Duck N Dive

Warming up

2012-01-09T11:20:00.000Z

Back at the boat, Handy Andy finally turned up and fitted the rebate locks to the doors. I had a play with Photoshop to try our some ideas for graphics on the front of the boat.

I've got a boatmans stove, so I can get a bit of heat into the place. J has welded a back boiler to it, so I can run a radiator off it as well. All I need to do know is build a hearth for it, and connect up the chimney, and we have somewhere to burn all the offcuts of wood!

I started putting in the main wiring runs, all done in tinned thinwall cable. I have five lighting circuits, the front three run in 6mm cable to avoid voltage drop, the rear two in 4mm. Red for 12V, Black for 0V and Blue for the link wire of the two way light switches.

The colour scheme may not be standard, but I have a limited number of colours available, so I will make do with what I have got.

Once the runs are in, I make them into bundles using cable ties every 6". This is a lot easier using the cable tie gun I got from ebay for £5.99. This takes all the strain from my aging fingers.

New year nowhere (just left of the middle)

2012-01-02T09:01:00.000Z

Spent New year up in the Lakes again. Fantastic night with the obligetory pint or two of Yates, and a bit of music provided by a couple of Festerers.

Wet - not really the right word. Liquid mud more like!

I got home and hung the tent up outside to let January's rain wash the mud off!

A New Folk Club

2011-12-22T16:19:00.000Z

Well, not really new, but I only just found Baldock Folk Club at the Orange Tree at Baldock. When I first approached this pub, and saw Greene King outside I didn't expect the fantastic range of eight real ales on. Buntingfords always available!

Saw Belhazzars Feast playing, who were great, but a bit Christmassy, then I found out it was their Christmas special, so I will let them off that one (Bah Humbug!).

Sunday on the boat, I now have most of the control panel equipment fitted. I'm not sure about the fuse panels though, I might yet replace these with circuit breakers, which seem to have a lower 'on' resistance, and a better reliability.

Monday evening, I saw Steeleye Span with the accoustic Strawbs at the Barbican Centre. I thought the Strawbs were tedious, but Steeleye were fantastic.

A late night in church.

2011-12-01T14:11:00.000Z

I went to Hebden Bridge on the wednesday night. When I got off the train I saw the canal was closed for maintainance. Maybe they are getting some new lock gates at last.

Back to the Trades club down by the canal to see Lau. For support they had some local musicians with a great combination of fiddle, pipes and sousaphone!

Lau were superb as usual, with guitar strings, fiddle strings and bits of accordion flying all over the place!

I travelled to London for a Saturday night in the Union Chapel for Ade Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds final gig (for now anyway).

Fantastic gig. Andy Dinan was on fire.

Had quite a late night in the after show party, drinking "3 Bad Shepherds" beer too!

Monday night brought the last in this series of ISIHAC recorded in Watford this time. Watford has a great hall for this event, but they only have about five car parking spaces in the whole town!

Sunday, and I got back to the boat. I got the door for the control panel in the Engine roopm fitted and then painted.

Now I had wet paint, I couldn't really do much more in the engine room so I turned my attention to the Hot & Cold plumbing runs. This Speedfit is great, the whole run only took me about 40 mins. I also put a run of 15mm clips in place ready for the gas pipe.

I took a picture of the huge 175A alternator to try and work out the wiring when I got back to an internet connection during the week.

Fog & Fireworks

2011-11-08T19:08:00.000Z

On saturday night Luke asks "Do you want to come to the pub to help set off fireworks?". Well, let me think about this...
£500 worth of fireworks, 20 mins. I would like to think we put on a good show though. I thought it would be rude not to spend the rest of the night drinking beer.

I left work early on Tuesday and got the train up to Newcastle to See next live recording of I'm sorry I haven't a clue. Marcus Brigstock was the guest this time. Its quite a few years since I've been to Newcastle, painful memories.

The show was in the new Sage center, which was very impressive. Three halls, and a bar on each level serving real ale at 2.70 a pint. Very good!

Thursday evening I was at Band on the wall to see the Bad Shepherds, and to launch the £ Bad Shepherds beer. The beer had run out by the time the band were finished, so they didn't really get any!

Friday it was Bury Beer Festival. Seven handpumps on our bar, with the new "3 Bad Shepherds" beer flying out. It ran out on the Friday night, so we fetched some more in on the Saturday morning. Lucky it drops bright after only a couple of hours!

Dogs Welcome

2011-11-04T18:42:00.000Z

I went down to Guilford to see I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue.

I've never been to Guilford before, and the town seemed dead on a Monday night. There are some great old buildings, but it was getting dark, and I only had the phone with me.

The show started with Jeremy Hardy as guest.

There are so many laughs in this show that you can't easily remember them when the show is over.

I'll have to see how much is broadcastable in a couple of weeks when it is on the radio.

We got a new sign for the bar...

I went to see Marry Waterson and Oliver Knight supporting the Elisa Carthy Band. Marry has a fantastic voice with some really good moody material.

Eliza carthy then lifted the evening with her zany outlook on music.

Managed to get a couple of hours on the boat and measured for the hinged panel for the engine and other controls.

I lined the engine room on this side ready for all the electrics.

I spent Thursday at the SIBA North beer competition in Manchester. There was a great selection of beers on, 260 in all, served 60 at a time on handpump.

Back to the boat on Sunday, and I managed to get the Electric Cupboard structure built and primed, and the door blank cut ready for fitting the controls. As I had no mains electric available I took the door home to cut the holes for the instruments using a jigsaw.

Sunday night I saw Vin Garbut at the Sun at Hitchin. Still as funny as ever, I love his storys about Rudyard Kipling. Great Sport.

Kris Drever was at the Met with Eamonn Coyne and Megan Henderson.
I had only seen Megan once before with Breabach but her fiddle playing makes a great combination with Kris and Eamonn.

Down by the canal.

2011-10-17T23:07:00.000+01:00

Went to Nottingham to judge the Midlands beer competition. I had a wander into town on the night before, and it was rag week, so it was like walking through a fancy dress.
I had a drinkable pint in the spoons, then headed off to the Blue Bell. Unfortunately Elvis was in there, destroying the sound waves so I quickly left.

I wandered into the Fellows Moore & Clayton, and found my boats namesake next to the pubs namesake.

At the festival the following day Dancing duck brewery had a great bar, covered in grass, with little ponds on top for the ducks. They won a few prizes as well.

Got an afternoon on the boat!!!

I had a trial fit of the water pump and accumulator under the bottom step. They seem fine there, now I need some fixings.

I started lining out the port side below the gunwhales. The port side is where most of the wiring and all of the plumbing will be, so that was the best side to start with.

I marked the positions of the battens on the ply as I went along. I reached the back, and split the ply to cover the start of the swim.

It was no getting dark. I need to get the lights up then I can work later (or I should have got here over summer when it was light...).

Trains and Beer.

2011-10-08T16:03:00.000+01:00

Had a day out in York by booking first class special offers on east coast. We arrived at 11:00, so I decided to go to the Railway Museum first.
The others were a bit sceptical until we got in to the main arena.

This is Real engineering from when Britain had real Engineers.

Quite a discussion with the Dark Lord over the phase shifting going on within the valve gear of the Evening Star.

A good engineering discussion usually calls for a couple of beers to wash it down with. So we adjourned to the Maltings for a pint or three.

From the maltings we went around the corner to York brewery, where I was barred from entering their "design a beer" competition. Obviously scared of the superior Lancashire intellect from the civilised side of the pennines.
A wander into town got us a decent pint in the Golden Fleece, Yorks most haunted pub.
Went into the Guy Fawkes and had the most fantastic steak pie. Lovely thick pastry, and tender chunky steak. MMMMM!

Music Mad...

2011-10-07T11:03:00.000+01:00

Stopped at the Pied Bull in Chester to see Mark Radcliffe and the Big Figures playing at Alexanders. Had a couple of pints in the Bull, and nearly got embroiled in the pub quiz. Went over to Alexanders, which is a great, semi open air venue. The band were great, but I missed half the second half because I was busy talking to Jock "Mahone" outside.

Then it was off to Hitchin Folk Club at the Sun to see Richard Digance. He had Doug Morter and Gerry Donahue playing a couple of songs. It seems Doug Morter was at school with Richard.

Stopped in the Sun, where you can get the best breakfast I have found to date in Hertfordshire.

Wednesday and I was off to the Putney Half moon to see the Accoustic Gathering. Being accoustic there was no Clive Bunker, who I consider the worlds most entertaining drummer, But Doug Morter, Ray Jackson and Gerry Donahue performed a brilliant evening of music, including some of my favourite Lindisfarne songs.

Friday, and it was back to the Met to see the Stumble. Fantastic Blues, and fantastic show.

Its hard work taking a hot when the lead singer is wearing white though!

Last outing, went to see Lau at Camridge. The Junction is a great little venue just 5 mins walk from the train station.

I was sat next to Martin Greens Baby sitter! I presume from when he was young...

Old Music, Old Brewery

2011-09-22T18:31:00.000+01:00

Friday night, we managed to blag our way into Rammy Festival for the last hour to see Steve Cropper and the Animals. What a great night!

Rusty is getting adventurous

Down at Elgoods brewery to judge the beer for the east of England competition. Wisbech (pronounced "Vizbik" by the majority of the population these days) used to be a great port. Now the only boats seem to be pleasure craft. There are some great old buildings lining the river though.

I stopped in the White Lion, which now has a superb breakfast.

A great day out at Elgoods brewery, where I had Brewsters Pale Ale, probably the freshest tasting hoppy pale ale I have ever had from a bottle.

Whoa Black pudding, Bam-a-lam

2011-09-12T17:55:00.000+01:00

We had the World Black Pudding throwing championships on Sunday.

I was chatting to the new world champion in the bar later on. It's nice to see that world fame hasn't changed him and he still has time to have a couple of pints with his mates.

Another wonderful Monday morning. I just love sitting in traffic.

New cat, old Music

2011-09-12T11:52:00.000+01:00

(Finally!) got to the boat for a couple of hours. First thing to do was to have a clear out. I then finished fitting the floorboards, and moved the bench to the starboard side. As all the plumbing, and most of the wiring would be on the port side, this made more sense.

Clean boat

The latest member of staff at the brewery is Rusty, the Brewery cat, in charge of intruder control and dealing with awkward customers.

Wednesday night I saw Elkie Brooks at Radlett theatre. It was ok, but not amazing. It seemed to me like she didn't really have the enthusiasm any more.

Cropredy capers

2011-08-16T18:08:00.000+01:00

Down to Cropredy again for the Fairport Convention. I stopped the night before at Wormleighton Hall in Southam. This is a working farm that does accomodation and what a great place. I will have to come here again when I can stop for a couple of days because as soon as you arrive, you are relaxed! I wandered down the road to the Wharf at Fenny Compton for a couple of pints, had a great nights sleep, then a fantastic breakfast in the farmhouse.

Arrived at Cropredy early and set up the tent. I've got a new tent as I have lost the tent poles for my Summit, and replacements aren't available. I've got a £30 tent and it seems ok. Not sure what it will be like in bad weather though!

If anyone has any ideas how to get new poles for an Aztec Summit 2 tent, please let me know before winter!

I got a cup of coffee, and had a wander down the canal. there were some really nice paint jobs, especially these side doors and matching painted front.

I decided to spend an hour, while waiting for the music to start, sat at the side of the canal with a beer. A pleasant time chatting to a few people became better when the cheese boat arrived. Then tragedy - no cheese. The cheese boat had run out of cheese :-(

A great night at the festival, Hayseed Dixie were superb but I thought UB40 were tedious.

Friday afternoon we wandered over to the Hare and Hounds at Wardington. Had a pint or five in the beer garden while throwing things at aunt Sally! Funny things they do down south. Then we went back to Croredy for the the Friday Afternoon session.

Some people really know how to enjoy the summer weather.

A great night on Friday with the Urban Folk Quartet, the Coral, and Seasick Steve.

Saturday morning I'm back in my usual position, sat by Bridge 152, lock 25 with a cup of coffee.

NB Dreamweaver came past and this has got to be the best paint job I have ever seen on a boat. And what a huge dog for a boat!

I was heading back to watch Richard Digence with his graveyard shift but just called in to the Cricket club to get the scores. Another wicket as soon as I walked in. I got a pint, turned around and - Another wicket!! This soon turned out into quite a surreal conversation in the Cricket club.
"With they all be out in time to see the Blockheads?"
"They had all better be out soon because I don't want to miss Lau"
Another pint and England had won. Straight back to the concert and caught the last half of the Blockheads, who are fantastic even without the legendary Ian Drury.
Lau followed but were a bit subdued. Talking to them afterwards they had just arrived that afternoon from Edinburgh and were knackered.

Yum, yum!

2011-08-08T14:30:00.000+01:00

Dinner in Our Mutual Friend, in Stevenage. Carla's mother is now doing some fine food, so I had to have the fantastic Lasagne, washed down with a couple of pints of course!

Beer in Berkeley, London and Rammy

2011-08-04T17:40:00.000+01:00

We did a beer tent at Berkeley castle, but it was very quiet. We managed to break even, but it was close. Too many people are living off "cheap" stuff from supermarkets these days. I feel like I am one of the few who prefer quality to cheapness.

Went down to London for the GBBF. Good beers at the SIBA bar, but the rest of it was the same old predictable beers. It seems to me from this festival that there are no new beers or brewers available. Had a couple of terrible beers that the CAMRA "expert" told me I don't know what I'm talking about, but generally the beers were good, just the same selection as last year. Had an interesting conversation on the train back...

Back up north, and a new brewery tap opened in Rammy - by a micro pig. Who needs celebrities to open places, when you can get a pig to do it!

Beer and Cheese :-)

2011-07-28T14:40:00.000+01:00

Called in at the Mark Addy on my way back through Manchester this evening. Had a cheeseboard and a couple of pints. Perfect.

What, no beer ?

2011-07-24T11:39:00.000+01:00

I went to Hatfield house on Sunday for the Folk by the Oak, 1 day festival.
This is the oak I presume...

A great venue and a great line up. I checked out the beer tent which was a great setup from Tring brewery, except...

Where's the beer ? I counted fourteen casks, and could see two more out the back. I can't help it but, I've done quite a few beer festivals and beer tents and it seems to come second nature, there is not enough beer there.

"We've got plenty of beer" from the bar staff. Only four people servig meant there was a queue half way accross the festival site, and, sure enough,they ran out of beer just a couple of hours into the music.

The music started with Tyde - a young band who have a fantastic sound punching way above their weight.

A great afternoon in the sun with Bella Hardy, The Bad Shepherds, Kris Drevers fantastic voice with Heidi Talbot, Show of hands and Seth Lakeman.

I've been busy (again)

2011-07-16T14:17:00.024+01:00

Still stuck down south working, so I haven't been able to get to the boat :(

I went to the Lane-Dankworth centre near Milton Keynes to see 10cc. It is billed as Graham Gouldman and Friends and, like when I saw them in Manchester, the first half is Graham playing a lot of the songs he wrote for other people, and then the second half is all 10cc.
Fantastic again, and they played the best 10cc track "Feel the benefit" again. This band just gets better and better. 1000cc.
I don't know why but I was not allowed to take any photos. I am getting pissed off with venues that have this policy - especially when I've just spent £35.00 on a ticket. At least the beer was good, and only £2.80 a pint.

I went to Tonbridge to Judge the Beer of South of England. I've never been to Tonbridge before, so check in the hotel and lets find a pub. The town centre pubs were awful so I ended up in the spoons, where I bumped into Mr Murphy, so we had to have a couple of beers.

The following morning I wandered down the river by the castle.

Very picturesque.

I found the Rugby club where the festival was being held in a really posh marquee with chandaliers and everything!

Just opposite I found the Tonbridge model railway club was held in an old Railway wagon!

Travelling by train

2011-06-21T18:09:00.006+01:00

Friday we delivered some beer to Bury. Nothing unusual about that. We delivered to the Trackside, the bar on what used to be Bury Bolton Street Station. The difference is, we delivered it by steam train.

A manic two days back at work, then Tuesday night I was off to Edinburgh to judge at the Scottish beer festival.
It's the first time I have been up to Edinburgh by train, which is a shame because My Grandfather, and my Great Grandfather before him helped build the railway up there. It is a fantastic journey, and once you get north of Newcastle, the train follows the coast up to Berwick, with a slow curve around the city showing off the huge Viaduct.

Arrived in Edinburgh just after 9pm to fantastic weather.

The first thing to remember about Edinburgh is that it is on more than one level. What looks like crossroads on the map is often bridges.

I had a pint in the Worlds End pub, a plaque outside explains that the city gates used to be here, and the gates were though of as the end of the world. £3.74 for a pint of bitter. Thats more than I pay in London. It was undrinkable muck as well. If beer is to taste like this it might as well be the end of the world!

I went over the road to the Tass, where I had a few fantastic beers. That must be why the chicken crossed the road, because the beer is terrible at the End of the World!

I had a wander around Edinburgh in the morning. I like this City. There are loads of little ginnels leading off the road, and fantastic buildings everywhere.

I finally found the Beer festival, which was well advertised by one small poster on the back of the building overlooking some waste land. Do you think they have read the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy ?

Thursday and a great relaxing trip on the train back to Manchester ready for a weekend at Tatton Park for a medieval weekend. However, due to the rain, the Tug-of-war on Space Hoppers was cancelled, on safety grounds. That is one sentance that I never thought I would hear!

May the Force be with Lost Sheep and Wolves...

2011-05-18T09:39:00.001+01:00

Wednesday night I saw Charles Ross. If you haven't heard of him, search for him on t'internet.

I saw him, last year sometime doing one man Lord of the Rings. One man, playing all parts, doing all three Lord of the Rings Films in an hour and a half.

This time, he was doing the Star Wars trilogy. I didn't enjoy it as much as the LOTR, probably because I don't know the story very well. It is thirty years since I've seen some of it...

Friday night, and I saw the Bad Shepherds. Ruarri Joseph came on as a warm up act and was very good. After the break Ade came on stage in a t-shirt printed "I STILL HATE THATCHER".

The band were superb as ever, but a little rushed. I think some venues have a curfew - I prefer when bands can just play, and get carried away with the music without having to worry about when they have to be finished by.

The venues don't have much choice, the local councils seem to relish the chance to pounce on live music as noise pollution. Often this is from a complaint, usually just one person who has moved in next to a pub, then spends their entire life complaining about the slightest bit of noise from the pub. Here's a tip. If you dont like to hear music coming from a pub, then DONT MOVE NEXT DOOR TO A PUB!!

Sunday night I went to Wolverhampton. Never been there before. Unfortunately it seemed to be shut.
I walked past several closed pubs - even the KFC was shut at 6 pm. I eventually found one that was open, but it didn't have any beer!

There are loads of superb old buildings in Wolverhampton, but unfortunately most seem to have been abandoned.

I found the civic hall, where I was going to see Mark Radcliffe and Chris Lee. It was closed. There was a poster in the window advertising the Slade rooms, about half a mile away, and this is where the gig was. Nice of them to let me know!

Got to the slade rooms with ten minutes to spare. Have a pint - guess what - they haven't got any draught beer! Maybe the Wolves Civic lot hadn't told the Slade room they had a band on tonight either.

Mark and Chris were very good, but it was unusual to see mark without his drums. I know he isn't physically attached to them, like a grafted on accessory, but he is a superb drummer and I've kind of got used to seeing him standing over a set of drums (or leaning on a bar).

Mark read loads of extracts from his new book. Thanks Mark, I don't need to buy it and read myself now!

I noticed on their poster that they are playing in Clitheroe on Wednesday, very close to my home town. In fact I went to school in Clitheroe. I might go see them again...

Beer steps and coffee...

2011-05-10T13:46:00.045+01:00

Went to Ludlow to Judge beer of Wales and West on Friday. I've never been to Ludlow before. I wandered past the castle, and found a great mixture of old and new buildings.

This Blue plaque mentions that this house used to be a pub. Now where does that sound familiar ?

There is one remaining gate on a stretch of the city wall. My only question is, why is the pub on the OUTSIDE ?

Back home on Saturday, and I managed a couple of hours on the boat. I built the steps as per the design and they look great. The top step should hinge, and the bottom step lift out.

All I need is the Accumulator, and a few plumbng bits and I can get the Plumbing installed. The steps need a hinge and a few clips to finish, then I will stain and varnish them to match the door.

Went up to the lakes on sunday for a beer or three in the Old. I had a day off on Monday, as it was my birthday, so I wole up early in the lakes, and made a great coffee on the gas powered Italian coffee kettle that Luke got me for my Birthday. I can see this becoming very usefull for the caffeine intake on the boat...

Low clouds, so all I could do was wander around at low level for a bit.

Monday night I went to Nottingham to see a live recording of I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue. Brilliant again, especially the bit where John Naismith, the producer accidentally locked himself out of the Theatre!

Changed my mind....

2011-05-02T18:17:00.038+01:00

During the week, I thought of a better way of doing the shower floor. I got back on the boat and ripped up the battens I had fixed the week before.
I put a sheet of marine ply direct to the Steel Angles of the base. This will be 3" below the finished floor level because of the missing battens, but as the ply is fixed in many places to the steel, there is little or no flex in the floor.

I got a low profile shower trap from Taps4less.com. The lower part of the trap fits into this sheet of marine ply. I then fit tapered battens to provide the slope down to the drain. More 18mm marine ply was cut into 4 "triangles" to form the slope. This was then screwed to the battens.

The shower area is a slope, and the remaining area of the wetroom is still 1" lower than the floor on the rest of the boat, so that should keep the wet bits in the wet room quite nicely.

Sunday was sunny, so me and Luke decided to go climbing for the first time in 18 months. Physically we did fine, in all respects other than the shaking! I think that climbing is more nerve than anything at the moment!

Got a new toy at work, Turbocad 3D. I thought I'd practice by drawing up the steps for the boat...

Flooring!

2011-04-25T18:00:00.032+01:00

Finally back on the boat. I cut all the marine ply to size for the floor panels, and treated them all with preservative. I had already decided that I would have a wetroom, rather than a shower cubicle. Now I had to decide on how to do it!
I will have a tiled floor, and use plastic panels for the walls. The floor can be made from marine ply, but it has to be sturdy enough not to move at all. This will (hopefully) stop the tiles from lifting.

I planed some 2x2 battens down to provide a 1" slope, and discovered just what a mess you can make with an electric plane!

A 1" slope is more than you would normally have in a shower, but the boat might not be level, so the extra slope should mean the shower will drain anyway.

It started going dark, so I packed up, home and changed, and down to Bury Met to see the Silver Dogs.

They were in the downstairs, smaller theatre at the Met, which I find much better as it has more of an informal atmosphere. The guy on the sound desk was playing some fantastic music while we were waiting for the band, a bit of King Crimson, some quite obscure Blue Oyster Cult, Genesis, and a bit of the Outlaws i think.

The Silver Dogs came on, and what a fantastic band!

They did quite traditional songs, but played them in their own style. Quite a few Sandy Denny Songs. "Crazy Man Michael" was quite unexpected and superb, and "Reynardine" was awesome. This band seem to be what Fairport Convention have been trying to become for the last few years.

An extra day off because of some wedding or other, and the sun was shining, so Lady P and me decided to have an hour or two break by doing my front garden.

Before

and after.

All around my Hat

2011-03-28T11:55:00.008+01:00

I went to St Albans Arena to see Steeleye Span. Haven't seen them for a few years. They played some of the more traditional songs and they were superb.

I left St Albans at about 10:30pm, and thought that this must be the ideal time to travel up the M1/M6 back up north. How wrong I was.
The M1 was shut to just one lane for most of the length. Signs then told me the M1/M6 exit was closed. I took the M45, and cut up past leicester to get to the M6. The entry slip road was closed, so I had a bit of a round about route to get back on the motorway. More signs then that the M6 Toll was closed, no problem, I stayed on the M6. The M6/M5 was closed, so I came off at the A38 and back on again. Another sign. The M6/M62 junction was closed. I came off accross to the M56. The M56/M60 slip road was closed, so I carried on straight into Manchester, through the City centre and out onto the M66. The M66 Ramsbottom exit was closed, so I had to go all the way up to Haslingden and turn around. Finally got home at 3 AM - 4 1/2 hours to to 200 miles of motorway, made up almost entirely of cones, and no sign of any workmen at all.

Saturday I got over to the boat for a couple of hours for the first time this year i think. I spent a couple of hours tidying up, and taking note of what tools and wood I needed because I was going top spend an entire day the following weekend finishing off the floor.

Another boat was out of the water for re-blacking, and I noticed quite a neat arrangement of horn/headlight on the front of the cratch.

T.W.O. is not too many

2011-03-22T18:54:00.002Z

Friday Morning, I had to go down to Hereford. I nearly Ran out of Diesel but managed to get to a petrol station on fumes.
As soon as I got on the motorway on the way back, all the rubbish from the bottom of the tank got to the injectors. Just got up to speed on the motorway, and suddenly - misfire, and I was back down to 45 for a few seconds, then it would be ok again.
Sorry for all the trucks who had to pass me all the way up the M5, until the miss firing stopped by about J10 of the M6.

Sunday night I got the train over to York, for a slight diversion on my way down to Hertfordshire for work on Monday. As the sun was shining, I sat outside KRO in piccadilly for a pint, watching some sort of demonstration going on. I think it was some African flag, but I don't know what they were demonstrating about. Lower duty on beer perhaps ?

Called into York brewery for a couple of great pints of Guzzler, and chatted to a few friends. Suitably refreshed from the Train journey, I went to find the hotel. The Queens hotel is on the river, and looks like it used to be a warehouse, but inside the resemblance ends. Superb Hotel, superb room overlooking the river.

Wandered into the town, and had a quick pint in the Golden Fleece, I think the most haunted pub in England. I found where the bands were playing, but still had an hour to spare, so I went around the corner to the Last Drop - another York Brewery Pub.
I sometimes wonder about York Brewery, the Pubs are the Three legged Mare, The Last Drop, - Is there some sort of ghoulish agenda here...

Back around the corner at the Duchess, the first band, T.W.O. were superb. Helen Turner and Sharon Winfield on Vocals, guitar and Mandola.

The second half, and Lau came on and were true to form. This was the end of their tour, which I think started in Poland, so they probably deserve a break.

Walking back to the hotel I stopped off in the Capital Bar. They have a very unusual couple of hand pumps on the bar.

Monday morning, and the Breakfast arrived (see previous posts on Breakfasts). I am not a fan of Buffet Breakfasts at the best of times, this one however was done very well in all aspects other than one. The plates were warm, the food was warm, the coffee was good, and the choice was good. The room was ok, and plenty of room on the table. All of the ingredients of the breakfast were cooked well, but the ingredients themselves were terrible. It doesn't matter how good a chef you are, if you start with cheap and nasty ingredients then you are wasting your time. Come on, wake up Queens hotel - you have all the makings of a great place to stay, but throw it all away in order to save 50p by buying cheap and nasty breakfast ingredients. I bet you don't do that for the evening meals, so why is breakfast such a joke to you?

December already...

2011-03-14T09:17:00.009Z

Thursday night I went to Manchester Academy to see the Decemberists while they are on their UK tour. I didn't think many people had heard of them, but the place was packed.

Absolutely brilliant, and the full-length Crane Wife, over a quarter of an hour of a fantastic track.

To be, or not to be (probably not a pencil at all)

2011-03-07T18:33:00.021Z

I decided to have a couple of days off, and go to the annual brewing conference at Stratford on Avon. Never been there before.
Arrived on the Wednesday night, checked into the hotel, and headed for the nearest pub (well, the nearest cashpoint, then the nearest pub). I found a completely empty pub, with a disinterested teenager behind the bar, selling disgusting Greene King IPA. I decided to wander further into the town.
A quick, average pint in the "spoons", then found a nice little pub called the Old Thatch, on some sort of market square, selling "Purity" ale, which I presume is the local brew. Very nice.
After a couple of pints, I decided to head back to the hotel, but on the way found a nice little community local called the Old Tramway. Originally the station masters house I believe.

The following morning I had a quick wander around the marina - Another place I will have to visit when (!) I get the boat in the water. The town centre was all shut off as the queen was visiting, and one doesn't want her to accidentally see any commoners like me does one ?

Saturday morning I was back up north first thing, and went to the New Inn at Clapham for the Festerers reunion.

The pub had a couple of fantastic beers, an Irish stout called Iron Plate, and a Bitter called Copper Plate. Fantastic beers even though I say so myself. Both had run out by mid evening, and I had to survive on Black sheep for the rest of the night.

Proud of British Beer

2011-03-06T09:30:00.004Z

"Proud of British Beer" is a short film produced by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). It features brewers, both large and small, hop and barley growers, maltsters and industry suppliers. …

WATCH THIS FILM

Proud of Beer film

Back on the music

2011-03-01T14:28:00.002Z

Well, the music season seems to have started. Thursday night I went down to Camden town to see Dave Swarbrick. Of course, I had to stop off one station early on the underground, didn't I...

Good night with Dave in a very small, dark and crowded bar in the back of an old shop. Nearly £5 for a bottle of beer though! Had a couple of pints of youngs bitter in the Spread eagle near the tube at a much more reasonable (!) £2.90.

Had to go up to the lakes on Friday (working) but managed to call in at the Old for a great Lamb curry and a pint of Yates.

Back up north Saturday, and a brilliant evening watching Lau at the Met. Mr Green seemed almost subdued, and hardly gave his squeeze box any abuse. Brilliant night!

To finish off the weekend in style - how else but to watch 10cc in Concert. Wow! The first set was accoustic, with an amazing number of songs that I never knew Graham Gouldman wrote.

The full length "Feel the benefit", what I consider 10cc's best track, was absolutely mind blowing, and takes the prize of the best musical moment of the year (so far).

A few more shiny bits

2011-02-22T21:28:00.002Z

After a long, long week at work, I got the train back home. Getting off the Metro at Bury, I was really tired, but I had tickets to see Vin Garbut at The Met. I thought I would go in, and, if I was too tired, I could always disappear during the interval. Very, very funny. Although exhausted, I actually laughed myself awake.
What a superb evening. I love the way he tells his jokes, but doesn't explain them, and doesn't bother with some punchlines. I found myself laughing, with loads of people around me wondering what I was laughing at. Just fit my sense of hunour perfectly!
"Thomas Moore, the Irish poet. His family were very big in Yorkshire, you know. You must have heard of them!" Brilliant!

Got back on the boat, and started laying the floor proper. Once the boards were cut, I treated the underside with a preservative called PK31 given to me by Scouser J. this soaks into the wood and gives maximum protection against any moisture that may get in.

While the boards were drying I fit the Stainless rails to the rear hatch runners by drilling and tapping for Stainless M4 countersunk bolts. Nice shiny Steel rails - much better than brass!

I fit floorboards to the front third of the boat until the battery went flat in the DeWalt. Drilling the holes for the hatch runners took too much!

I tried fitting the water fill pipe, but it was so cold it was very difficult getting the (not very) flexible tube over the fittings. I will leave the other half until next time when I will remember to bring a kettle.

Had a look in J's boat, where he has built a very smart woodburner, with a stainless steel boiler on top. Very smart.

Walking through Radcliffe on Sunday, I took this photo of the Former Radcliffe Times building. It is such a shame that these buildings are allowed to deteriorate until they end up being demolished and replaced with the pre-fabricated monstrousities that are taking over Manchester these days.

Best meal of the day.

2011-02-01T11:05:00.001Z

What is it with the full English Breakfast ?

Why do we bother calling it English, when the English seem so crap at making it ?

Full English Breakfast. Nobody seems to know how to make one these days. Just another symptom of the decline of social interaction I suppose. The family unit is in decline, so nobody learns how to cook as a matter of growing up anymore.

Now you have to be some self-important "celebrity" chef lording it over the common plebs.

I had breakfast in Heston's' Little Chef at Popham the other week and never again. It was terrible. They didn't even manage to cook the baked beans. How to take the successful Olympic breakfast, one of the better and more consistent breakfasts available today, and completely balls it up takes some skill. Highly trained to be completely useless to man or beast.

Next was the "Full English" at the Holiday Inn at Stevenage. Burnt, cold bacon, awful cold, cheap and nasty deep fried sausages, cold beans and scrambled egg that looked like something out of a 70's low budget sci-fi movie. At least the plates were warm, so they managed to get at least one thing right in a pathetic insult of a meal at TWELVE QUID A GO!!!

Not quite up in my neck in it

2011-01-20T16:12:00.003Z

Well, the plan was to use a bit of free time over christmas to get on the boat...

Unfortunately, Lady P's father is terminally ill, and she had to fly half way around the world to spend christmas with him. All she needed was a "volunteer" to luck after the five puppies...

So, instead of spending my few work free days on the boat, I spent the time feeding five "cute little darlings" and the rest of the time cleaning up the after effects of feeding the "**** little darlings".

No music over the holiday, unless you count the bijou little Brass bandette that came into the pub one night playing christmas carols.

Spent New year up at the Old again, a great night and this year it was above freezing. By the time I got home the snow had set in though.

Managed to get an afternoon on the boat, and took delivery of loads of sheets of marine ply. I should now have enough to finish off the floor with 18mm, and under the gunwhales with 10mm ply.

Scouser J bought himself a christmas present of a battery powered circular saw. After a quick measure, I borrowed this to slice all the sheets into the required width to make it easier to manhandle then in through the front doors.

Note to self: Measure up in advance next time and get the timber yard to chop the plywood up for you! Another hour spent pulling splinters out of my hands!

I've got a new phone, a waterproof Samsung, which is quite robust but horrible to use. Anyway, the upshot of this is that I need a new adapter to get photo's off the phone onto the computer - so no pictures for the next week or so...

The last concert...

2010-12-08T08:22:00.022Z

Thursday night, I went back to Union Chapel to see Lau playing. What a crazy night. Aiden and Kris now seem to be watching Mart as if they're worried what he is going to do next!

Back up north in the freezing fog, and we went over to St Helens to see the Family Mahone. Absolutely, definitely their last gig. A real shame because they are just so indescribably good entertainers, amazing music, and so utterly funny...

"Are you ready to rock?"
Cheering from the crowd
"Well, we're a folk band so you might as well $$$$ off now!"

A great entertaining night, with Donal headbutting a guitar, Jock Mahone playing in the second half, and Kat Mahone singing "You scumbag, you maggot, You cheap lousy faggot" to DJ as if she really meant it!

What!, December already ???

2010-12-02T10:20:00.001Z

Working down south again, but managed to see the last 15 mins of Vin Garbutt playing at Hitchin Folk Club at the weekend. Very Funny.

I've decided that I must get to see the boat (and maybe get some work done on it) in the very near future.

While "stuck in the south and a long way from home, where the air tastes of smoke and the beer tastes of foam" I have planned out all of the wiring and plumbing. Now the boat is sealed, I want to get the floors down, then I can make an accurate plan of the walls, and start some serious fitting out.

Food, Beer and puppies

2010-11-21T17:36:00.012Z

Busy, busy. Working Down Salisbury area for a couple of weeks, still I managed to get some great food where I was stopping at the Swan at Stoford.

At the weekend I was working at Bury Beer Festival which was good,

and then Lady P's dog had Puppies on the Saturday night. Why do they always decide to have puppies at 4 in the morning, why never at a quarter past two on a Sunday Afternoon?

:-(

2010-11-01T14:22:00.000Z

I was supposed to see Lau in Ely this week, I had tickets and everything, but I ended up working instead :-(.

Thursday went down to Manchester to judge at the Manchester Beer Festival. Fantastic festival with all of the beers on handpump. Had a wander down the Irwell Riviera and had a couple of pints while I was in the area.

Managed to see KAN at Bury Met on the Friday night. They started later than I thought, so had time for a quick bite to eat in the Automatic, which was very good.

A bit of colour, and a long way to pay for sex...

2010-10-25T16:56:00.043+01:00

Finally got to see the boat again (remember the boat ?). Painted ! And looking resplendent in the Blue/Green twotone colour.

There's no hope for a lasting peace on the Leeds Liverpool though...

Can't stop though, because I'm on my way up to Aberdeen to see the Family Mahone. It is a long way to Aberdeen. You forget what the distances are in Scotland, but 350 miles, and I'm starting from up north!

The Family Mahone were superb as usual, and we had a fantastic night drinking Brew Dog beer and listening to drinking songs.

Got back to the Travellodge, and my room had no sheets on the bed. When I asked at reception I was given another room. There were already people in bed in this room. When I asked again at reception for a room with bedclothes, and no other people in the bed, I finally got a room, with an offer of sex from some russian prostitute working out of the Travelodge Foyer, which I declined. All I wanted was a bed to sleep in - too much to ask? Just remember, Travelodge don't give a toss once they've got your money.

I was disturbed half way through my shower in the morning by somebody hammering on the door. I was then informed by the (rude and obnoxious) member of staff at the door, that if I turn the shower up to hot, it sets off the fire alarm, so I have to have a cold shower! That explains what happened in Nottingham, somebody must have dared to have a shower!

Lesson learned - never stay in a Travelodge. Nobody has recieved a reply to the (many) complaints from Nottingham, but I have still wasted my time complaining to Travelodge. You never know, one complaint might not just be tossed in the bin.

Spent a couple of hours in the morning wandering around the docks of Aberdeen. The beach has been spoilt by some idiot building "Sunset Boulevard" pleaseure beach. It should be "Sunrise Boulevard" don't they know the sun sets on the West coast!

Drove back home, but took a small detour through the lakes to have a fun drive through the lakes in the rollerskate, and a quick pint in the Old, as we haven't been there for months.

Mods, Beer, and a lack of fire...

2010-10-18T08:44:00.029+01:00

I went up to Nottingham on Wednesday night for judging at the Nottingham beer festival the following day. Called in at the Trip to Jerusalem for a couple. Supposed to be the oldest pub in England - but I think quite a few places claim that. I seemed to pick a scooter club night, as there were dozens of scooters, from ancient to new.

Continued on to the Castle Rock Brewery Tap, and had a couple of superb beers there.

4 AM. The fire alarm goes off in the Travelodge.

Outside it was like a Brewers convention. No sign of the staff though. The Fire Brigade turned up, made sure the building was safe, and we went back in. Still no sign of the Staff. Travelodge obviously don't give a toss for the safety of their guests. We have all paid up front, so why should they ?

Nottingham beer festival, and quite a huge selection. Unfortunately all of the beer was far too cold to taste, and a lot was not very good.

On the way back to the train station, I noticed the pub on the canal was the called the Fellows Morton and Clayton.

Another good musical week.

2010-10-11T16:14:00.012+01:00

Went to Union Chapel in Islington for the first time. What a great venue. I suppose churches are designed for accoustics, so not surprising, the sound was superb. Saw Judie Tzuke with her daughters supporting. I haven't seen her for thirty years, and she still has an absolutely fantastic voice.

Back up north, I picked up the double glazed units for the front door, but didn't have time to do anything with the boat. I've decided to dump the horrible plastic mains inlet, and ordered a rather snazzy stainless steel inlet plate from t'internet to add "no Plastic" to the "no Brass" theme. Hopefully I can get the shell sealed soon, then I can wire up a couple of lights and get some work done in the evenings.

Saw Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds on Saturday night in Manchester. Troy Donockley didn't fall off the stage this time though...

Had a great curry in the Mogul restaurant in Whitworth later to round off a great evening.

Sunday, and I'm travelling down south again, but stopping in the Sun at Hitchin I found Dave Swarbrick playing atthe Folk Club there. Playing fiddle tunes rediscovered form the 16th Century to as modern as the victorian times, he proved that an evening drinking beer and listening to music is an education as well as a pleasure!

Mousetrap, Good beer, Bad Beer

2010-10-05T11:05:00.022+01:00

Spent a day down at Elgoods brewery in wisbech judging beer. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it! All the Beer was superb - a good testiment to the brewers in the East of England.
Had a wander around the brewery, and met the two brewery cats.

I think it should be made into Law that if you have a brewery, you have to have a cat.

Amazing to see the copper sheets that used to be used to cool the beer down. this must be worth a fortune these days if you weigh it in!

Saturday night, I went in the Hare & hounds and had two awful beers. The staff didn't care. typical of so many pubs these days, they are so proud of having more beer pumps than anyone else, they don't care that they don't sell enough to keep the beer fresh.

Darby gave me the Stainless strips for the boat and they are the business! All I need is a bit of time on the boat to fit them!

Scouser has managed to move the boat so that it is on the deck. This will make it easier to finish the painting.

Saw Chris While & Julie Matthews at the Met on Friday, then after travelling down south for work on Sunday, they were on at Hitchin Folk Club as well!

More local stuff

2010-09-28T16:02:00.006+01:00

Saturday night I decided to check out the Brook again, and sure enough, they had live music again. This time we had the Johnny Friendlies. Spent some time talking to phil, and Stuart who used to be in the Rythmaires about why the Ramsbottom Blues Festival is no more. Maybe we can try to start it up again ?

Old Music, Old Beer, Local Music, and raw beef!

2010-09-22T12:20:00.001+01:00

Went to Radlet on Wednesday to see Elkie Brooks. Thought I'd call in at the Cat n Fiddle as I jhavn't been there for about 10 years. Had a ridiculously expensive pint of Black Sheep that was probably still on from ten years ago. I can't remember the last time I had a pint as bad as this. The barman had made a sharp exit, so there was no-one to complain to. Left the filthy horrible beer on the bar and went to see the music.

Elkie Brooks was fantastic, and still has an amasing voice at 65!

Called round at the boat (remember the boat?...) on Friday and the rear door and hatch are on, but with Brass runners. Went to see my mate Darby who set about making me some nice stainless runners.

Wandered down to Bury on Friday and saw Tiny Tin Lady. A very young band, but what a superb sound.

Excellent evening, excellent music, and excellent lyrics.

"This town, this town is sick of me,

"And I think it knows that I feel the same...

Saturday night I had a night in, and decided to get a takeaway from the curry house round the corner. Just for a change I thought I will walk 3/4 mile to the Brook in Helmshore and have a quick pint.

When I got there I found Big Lix were doing a gig. I haven't seen them for a couple of years, and they were superb. Quite a few Deep Purple numbers were better than I remember Deep Purple doing them.

Several Pints of Black Sheep Bitter (in excellent form - quite the opposite of the Cat and Fiddle) later, I had missed the closing time at the Indian - Ah, well, I suppose that will help with the diet!

Went to the Brown Cow in chatburn, as somebody had said the Sunday dinner there is good. Started with a very nice soup. Problem is, when I ask fo Roast beef, I expect it Roasted, not still alive, doing breast stroke accross a plateful of blood, with an audience of overdone and tastless veg. When pointed out to the bar staff, they weren't particularly bothered. Typical of the attitude of most places today. It cost a pound more than the superb dinner we had last week just down the road as well!

All over the place...

2010-09-14T18:01:00.023+01:00

Spent a day down near Hereford at a hop farm. It amazed me the amount of work involved before you can grow something like this. There is a huge amount of poles to be set in the field, and wirework between the poles for the hops to grow up. Must cost a fortune to set up a new field for hops.

Another thing I didn't realise about hops, is that an entire field of one type of hops is cloned from the same plant.

One hop plant has cutting taken from it again and again until there are enough plants to fill the field. The hop plants grow back each year, and some are thirty or more years old.

If a plant is grown from a seed, then it will be a new variety of hops, with different flavour characteristics.

This is Pridewood farm, where the drying sheds have been rebuilt since a fire last year.

Stopped at the Talbot at Knightwick while I was in the south west. This fantactic pub has its own brewery, Teme Valley, producing the main range of beers, This, That and T'Other.

Superb food in the evening, and a fantastic breakfast with home made black pudding.

I went down to Greenwich comedy festival to see the Bad Shepherds. The ticket said 7:30, but the band didn't actually start until 9:45. I think the biggest comedy about the Greenwich comedy festival is the Farce of the orginisation of it!

Rather than waste 2 hours wandering around London waiting for the band to start, I thought I would make best use of my time eating food and drinking beer. Got some (very expensive) beer from the nearby Meantime Brewery, and Rump of Herdwick marinated in Meantime Hospital Porter. Mmmmm!

The Bad Shepherds came on stage and were superb, especially the bit where Troy Donockley fell off the stage!

Friday, and its back up north to see the Family Mahone in an open air gig in Chester. When we arrived, the band were just eating at the bar, and they had the Bad Shepherds playing on the CD player!

Went to the Black horse at Pimlico with Lady P to try out their new Fish Menu. Ended up having Roast Beef Sunday Dinner - and superb it was too! Superb beef, and freshly cooked veg, yorkshire pudding and gravy.

Busy, busy...

2010-08-21T09:29:00.001+01:00

Very busy at work, and no time for the boat...

Well, August is here, with the rain and everything. Managed to get a few minutes to have a look at Bank Top Brewery's new pub. Very nice.

Scouser J has the port side of the boat all sanded down now, it is time to start on the final boat colour.

Not Brassed off at all...

2010-08-16T09:25:00.001+01:00

Haven't seen any music for what seems like ages. The festival "season" will soon be over though, so I should get to see a few bands soon...

The mushroom vents are now on, and at least the roof looks like it is making progress now! I'm sticking with the "no brass" theme, so all stainless mushrooms.

Paint it Blue (reprieve)

2010-08-07T17:41:00.006+01:00

Good Idea! The boat now has a blue roof, with anti slip and everything!

amazing what you can do when the sun shines

a little!

Leeds Liverpool is shut at the

moment, so I can't get anywhere in the boat (even if it was finished).

Found a great little restaurant on Thomas St in Manchester and had a great meal of Smoked haddock, followed by Pork Belly on Mustard mash. Yum!

You make your choices...

2010-08-01T17:40:00.003+01:00

Saw Ade Edmonson and the Bad Shepherds at the Lowry in Manchester. Superb again.

I've decided (you come to all sorts of decisions and revelations when doing a project like this) that

a: I'm busy with (paid) work.

b: I can't seem to book the good weather for the weekends.

So I've given Scouser J the job of slapping a bit of paint on the boat, in between rain showers.

Went to Manchester on Sunday and had a banquet with some friends at Wing Yip. Superb, well stuffed, and one destroyed tablecloth!

Saw Richard digence at Radlet Centre. Very funny. I haven't got time to go to Fairport Convention this year, so I will miss his "graveyard slot".

Back to London

2010-07-27T17:54:00.003+01:00

How can I eat my pudding when I can't find the meat!

Went to Shoreditch again to see Lau at Cargo. superb concert, but the venue also had a disco on outside at the same time.

We ordered some food, and I ordered a "meat Platter". Now there is a clue in the name. I got Salad, Couscous, Mushrooms, Chips, Cheese sticks, crisps, some dubious sort of seaweed parcel and coleslaw. when I queried "where is the meat?" the plate was taken away, and returned with two chicken wings on it. Obviously a Vegetarian meat feast, but they really aught to mention the language barrier on the menu!

Slap it on, then sand it off again!

2010-07-12T11:24:00.008+01:00

Having painted the boat with grey primer, then given it a coat of red, sanding back down again reveals just how flat the boat is.

After a few iterations of fill-sand-

grey-red-sand, the boat is looking extremely smooth, if a little blotchy!

Back off to Tatton Park for another beer tent, this time for a 1940's weekend. A great sunny weekend, that I should spend working on the boat, but I also need to earn the money...

Its' that mad lot again...

2010-06-15T17:42:00.015+01:00

Started off a quick evening in London with a traditional Chip Butty - superb!

Went to see Kathryn Tickel playing Northumbrian pipes in Shoreditch on Thursday. I haven't seen her for about ten years, still fantastic.

Suddenly its June again, so we were off to put on a beer tent at Tatton Park for the Medievel Fayre.

Friday was quiet till about nine because of all the losers watching football.

Saturday was mad enough though, plenty of beer and mead drunk, and entertainment with the Wheelie bin Jousting, and the Tug-of-war on space hoppers.

Managed to get some time on the boat, and half the roof is now in red primer...

Down by the canal...

2010-06-06T17:36:00.002+01:00

Friday night, went to see Lau plaing at Hebden Bridge Trades Club, just next to the Rochdale canal. Fantastic venue, fantastic band, and a fantastic night. It was so warm there was a mass exodus during the interval to get some air.

Sunny weather so I started on the roof. Loads more welds to grind down, then fill. Managed to get a bit of sunburn on my back again.

Went for a drink in Manchester and dec

ided to have a look at the bar at the Hilton. Now this was odd, as we had to queue up (on a red carpet of course) for the lift, and "guests" were ushered in the lift in some

sort of preferential order. A fast lift up to the 23rd Floor, and we got a great view of Manchester. There is a glass panel in the floor where you can stand looking down 200 ft to Deansgate below. Not for long though - me and heights have this little arrangement.

Had a quick look at the bar - I think water started at £4, and the menu went right up to £4995 for a whiskey! Decided to leave, and have a drink in the British Protection instead. £2.40 a pint - much more like it!

Brrm Brrm!

2010-05-27T07:25:00.001+01:00

Wow! What a band!

Went to see Ade Edmondson & the Bad Shepherds in St Albans on Wednesday.

Elle Edmonson did the support act, playing a 12 string guitar. Far better than last time I saw her - the 12-string seems to suit her style much more.

The Bad Shepherds now have Andy Finan playing Fiddle - quite deserving the accolade "best fiddler of Ireland" that I think he has won 2 years running ?

The Fiddle playing on "Down at the Tubestation at Midnight" was absolutely brilliant. Now there's a phrase I never thought I'd say!

Saw Karen Mathieson at bury Met on Friday night - what a fantastic voice!

Spent Saturday in the belting down sunshine sanding down the roof. All of the untidy welds needed grinding down a bit more, but the filler was setting as soon as it touched the hot metal! Got the whole roof cleaned up and all the welds finished for sanding, but I couldn't touch the metal without burning, and my back was burning (what a change from last year), so I decided to get in the shade for a bit.

Control panel is on, and the engine starts - Yipee!

Sunday I decided that the hot sunny weather was best utilised by sitting in a beer garden drinking beer. What a brilliant idea!

You hum it son, and I'll play it.

2010-05-18T21:58:00.000+01:00

Went to the Family mahone on Friday at Leek arts festival

Even better than ever, especially when mark can't remember the words to his own songs!
Cloudy sort of day on Saturday but, armed with a bag full of sanding sheets, the starboard side of the boat was cleaned of all rust, and made as smooth as a baby's behind.
One thin coat of zinc phosphate primer, and it looked good, so two more coats of grey and there is no sign of where the welds were at all.

Chuffed.

Sunday morning, and the boat still looks as good.

I wasted an hour or so watching the start of the Monaco GP, then put the radio on instead, and gave the side a full coat of Red Oxide.

Luke rang - can I give him a hand.

"Do you know the piano's on my foot?" Shifted a piano (always good for a laugh) and then had to go for a beer to recover...

Some old Crinkles.

2010-05-10T08:06:00.000+01:00

Off up to the lakes again this weekend, as it is the Langdale Folk festival raising money for Mountain Rescue Dogs, and my birthday (twenty one ish).

A couple of pints with some workmates in Manchester on Friday, then up to the lakes on Saturday.

Walked up Oxendale, to climb Crinkle Crags. Fantastic views.

The only down side to the day is the path from Bowfell down off the hills is about a mile and a half of stone steps, which utterly destroy your knees.

Got back to the ODG and plenty of pints of anaestheic sorted the knees out.

Called in at the boat on my way back on Sunday, and the silencer is now connected with a flexi,

and a couple of neat vents plus an exhaust outlet added to the engine room.

I'm going to have to sand the rust off (again) and paint next weekend, weather permitting.

I'm sorry I haven't a clue.

2010-05-04T08:01:00.000+01:00

Went to Cheltenham on Friday night to see a live recording of I'm Sorry I haven't a clue. On the way I had a look in a chandlery for paint colours. I have chosen Midnight Blue and Classic Green from the Craftmaster colour blocks available there.

Fantastic show, but I dare say there is quite a bit to be cut out before it is broadcastable! It is being broadcast in June sometime. The only problem is the Centaur centre at the racecourse will rip you off on beer - £3.90 for 1/2 a pint of guinness! I'm not usually one to complain about a top up but they think this is a full pint! Daylight Robbery.

It was raining saturday, so I took the opportunity to take some beer up to the lakes for the charity do that is on at the bank holiday next week. The Lakes are still fantastic in the rain.
Sunshine on sunday. In daylight the 'flat' side of the boat didn't look half as good as it was, so I re-filled the areas of the welds with filler, bringing it back a good 4" either side of the weld. Another day of sanding, and the side now looks much better.

Monday - bank holiday - of course its raining! I will have to leave the painting for better weather.

Bigfoot on the Hills.

2010-04-27T07:38:00.000+01:00

Well, the doctor said I should give the ankle a little light excercise after a couple of days. So Me and Luke disappeared up to the Lakes Saturday. Luke wanted to climb Crinkle Crags or Bowfell.
Well, we tried to go a short cut from Oxendale up Crinkle Ghyll using
Lukes supreme navigation skills,

turn left at the Sheep,

but alas, we only got about 3/4 way up when the beer started calling (and my ankle was giving up), so, after a quick soak of said swollen ankle in the ice cold stream,

headed back to the Old for some light refreshments.

Beautiful day, and not a volcanic ash cloud in sight.

Why does it always rain down

2010-04-12T22:11:00.000+01:00

Well, the engine is now bolted in, and the drive shaft is nicely lined up. I've got a (huge) hospital silencer that needs a cradle to mount it on the swim, and we can have a lovely quiet engine, murmuring away.
Lovely sunny waether, so I took all of the windows out down one side of the boat. A quick application of angle grinder flattened off the welds, a bit of filler, and we are almost ready.
All day saturday, and quite a few sheets of sandpaper later, the whole of the side of the boat is flattened off. My hands are numb from six hours of sanding though!
Went for a bite to eat at the Hark to Bounty at Slaidburn. I've not been there for years, and it seemed a good idea at the time. The food was fantastic, and a couple of pints of Tirril Bitter finished the evening off superbly.

Sunday - the storm clouds are gathering. I cleaned down the side of the boat to remove all the dust, and the sun came out. Started grey primer at the back of the boat, well thinned. Ten feet down, and I need to top up the roller tray. As soon as I poured the paint into the tray the heavens opened. Abandon paint.
I will have to see how much rust there is on my nicely sanded boat next weekend :(

All the mountains I climb (and fall off), All of the cliffs and waterfalls I climb (and fall off), and I went flying over a pothole outside Euston station Sunday night, and sprained my ankle! OW!

Paint it Blue

2010-04-05T22:10:00.000+01:00

Well, another bit of sunshine, and another coat of varnish on the doors.

A coat of Red Primer on the front of the boat and its starting to look tidy.
Sunday, and the last coat of varnish on the doors means they are ready to be fitted.

I've sanded down the front, and two coats of undwercoat, and we have the first Blue bit on the boat!

Riders on the storm.

2010-03-28T22:04:00.000+01:00

Still in holiday mood, I decided to 'pop over' to Colchester on Monday night to see Lau. Superb!

Back to the boat - the front doors have arrived!!!
Before they are fitted, I need to get plenty of protection on them. I treated them with sadolin stain and preserver until I had got a nice light oak colour. I covered this with International Yacht Varnish. One coat on the doors and frame, then I left them for a week to harden.

I cleaned up the front deck, and gave the front of the boat and the front deck a couple of coats of Grey Primer.

Small Islands...

2010-03-22T20:30:00.000Z

I decided to pop over to Guernsey for the weekend, mainly to see the Family Mahone, who were playing at the Fermain Tavern on The Saturday night.

Fantastic breakfast at Gatwick airport before the flight. Forty minutes flight, and I am in Guernsey. Great airport, there is a luggage reclaim area, a desk if you want to declare anything, and a door out to Guernsey.

I had a wander around St Peters Port (or 'Town') for the afternoon, and found where the band were playing that night by going into the (yellow) telephone box, and looking the pub up in the telephone directory! How long is it since you could do that back home!

All of the pubs in 'Town' had a real naval fortification look about them

A quick beer in 'Town' then crossed the island to the superb Cobo Bay Hotel.
Saturday morning, just like a workday, I woke at five thirty. Couldn't sleep so I walked up the beach for about 6 miles. Got a bus back to the hotel just in time for a fantastic breakfast.

The bus stops are just painted on the road, so they are sometimes hard to spot, and for £5 I got a ticket for ten journeys of any length.
I got the bus to 'Town' and wandered around the south of the Island for a few hours. Great cliffs to the south, but the cliff paths were closed for maintainance.
I got the bus back to 'Town' and a Ferry over to Herm, which is a small Island with no traffic.

The ferry stops at some (very wet) steps, and that is the 'harbour'. I walked around the coast of Herm, and I would recommend anybody to do this if you are in Guernsey.

To the North, there are rocky beaches and coves. As you head south the coast gets more rugged, until there are spectacular cliffs at the south of the island.

About 2 hours around the Island, and I feel like I have the Island to myself.

I reached the small villiage in the centre of the island, and saw a couple of walkers - the first people I had seen in nearly two hours.

A couple of pints in the one and only pub on the Island, and it was time for the ferry back to 'Town'.

The Family Mahone were superb as ever, singing Traditional Drinking Songs, English drinking songs, Irish drinking songs, you get the idea. Taxi back to the hotel at 1 am and the end of a superb day.

Sunday, I checked out of the Hotel (after another fantastic breakfast) and decided to see how far I could walk around the north of the Island. The North East of the island is more of the commercial port, then south to 'Town' by just after dinner.

So, a long weekend and I have walked around most of Guernsey, and all of Herm. Got the plane back to Gatwick in the rain.

I was having a last pint in Guernsey at 5:45pm. I then had a pint in the OMF at Stevenage at 9:00pm. That has to be one of the fastest return from holiday I have ever had.

Skiving off Again!!

2010-03-17T20:23:00.000Z

Decided to go up to the Lakes This weekend, just to check it was still there, and to have a few beers in the Old while I'm up there.
Watched the F1 procession on Sunday (Yawn) I've been watching F1 for thirty years, and if this race is owt to go by, I think I'll find something more interesting to watch.
A wagon burst into flames at work. About the only interesting thing that happened this week!

Festering away

2010-03-10T12:09:00.000Z

Well, had a great weekend stopping at the New Inn, Clapham, drinking beer and singing songs (badly). I know I should have been working on the boat because the sun was shining, but it is good to have a couple of days with friends forgetting the rest of the world.

Got back to the boat on Sunday and cleaned up the rear deck. I had just finished the second coat of primer, when a great dollop of bird $$$$ landed right in the middle! Got to go to work now, so back to square one next week.

Who knows where the time goes (again)

2010-03-05T09:06:00.000Z

I cant believe it's a year since I started this blog, and I still haven't got a boat! I went to see Lau at Bury Met (again) and they are even better than ever. I never knew that an accordian was a percussion instrument, but if you want to see folk musicians thrashing their instruments within an inch of their lives, then go and see Lau.

The engine bay is now finished (again) and the modified engine mountings and "power bulge" have been painted (again). Now all I need is to get the engine fitted.

In preparation (anticicpation ?) for the arrival of the front doors, the old doors have been cut off, and the front opened up to allow a 24 inch opening. I am waiting for the engine to be fitted before fitting rear doors and hatch, just in case it needs to come out again...

I am going away for the weekend to Ingleton somewhere, and hopefully I will have an engine fitted when I return...

Digging deeper.

2010-02-24T17:37:00.000Z

Well, the solution to the engine problems is to cut a hole in the bottom of the boat, and weld in a 'sump' which drops the floor by about 3". This was done during the week, and my boat now has a power bulge! Look at my nice white paintwork !!!

Too much snow about to do much else....

AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

2010-02-23T11:51:00.000Z

Friday night, I go to see a band called "session A9" at Bury Met. Brilliant. Four fiddles, a guitar, boran and keyboards. Quite an unusual line-up, but an amazing sound.

Saturday Morning. I've been experimenting with "different" breakfasts, so a good start to the day.

I turn up at the yard, and the crane is currently lifting a boat out of the canal. Good portent perhaps ? Mr engine mans' van is nowhere to be seen. Is the job done?

Disaster snatched from the Jaws of Victory!

The engine is sat on the bottom of the engine room. Literally.

It turns out that the swim is too shallow for anything larger than a 15" prop, so a modified skeg has been put on to lower the driveshaft. The driveshaft is lower than normal in the boat, so the engine mounts were put in lower. However, the engine is now resting on its sump!

To add insult to injury, the engine mount spacing is wrong, and the cooling tank is on the wrong side!

AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

Hanging About...

2010-02-23T11:30:00.000Z

Turned up at the boat, Saturday morning expecting the engine to be in. Well, it sort of was. I did wonder how Mr Engine man was going to lift the engine in. The first sight on entering the yard was the crane. A bit of overkill I thought, using a fifty tonne crane to lift in a 300kg engine.

Well, the crane. The engine was about two feet above the engine mountings when the crane broke down. So, the engine is going to stay there for the next few days until they fix the crane.

Spent the rest of the day drilling the remaining holes for the skin fittings, 2 Water fillers, one each side of the boat. Three fender eyes either side of the boat, and the Diesel Filler.

The Silly Season.

2010-02-18T08:04:00.000Z

I have been writing the updates on my PC, but have been unable to upload them because I have had to get a new Internet Dongle thingy. Bloody technology, we never had this trouble when we used pen and paper...

Well, christmas came and went, yawn. For new year I decided to bugger off up to the Lakes. Good food, great beer, great atmosphere. Altogether a brilliant night. It was really odd, with the full moon and all of the snow, it was like daylight at 2 in the morning.

Yes this is 2:40 AM! No long exposure, this was taken on my phone!

And there is NOTHING WRONG WITH CAMPING IN JANUARY you bunch of soft gits! The place is far more peaceful without the hoards of tourists everywhere!

Anyway, returned via salterforth, where the canal was completely frozen over. I know you shouldn't, but you have to laugh at the ducks, trying to land on the ice, skidding, and knocking all the other ducks over! It was a bit like aviary 10 pin bowling!

Talking to the timber yard about this difference between Marine ply and ordinary. The one

thing I didn't know is that marine ply is guaranteed not to have any 'holes'. You know when you cut a piece of plywood, and, when you look at the edge of the cut, there seem to be gaps in the middle layers. Well, you (apparently) will not get these with marine ply.

So I got a few sheets of marine ply, and laid part of the floor at the front of the boat, and built a workbench. I thought, the front of the boat is going to be the last part finished, and it

will be so much easier to work with a decent sturdy workbench. The floorboards will help with clearing up.

I've battened a piece of plywood accross the front door to try and prevent the rain getting in while I'm (still) waiting for proper front doors. It didn't work.

It's January, and the engine has arrived (Yipee!).

I may be some time...

2009-12-17T17:20:00.000Z

Second weekend in December and, yipee, sunshine and blue skies again. It is a bit cold though. No need to mop up the water in the engine bay this time, I just had to pick it up and throw it out of the window. I suppose the cold has some advantages.

I managed to get the first coat of white bilge paint in the engine bay. Is this the light at the end of the tunnel ?

VAT is going up at the end of the month, so I have ordered and paid for the engine. Isuzu 42 and a PRM 150 gearbox. This should arrive in the new year, so that gives me christmas to get the last coat of bilge paint on and get some doors built.

Handy Andy has never re-appeared with his price for the hardwood doors, so it is the usual case of, If you want a job doing, do it yourself.

Went to the timber yard and had a rummage through the hardwood sections to see what I could find. I will have a think over the next week about how to build the hatch and rear doors.

I read the instructions for the bilge paint (!) and it recommends that below 10 deg C allow at least five days between coats! Next weekend for the next coat then.

Sunday night went down to Telfords Warehouse on the canal at Chester to see the Family Mahone in Concert. Absolutely brilliant. They are by far the best band I have seen all week.

Sunshine (and a rainy day)

2009-12-08T18:32:00.000Z

"Hey there Mr Blue,
We're so pleased to be with you,
Look around see what you do,
Everybody smiles at you.."

First weekend in December and the Sun has come out.

Saturday, and two coats of grey primer in the engine bay (plus water to be mopped out again).

Is it possible to get RSI from a sponge ?

Put a heavier tarp over the lightweight B&Q one. I want to get the engine before Christmas, so I need to get on with it...

Sunday morning there was still some water has got in through two tarpaulins, to be mopped up off the nice grey floor ready for a coat of red primer.

While the sun was out I decided to start on the hull fittings. I am using stainless fittings so I will be using stainless screws to hold them in place. Once the large hole had been cut for the water inlet, I could mark up for the fixings. Three 4.5mm Drill holes, and three M5 taps later and the first of the Skin fittings is bolted in place with stainless Screws.

Had to finish then because I was going to see a live recording of I'm Sorry I haven't a clue in Scarborough. Brilliant.

November rain

2009-11-26T11:03:00.000Z

I would go on about the rain, but I don't want people to think I'm some kind of anorak.

But it's been raining.

I haven't got much painting done.

It has been raining though.

I still havent got the doors on.

It has been raining though.

I managed to get a tarp over the back of the boat, and to stop it blowing off. The rainwas still getting in though. I got the engine bay dry enough for one coat of zinc phosphate primer, but the following day the eninge room had "filled up" again.

Last weekend we went up to the lakes, yes, the weekend of the floods - it was very quiet. Had to go up anyway to scatter Troggs' ashes. And drink some beer of course.

I've just bought a generator off ebay for £160 theat will give me mains 2.8kW and 12v for battery charging. I will find a wet vac to clear out the rain, and I can rig up some lighting. Hopefully I will then be able to get some painting done.

Tempting though it is to get the engine in, I want to get plenty of coats of white paint in the engine bay beforehand.

Time only goes backwards on the last Sunday in October...

2009-10-27T17:56:00.000Z

Spent sunday covering all the battens with Parcel tape, so that they would be easier to clean up after the spray foaming. I also covered where the rear hatch is going with a tarpaulin to try and keep some of the weather out.
When I tried cutting the holes in the shell for the water filler, I found all the teeth snapped of the cheap and nasty B&Q hole saw. Went to Screwfix & got a decent couple of holesaw blades and they are just the job.
The weather is really taking the *!**. The Sun came out, so I removed the windows from one side of the boat. Got the sander ready and - it started raining. By the time I had put the windows back in the sun came out again.
The engine bay had dried out reasonably well, so I managed to get a coat of Vactan on the areas that had started to rust. Hopefully if the tarp can keep the weather out, I can get the engine bay painted, then get the engine in soon, and I will have power and light.

The spray foaming was done during the week, so I could start cleaning up inside. What a huge difference, the inside seems so much bigger and lighter now the spray foam is done. Cleaned up one side of the boat before it started getting dark. Now the clocks have gone back I have to finish earlier.

Who knows, where the time goes...

2009-10-09T14:57:00.000+01:00

Forwards is apparently a good direction.

....much swearing later, the Stainless water tank is at the front end of the boat, where it should be. Tight squeeze.

I have some stainless fillers and stainless fittings to plumb it up. I thought, for the small price difference, I may as well get stainless rather than brass to go with the nice stainless tank.

I have been looking at the gauges from MSC on t'internet, and worked out how to fit these now. When finished I should have an LCD readout for Fresh & waste tank level in the living accomodation, and Deisel, fresh & waste in the back cabin. If you are sailing past a watering hole, it is nice to see the tank levels from the "driving seat".

Well, just a bit more tidying up and I'm ready for the spray foam. In the mean time I need to get on with the painting. Decided I am going to have an entire weekend at the boat. Get the windows out, and have a weekend long painting marathon.

However...

Following a quick phone call, and many long ones, a business idea has appeared on the (very near) horizon. I am from a very working class family, and don't generally have money, so this sort of idea has to take priority.

Bugger!

There may be a large pause in the progress, while I earn some money...

Captains Dog September 2009

2009-10-08T09:04:00.001+01:00

The plan is this...

Give the shell 2 full coats of Phosphate primer. This will help protect the metal and is quite good active anti-rust.
Give the shell another couple of coats of blacking. Easier to do now, while it is out of the water.
Once happy with the grey shell, and all holes etc are cut, and primed, give the whole shell a coat of Red Oxide. This is a coarser primer, and will give a better key to the top coats.
Start with 2 coats of undercoat. I have decided on a two colour scheme, so the undercoats will be the first stage where I decide where the different colours are.
Seal the windows, and get on with the remaining fit-out.
Once most of the major work is out of the way, two coats of top coat, piping and lettering.
Dump it in the water, and its launch party time...

There, I have a plan, We are heading into winter, what could possibly go wrong...

Last week in September Lady P found a sunny day and (with the help of the puppies) put a coat of grey primer on the roof. The problem then is, when all of one area is the same colour you can see just how bad all the welds are finished. So, I waited until she left, and got the grinder out. Oops, made a mess of the nice shiny roof. A quick lick of paint and she'll never know.

Handy Andy finally turned up to measure up for a set of Hardwood front doors. Decided to go for a hardwood hatch as well. I got these "ball bearing transfer units" from t'internet which will make the hatch slide beautifully.

Chinese Puzzle

2009-09-22T17:06:00.001+01:00

Beer, Folk music and swearing...

Well, Friday I was supposed to be up at the Old, for the Langdale Folk Festival. Raising money for mountain rescue support dogs. However, due to the IDIOTS driving on the motorways, and the holdups on the A1, M1, M6, etc. I didn't get home till 7:00pm.
Grabbed my rucksack (permanently packed!) and dived back out the door. When I crossed the M61 it was at a standstill. I crossed the M6 and it was also at a standstill. Last time I was late heading to the lakes, and both motorways were at a standstill, a motorcyclist was killed on the sideroads in front of me. Not wishing to tempt fate, a quick U-turn, and back to the pub.

Saturday morning I managed to finish cleaning up and blacking the Port side of the hull, which I couldn't do previously due to the boat next to me being painted. Don't think he would have appreciated the sparks off the wire brush.

Dinnertime, and Mr. Kedian turned up with the stainless water tank. It looks a lot bigger than it did on the drawing (well, the drawing was only A4).
The tank was put out of the way, while I got a lift from mr Kedian to Birmingham to pick up a new car for Luke. I'm getting quite good at buying cars that I've never seen off ebay! Stuck on the M6 again, so I got back at 6.00.

Grabbed my rucksack (permanently packed!) and dived back out the door. Got to the Old at 7:40 to find the campsite was full. Only seen that happen twice before. Never mind, had a pint, and some superb food. Bought a couple of T-shirts and won a painting in the Auction. The pub was heaving, and the fund-raising seemed to be doing really well.

Nowhere to camp, so said my goodbyes and set off home again. So much for a weekend off in the lakes!

Sunday, and luke joined me in the great chinese puzzle. We have to get a 6 foot by 5 foot by 20 inch water tank through the rear hatch (5 foot by 26") into the Back cabin (6 foot long), swing it around and through the side doorway (5 foot tall, 18 to 20 inch wide), into the boat interior. ****!, *****!, and ****** **** ***** ***!. We got the tank on the roof, dropped it diagonally through the hatch and into the boat. Don't know how, but it worked.

Note to self, next time (!) put the water tank in before the shell is finished.

Hatching out

2009-09-16T18:20:00.000+01:00

Do I hear Bells????

Well, this weekend lukes baby sister is getting married, so we have to have a stag night on thursday evening/Friday morning don't we....

Anyway, I don't suffer from hangovers, so Friday Morning, brilliant sunshine, I start cutting out the old hatch. The problem with the current hatch is it is two, badly fitting, bent bits of metal welded to hinges in the side of the boat. There is a channel at the bottom to allow rain in, but it slopes inward. Besides which the rain will just go through the 1/2" gap on one side. Only on one side because the Stilton Cowboy could not be bothered cutting a straight door anywhere on this boat.

Never mind, I have a new prefabricated hatch from Martin Kedian, and it is superb. Properly formed doors, rain channels, and a 50mm flange to cover up the bits where I haven't cut the hole quite straight!
Several hours, and even more cutting disks later, there is a hole. I cleaned up all the edges and offered the hatch up to fit. Yipee, it fits!. There is a slight gap at the top, however, because the boat sides aren't straight. The hatch is well built enough that when it is bolted in it will pull the sides straight though.
Quick splash of primer on all the exposed metal, put the hatch in temporarily, then I'm finished for the night.

Saturday morning, a bead of silicon around the hatch, and it is bolted in for good. A bead of silicon around the join just to make sure and... bugger me its 1.30 pm, the wedding is at three and I haven't got a present yet!
High speed dash, Clitheroe shops, Shower, change and at the Wedding with 5 minutes to spare! Fantastic reception afterwords with Hog Roast, music, beer, and all.

Sunday morning its quiet, Am I the only one who still gets up early after a night on the lash ? Cleaned up all the welding on the port side of the hull and blacked all the welds. Decided to have a short day and watch the formula one. Great Result. I'm still rooting for Barrichello and I think he is in with a chance this year.
Sunday night was wasted waiting for a train that did not appear. When I rang, I found out it was cancelled. Taxi back home (£6.50) taxi back to the train station in the morning (£6.50) and then get told I have to buy a new ticket! £72.00! Then the train runs late, and does not stop at my station, dumping me in London! I ended up getting to work at 3.00 pm instead of 7.30 am., and it has cost me £85.00 for the privelidge!. Adolf had his bad points, but at least he got the trains to run on time!

The rainy season is here...

2009-09-07T17:25:00.000+01:00

It might as well rain until September...

Saturday morning - rain. I have to deliver some beer up to the lake district, so I might as well do it while it's raining. It might clear up later.

Really slow journey up to Great Langdale stuck behind tourists. I don't mind if you like to drive at 20mph down the road admiring the view, but some of us on the road are working. At least pull over occasionally and let us past so we can finish work and get on with the boat! You know you are holding people up when you are driving a mercedes sport or saab turbo or something, and I am in a brewers van full of beer stuck behind you !

Sorry, rant over.

Dropped the beer off, and finally got back to the boat. It has just stopped raining, and it looks like brightening up.

Yipee!

The hatch opening at the back is now finished ready for doors and a lid. The stern tube is arriving Monday, and then that should be all the welding finished.

The remaining 'dry' time on Saturday was spent cleaning up all the welds on one side Then filling any indentations. Rain set in again at six, so all done till tomorrow.
I discovered the mini roller sets at B&Q for £1.95. Wow, the painting takes no time at all with these. A couple of hours of sunshine on sunday, I have got up to the gunwales on one side with primer.

Bloody Weather

2009-09-03T11:30:00.000+01:00

"You can look at weather forecasts all you like, all that is certain is that there will be weather. Usually lots of it. It is then merely a matter of how hard it hits you"

Well, the shell is starting to look more like a proper shell now. I have been working on it fairly full on for the last couple of weekends, together with Kieth the Welder, and the long list of snags is now almost gone. At first glance it doesn't look like much has been done but...

The dished rear deck that was holding water is now fully drained. I have also added a hinged section to allow perfect access to the engine and weed hatch.

The rear door is now slightly wider to allow the engine to fit in, and as an added bonus, it is the same width at the top as at the bottom.

The rubbing strakes are now fully welded, and the tacky little brackets for holding the fenders on have been replaced with more substantial brackets made from steel bar.

The gas locker now has drains/vents and all of the dubious welding at the front has been redone.
The hole in the front deck has been welded up, and a new top has been put on the cross beam at the front of the well. Now all the front end needs (other than a load of paint) is Lady Penelope's son to build me some nice hardwood front doors to replace the useless and bad fitting steel ones fitted by the Stilton Cowboy.

I have a tiller bar made from 40mm bright steel bar.

TIP: If you like feeling light headed try dangling upside down with your head in the gas locker while painting it!.

The engine beds are in, and there is loads of paint waiting for some painting weather. One whole bank holiday weekend, and all I have got done outside is eight feet of boat!

Music Maestro

2009-08-20T12:39:00.001+01:00

"Pantone One Hundred and Eighty!"

Well, I went to Fairport Convention this weekend just because I have always done it. I went the "pretty way" via Braunston to pick up some zinc phosphate primer. Some good music on, but mostly it seems to be the only time in the year I have any time off work. Note to Self. Must get a life sometime.

Once the tent was up at Cropredy, it was time for a pint, so a quick walk down the canal to the Red Lion. I noticed Saddleworth on the side of a boat, and after a chat with the owner, learned that the Huddersfield canal goes all the way up to Saddleworth. The number of times I have driven through there and never realised that there was a canal there.

Friday morning got a coffee & sat by the canal waiting for the pub to open for breakfast (You can get a bad name for yourself sitting outside a pub at 7.00 am waiting for it to open). Saw a tug & butty coming down the canal carrying roofing materials. Interesting to watch it going through the locks.

I went into Banbury, first time I had been into the town for several years, and was very impressed by the Quay area redevelopment. I had a wander and looked at all the boats to get some idea of a colour scheme. I liked the blue and maroon, then again I like the Green. The Green and Red looks good. So does the Red. Ditto the red & gold. The green and blue looks good. So does the very dark green.

Sod it, I'm going to put all the pictures on a dartboard and pick the colour scheme the Eric Bristow Method.

Saturday Left the pub as it was getting a bit manic and sat by the lock drinking beer (it's a hobby i suppose). Saw a hire boat with a very direct means of opening lock gates. You just ram them!

Back to Work

2009-08-20T10:14:00.000+01:00

"Get back on your horse and get the hell outa town!"

Start of August - definitely working on the boat. Friday night went out for a meal with Lady P & co. Well, I have to keep my strength up for the job in hand you know. Awful meal. Why do people think that Microwaving a wholesalers pie constitutes a good restaurant meal just because you cut the carrots chunky.

Had a strange dream. Don't get me wrong, I often get strange dreams, but this one seemed to be a happy dream. Normally I just get nightmares. Good portent possibly ?

Got myself a notebook and made a list of the snags that need sorting out on the shell. Getting organised at last. So now when the welder has some time free I have two full pages of snags for him to have a go at. Simple things like Welding the rubbing strakes on, rather than just tacking them and filling the gaps with silicon. Perhaps Mr Stilton doing a runner has been a good thing, as now I can get a professional job done.

In the meantime, I have spent the weekend shifting bricks about in the boat. By Saturday evening I have Eight "bays" bitumined ready for the bricks to go in their final resting place.

Sunday morning. Had breakfast with Lady P at a new farm shop we discovered. Good field mushrooms and nice sausages, but the usual mistake of using cheap sliced bread, and not cooking the tomatoes enough. We should start work on the definitive guide to where not to breakfast. Breakfast Nightmares ? No I don't think I could swear that much, besides I'm a better cook than Ramsey.

Put the bricks on the newly painted (or should that be bitumined ?) floor, and cleared the next few bays ready for the bitumin. Tried different patterns of laying the bricks but ended up with them on edge as the easiest way to fit them all in. This means that the bricks are resting on the floor, not on spacers, but I havent the clearance for the spacers. Never mind.

Bridge over the River Kwai time again as there have been sunflakes belting down on the shell all afternoon. Cleaned the new floor area, but I have had too much time in the sweat box, so I am legging it and leaving the bitumin until next weekend.

2009-08-12T18:02:00.000+01:00

Interesting Times

"Jeez, I thought you guys were going to follow some kinda footpath...".

Well, I have finally got back to adding something to this blog, after an 'interesting' couple of months. A few years ago my life turned upside down. I called this interesting times after the Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times". Well, I suppose the last month or two has been interesting as well.

June:

Started putting the battens on the floor. This was then interrupted by a weekend at a medieval fayre. We're the beer tent, not the medievals. They are the sane ones.

Following a long weekend of drinking beer, setting up a bar, drinking beer, selling beer, drinking beer, taking down the bar, and drinking beer, I had a week off, then boat. Over the next week I managed to get some of the battening done in the evenings after work. This got a bit much, working 7:30 to 18:00, 40 mins driving, two hours working on the boat, then 40 mins driving to bed ready for the next day at work.

I decided to spend a full weekend working on the boat and booked into the Travellodge at Stilton for the weekend. Finished off most of the battening, just the back half of the ceiling to do, but I ran out of wood. It is amazing how much wood it takes! Anyway, retire to the Bell at Stilton for an amazing meal and one or two pints of superb Fools Nook Ale from Digfield Brewery. If you are ever in Stilton, just off What used to be the Norman Cross roundabout on the A1, the Bell at Stilton cannot be recommended highly enough.

I have decided to use Engineering bricks for the ballast as they are easy to adjust, plus at £60 per tonne they are a bargain. Measured up the wood I needed to finish off the battening, and counted up 1200 bricks for the ballast.

July:

Well, I arrived at the boat to find that the remaining battens had been delivered together with three pallets of bricks, so far so good, and also the news that the Bailiffs had been around taking stock of what shells were there because the shell builder had "done a runner".

Wonderful.

It was Lady P's Birthday, so I had to go up North for a couple of days, calming down, but also wondering whether the shell would be there when I got back. Never mind - have a good couple of days at this barbeque/birthday party and leave sorting this out the following week because i am well and truly p****d off.

Monday. Back into work and loads of pointless hassle at work stops me doing anything for a few days. Probably as well because dealing with the mind-numbing tedium gets me riled into a solution.

Tuesday. Following various phone calls, I have found only one person I know with a trombone trailer needed to shift the shell. The wagon isn't the problem, but 58'6" needs a special 'extendable' trailer. Finally got in touch with him, and found he had sold it. Bugger. Rang Botony Bay, they had DIY bays available, and put me in touch with a narrowboat transport firm.

Wednesday Evening. Persuaded three blokes from work to come up to Stilton for a small amount of excercise. I removed one of the windows for easy access, and with two of us inside and two outside, one hour later there are three tons of bricks are inside the shell. Just time for a quick trip to treat these guys to a pint at the Bell at Stilton. the Fools Nook was even better than I remember, or is that just because of the brick shifting ? Anyway a fantastic meal and a few pints later, we returned home.

Thursday. £250 poorer a crane is booked.

Friday. A huge crane arrived at Stilton, and, during a thunderstorm no less, lifted the shell onto the waiting trailer. £450 poorer the trailer disapears with the shell on board, due to arrive at Botony bay on Monday.

Monday. Shell is craned off at Botony bay. I am now another £250 poorer for the crane off, making a total of £950.

Sod it I am off to the pub.

Following weekend I thought I might go to the lakes. Waited all Morning, but Luke had Flu & decided not to go. Set off late, but the roads were terrible. Turns out there was a 15 mile queue on the M6. Thought it was much easier popping up to the Lakes when I used to have a motorbike. Might consider getting another.

I went to the boat instead, but just outside the boatyard a Range Rover and a motorbike collided. Stuck for ages while the police & ambulance arrived, closed the road. the motorcylist didn't make it.

I hate days like this, I'm going to the Pub.

Last weekend in July I went up to the lakes with Luke. His sister is engaged to a great bloke from New York, so we decided to show him the Lake District the Hard Way. After we dragged him up Ravens Crag, Pavey Ark, Mill Gyll and part of the Dungeon Ghyll (I have never heard so much swearing from him), followed by the obligatory one or two pints in the 'Old', he slept for a week.

Maybe get back to the boat in August.

Timber....

2009-06-04T12:35:00.000+01:00

If a man says something in the forest, and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?

Well, what can I say ? There seems to be an awful lot of wood to batten the boat out. Not sure about the colour scheme though - red primer on grey primer - hmm.

Still got the first batten down, only 21 to go then I start on the walls....

Michelle

2009-05-13T09:55:00.000+01:00

People say "One day all your dreams will come true". Bloody hope not, otherwise I really will be naked in the queue at Tesco.

The shell is now taking shape. Apparently it is unlucky to rename a boat, so I am resisting the urge to call it Michelle at the moment.

It is amazing to see how quickly a 10mm sheet of steel floor turns into a hull. Right at the moment the boat looks huge, although I'm not used to seeing them out of the water, so it is a lot taller.

I must also say that I am impressed by the techniques used to create quite a complex shape from sheet steel. Now I have something to see, I can start thinking about how to use every single cubic inch of space within the shell.

Horizontigo

2009-04-15T18:25:00.000+01:00

"Does any of your family suffer from insanity ?"

"No we've always really enjoyed it!"

Well, that's it. Deposit paid, fag packet sketches handed over, and the steel is ordered. Last chance as a free man to go and do stupid things in the lakes for a weekend. Far easier the weekend before easter though...

This is Stickle Tarn as viewed from half way up Pavey Ark at 7pm The Sat before easter. The pubs are open and we are on our way...

Horizontigo is the fear of lack of heights, and a great song from the superb scottish folk band LAU - see them at http://www.lau-music.co.uk/

Taking a dive

2009-03-26T18:37:00.000Z

"It's not Impossible! You're only saying that because nobody has ever done it before!"

One step I took was to draw up a wish list. This would then be a guide to the design of the boat. It also drew my attention to what I thought I wanted, but wasn't really bothered about after all, such as the bath. Any way the list is :

Will go anywhere. Technically this means 55, or 57 foot, however looking at various websites, 58'6" seems to be about right, so that is what I will go for.
Wet room rather than shower tray. Initially I thought that I would have liked a bath, however... They take a lot of water and a lot of room. I like a bath however, being 6'2" laid out, I also like a big bath, and I would rather 'spend' the room elsewhere in the boat. Remember that you are budgeting length when laying out a boat. We don't all spend all of our time in the bathroom. I have decided on the wet room approach because I find them far more pleasing than a shower cubicle.
Storage for everything. Whatever I can't store (and whatever I haven't used for the last year, brain excepted) is going on eBay. If it doesn't sell on eBay, it's going in the skip.
King sized bed. Well, I am having some luxuries.
Trad Stern. This gives me an "engine room" area for running the boat, and psychologically separates the living areas into a separate living area. If that doesn't make sense to you, don't worry, I am not sure it makes sense to me either. I won't miss the open rear deck of a cruiser, as I will have a forward lounge area and front deck for "entertaining".
Dining Area. I don't like eating with a plate on my knee. So we will have a dining table and seating, which can convert into a bed.
Optimal use of space. This is easier these days with flat screen TVs and miniature electronics. However a lot of planning will go into where to hide the hide-able bits (water tanks, etc) and maximise the storage areas.
A Kitchen (sorry, galley) built around me. I like to cook, but I like to be ordered in the kitchen. That is 'ordered' as in 'a tidy sort of organised' as opposed to 'ordered to cook the tea and cook it now'.
A nice comfortable settee that I can slob out on of an evening, and would turn into another double berth for guests.
A washing machine and possibly a tumble drier would be nice for our lovely summer weather.

I've also bought a new digital camera. Now all I need is something to photograph...

The name of the boat came about by listing names as i thought of them. It was then just a case of picking 1. The sequence of chosen names went something like this...

Plan B - Everybody should have a plan B
Fotheringay - Prison Castle and fantastic music by Sandy Denny.
Scylla - Look at Scylla and Charybdis in your classical mythology (between a rock and a hard place)
Hard Place - see above. Also a bit of a play with words on my name (which means 'the rock')
A Walk in the Rain - Loads of experience here.
Duck N Dive - Need I say more... Well, actually, yes. I am a scuba diver, and a brewer, and have run various bars, pubs beer tents and beer festivals in the past, and I like ducks, both as the most amazingly belligerent cute little animals and as crispy Chinese appetisers. I always said that if I won the lottery, I would buy a property in Grand Cayman (Which, incidentally, is tax free UK) and build a microbrewery/pub/restaurant/hotel on the beach with a jetty and scuba diving school (BSAC not PADI). I was going to call it the 'Duck and Dive'. I haven't won the lottery and it seems a shame to waste the name so....

Right, I'll drink to that. A vague plan and a good name. What can possibly go wrong...

Plan B

2009-03-25T16:49:00.000Z

"Abandon all hope (of sanity) all ye who enter here..."

Over the last XX years I have done lots of different things, lived lots of different places, and had (and lost) many different jobs. Having tried (and failed) to settle down over the last 18 years or so, I have decided that in order to preserve my insanity a few things have got to change.
I have always had an affinity to water, swimming, scuba diving, climbing waterfalls, etc. So, I decided that it would be interesting to build a canal boat to live on.
Well, having scoured t'internet for information, it seems that the done thing is to do a 'blog'. So here it is, entry #1. Not a right good entry yet as you have learned nowt about the boat, but have patience (or should that be patients?) at this stage you know as much about it as me. Allegedly I'm a quick learner though...