Well we've been starting to get a bit twitchy. about six weeks ago we emailed off our final plans and spec for the boat. After hearing nothing Mick rang them to check that the builders had got the info from us. They had. Richard was needing to answer some questions on the steel before it could be delivered, this had been held up with Kevin having had his operation. Kevin was doing well, but had got an infection which was making his recovery slow going.
A few weeks later we heard that the steel had arrived but work hadn't started, at least we owned the base plate! A couple of weeks ago we decided to send hard copies of the plans through the post as Richard had had difficulty opening our plans. I called to check that they had arrived which they had and Oleanna was to be the next boat to be started. The metal workers had a few bits to finish off on the boat before ours and then they'd get started. They'd be in touch.
A very quiet time passed, with no news and us wondering if our plans for Christmas onboard in London should change. I've accepted two Christmas shows at Hull Truck, hoping that they won't scupper our plans. If the boat is ready before the shows are open, we'll try to move the boat to a suitable marina over weekends and then have her moored up and ready for the off just after curtain up. Winter stoppages may mean that we'd have to head north before we go south.
Mick was starting to get quite twitchy so I suggested that he rang them to see where we were at. A few things had been changing on their company records and we wanted to seek assurance from them that all was well. So Today Mick rang and had a chat with Richard.
Apparently Oleanna has been started! Possibly she exists up to her gunwales. The steel work is done elsewhere from the fit outs so Richard was a little bit vague as to the progress. But they would want us to pop down soon to see them. Just you stop us! They have been doing some restructuring of the company and Oleanna will no longer be taken over to Market Drayton for her fitout. They are going to lease a unit next door to the steel work and do her there. So after a year of them being at Betton Mill wharf which is a great spot on the side of the cut, but old, dusty, cold and very hot this summer they are moving back to near Hilton where we first went to see them. This is slightly closer to home for us, means that we'd have more of a choice of where to launch Oleanna when she is finished, so might be able to avoid some winter stoppages. But it is also a little bit worrying as Kevin seems to no longer be a director and they will be trading under a different name.
So the excitement of them having started is slightly tinged with concern.
The sorting of the house has slowed down somewhat with my summer shows keeping me busy. The new carpet in our living room needs replacing as the really hot sun has been melting it! We need to replace some original glass in our bay window before going ahead. But hopefully we can reuse some of the carpet upstairs in the bedroom known as The Shed. But that room needs redecorating before it gets carpet and at the moment it is full of things to go into storage. It's like a very big jigsaw and I just need to find a few days to sort my work room out so that the pieces can start moving into their final positions to free up space elsewhere. Maybe a container in the garden would help!
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Crick
Well another weekend and another early start. We set off bright and early to head south for the boat show. Last year we were on the hunt for ideas and to choose our builders, this year our intention was to look for a sofa manufacturer and other bits and bobs for the boat and any new ideas that were about that we might be able to incorporate into Oleanna.
My it was busy, the good weather compared to last year had brought everyone out. We did a circuit of the show picking out boats that we wanted to look round. Carefree had a wide beam on show and the new shareboat Solstice. So we went along to say hello to the chaps and welcome Paul back into the Carefree clan. The sign writing hadn't been done on Solstice but by lunchtime it had been.
We tried out various sofas and armchairs on show, none of which were both comfortable and nice looking. Eventually in one of the marquees I spotted a red sofa bed which looked a bit more like it. Whether it was just the colour that attracted me or the style I can only guess. We had a sit down and a bit of a lie down and it was quite comfy. We were told that they did a different mattress which would be even better and we'd be welcome to go to their showrooms to try it out. Here we go more miles, but no they are based in Bradford, so not too far for us. So sofa ticked we carried on around the show.
There was a possible couple interested in our share on WD, fingers crossed, but unfortunately that came to nothing.
We popped to see my friend Lizzie who was helping man the Crick marina office. Arranged that evening to go for a meal on Panda.
Bearboating were offering a show discount on their helmsman courses, so that was our next port of call. After our first trip together on a narrowboat I've avoided the steering having no confidence in it other than on a long straight. I also really enjoy working the locks, but our last trip out on WD showed that it really would be good for us to share everything. So we booked ourselves in for a weekend course on one of their hire boats heading to Leeds and back.
After looking at windows and a few more boats we headed for our hotel for the night and checked in and had a good look through the literature we'd picked up. Then back to Crick for dinner at Lizzies. We took our scale model along with us to show what our boat would be like, Lizzie and friends were impressed and suggested that we should have a look at a boat that was for sale the following day for a few storage ideas.
A lovely lasagna later we were heading back to the hotel.
Sunday was also hot, we bumped into the occasional other CCC member and looked round a few more boats, certainly not as many as last year. We decided to go along to a seminar on buying a boat and having one made, this was quite good, but we had already picked up on most the the points ourselves, so we decided not to bother with any more seminars.
One boat on hard standing had the exact colour I'd been hunting for for Oleanna. So when we asked the builders what it was they said "Oh lots of people have been asking that, it's a Rylard paint but we're not sure what colour". Well at least that was a start. Unfortunately no-one had a colour chart for Rylard paints. The colour is a dark blue which has a hint or purple to it, very nice.
We went to see the boat that had been suggested the night before, very nice, well except it was quite sparkly! We remembered it from last year when it had been a show boat. It did have some good ideas for storage, a pull out coal draw by the stove, under gunwale shelves for storage for small things. But all in all it made us more confident as to our layout and solutions.
We picked up a couple of life jackets that were on special offer at Midlands chandlers, well paid for them to be sent to us as they were selling like hot cakes. Another wander around and it was time to head to the food marquee to stock up on goodies to take home. Not so much choice this year, but we did get quite a bit of cheese!
A quick goodbye to Lizzie and check on mooring rates at Crick should we need somewhere to moor for a little while whilst we sort Oleanna and home out before we head off into the sunset.
Then the long trip back home to a hungry Houdini!
My it was busy, the good weather compared to last year had brought everyone out. We did a circuit of the show picking out boats that we wanted to look round. Carefree had a wide beam on show and the new shareboat Solstice. So we went along to say hello to the chaps and welcome Paul back into the Carefree clan. The sign writing hadn't been done on Solstice but by lunchtime it had been.
We tried out various sofas and armchairs on show, none of which were both comfortable and nice looking. Eventually in one of the marquees I spotted a red sofa bed which looked a bit more like it. Whether it was just the colour that attracted me or the style I can only guess. We had a sit down and a bit of a lie down and it was quite comfy. We were told that they did a different mattress which would be even better and we'd be welcome to go to their showrooms to try it out. Here we go more miles, but no they are based in Bradford, so not too far for us. So sofa ticked we carried on around the show.
There was a possible couple interested in our share on WD, fingers crossed, but unfortunately that came to nothing.
We popped to see my friend Lizzie who was helping man the Crick marina office. Arranged that evening to go for a meal on Panda.
Bearboating were offering a show discount on their helmsman courses, so that was our next port of call. After our first trip together on a narrowboat I've avoided the steering having no confidence in it other than on a long straight. I also really enjoy working the locks, but our last trip out on WD showed that it really would be good for us to share everything. So we booked ourselves in for a weekend course on one of their hire boats heading to Leeds and back.
After looking at windows and a few more boats we headed for our hotel for the night and checked in and had a good look through the literature we'd picked up. Then back to Crick for dinner at Lizzies. We took our scale model along with us to show what our boat would be like, Lizzie and friends were impressed and suggested that we should have a look at a boat that was for sale the following day for a few storage ideas.
A lovely lasagna later we were heading back to the hotel.
Sunday was also hot, we bumped into the occasional other CCC member and looked round a few more boats, certainly not as many as last year. We decided to go along to a seminar on buying a boat and having one made, this was quite good, but we had already picked up on most the the points ourselves, so we decided not to bother with any more seminars.
One boat on hard standing had the exact colour I'd been hunting for for Oleanna. So when we asked the builders what it was they said "Oh lots of people have been asking that, it's a Rylard paint but we're not sure what colour". Well at least that was a start. Unfortunately no-one had a colour chart for Rylard paints. The colour is a dark blue which has a hint or purple to it, very nice.
We went to see the boat that had been suggested the night before, very nice, well except it was quite sparkly! We remembered it from last year when it had been a show boat. It did have some good ideas for storage, a pull out coal draw by the stove, under gunwale shelves for storage for small things. But all in all it made us more confident as to our layout and solutions.
We picked up a couple of life jackets that were on special offer at Midlands chandlers, well paid for them to be sent to us as they were selling like hot cakes. Another wander around and it was time to head to the food marquee to stock up on goodies to take home. Not so much choice this year, but we did get quite a bit of cheese!
A quick goodbye to Lizzie and check on mooring rates at Crick should we need somewhere to moor for a little while whilst we sort Oleanna and home out before we head off into the sunset.
Then the long trip back home to a hungry Houdini!
Monday, 10 June 2013
20th May
Up really early today. First things first, Birthday presents in bed for Mick. I'd bought him a set of walkie talkies for the boat and another Pearsons guide to add to the collection. These went down better than the roll of foil that Houdini had got him!
Then whilst Mick made sandwiches for the trip I sat down to re-draw the plan of the boat. Thank goodness I'd said we'd be with them after lunch as it was a frantic start to the day as it was.
It took us about three hours to get to Market Drayton only stopping for a comfort break. It was good to be by a canal again even if we wouldn't be on the water this time.
The chaps were in good humour and we interrupted them packing up the weekends sales from their online chandlery. We produced the model and plan. Kevin was intrigued with the model, don't think many people turn up with one of those! We chatted through the layout and after some discussion decided to turn the bedroom round, it would give the boat a better flow. It means that I'll still have to clamber over Mick to go to the loo in the middle of the night, but he'll be nearer the kettle in the mornings.This affected the layout of the bathroom, but that was fine.
We had a little look round the boats that were in the workshop at the moment. This was useful as everything was really fresh in our minds about our layout and the boat that they were fitting out had enough in it to help us envisage ours. We came away saying that we'd update our plans and list of extras, now to include solar panels to trickle feed the batteries, but we would hold off sending them back until we'd been to Crick boat show at the weekend just incase something altered.
A little walk along the tow path and an opportunity to take a photo of a visitors mooring sign to send to my brother, so that he can locate suitable places for us this Christmas near his house. Then we were on our way back home. We decided to head home on a country route so headed towards Buxton and then Bakewell where we stopped for a Birthday Pizza. Home for a glass of wine by 10pm, to be greeted by strange squealing noises from an upstairs bedroom (Mick's shed). This turned out to be the walkie talkies that had reached full charge and been left on! Not sure how impressed Houdini was with this.
Then whilst Mick made sandwiches for the trip I sat down to re-draw the plan of the boat. Thank goodness I'd said we'd be with them after lunch as it was a frantic start to the day as it was.
It took us about three hours to get to Market Drayton only stopping for a comfort break. It was good to be by a canal again even if we wouldn't be on the water this time.
The chaps were in good humour and we interrupted them packing up the weekends sales from their online chandlery. We produced the model and plan. Kevin was intrigued with the model, don't think many people turn up with one of those! We chatted through the layout and after some discussion decided to turn the bedroom round, it would give the boat a better flow. It means that I'll still have to clamber over Mick to go to the loo in the middle of the night, but he'll be nearer the kettle in the mornings.This affected the layout of the bathroom, but that was fine.
We had a little look round the boats that were in the workshop at the moment. This was useful as everything was really fresh in our minds about our layout and the boat that they were fitting out had enough in it to help us envisage ours. We came away saying that we'd update our plans and list of extras, now to include solar panels to trickle feed the batteries, but we would hold off sending them back until we'd been to Crick boat show at the weekend just incase something altered.
A little walk along the tow path and an opportunity to take a photo of a visitors mooring sign to send to my brother, so that he can locate suitable places for us this Christmas near his house. Then we were on our way back home. We decided to head home on a country route so headed towards Buxton and then Bakewell where we stopped for a Birthday Pizza. Home for a glass of wine by 10pm, to be greeted by strange squealing noises from an upstairs bedroom (Mick's shed). This turned out to be the walkie talkies that had reached full charge and been left on! Not sure how impressed Houdini was with this.
Sunday, 9 June 2013
19th May
Today was spent altering the galley and working on the scale model I'd started at Christmas. Mick spent the day looking for cookers, dishwashers etc so that we could pass on the information to the builders.
I managed to finish the model, but didn't have time to update the plan of the boat, so an even earlier start tomorrow to get that done.
I managed to finish the model, but didn't have time to update the plan of the boat, so an even earlier start tomorrow to get that done.
Thursday, 16 May 2013
16th May
After a bit of tooing and froing over dates of when we could go and visit our builders, to sus if we've got things right, contact has been successfully made this morning and we are heading there next Monday! What a birthday treat for Mick.
Better get the galley sorted and any alterations done over the weekend.
Excited!
Better get the galley sorted and any alterations done over the weekend.
Excited!
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
5th May
We sat down over the weekend and went through the list of extras and where we might store things. At Christmas I had started to make a scale model of Oleanna so that we could visualize the layout better. I'm a Theatre Designer, so making models is what I spend a lot of time doing. The model came out and scribbles were done for amendments. The freezer has gone, but drawing board storage stays. A few questions noted for Richard and Kevin for when we see them next.
Houdini had a good look too and became a bit concerned over the size of her door. But she seemed happy with the position of her food bowls.
Now to find time to do a new plan and maybe update the model whilst waiting for work to kick in, oh and decorating!
Houdini had a good look too and became a bit concerned over the size of her door. But she seemed happy with the position of her food bowls.
Now to find time to do a new plan and maybe update the model whilst waiting for work to kick in, oh and decorating!
Thursday, 2 May 2013
1st May
Crick Boat show tickets arrived this morning. Lots of boats to see and lots to ideas to absorb.
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