Sunday 31st March 2013
We're back from our holiday in Morocco. What a shock it was to hit the cold that all you people have been enduring.
While away we had been keeping an eye on the weather and were concerned because when we left there was no hint of the temperatures that would be reached, so hadn't left the heating on frost setting.
We managed to get on to son Damon to go and turn it on. Luckily he reported that he couldn't detect any damage up to that point.
When we arrived home last night it was to a lovely toasty boat because once again Damon had turned the heating to normal for us.
Now the work starts, preparing to depart for our summer's cruising. I know, it's late for many who have been out there for a month now, but we're wimps I suppose and need warmer weather. Mind you it doesn't look like we are going to get it any time soon. As long as it isn't tipping it down we will probably set off some time this week.
I was going to ad some pics to this post just to annoy those who have been shivering, but my internet connection is playing up, and may be doing so for a while according to 3.
The tales of our final voyages, no matter how long it takes
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Monday, 11 March 2013
Monday 11th March 2013
I'll just add my tuppence to the comments on our weather *&!!!***<>!! and that's it.
Things are moving slowly towards our holiday departure, and we're also preparing for our summer cruise. We had planned to have our cratch cover patched up where the ravages of time, bad steering and general wear and tear were showing. However, the other day one of the zips failed totally so we decided to have new one. By luck we had been given a business card of someone who did covers just the other day, so a quick phone call and Chris Crowther said he'd come down on the following Sunday for a look.
He showed up as promised, always a good sign, and confirmed that a new cover would probably make more sense. He took the old one away as a pattern. so we had to find room on the boat for some of the stuff we were hiding in the well deck. Where we're moored there's no access from the front of the boat so it becomes a bit of storage area.
I've finally made a start on making up our new mooring lines for this year. I don't seem to be a very good judge of ropes. Last year I saw what I thought was a good value rope on ebay so I bought some. Wrong! it wasn't good stuff at all, it didn't feel nice and didn't make a nice splice either.
This year I thought I'd try double braid rope. I learned how to splice it, and Cath bought me a set of hollow fids to work it. Once again looking on ebay, I saw what was described as top quality nylon double braided rope, 14mm. Sounded dead right, so I bought it. When it arrived it looked really good, nice feel, good size, so as soon as I got my fids I had a go. No joy, I just couldn't get the fid to pass the core into the cover. It was just too tight. After several attempts, and searching the internet I still couldn't manage the job. I called the supplier to find out if I was missing any little tricks or wrinkles. He told me that the rope was a 'special' he had specified, with a 'hard lay' and that I probably wouldn't be able to splice it.
I did some more internet searches and found a different style of double braid splice, which although it isn't as perfectly neat as a normal splice it seems to work. It's darned hard work, I have to keep popping outside to use a bollard as an anchor, and in this blizzard weather it isn't pleasant. I now have 3 of our 5 ropes completed and we'll see how the splices hold up.
The cover came back on Thursday, but wasn't quite a perfect fit in one place, so Chris took it away again and brought it back next day. Lovely job, and we have a bit more room in the saloon again.
On Sunday Liz and Daniel came for lunch while Damon was at work. He had a great time jumping up and down on our bed. It's his favourite pastime here it seems, specially if the weather is too bad to play outside.
We're looking forward to Friday now and the start of our holiday journey to Marrakesh.
I'll just add my tuppence to the comments on our weather *&!!!***<>!! and that's it.
Things are moving slowly towards our holiday departure, and we're also preparing for our summer cruise. We had planned to have our cratch cover patched up where the ravages of time, bad steering and general wear and tear were showing. However, the other day one of the zips failed totally so we decided to have new one. By luck we had been given a business card of someone who did covers just the other day, so a quick phone call and Chris Crowther said he'd come down on the following Sunday for a look.
He showed up as promised, always a good sign, and confirmed that a new cover would probably make more sense. He took the old one away as a pattern. so we had to find room on the boat for some of the stuff we were hiding in the well deck. Where we're moored there's no access from the front of the boat so it becomes a bit of storage area.
I've finally made a start on making up our new mooring lines for this year. I don't seem to be a very good judge of ropes. Last year I saw what I thought was a good value rope on ebay so I bought some. Wrong! it wasn't good stuff at all, it didn't feel nice and didn't make a nice splice either.
This year I thought I'd try double braid rope. I learned how to splice it, and Cath bought me a set of hollow fids to work it. Once again looking on ebay, I saw what was described as top quality nylon double braided rope, 14mm. Sounded dead right, so I bought it. When it arrived it looked really good, nice feel, good size, so as soon as I got my fids I had a go. No joy, I just couldn't get the fid to pass the core into the cover. It was just too tight. After several attempts, and searching the internet I still couldn't manage the job. I called the supplier to find out if I was missing any little tricks or wrinkles. He told me that the rope was a 'special' he had specified, with a 'hard lay' and that I probably wouldn't be able to splice it.
I did some more internet searches and found a different style of double braid splice, which although it isn't as perfectly neat as a normal splice it seems to work. It's darned hard work, I have to keep popping outside to use a bollard as an anchor, and in this blizzard weather it isn't pleasant. I now have 3 of our 5 ropes completed and we'll see how the splices hold up.
The cover came back on Thursday, but wasn't quite a perfect fit in one place, so Chris took it away again and brought it back next day. Lovely job, and we have a bit more room in the saloon again.
On Sunday Liz and Daniel came for lunch while Damon was at work. He had a great time jumping up and down on our bed. It's his favourite pastime here it seems, specially if the weather is too bad to play outside.
We're looking forward to Friday now and the start of our holiday journey to Marrakesh.
Friday, 1 March 2013
I've just gone down with a chest infection and am feeling sorry for myself as any good wimp should. It's Danny's birthday tomorrow so hopefully I'll be OK for that. John and Sarah are coming up from Leicestershire for the occasion and will stop the night with us.
Just to put everyone of their food we had a blockage in our vacuum loo system and I had to do a fair bit of digging to resurrect it. All done now thank goodness.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Thursday 28th Feb 2013
I've been very lazy and not posted recently, mainly because it has been a boring, routine time.
As with most of the UK the weather hasn't been up to much, so getting things done outside hasn't been at the top of my list as I hate the cold.
I did make a start on cleaning the roof though. A broom, some hot water with a bit of caustic in it, and a hose pipe to rinse it off and I was away. The first bowl full got the back half done a treat, so now I don't feel quite so lazy, but I haven't done any more yet.
One of the zips on our cratch cover failed the other day, and with it looking like it needs other repairs through wear and tear we decided to get it looked at. Luckily, one of our neighbours had given me a business card a couple of weeks ago and I remembered that it had mentioned cratch covers so I dug it out gave the chap a ring. Hopefully he's coming to look at the job this weekend.
Yesterday I took myself off to the pictures to see Django Unchained. Cath didn't fancy it as Tarantino is usually a bit on the gory side. I loved it, yes lots of gore, but it's very well done, and you love the hero
Today we finally decided to take a ride on the new Leeds Wheel, here are a few of the pics. Unfortunately, due to a careless oversight by the builders you can't see the river from the wheel!
I've been very lazy and not posted recently, mainly because it has been a boring, routine time.
As with most of the UK the weather hasn't been up to much, so getting things done outside hasn't been at the top of my list as I hate the cold.
I did make a start on cleaning the roof though. A broom, some hot water with a bit of caustic in it, and a hose pipe to rinse it off and I was away. The first bowl full got the back half done a treat, so now I don't feel quite so lazy, but I haven't done any more yet.
One of the zips on our cratch cover failed the other day, and with it looking like it needs other repairs through wear and tear we decided to get it looked at. Luckily, one of our neighbours had given me a business card a couple of weeks ago and I remembered that it had mentioned cratch covers so I dug it out gave the chap a ring. Hopefully he's coming to look at the job this weekend.
Yesterday I took myself off to the pictures to see Django Unchained. Cath didn't fancy it as Tarantino is usually a bit on the gory side. I loved it, yes lots of gore, but it's very well done, and you love the hero
Today we finally decided to take a ride on the new Leeds Wheel, here are a few of the pics. Unfortunately, due to a careless oversight by the builders you can't see the river from the wheel!
Friday, 15 February 2013
Friday 15th February 2013
On Wednesday we had planned to go and see the film Hitchcock, but the snow put paid to that. I wandered up town myself to get MCN and while there decided to get one of those Waitrose Valentines Day meals deals. £20 for a meal for two including a bottle of bubbly. It was a good deal too! You get a choice of any 6 items from the range, when I got to the till the individual parts came to over £32, not bad.
So, Thursday we decided to go to the flicks, but Hitch wasn't showing during the day so we chose the new film 'A Good Day to die Hard'. It lives up to the great tradition of the series, a roller coaster ride of car chases and explosions, wonderful entertainment.
Returning home we settled down to our Valentine's meal. It was excellent, and we consumed 2 bottles of wine. What a pair!
On Wednesday we had planned to go and see the film Hitchcock, but the snow put paid to that. I wandered up town myself to get MCN and while there decided to get one of those Waitrose Valentines Day meals deals. £20 for a meal for two including a bottle of bubbly. It was a good deal too! You get a choice of any 6 items from the range, when I got to the till the individual parts came to over £32, not bad.
So, Thursday we decided to go to the flicks, but Hitch wasn't showing during the day so we chose the new film 'A Good Day to die Hard'. It lives up to the great tradition of the series, a roller coaster ride of car chases and explosions, wonderful entertainment.
Returning home we settled down to our Valentine's meal. It was excellent, and we consumed 2 bottles of wine. What a pair!
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Tuesday 12th February
Quite a productive day. we took a wander up to the West Yorkshire Playhouse this morning and booked seats to see Dr. Faustus. I was fairly surprised that we didn't have any trouble getting good seats. We took a matinee performance on the 7th March. Should be good.
Cath called in at Boots to pick up her new glasses. This is her first pair of varifocals so she's having to get used to them.
On the way into town I got another picture of the Leeds Wheel being erected, it's coming along quite quickly.
Later on we walked up to Leeds Art Gallery. There's an interesting exhibition on at present by Nike Savvas, who seems to do 3D art. We couldn't get in to see some of it because some painting had been done in the exhibit area in preparation for the artist to lecture tonight, but the bit we did see was a very interesting walk through a huge work comprising of floor to ceiling vertical tapes that create a moire effect as you look through several panels giving interference patterns, which could be disorientating if you allowed it.
I also took this picture of a kingfisher. With my record so far of trying to get a decent picture of one, this is probably the best I'm going to get
Monday, 11 February 2013
Monday 11th Feb 2013
There hasn't been much going on recently to make it worth blogging about. Our weather hasn't been all that good, but at least it isn't bad enough to comment to much on. We were threatened with snow by the Met Office, but around here it came to nothing. I get the impression that it's 'What hurricane?' syndrome, if it doesn't happen well and good, but if it does at least we told you so.
They've started to build a big wheel in the market car park here in Leeds. I don't know how long it will stay up for, but I'll bet there are a few unhappy car drivers out there.
Despite the fact that it rained all day yesterday the river is still not too high and our gates remain open so visitor mooring at The Armouries here in Leeds is still available, if you haven't tried it come on, it's a great place.
There hasn't been much going on recently to make it worth blogging about. Our weather hasn't been all that good, but at least it isn't bad enough to comment to much on. We were threatened with snow by the Met Office, but around here it came to nothing. I get the impression that it's 'What hurricane?' syndrome, if it doesn't happen well and good, but if it does at least we told you so.
They've started to build a big wheel in the market car park here in Leeds. I don't know how long it will stay up for, but I'll bet there are a few unhappy car drivers out there.
A worker clings on
Looks like complicated hydraulics up there on the hub
It didn't take long to get to this stage
An impression of its size
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