6 locks before 7 am

Early start to wind Waterlily on our way on the 2nd broken window cruise.


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BW contractors break another window !

Yep, we got Waterlily back on her mooring all safe and sound on Friday then Fountain the BW contractors come to mow the grass on our moorings on Wednesday and broke another window !!!!!!!!!


I got a email from Chris on NB Belle on the Friday giving me the bad news. I met the contractors and BW at my boat yesterday and they agreed to cover the costs (again) of a window replacement. Thing is I have to take it back down to Willington to have the window removed and replaced in a day to remove the risk of water damage as they do it in a day out and over to Newark then back in.

Count to 10..... count to 10...!!

A bigger boat

Ok so it had to have a boaty theme. We were in Scotland yesterday staying with our good friends and their two lovely twins. We caught the big boat and took our motorbike over to Belfast for a meeting with about 30 like minded people. Today we have a 170 mile guided tour of county Down. Should be a good day if the weather holds for us

Nev


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Busy May

Took Waterlily back from Aqua at Mercia to Fradley today. The canals were quite quiet but all of Alrewas was full of boats and now opposite my mooring there are 4 boats. I have never seen 4 boats below Hunts so Fradley must also be full. Tomorrow will see the Shakespere boats come this way as well as the Aqua hire boats plus the canal timers....

There are busy and quiet days that do coincide with times of the week here at Fradley.

The trip back was good apart from that wind again. Only this time it was full on in my face so now I am sitting here with a whiskey with a wind burns face - not the whiskey of course !

Nev

Wind....

...not the self generate stuff, the weather stuff.

We were taking Waterlily into Mercia on Saturday morning and the wind was really blowing. For those of you that know Mercia you go in via a road bridge which is in effect a small tunnel. As Rachel turned in we felt the effects but as we entered the wide water all hell broke loose.

We were aiming for one of Aqua's moorings for the window to be replaced. Justin was trying to give advice but we could not hear him, Rachel tried to get the boat lined up but the wind just took Waterlily sideways - it was totally uncontrollable as we were pushed for about 10 yards into the corner of the fueling jetty. It was a really hard bump...

Justin came round off the pontoons where were then perfectly lined up on the pump out landing as the wind had turned us 90 degrees back bow into the wind. Justin advised to go into the marina and wind (!) and apprach the pontoons with the wind behind us. I took over and winded and then kept the wind at my back and slowly put the bow onto the pontoon then with Justin's help turned the boat into the pontoon fighting the winds desire to take us sideways again .

All in all a real trial, it just showed how easily a narrowboat can turn in to a large sail. I bloody hate boating in strong winds !!

Thanks to Justins help we got in ok only to find the bump has actually pushed the broken glass that was in the window out all over the corridor next to the bathroom on the boat - such was the force of the wind and the bump.

We have been caught twice before badly by the wind. Once on the GU when it pushed us to the far side of a winding hole and it took us about half an hour to get off the bank - that was on Sylph.

Then again at Streethay - the wind was coming down off the bank and straight across the cut - we went to the bank side to pass a boat and the wind just pinned us to the bank. It really felt like the wind was playing with us - we just could not get the bow into the wind enough to get off the armco - it was another 30 minute trial of our strength - until the wind got distracted enough for us to get on our way crabbing down the cut - did I mention I hate the wind !!

Nev

Your old boats ?

We have part owned a 58 foot cruiser called Sylph under the old Ownerships scheme. A great way to start boat ownership unless you were unlucky enough to still be involved when Alan Mathews fraud was uncovered - very sad.

We then owned our 45 foot Teddersly plastic topped boat called Comet. It was with great please we saw her moored up and in very active use on the way back from the Ashby cruise...


She has been repainted and generally kept very tidy. It is a credit to the lady who brought her she has survived the last two winters and looks better than when we sold her !!

Nev

Alrewas is quite perfect...

When we were aboard for an overnighter over Easter we took a Sunday morning walk into Alrewas for supplies.

This is a good walk frommour moorings - just right. After we had topped up at the Co-op we walked through the village towards the river. There are some really nice properties (and some for sale) in this part of Alrewas. I suppose it is a perfect place to live - good commuter links and good countryside - plus the river and canal for those (us) who fish.



I think on balance I still prefer Stone - a little more interesting but not so quaint.

Then again get yourself a live-a-board equipped boat and you can live in every town and village on the canal until you get bored (within 14 days or local mooring times) of course !!

Now........

http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/

Single handing - the broken window cruise

Makes you feel a bit special .....single handing a boat IMHO.

I took Waterlily down from Fradley to Willington on Friday the 13th ! All went very well. It was not too busy so I had to do most of the 8 locks without another boat coming through.

I decided that the best way was to bow haul the boat out to the lock throat (we were descending - we was me and Leia who was in charge of the boat in the locks of course) This saved climbing ladders or dropping onto the top of the boat.

Two major rain storms presented a challenge. The first one was dispactched by just sitting in Barton lock - perfect timing as no one was coming up. The second - the pics show the storm chasing me to Branston lock - was once again in Branston lock but there was a Shakespere boat coming up so me in my great full waterproofs and the poor holiday hirer in just her jeans and a rain coat.




Anyhow we made it and were joined by Rachel after her straight 7 days of very long hours just out of Willington . We were both ready for food and a little drink or three.

Now Waterlily is back with Justin at Aqua for the window to be repaired. He is going to take the whole window out and take it to the wndow supplier who will take the broken pane out and replace it.

Nev

Posting a bit sparse....

That is because I have been out on my latest bike.

Last weekend I went to Scotland overnight. Stranraer to visit my good friends John and Carrie. It was a fantastic ride up there, one of the best times on a bike I'd say.

These two were so lovely - I almost started getting broody - just for a minute of course !!
These are the wind turbines we went up to help install late last year....very impressive.

Then on Sunday we did the complete opposite and did a Derbyshire ride with the Deauville owners club....100 miles of B roads and green lanes !!

Then this Sunday just gone on a whim I went to Bridlington for an ice cream. Once again a great ride on a great bike. You really should get one !!



Now back to canally stuff - my summer hols

Leicester ring
Macclesfield to Busgworth basin
Bancroft Basin
Caldon to the End

Any votes??

Anothe insect - but this one you could put a saddle on !!

This big bugger FLEW into our kitchen last week. We thought it was a big moth but it looks like a flying cockroach.... that is a pint glass it is sitting under !!

Even the dog was a bit wary of it.

Any ideas what it is?

BW breaks my boat window :-(

My repair to protect it from bad weather.


I got a call late last week from the BW enforcements officer... hello I thought is my canoe an eyesore on the moorings... no she was phoning to tell me Fountain their contractors had broken one of the windows on my P&J whilst strimming next to my boat.

Aaarghhh... but she was so nice and as I deal with this sort of stuff all day I had a lot of empathy for her position.

So now I will be taking it back to Mercia Marina to have the window taken out and the glass replaced at the window company who supplied the windows.

Inconvenience - you bet. Question dear reader - how would you approach any recovery of my out of pocket expenses?

The nice note from the bloke who did it - can't be too harsh can I??

Electricity - about right

I purchased a 2kw inverter last year. It was only a couple of hundred pounds (!!) nothing like some of the stuff (Sterling?) that you can spend your cash on and no doubt they are great for extended or livaboards.

We wanted to be able to watch the tv without interference, lights, pumps, plus hair dryer (not guilty) iron and maybe the little Dyson we have.

Pre new batteries we tried the Dyson that would not have it. It kept overloading the inverter. I suspected the newness of the motor was not helping adding to the start up load. On the Ashby trip I got it working by new batteries and having the engine running at over 1500 rpm - seemed to ensure the inverter did not trip out on start up. The iron and hairdryer also work ok so we now have all we need.

The Dyson was a big hit as up until now we had to get the genny out so this means we can hoover up while on the move and do not need to take the genny with us.

Nev

Proof we made it

Ok , back to full boating and our Ashby trip.

Two years ago we only made it as far as Market Bosworth winding there. This time as we passed I was hoovering... see later post... and Rachel cruised us on past to waters new. We were undecided as to go for the end but I'm glad we did.


The tunnel is one of the best - just long enough to make it exciting but short enough not to get bored (and wet). There were very few boats moving so we had no problems even so we did the cautious approach to ensure it was clear
Rachel brought me a nice brass tunnel light to compliment the new cratch board we had when Waterlily was painted (she had a horrible port hole type before) It worked very well casting a lot of light in a great arc lighting up the tunnel sides and roof very well.

So here we are Watering up on what must be the highest pressures water point on the cut. It sounded like a jet engine whilst filling the tank.

So a complete canal done.

Not sure on the next destination. I'd like to do the Macclesfield canal to the end - but then I still have a hankering to cycle sea 2 sea??

Nev

The Ponty the quick way

For those of you who own or have owned motorbikes - this may be of interest...?

I recently traded my Honda Deauville in for a minter of a Honda Pan European. This really is the pinnacle of my bike riding/owning to date.
Its a 1300 V4 and is soooo comfortable and very quick. On Tuesday I had the day off to myself so set off on a pre planned route to Barmouth via the 'aqueduct'


It was as you might imagine quite busy but all seem to be in good spirits. It really is a marvel and I resisted the temptation to cross on the trip boat - waiting to take Waterlily there and do it on my own boat.

After a coffee the roads just got better and better. From Bala to Barmouth the road was just perfect and so few cars to overtake. I was getting drunk on the bends. Motorcycling heaven it was. On the full trip I lost how many canal towns I passed and how many times I crossed different canals.

Last pic of the new bike by Bala lake...


Now do I do Scotland at the weekend or relax on the boat ?

Insect identification?

We had a great walk to Alrewas to the Coop yesterday. Rachel was a little concerned about these buggers.....

They hover around in gangs and have what looks like a stinger hanging off them but I'm sure it is not. It would be interesting to know what they are?

Nev

Busy early morning at Fradley

Must have had well over a dozen boats pass us already this morning. Seems many coming up from Alrewas so I expect Mercia is emptying for Easter. Good job we are staying put this visit.

Nev



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The Ashby cruise fire and a Streethay freebie !

Ok, so now I am relaxed and able to attend to my blog a few posts about our recent Ashby cruise.

We set off on the Sunday just after lunch and had a reasonably easy passage away from the hectic Fradley spring sunny Sunday. We had a easy and surprisingly boat free trot to Streethay for supplies.

Having not received my nipple from Stuart - black mark there, I asked Ray if he had one. He got his nipple box out and offered me to select but nothing seemed to fit. He was noticeably frustrated and did comment 'we normally can supply anything.. ! ' He took me into the back where all the bearing cases were but it seemed they were sold nippleless. I set about paying for my gas, loo blue and a decent second hand double skinned chimney he had whilst he went downstairs in search of the right sized nipple. Just before we left he came out of the workshop with the right sized threaded nipple but it was an angled type.... I took it, screwed it in and it nipped up perfectly pointing upwards as you would expect...;-) ready to take the grease into the new bearing. I asked the cost and he shook his head so that is my clain to fame with some thanks to Ray for a free supply from Streethay (he has had enough of my folding before s I don't feel bad)

Once serviced we cruised to our first nights mooring just past Hopwas - that was until one of the two boats offside (there are two cruisers who moor, no doubt quite legitimately, off side just after Hopwas in a little copse) started a very noisy clack clack type generator until about 9.30 pm !

Next day saw us past the two Glascote locks and up the Atherstone flight without passing a boat - lovely.

Our second night mooring was in a small cutting just a few bridges away from Valley cruises. Perfect mooring apart from about 10pm I heard cracking and looked out to see a massive and I mean massive fire raging above us and blowing directly over Waterlily dropping all sorts of sh!t sorry soot onto us. So at 10 pm we were bow hauling her away from the fire to safety about half a mile away.

Look at the roof !!

Take care

Nev

KISS

That did not take long did it...? We we back from our Ashby odyssey last Saturday at about 6pm and now we are back aboard for a general laze about over the bank holiday weekend.

If you are thinking of owning your own boat this is what is is all about !!

We will not move the boat just relax and watch the world go by, there may be alcohol involved certainly food and other enjoyments.

One thing to comment on is how we are now sorted electricity wise. Since installing the 3 new batteries and using my cheap (200 quid) 2kw inverter we can use the iron, hairdryer (not for me of course) and finally and perhaphs most importantly the little Dyson we recently brought. Previously we have had to use the generator which means effort in getting it out and started etc. I have found by running the engine at 2000 rpm the Dyson does not trip the inverter and stays running and the batteries just about keep up.

This means we can KISS - which is the principal of our boat ownership !

Nev

The little doggie that found Waterlily

Like Halfie we are back from our Ashby adventure. There will be a few stories and pics to come but for tonight I have to tell you about a little chap who came into our lives briefly.

Meet 'little dog'

You can see Leia is doing the pack hierarchy bit of not being interested!

We were by bridge 33 on the Coventry (between Nuneaton and Atherstone) on Thursday night. Friday just as we were getting set to depart a boater came along and asked if we had lost a Jack Russell, when we got to their boat they said they had two Wippets so could not keep him aboard. He had been outside their boat since the early hours looking very lost/abandoned. We agreed to take him aboard as we could not cruise on by. We had plans to ask passing boaters and generally see if we could find his owners.

Bottom line was no one had any ideas so he overnighted with us as we got to Hopwas. He is a lovely little dog very friendly very funny. Rachel had spoken to the local pubs and they spoke by phone to Ian on Ghosty Hill to see if he knew of anyone missing a dog. He had a few suggestions but no leads to the owner.

Saturday morning saw us act on the plan drawn up the night before in the Tame Otter (Callum our son had joined us at Hopwas) He and Rachel drove to a vets in Atherstone to see if he was chipped - no, so it was a agreed walk back to bridge 33 from Vally cruisers talking to boaters.

As it happens they met Ian off Ghosty Hill who agreed to take him in case he met with the owners.... bit he did also say he was aware of dogs being drowned in the cut locally !!

So the little dog is with Ian helping him deliver his coal and diesel at the moment. He seems to be well looked after and we were/are tempted to keep him ourselves. So if you know of anyone in that area who may have lost him. Please get in touch, he is worth the effort.

Nev

Temptation....

I am not good at refusing - just ask Rachel. Another post will follow with other transport related news.....watch this space??

Anyhow whilst at Mercia Marina getting my batteries yesterday I was having a sandwich and cup of tea whilst overlooking the brokerage boats. Ian came over from the brokerage and said he had a nice boat for me !!

Never refusing the option to get aboard I went for a look at this Clicky....




A really excellent boat. A little too much wood and the dinette was the wrong side of the kitchen and no bath otherwise I'd have been extracting one of my kidneys as a deposit.

Now where is that Apollo Duck advert for Warrior !!

Trees....

I love them, but they can be dangerous. I recall last year a poor lady was killed when she was taken off the back of her boat by a falling tree.

We have quite a few trees on the Hunts lock moorings. Since we were moved up (by BW) we were under a Silver Birch. This allowed the local wildlife including what must have been a large Ostrich who routinely unloaded onto our boat roof.

A few weeks ago I took a photo and sent it to the moorings officer as I was concerned over the lean the silver Birch had towards my boat.

She was very proactive and said she would get the vegetation contractor to have a look. When I arrived at my boat on Friday after a little trip out on the bike I found this.....


I also found an email on my phone from the Mooring officer saying they were going to look at it today (Friday) They actually took it down with my boat in situ... I'm glad by all accounts I was not there to see it. What was not there when I got there was most of the tree. My neighbour said there was a steady flow of wheelbarrows removing the sections!!

The boat did have a good covering of sawdust even after the workers has cleaned the roof using the chainsaw exhausts! I prefer this to bird poo as it came off with a soft brush.

The base of the tree did have some rot in it so it was on its way. I'm pleased its gone. I intend planting an apple tree on the mooring for those boaters that follow me in the years to come.

I did manage a few of the larger rolls so I might have to being my electric chainsaw to the boat later in the year to get me some winter fuel.

I'll think of the Ostrich whilst burning the logs !

Nev

Batteries part II

Rachel was over in North Wales last weekend so I was home alone !!

I did an emergency dash to Leeds to return number 2 sons Xbox that has been repaired and we had a lovely walk around Roundhay park on the outskirts of Leeds. This was a really nice wooded walk. I then topped his larder up before heading direct to the boat from Leeds.

I was a nice afternoon and I pottered. I had to run the engine to get some hot water and put some charge in the batteries as they were at 40% on the SmartGauge. I got them to 60 % and shut off and lit the fire lit the oil lamp drank some whiskey and some beer ate then fell asleep. That relaxed easy sleep, helped by the alcohol!

In the morning with the central heating pump running intermittently overnight (it is on a pipe stat) and a couple of hours watching the tv (sorry Maffi) the batteries were at 9% !! I gave up on them and by the time I left the boat they were Fubarr'd

Yesterday after doing a bit of research, thanks to those who left comments on Batteries part I I nipped over to Midland chandlers and brought 3 x 11oah sealed Lucas batteries for , hold on let me sit down, £270. Good deed of the day was done after the assistant rang up the wrong total (£40 less) and I corrected him (is that a good bad or sad thing to do?)

So I have a job to do this weekend before we head off to the Ashby.

I fully expect the alternator to die next.

Nev

Supermoon - doing a Denny

Did a Denny last night. It was supermoon time click here for more info

This is the best I could do - mainly as I left it too late and watched a film and only went out at about 11.30 to let Leia have a wee.

It was not without incident either.

I decided I wanted a portrait shot and whilst adjusting the tripod the fixing snapped !!

So this pic was taken with my camera on the bottom lock gate beam.

Then as I was walking over the bottom lock gates to go back to the boat..... plop in went the broken tripod ! It went in at a location that makes it impossible to get out. A few boats have come by already and non in the weedhatch removing a mangled tripod - it was a fold up type and cheap so I recon it will settle in the mud and not be seen for a few more years.

Amateur or what !

More money into the boat

... over the winter I have had to top up the central heating header tank. I was naively hoping this was because of evaporation, daft really as it has held well over the last winter.

I have been topping up with a strong mix (pink) of antifreeze. Within the bilge I have a bucket that collects the water that drips from the pressure valve and last time I checked it had a pink tinge. I therefore deduced that there must be a leak on the heater coil from the back boiler. I will isolate the coil vial the two valves to stop us having to shower and wash the pots in a weak mixture of antifreeze but it does mean more expense to replace the hot water tank - can spell califorier !!

Seems eBay gives the best new options but I need to get the right size and volume. One thing I hope to get an improvement on how long the water stays hot for as at the moment it is only warm in the mornings. In the blurb on the new cylinders they say 24 hours. Plus if it fits I might go for a larger volume so we can at some stage fit a bath .

Nev

It'll be the Ashby

We have agreed we need a nice leisurely introduction to our 2011 cruising. We did part of the Ashby in May 2009 and as we never quite made it to the end we want to do the complete canal this time.

It will be in a few weeks to allow the weather to improve a little more plus the clocks need to spring forward to give us (me) some end of day cruising fishing time.

The Ashby for us is a great week out and back cruise - about 5 hours cruising a day and not too many locks. The locks we do hit will be in reasonable groups to enable some very sociable cruising.

Can't wait !!

Nev

Nipple check

......sorry couldn't resist that one. You may recall I had the rudder bearing and casing replaced on Waterlily but Stuart the engineer who did it could not replace the grease nipple back into the bearing as the threads were different.

We agreed he would send it on to me for me to fit. A reminder went out and he apologised as it was still in his van and he said he would drop by and fit it.

We are hoping to be aboard this weekend so I will be able to do my nipple check and get some grease in to the new bearing casing.

For sure this warm sunshine is a real pressure to get aboard.

Nev

Spare a few bob .....

You may be aware of one of my other passions - motorcycling. I was out on the bike yesterday scrubbing in a pair of new tyres (£275 !) So why am I telling you this.

I have just read Maffies latest blog and I echo the comments about our service men and women. The are real heroes. I hate it when sportsmen and women are given this title.

A friend of mine is doing the Lands End to John O'Grotes run on his motorbike in support of the Afgan Heroes. Its a good cause and one I have supported. If you have a few spare pounds please follow the link below and give Les your support. He is an ex serviceman doing his bit for some real heroes.

http://www.bmycharity.com/LesBishopEnd2End

Many thanks

Nev

OK Battery advice time...?

Our batteries are at that stage where I think it will be more economical replacing them that running the engine longer to put charge back into them. Since the recent harsh winter they seem to loose charge much more quickly.

So what to go for...

We have 3 x 110amp at the moment wet type. Talking to Sue and Vic on NB No Problem they have sealed batteries. I like the idea of that - no maintenance is my style, more time for fishing.

So please could you give me advice - do I go for 2 x 135
or
3 x 110 and any recommendations on make and where to go for them best price?

Lots of advice needed!

Nev

Blogging codes

QR codes are the way to communicate on the canal ?

Download this little app from here

Then point your Smartphone at the image below and see what you get?


I am going to stick my square in the window of my boat and then anyone can instantly get access to my blog while on the cut....(if it takes off)

Trust me it will take off you will see this type of marketing/communication everywhere.

Nev

Computers again.... and skiing

....it is on my agenda to sort out the computers I use - work and home. Work stuff you most probably don't wont to know about but at home I had a windows 7 box that sounded like an RB211 jet engine.

I also had the problem of complete lock up's which in my experience is usually due to over heating. I knew my brother in law had a new unused coolmaster case so last night on impulse I phoned him and did the deal, collected it and spent the next hour and a half taking all the bits from my old RB211 case into the new cool master case. I have no issues doing this I have built many computers from parts - I do not buy off the shelf desktops preferring to spec them for what I tend to use them for (games playing in the main)

He kindly included half a box of sound proofing (!) material that I liberally applied.

Pleased to say I connected it all back up and it booted perfectly but was still a little loud - solution was into the Bios and set the CPU and box fan speed now its perfect, I just need to download the Asus utilities so I can keep an eye on the temps as I play away !!

Now we are off to Tamworth snow dome for a two hour skiing lesson which was a Christmas present from Tom our eldest. He would like a family skiing holiday so this is our first taste - I'll let you know how I we get on.

Nev

Better than expected..?

Jim off NB Starcross has an interesting update on the BW position when it changes into a charity

Clicky

The real interest is that the goverment are now saying the property portfolio will go to the charity. This was really the only way it was going to work. I did have my doubts as I thought the Government would take this and sell it off before passing what was left to the charity. Now we just need to ensure the salaries are more in line with the real world and maybe, maybe some progress can be made.

One thing I hope is they keep the name and ID - no costly consultants and sign changing that would be hundreds of thousands of pounds. Lets take the practical cheap approach (for now) the ID can be changed when the charity is up running and making a difference to the canals?

Nev

Cycle rage

Not very proud of myself today.... I was pulled out on by two lads today while cycling between sites for work. I caught up with them and challenged them and he smirkingly admitted he had seen me but he needed to go for the gap !

When I said he forced me to skid into the gutter he smiled and shrugged. Red mist time saw me reach in to his car and turn off his engine, my intention was to lob his key across the road .... he managed to stop me and I cycled off.

At the next set of lights I cycled in the centre of the road stopping him overtaking me. The irony was I caught him up again when he got to the city centre - just as he went through a bus only set of lights.

Daft really as there were two of them and anything can go nowadays. On my return journey a taxi saw me go onto a roundabout and just pulled out on me and indicated I should slow down!!

Cycle commuting is a real challenge/risk and made much more dangerous with daft interactions - just let it go but that red mist !!

Anyhow more relaxed now after a coupe of hours of Call of Duty.

Take care (especially those of you who cycle)

Nev

Computing the solution

At great expense of time and hair I have found the solution.........

Boot camp - a sort of marriage of Jordan and Stephen Hawkins if you like .

Test - it has Memory map on with my maps to the Iphone for walking and Geocaching plus games with no cd patches installed and the very reliable and user friendly Mac OS for those blogging and photo processing needs.

Not patented so next time you need to replace your PC do it with a Mac and bootcamp !

Nev

Computers %&*?>

For those of you out there still using Windows I salute you. It is the biggest load of hype there ever was. I have a small Sony Laptop that should be perfect for the boat but having received it with Vista installed - aargh, that did not last long so I tried to down grade it (when I got it to XP - not all the right drivers were available for it so only 2/3rds of it worked.) I then had the opportunity to put Win 7 on it. The best so far but still way too power hungry. One thing a boater needs is a computer that is low powered or invest in a larger battery bank.

So it got forgotten. When on the boat last I tried it again and was frustrated by its slowness so I brought it back and have tried XP again, all the drivers are now available - took a couple of years.... but it is still not right. It appears you (I) have to install the drivers and utilities in a certain way, which I must not have done as I have a warning on startup regarding some software that will not now properly uninstall. Plus I have two unknown system devices under device manager.

I wanted to throw it through the window but Rachel would not let me.

Solution........ Mac

I have gone over 99% at work to Mac and only use my Macbook pro for work with the1% being some Access database stuff. I have parallels that I will use for that 1% when I have to.

So it will have to be my Macbook with me on the boat from now on. It has a 60 w power supply but from a full charge I can get well over 6 hours of use and it is so fast and reliable and nice and reliable and fast and good looking and reliable AND IT IS NOT WINDOZE.

Phew that's better, now bed time - where it that nice tight jacket I wear every now and then !

Nev

I wrote this on the Windoze machine and for some reason it appears in bold. Can't seem to remove the formatting - I recon they know you know ;-)

Edited... to add this

Tweets tea and celebrations

After messing around with blogging apps for my iPhone I managed to get one posted that also updated my twitter position, profile status or whatever, Sue of NB No Problem messaged me back that they were just up the canal; outside Kings Bromley marina so we arranged to stop by on our way to wind the following day (Monday)

It was really nice to meet Sue and Vic again. They have been CC'ing for 10 years now - that is some achievement and shows their passion and enjoyment of the canals. Leia and Meg were instant friends and tired each other out chasing up and down the tow path.

Celebrations were for our 26th wedding anniversary. We had a lovely meal last night the boat is a very peaceful and romantic place to share such a celebration.

It was a really god news day yesterday with Les and Jacqueline announcing their engagement. Wow what great news, just goes to show what a blog can lead to ! Warm congratulations to you both - we have been together for nearly 32 years and its a journey to be recommended !

Today we are intending to go for a walk to Kings Bromley over the fields and then a slow cruise back to our home moorings - work for me tomorrow ;-(

Take care

What a difference a day makes

Yesterday was a still sunny if not cool day. Contrast that with today's rain and cold wind. Some good fortune then that we were moored with the wind on our stern that allowed me some fishing from the front cratch. Perch and chub kept me interested if a little cold. Still got in two nice walks.





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Bones beats me to it!

Third iphone app to see if I can blog mobile !

This one should include some photos that I took yesterday on the trip out.....................

Edited to remove the daft large photo and replace it with a more appropriate photo - taken yesterday on getting to the boat.

The Iphone does not do blogging...

Nev

Hard to believe.....

We eventually got away yesterday after a little car shuffling that saw me bringing waterlily upto the visitor moorings solo. BW should give boaters payment as entertainers at places like Fradley. They have even installed a bench at the lock at keepers !

Anyhow we are moored just above Woodend lock and pretty much where the HS2 rail line will pass. It is hard to believe that such tranquility will be shattered, so in answer to my own previous blog most certainly Nimby !!

Off for a walk and then stay put fire on reading fishing drinking computering.....

Tillers

Tiller arms ... we have two, our original that came with the boat now is the brolly mate equipped one and then we have the heavier hinged one that s great for getting a crew mate on and off the boat with.

We lock up by holding back in the lock and sliding up the bottom gates. Most I see use the technique of using the top gate plate as a slide. This is ok if your stern post is at a nice angle as it means the front fender can run up the plate in and keep the stern post off the cill. On our boat the stern post is very upright meaning it grinds on the cill until there is enough water in the lock for the fender to touch the plate.

When I have boated single handed I use the front gate with the boat in gear, when with crew we hold back and use the bottom gates. With enough reverse on the currents in the lock cannot hit the back gates and push the boat forward resulting in a uncontrolled charge in the lock to hit the front gates. This is also about how the paddles are opened of course so control of the lock by the boats crew is very important and on all too many occasions eager or sometimes malicious 'helpers crack open both paddles resulting in a massive surge of water that tries to push Waterlily off the back gates.

The reason for the lock technique explanation..... to avoid the rudder getting nipped by the closing gates as the water pressure forces them into the sealed position we put the tiller over to the side - this can result in the tiler arm catching obstructions as the boat rises on the side wall (it has nearly happened using the old tiller) so we can hinge it up avoiding this risk.

I'm sure you do it your way for a reason - these are our reasons.

Nev

Tiller job done

I got an email from Stuart earlier in the week to tell me the tiller bearings job has been completed. I needed a few bits from Midland chandlers at Willington so went over got my bits (news bilge pump and lamp oil) and carried on to Fradley.

I'm very pleased with the work done - to time to the quote provided and I now have a perfect rattle free tiller arm. I popped on the tiller arm, the lovely hinged one Rachel brought me for my birthday and fired the engine up and ran the boat in gear at a few different speeds (Sorry Mandy if you are reading this as it would have buffeted you a little) and all was well. One othr benefit was at certain 'engine charging' revs the tiller would hit a resonance that rolled through the boat - no more.

The real test will be this weekend when we go out on a mini cruise to celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary (Feb 14th) No sure where we will be going yet. I quite fancy Great Heywood but it has given really poor weather for Sunday so we may just go until we fancy stopping - as it should be.



The grease nipple thread was different so Stuart is sending me one over as I am happy to fit it myself.

I am happy to recommend Stuart. His email address is

stuart.f@live.com

Write to your MP or lose the canals as we know them

Here is an excellent link to the NBW forums discussing the greed within BW directors. Click me.....

It gives some useful words to copy and paste into your own letters. Please Please put this on your blogs so we get many MP's receiving letters highlighting both the PM's promise and the greed of these 9 people. They cannot and should not be Tupe'd over to the new organisation with these salaries. The new organisation can stop this by not having these posts for them to occupy. They they become redundant ! People power will win the day.

Nev

Edited to add this link so you can find your MP

BW directors are a disgrace

From NBW.....

Its a sad time indeed for users and the majority of employees of the canal network. There is no way 20% of the workforce can be made redundant without significant if not catastrophic impact on the system.

It appears the maintenance is being contracted out which will mean more costs going out and less work being done - the shareholders will need paying!!

And....and the money being taken out of the company is unbelievable. See the salaries being taken

• Robin Evans Chief Executive £566,354
• Mark Bensted Regeneration Director £672,850
• Steve Dunlop Director Scotland £170,764
• Nigel Johnson Corporate Services Director £331,987
• Stuart Mills Director of Property £308,154
• Vince Moran Operations Director £327,824
• Philip Ridal Finance Director £330,561
• Simon Salem Marketing Director £413,584
• Jim Stirling Technical Director £382,104

Total £3,504,182

It costs me £2,000 to have my boat in the cut I have no problem with this if it goes to workers to maintain it and money to fund the improvements. I cannot accept this group of 9 people are taking such a ridiculous amount of money. NO ONE needs that sort of money to live and they are not worth it by such a large margin.

In my home city the Vice Chancellor of my University which employs significantly more staff gets paid under a third of what Evans does and its the same story at the very large hospital in Derby

There is simply not justification for this and the fact is these greedy humans are expecting to be Tupe'd over on the same T&C's

I URGE YOU TO PUBLISH THE SAME INFORMATION ON YOUR BLOGS AND TELL PEOPLE YOU KNOW ABOUT IT. I WILL BE WRITING TO MY MP TO RAISE THIS ISSUE DIRECTLY WITH HIM.

At some point we have to act to protect what we hold dear.

Nev

NIMBY.....or progress?

Not In My Back Yard, so the saying goes. How does this work when it is a high speed rail line ? Chris from NB Belle recently blogged very comprehensively about the proposed HS2 rail line here

I am no expert on rail but my simple thinking is you would not put an extension onto your house if the roof was leaking and the foundations needed underpinning !

If it was my call I would be looking to re-open some of the Beeching cut railways, meaning more rather than faster. This would still no doubt impact on people and their property.

If you look at the image below (from Chris's blog) you will see the proposed route goes past the end of Woodend cottage and there is no detail on how the canal would be bridged. Bearing in mind the rail link will need to be as flat as possible I cannot see themn bridging the canal - more likely rerouting it above the route of the rail link?


I am all for trains - I like to hear then at night and don't mind mooring near rail lines. I would much prefer this than a road. It just needs to be done with full consideration and minimal impact - therein is the problem I fear. Plus these trains are not the clicky click they will be screamingly fast.

Interesting isn't it that even now the canals could still loose out to rail! I would be amazed if this was progressed as the cost must be astronomical in these austere times I'd rather have a police force and good hospitals.

Depends on who is building it and who in the government went to school with them I suppose - or is that too cynical?

Nev