Search results for:

unfortunately, Sprocket - what was left was found. Very Sad.

not buying wood now. We're going to get pallets.

in other news, my reverse is not engaging. Reverse is my brake.. I only found this out when trying to navigate the stonebridge lock on Friday. I've only just had my engine serviced so I'm a bit upset about this. It's going to hold up my travel south, we're scheduled to go on Sunday.

Dec 17
My wrists are burning. Long jagged bleeding scratches are running half way up my forearm. I don’t know what type of tree is growing beside the tow path where Miracle is moored but its definitely got good defences.

Duckie went out at 7am this morning and seeing the ice on the windows and frost on the ground I went back to bed. At 10am after 3 hours curled under my duvet and waiting for the* "let me back in"* meow I got up to see where Duckie had gone.

It didn’t take more than a few calls to hear his reply. Duckie and I have always had a call and response system when we are out, we use it to locate each other on our walks and I use it to find him when he’s not returned home when i think he should have. It’s great. It surprises people to hear us and see him chasing down the tow path meowing as he does. When i was little my father trained me the same way with “our whistle” it allowed us both the freedom to wander about unaccompanied with the security of understanding that we could find each other at any time.

This morning the meow was coming from quite close but I saw no rustling of the under growth to signal his return. Then I looked up, about 20 feet up. Perched in the crux of a very thin branch and staring down at me was Duckie. I didn’t hear whatever had caused him to climb up, but there he was. I tried to reach the tree but the brush is thick and tangled and after getting two feet closer I saw the centimetre long thorns that were against me. Upon seeing me Duckie climbed down to where I was but with no clearing in the dense tangle, I could not grab him.

*You’ll have to make it down yourself Duck. *

I retreat to the boat, calling him still.
For extra encouragement I grab the kitteh crack and give it a shake. He’s sliding head first now down a branch that’s maybe an inch thick. I can see the panic but he recovers. The whole thing takes maybe five minutes longer and soon he’s on the boat happily purring and crunching away on his food.

I’m relieved.

Last week a kitten named Sprocket was taken by some teens and fed to two pitbulls further down the path. Sprocket, only 3 months old lived with dogs and had not run when the pitbulls were presented. She had no fear, to her dogs were family. We met Sprocket and her companion dog Cosmo in Enfield. They were both lovely animals.

The whole thing was caught on CC’TV and another boater got a picture of one of the boys face. The police suspect the teens are training fighting dogs. Sprockets family is understandably distraught. I saw them earlier in the week and they pleaded with me to be careful with Duckie who although slightly older might be as trusting. It worried me. Was Duckie too trusting? He is very friendly. I wondered what he would do, would he run, climb a tree or would he fight and end up like Sprocket?

Answer: Duckie would limb, and climb high.

Good Duck.

thanks purple mist!
Despite everyone saying not to, I am buying some wood - only because a) I know the tree surgeon in question
b) at least for x-mas I don't want the stress
c) my sucess with coal is minimal really - my burner wasn't really made for it
d) don't fancy relying on my norweigen angel's supply (which isn't fair to him!)

they were talking about that at the dock yard. Crocs are cold blooded, i don't think they could survive in britian.

Who's coming to the Christmas Party on Friday?? Aparently its also multigrooves birthday - I'm not missing it!

great to see the updates on here, thanks Andy and Richard's family. I do hope you all will be together for Christmas, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

I wouldn't worry about running a bandsaw, regardless of how clumsy you are! !

Luci, I smashed the prespex with the saw 3 times today. I got tons of dirty looks from both Paddy and Al, I'm terrified of the table saw and I sucked at it. I have to buy them a new prespex sheet too. . . but the wood I cut is awesome.

Yup!!

@beardie, Miracle and I are being tossed about quite a bit right now!! This morning the wind took my 2/3 empty milk and my 2/3 empty wine bottle and donated them to the lee.

Today I cut loads of mahogany from the wood pile scrap heap. i felt really bad cutting up all these lovely frames that were discarded BUT DAMN I'm really clear on the difference hard and soft wood make in the burner right now. It's roasting in here for the first time in a week or more and I am LOVING IT.

My boat is now complete. So friday I'll be making my way down the river. First though I am going to cut as much of that mahogany framing up as I can and stock pile it.

There is some well seasoned ash down the river from a tree surgery that's been left. When I mentioned buying wood, Gavin specifically warned against it. He said it often wasn't very good. He's been foraging for 3 years, sucessfully.

I'm going to buy wood, I've decided. I'll take my chances. I've found someone who has a cubic meter of seasoned ash and oak. It's all cut to size as well, which is a huge bonus in my mind. I can't even imagine how scary using a band saw would be for some one as clumsy as myself.

I briefly dated a boy in college that was penniless and sponging off of me..after 2 weeks of him staying (uninvited) he complained that all I ever made was rice with tomatoes and onion.
I lost my rag on him and sounded just like my folks -

**When you f@cking earn money and pay for the food you can have whatever the F@ck you like, til then shut the f@ck up or get out. **

***they'd probably not swore like i did

^ do not lie to your parents. I wrecked myself a few years ago (properly) and didn't tell them until I was positive i'd be ok. I did it for the same reasons you are sighting. I really could have used their emotional support then, I only really see that now.

Dec 5.
Witches Ware and Lights.

I was starting to get very unsure about the boating world when i was sick last week and this week. It's hard to feel positive when you feel in over your head and useless to boot.

But right now, I am feeling pretty positive.

Paddy sorted half of my lights today. (eh, in geek that means tripple the amount of visability for 1/2 of the watts used from just one of my old lights - pretty cool, right?)

It's 7.30pm and I am sitting in a much brighter, cosy boat. I'm airing my foam mattress. It has recovered signifigantly from the first time. having learned my lesson all the cushions are now on daily rotation and heating rota. So long as I remain vigilant I'm fairly confident that I won't have this issue again.

I do blame most of it on the three weeks of sleeping here without any heating.

I have a few days wood in the store and although I know I need more, I have a plan.

Mostly, tonight I am watching my new Canadian made Eco Fan as it humms along quietly pushing warm air into the rest of Miracle. Surprisingly this is filling me with a YAY CANADA feeling each time I look at it.

The irony of owning this little fan tickles me. It is from 90 mins away from my home but has come half way around the world via Ware (?) to become mine. It was made in Wireton, which up until the invention of the Eco Fan, only claim to fame was Wireton Willy, a ground hog who each year forcasts whether we'll have early spring or suffer longer; sound familliar? The movie GROUNDHOG DAY was based on Wireton.

In short, its brilliant.

Thing finally seem to be coming to a close here.

*I am so relieved. *

Wedneday, my new and beautifully painted top hatch will be installed. I anticipate my Calor arriving Thursday by which time, my flue and "witches hat" (thats the conical lid thingy that keeps rain out of the flue) and new steel toed boots should have also arrived.

The last thing I need is the wood; but like I said, I have a plan.

hey hoonz, I would love to do what you said on my next boat. Miracle is already insulated with Rock wool, not the best for damp but I do think that I was living on her with no means of drying anything, only a gas burner which actually ADDS moisture to the air was the main issue. She was mildew free for 20 odd years before my adventure... it was my bad. I've a lovely little burner now so I hope that's all behind me.

good luck, i hope someone will come forward

sadly, ben has had to report his bike stolen - I wish we knew who was the person who claimed to be there to get it for him... i'm sure it wasn't a theft.

locks are back at LMNH now, whew..

bump, who's goin??? sounds fun!

Yeah I'll split some wood for you!

that was a type-o.. i meant does anyone want some wood (so we can save buy buying in bulk).
HOWEVER I'm happy to have any help spitting wood, or finding it or cutting it. Splittting via "split o matic" if fucking ace and really easy.

I've done a day's work and accomplishments are thus:
Logs cut 4 x 4ft = 3 days fire
Metal solar panel attachment painted = 4
Cups of tea made for Dry dock team = 8

Unexpected issues = 1
My boat came with new doors (unfitted) and a new aft hatch (also unfitted) I asked Paddy to do the hatch after I did the doors. It was warped as a pringle and my old one, as I suspected was on its last legs. Today I saw Paddy in his element, making stuff out of wood.

As I type the rain is coming in, slowly in drips, my old hatch was secure, the new one is set and glued but awaiting painting.. as such my old one is laying across where it used to live.. and not perfect at all.
I've also been watching Julian the sign writer do his work in the dry dock for the yard, and have now commissioned him to paint my hatch in traditional stye to make it a feature of Miracle.

I am very excited.

I also ordered an eco fan.

Also for Duckie in future; maybe flea tablets that also treat ear mites? Higgs came from a micro pig farm and had ear mites which I think the vet missed initially. It was only when I noticed James was bothered by his ears (this reasoning doesn't sound logical, I know, but not the place to explain!) that we took them back to the vet and he gave them a different flea tablet that also kills ear mites. The ear mites lead to irritation that can cause scarring in the ear canal, which may lead to deafness.

this will be on my next to do list. He does seem to have very itchy ears.

or this guy http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/fire-wood-a-mixture-of-soft-and-hard-wood-logs-barnet/92341638#gallery-item-full-3

^ that's cos youre so fast D!

anyone want to splits on some wood? The bags of hardwood are 4.76each but min order is 20 for delivery. 'd get it delivered to enfield and I'm happy to load my boat with it all then come down closer to london with it. This is where I'm looking.

Dec 1

Life on the water may kill me.

That was my first thought today, even though its a beautiful clear day. My face is still swollend and the relentless headache from the sinus infection has put me in a foul mood.

My toilet is nearly full.
My water is now heating and I'd wanted a shower today but as it got warm the motor groaned and the water trickled to a stop.
It's run out.

I have only 3 logs left and a handfull of kindling.

I want to stay in bed, but if I do things will only get worse.

I feel ever so slightly like a pioneer and things are taking a different perspective. I've never had concerns about my heating or water or the state of my toilet.. its strange.
I need to paint the new welds todaybefore they rust. I need to get more wood. Yesterday I hand cut all of the remaining logs of ash but I need to split them still. Apparently here's a garden centre a few miles from here. I need to find out if they have wood and go there. Otherwise I'm going to spend the day foraging in the mud.

Today's to do list is getting longer by the minute.
It's been a rough start. I need very few things to feel human, today I couldn't even brush my teeth.
Yesterday Lennart took me to Sarah's boat to be social. Sarah is a nice lady, funny, bright articulate. I would like her as a friend. She's also prone to gossip when borred; which may be more often than not. I'm aware that I've already been subject of some gossip. I'm not pleased. I need friends out here and I have a very low tollerance for that sort of bull shit.

I need to put it to the back of my mind for now and get on with the necessities.