now in the middle of November with the build due to start, Paul and I wanted to be able to go and visit the boat during the build so Paul rang to ask when would be a good time to be told “well now would be good because we are a bit ahead of ourselves and the boat will be ready in two weeks”, well talk about panic, that is the understatement of the year. Juggling family commitments and work we suddenly had to go and visit the boat (600 mile round trip) and all the plans for the next 2 months had gone out the window. Getting the boat in the garden was the biggest problem. Well Paul got on the phone with a vengeance and has now sorted the transport, the crane and has been in touch with the council about the road closure. Hopefully we are going back up to the boat on the 11th December for the handover and delivery is going to be week commencing the 17th December.
     
    Paul has now started work on the garden, the big tree stump is being removed and the area to be dug up/flattened is being marked out. Sourcing sleepers and telegraph polls is next on the list – or is that after the sheds (which are still full of stuff and attached to the house) and the front and sidewalls are to be taken down. Oh well at least we have another 3 weeks to sort this lot out. Keep your fingers and everything else you can think of crossed for us.
  5. Ratsonline

    Launching

    By Ratsonline,

    Well you have probably worked out that the boat launch did not happen at the end of June/early July as hoped. Well now for the news. Our intention was to put the boat on the Kennet and Avon canal and then travel to the Inland Waterways festival (about 3 weeks travel time). Well in order to do this it meant we needed to launch the boat sooner rather than later. To this end we obtained two launch dates and the only one that would have let us do this was the 4th August. Well after much deliberation we reluctantly decided that there was no way that the boat would be ready, Also the fact that the transport cost - utilising a local company - was way more expensive than it cost us to transport the boat from Widnes, which seemed ridiculous as we only wanted to go about 50 miles. So the thinking caps went on and we decided to look at transport companies further up country and it seemed daft to get them to come down here (Bournemouth) just to transport it 50 miles and then continue back to base empty.
     
    So to cut a long story short (well shortish), we now have a launch date of the 18th August and the boat is being launched near Warwick, which is 50 miles or so from the festival and we will have 10 days to get there so our first trip will now be quite leisurely and not the mad panic we thought it might end up being.
     
    We are now working very hard (well Paul is - what with me being a lady of leisure) to get all the major stuff finished on the boat, he is getting all the stuff that requires the large power tools sorted as we cannot take them with us. Also the boat still needs painting and guess what the weather has been crap, it is either raining or too windy. We really need to get this sorted in the next two weeks as Paul has got to start moving the boat from the back garden to the front boundary line.
     
    Well as you can see it is all coming to fruition, it is really quite scary and still hard to believe, it still feels like a dream. We are really looking forward to being at the Festival again, especially as we will be on board our new home and have already received our mooring allocation. What a great place to start our new life.
  6. Ratsonline

    Nearly There

    By Ratsonline,

    It is now April and the canals are looking even more inviting, we popped into Braunston on our way home from Pauls mum on Easter Monday and sat by the canal outside the Admiral Nelson (Grand Union) watching the boats in the lock (swearing at them because it was not us), the sun was shining and all the boaters and walkers looked very happy and content.
     
    The boat is coming along but there still seems to be loads to do, Paul is now making a mental list of all the smaller jobs that are needed (which we can do on the water) and concentrating on the major stuff as we really want to be on the water sooner rather than later.
     
    We are going to the Crick Boat show in May, camping again as the boat will not be on the water by then. However we do have a mooring booked for the IWA in August so plan on the boat being launched (fingers crossed) at the end of June, early July.
     
    Hopefully my next update will be a launch date. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and our new life will begin.
  7. Ratsonline

    A New Year

    By Ratsonline,

    Well it is now 2009 and the year of our launch. We have still not decided on a date but are keeping our fingers crossed for late March mid April. It will be nice to get on the canals for Spring.
     
    We have picked up the settee from Elite Furnishings and are very pleased with it, the trip from Bournemouth to Tamworth was uneventful but unfortunately after that it went down hill for a while. Part of the reason for going to Tamworth to pick the settee up was because Paul wanted to go to a Chandlers over in Wolverhampton unfortunately on this leg of the journey we broke down on the Motorway, it was quite a dingy day, windy, dark and raining. Not a pleasant situation to be in, when you are in the traffic it always seems busy, but standing by the roadside or trying to repair a broken down vehicle (in the wind & rain) under these circumstances is really not very nice. Whilst Paul was checking the vehicle over my brother who lives in Winchester rang me and asked me where I was, to which I answered I don’t know we are on a motorway somewhere, why? He promptly said are you on the M? (Can’t remember which one now) broken down because I have just driven past you. He very kindly came back to try and help. In the meantime Paul had come to the conclusion that although he knew what was wrong with the car it was a bit dodgy trying to sort it out by the side of the Motorway as the weather was deteriorating and we did not have a a lot of daylight left. At this stage I rang the AA and became a member in order to get us off the Motorway and somewhere safe at a cost of £120, not cheap but worth every penny to get of the motorway. After what seemed an age and shaking from the cold we were transported to a B&Q car park. The AA driver who transported us arranged for a mechanic to come out as although Paul knew what the problem was it would be handy for any tools that might be needed that we did not have with us. The car was unloaded and Paul started work on the car so I went and got coffee and bacon and egg sandwiches from the Van in the B&Q car park. By the time I got back the AA mechanic had arrived and was assisting Paul by holding an umbrella over him whilst he worked on the car, being a Range Rover the young mechanic advised that he knew nothing about these vehicles, even so he was very helpful. Within 15 Minutes Paul had the car fixed and we were mobile again. By this time we would not get to the Chandlers before it closed but decided to go over to Wolverhampton anyway. We had come such a long way it seemed pointless going all the way home just to have to come back another time. So being young (ish), well we like to think so (after all its all in the mind) we decided that we would find a safe spot and sleep in the car over night as neither of us felt very happy about leaving our brand new furniture in the car all by itself. Luckily I had decided to take a blanket, sleeping bag and 3 car blankets (protection for the settee if needed) so we had plenty to keep us warm. Unfortunately the settee had the prime position so we were stuck with the front seats, not the most comfortable place to sleep, but quite a few drinks before hand definitely helped. We did actually manage to get some sleep and in the morning we went for breakfast and to the Chandlers. We stopped of at Banbury (Oxford Canal) on the way home and had a lovely walk down the canal.
     
    I have brought a small sowing machine in order to make the curtains, I just need to find the material and decide on the style. Paul is progressing nicely with the boat, the bedroom bulkhead in now in, including the sliding door. The cupboards and worktops in the area at the rear (this has multiple names so far, Dirt Room, Workshop, Utility area) is a work in progress and loads of other stuff has also been done, too numerous to mention, apart from the fact I’m not really sure as some of the things that get done are behind the scenes so to speak. All I know is that it is getting closer and closer to being done. The Stove is now working and Paul has the fire going most of the time now and it gets really cosy, shame the boats in the back garden and not on the canal but hopefully this will be soon.
     
    There is still an awful lot to do on the boat before we can sail off into the sunset and we also need to sort the house out and get it ready for renting, but hopefully when I next update this blog it will be news that we are ready to go, or at least nearly ready, fingers crossed.
  8. Ratsonline
    Well somehow it is November, I’m sure I must have gone into hibernation or something because I just don’t know where the time has gone.
     
    Everything is progressing with the fit out and looking really amazing. The saloon and the galley are done apart from the side door linings, the main front door (Paul has purchased a big chunk of Oak for these) and the galley worktop (Paul is still using it as a worktop). More wood was purchased for the trims and cupboards and Paul is saying we still need more.
     
    The bathroom is nearly there, the shower is all sorted and the toilet is in position. The two towel radiators are also fitted. Paul has now started making the wardrobes, which form one of the walls in the bathroom. The long tube we started with has now got rooms - it is an amazing transformation.
     
    We have purchased a mattress for the bed which we are currently testing on our bed in the house, I have told Paul that when it gets put on the boat he is not allowed any linen as knowing him he will start sleeping on the boat and I will never get to see him. The settee from Elite Furnishings is now ready and we are due to pick this up early December, we still haven’t decided on curtains and carpets yet so perhaps once this arrives I will be able to get Paul to the shops (not his favourite thing) to help choose.
     
    In my last update I was hoping to have news on when we will be afloat, well we don’t have any definite dates but we are keeping our fingers crossed for late March early April.
  9. Ratsonline

    Another month flys by

    By Ratsonline,

    Well it is now September and progress is slow but sure.
     
    All the cupboard doors are now made and fixed in the kitchen and looking fantastic. The magic corner is in as well as a couple of other pull out baskets and the sliding waste bin. The only things left for the kitchen is the glass in the top cupboards, a couple of shelves and the worktop, it all sounds very easy and from my point of view it is as I am not the one doing all the work but when Paul comes in frustrated and tired I do tend to think again and apart from anything else it is looking amazing. The Saloon area is coming along nicely, Paul has completed the fireplace, which is all tiled and has a little mantle piece and a draw at the bottom, once again it looks amazing the TV/HiFi cabinet (it is far to nice to call it a cupboard) is all done and Paul is currently working on the units at the front, this is going to be a combination of cupboards and shelving with an area at the bottom to store our table and chairs unit. I know he has also been working on the wiring, plumbing and central heating system but could not honestly say what.
     
    We went to the IWA festival and had a great time, the campsite was unusual but the facilities provided were more than adequate. Most of the time we walked to and from the festival along the towpath, which was a very pleasant walk and only took about 35mins. On the Friday we walked into Wolverhampton via the towpath and saw ‘President' & ‘Kildare' on there way to the festival. Although not impressed with the visit to Wolverhampton (it was far to busy and noisy) the walk along the towpath was lovely and thankfully the weather remained dry.
     
    I took two of Julie Tonkin’s painting classes which were great fun and very productive, I painted a planter with roses and a plate with a castle (1st one) which is rather good, even if I do say so myself. Paul has said that he would be quiet happy for me to decorate the boat he was so impressed, that will definitely be a project for when we are on the canal.
     
    We took the opportunity to visit Elite Furnishings again and look at the furniture and hopefully Paul will take the plunge and order the chairs this week, we have decided on one of there settee designs with some modifications, basically we having two large chairs with only one arm rest on each and a foot stool. Not sure when this will be ready but hopefully in the meantime I can give some thought to the carpet and curtains.
     
    Well that’s all for now and hopefully the next time I update there will be news on when we hope to be afloat.
  10. Ratsonline

    Another Month

    By Ratsonline,

    Well another month has flown by since my last update.
     
    More progress has been made and the boat is really starting to take shape, Paul has built and fixed in the kitchen carcasses and is now fixing the trims on the fronts, next are the cupboard doors, it all sound so simple when you write it like this but the amount of work that goes into the preparation of the wood and the fixing etc. is enormous.
     
    Whilst I was away sunning myself in Turkey, sitting by the pool with a cold lager Paul was fixing in the shower and doing the tiling, it looks fantastic. He also purchased a couple of fold up bikes, we have been out to the local pub a couple of times on them now and they are really good, mind you I had forgotten I had leg muscles and I think if it had been a longish trip I would have been saddle sore. Paul also booked up to go to the IWA festival, we are going to camp again this year, as it was really good last year. He also did lots of other stuff, far too numerous to mention.
     
    I have been varnishing and hopefully over the next couple of days all the side panels will be finished and I will then start on the kitchen cupboard trims and doors. Now that the rooms are being created the boat is really starting to feel like our future home, I keep thinking about where I am going to put stuff and then changing my mind, well as Pauls says, there is plenty of time (hopefully not too much time).
  11. Ratsonline

    Getting There

    By Ratsonline,

    Well I think progress is coming along nicely although Paul feels that it should be further along. The problem (some might say) is that Paul is a bit of a perfectionist so everything takes 3 times longer for him than it would if someone else was doing it. Personally I don’t see that this is a problem because everything he does is always well thought out and looks great.
     
    The ceiling is in place and has now been varnished and the lights have been fitted. All the side panels and the tongue and groove is also now in place along with the window liners. The central heating system and the radiators are in position; the plumbing and gas pipes are all in place (you have to bear in mind that my interpretation of all done is different to Pauls), final fix will come later. Paul has done lots of other things on the boat as well, I really would not know where to start, on the basis I don't really understand all the technical stuff, all I know is that everytime I go on it something has changed.
     
    The kitchen bulkhead is now in position; luckily Paul had put the cooker on the boat prior to this, as it would have been a problem getting it through the gap. He is now re-designing the layout of the kitchen in anticipation of making all the cupboards from scratch.
     
    Tomorrow we are going hunting for bathroom tiles, although Paul might need them for 2-3 weeks we have a wedding next weekend and then I am off on holiday for a week, Paul is looking forward to the peace and quite.
     
    We went to the Beaulieu Boat Jumble and had a really nice day wandering around, Paul got quite a few bits and pieces, along with a kitchen sink and trolley. We camped at Crick and had a great time, for any of you that were there you will know that the weather was fine on Saturday but deteriorated for the Sunday with closure on the Monday.
  12. Ratsonline

    Progress

    By Ratsonline,

    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.
  13. Ratsonline

    Update

    By Ratsonline,

    Once again it has been a while since updating this blog, I just don’t know where the time goes.
     
    Well Things are beginning to take shape, slowly admittedly but with family commitments and one thing and another time just seems to disappear. Paul has been visiting wood suppliers to source the panels and tongue and groove (which we are having milled as we have decided on a different profile than the normal one). After much thought we have settled on European oak and the panels have now arrived. Not the easiest thing to manoeuvre onto the boat, and as Paul found out turning them around meant taking them off the boat. Paul is getter fitter and thinner by the day. The tongue and groove is coming in about 10 days and the plumbing stuff this week. Paul has now decided that he is going to make the kitchen cupboards rather than buy them so that’s another job to put on the list.
     
    In his spare time, Ha Ha, (I only see him at dinner time) he is updating the CAD drawings with the plumbing and electrical layouts as well as the interior. Mind you on returning home last Friday from a hard day at work, I noticed that the boat lights were on so I wandered out to find Paul in the boat on a garden lounger (with the lounger cushion) having a nap, it’s a hard life isn’t it.
     
    We now have most of the major equipment for the boat (the house is getting full), the next thing to look at is the lights and from what I have seen this is a minefield. Hopefully my next update will be full of news concerning the fit out, that is providing the lounger is removed.
  14. Ratsonline

    Progress

    By Ratsonline,

    Just a quick update to let you know that we are still here as it has been a few weeks since my latest entry.
     
    Apart from the small detail of having a narrowboat in it, the garden actually does look a bit like a garden now that most of the rubble has gone and has been tidied. The side and front wall are now all in place and Paul has even put a roof on to cover the area from the house to the back of the neighbours garden. This has given him a nice big area out of the weather to do work.
     
    Two sets of steps have now been made, one large set (with a rail – as I tend to be a bit clumsy) and the other one to get into the boat, it’s much better than climbing up the ladder and then jumping. Paul has fitted some temporary lights and electrics and has now started removing the foam from the battens, he is trying different techniques for this but mainly a knife, I have offered to help but I have a problem with knives, Paul says I am a danger as I tend to include my hands in the cutting process and make an awful mess, I don't think being bandaged and having plasters everywhere will help in the long run.
     
    In between doing this he has been doing some work – although he is supposed to be retired, I’m sure people do not understand the meaning of this word. The other thing holding up progress was sorting out his car for the MOT, now I could go on for a while about this but I wouldn’t really know what I was talking about, so I wont bother. Suffice to say it was off the road for nearly a week, what with welding and one thing and another, mind you the weather did not help. I have now realised my car is due (well overdue) for an MOT so that is the next job; hopefully mine will not need much work on it.
     
    Hopefully the weather will improve soon as the outside of the boat (undercoat) could do with a bit of touching up where it has got scratched with the move. I am also looking forward to sitting on the boat on a lovely spring evening with a glass of wine pretending we are on a canal. Pure Bliss.
  15. Ratsonline

    On the Move

    By Ratsonline,

    On the Move
     
    Paul has been working really hard over the holidays to get the area where the boat is going to sit for the next 6 months finished. All the footings, jacking points and sleepers are now in place. The Turfor winch has been serviced and a friend has supplied the post that is going to act as an anchor point for the winching process. Paul has also tidied up the garden side of what is now the boat yard and is in the process of tidying up the other side – all the rubble from the sheds and walls has got to go, as well as tons of topsoil.
     
    He has decided that the garden/boat yard and his workshop have got to be sorted out before starting on the inside of the boat as otherwise it won’t get done, besides he needs the space in the workshop for building cupboards and stuff. The cooker, toilet and s**t tank have now arrived
     
    Well the boat has been moved with the use of the Turfor winch, the telegraph pole system and some muscle – all Paul’s. On the first day he managed to move it most of the way, about 25ft, although the anchor point kept getting pulled out due to the ground being so soft and during the 2nd day he moved it the last 10ft using a boundary post at the back of the garden, which is no longer there as this also was pulled out of the ground. The telegraph poles did the job but will not be much good when it comes to pulling the boat out, Paul will have to think of new system for this. This weekend was spent jacking the boat up in order to level it off to sit on the sleepers and he has now started to build a temporary side wall (at the end of the neighbours garden) and the front wall to close the garden off from the front of the house.
     
    Seeing the boat in the garden every day is the most amazing sight and reminds me just how mad we are – well Paul is – after all it was his idea
  16. Ratsonline

    1 week to 'D' Day

    By Ratsonline,

    Well we went to St. Ives in Cornwall as planned, we had plenty of food and drink and a good time was had, the weather was very windy at times and cold but it made the view of the sea very dramatic. All to soon Monday morning arrived with the long trip to Widnes to see the boat for the last time before delivery. We left after breakfast at about 9.30am stopped at the chandlers where we picked up the log burner and bits and pieces, got petrol and arrived at the boat yard at 4.30pm. (We got home at about 10pm).
     
    Well the boat has been blacked, undercoated, foamed and battened and some of the windows are in, the portholes have had to be sent back as they were scratched and they might not be back in time for the delivery date so they will have to be sent for Paul to fit (just another job in a very long line). The engine is going in today, so we will not be in a position to see this before delivery – so fingers crossed this is all ok. As for the shell, well it looks great, the side doors and windows look fantastic, I could go on and on and on, suffice to say it looks fabulous.
     
    We are now back home after a lovely weekend and a very tiring trip to see the boat. There are now only 7 days left before it arrives – so on Tuesday night I posted the road closure letters to all the neighbours. Paul’s progress in the garden come boat yard is progressing; the concrete slab to even out the ground was laid on the Thursday before we went away and this week (well two days of it so far) he has cleared the wood with a huge bonfire and done a general tidy up as it was beginning to look like a bomb site. He has also had to spend time on the phone confirming details with the council (bit of a panic here when they started talking about pavement closure and crane lifting licences), crane company and ordering a mini digger. The digger is coming today, so by the time I get home the garden (well lets be honest its not a garden anymore), should be dug up ready for the rest of the sleepers to be put in place. Over the next couple of days the front and sidewall have got to be removed and a skip organised to remove all the rubble. In the meantime it’s nearly Christmas and there is still loads to do, I did mention to Paul that we need to go out Sunday and get a tree, to which he just grunted (I think Paul would be just as happy to cancel Christmas this year).
  17. Ratsonline

    2 weeks to 'D' Day

    By Ratsonline,

    Well in two weeks time we should have a 59ft narrow boat in the garden. Scary!
     
    Paul has been really busy in the last week, trying to get everything ready for the big day. The sheds have now been demolished which has produced a very large pile of bricks in the back garden and we have another pile of wood for a bonfire. The side of the house looks very strange now; the area is very uneven so Paul has decided to lay concrete to level this area to make moving the boat easier. The sleepers and telegraph poles have arrived and been moved to the back of the house and Paul has started digging up the garden and some of the sleepers are now in place, its beginning to look like we have a train track being built. I have repositioned some plants and done a general tidy up job in the front garden ready for the front wall to come down.
     
    We are to Cornwall this weekend (not the best of timing) as it is Paul’s birthday, then on Monday going to see the boat for the last time before delivery, hopefully everything is on track and there won't be any delays, popping into a chandlers on the way to check the goodies out.
  18. Ratsonline

    Progress

    By Ratsonline,

    Well the garden has now been marked out for the position of the boat and Paul has started work on preparing the ground – the weather is not helping with this as there is quite a bit of earth moving required to provide a level area. The sheds are currently being emptied and the contents either being stored elsewhere or disposed off as they need to be knocked down to make room for the boat. A friend of ours has very kindly provided some no parking signs that we can you use for the road closure – Paul has now submitted the necessary forms to the Highways Department and paid the sum of £325 for the privilege of the road closure, the sleepers and telegraph polls have arrived and at some point need to be put in place. Still loads to do and time is running out, at this rate Paul will be to exhausted to fit the boat out.
     
    We are going to the boat on the 10th December to check it out prior to delivery – which was going to be a 500 mile round trip (got it wrong before ) but we are away this weekend at St Ives in Cornwall, so we are travelling from there to Widnes to visit the boat (its going to be a very long day) and delivery is planned for Tuesday 18th December.
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