We wished for snow

... but we didn't quite expect this!  We woke this morning to deep snow all around.  On the pontoon between us and the next boat it was up to the level of our gunnel.  We had a bit of a sleep in and by the time we finished breakfast I was itching to get outside.  I wanted to leave footprints in that pristine snow.

Mick didn't seem quite so keen to go out there so I rugged up and went off for a walk on my own.  A couple were walking by with a lovely spaniel.  The dog was wildly excited to be dashing about in the show.  It raced ahead and threw itself down for a roll in the snow.  Sounds like my crazy Finnish ancestors.

I came back and insisted Mick come out for a walk.  He'll be going home in just a couple of weeks and this might be the only opportunity he gets to walk in snow so deep.  At first he picked up his umbrella and starting climbing out of the boat with no coat, no hat, no scarf.  Honestly!  He very quickly changed his mind about that and ducked back in to get properly dressed.  Once outside he was glad to be there and couldn't believe his eyes at the amount of snow.

It was quite windy and if we faced the direction of the wind the snow was blown hard in our faces.  I couldn't have cared less but I was glad of the umbrella as my cold has only just started easing and I thought it better to keep warm and dry.  The only bit of me that was cold was from just below to just above my knees and I could live with that.  We walked up to the marina field for a bit before Mick chickened out and wanted to come back.  I'd been out for an hour by then so was happy enough to get back in the warm.  If only the sky would clear and the sun come out.  Oddly enough the marina water has defrosted but unfortunately our water taps haven't.

When I came in to check my email there was an urgent job to be done so that was the rest of my day taken up.  It's a good time to be tied up with work as we really can't go anywhere much in this weather.

I had a comment on the blog today from nb Mary H asking for nb Winton's Folly blog address. 
Here it is : wintonsfolly.blogspot.com

Some snowy photos :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowing again

We got up this morning, both of us with a mission in mind.  Mick had been offered a trip to Midland Chandlers in Penkridge and was very enthusiastic about being driven somewhere.  Roly from nb Klara has a van so they were off to buy coal and Barry from nb Winton's Folly went along too.

I was in need of a good walk so had decided I'd walk into Stone to get some fresh fruit and veg at the supermarket.  The ground was icy so I walked along the towpath for a change.  It was a little slippery in some places where the ice was thick but I thoroughly enjoyed the walk.  Along the way I noticed two sets of birdie footprints in long tracks along the frozen canal.  They were large so I figured they belonged to some swans.  At one spot I could see one of them must have fallen through the ice!  At the next bridge there they were.

I'd barely started my walk around the supermarket when I looked up to see Mick, Roly and Barry coming into the supermarket.  They'd come to buy some beer (which you do when you have the offer of a lift!).  I hurried up with my shopping and came home with them.  That was a nice bonus.  Thanks very much Roly!

When the boys unpacked the coal from the van they discovered that between them they were 2 bags short.  Roly and Mick went back to Midlands to advise them of the error and luckily the girl at the counter remembered counting out 8 bags for their trolly.  Their receipts showed 10 bags.  So now we have a different brand of coal to try.  We've been using the Excell brand that the marina sells so far.  The new bags are Stoveglow so we'll see which we prefer.  At £11.50 for Excell at the marina and the Stoveglow being £10 at Midlands, pricewise we're better of with the Stoveglow.... especially as we get 15% off at Midland Chandlers for 6 months.

While I had lunch there was a bit of a grinding noise which took a few minutes to identify.  There was a boat coming into the marina and as we're near the entrance, the ice was being pushed against the boat as they crashed through it.  It must have taken them about a dozen forwards and reverses to turn from the entrance into the middle of the marina.  I gave up watching after that.  With the engine revving they were able to break through the ice directly in front of them but there simply isn't any way to turn a boat through ice.  They must have been desperate for diesel or a loo pumpout!

I had seen Carol from nb Winton's Folly as I headed out this morning and arranged to go over after lunch and help her set up a blog.  When I arrived she was watching the ice breaker... and Barry was about to have a melt down over trying to install the new water pump he'd bought at the chandlery.  Mick came over to lend assistance and Carol and I sat down to work on the blog.

We went back to nb Winton's Folly for dinner a little later.  Such a treat to have someone else cook for you... especially as we haven't eaten many meals at all outside the boat.  Thanks Carol!

Photos today :
1. The canal looks like an icy road
2. The swan prints
3. Close up
4. Ooopps... someone fell through
5. There they are in a section under a bridge that's not frozen
6. Boat crashing through the ice
7. And again
8. Carol typing her first blog entry

 

Back on deck.. just

It's my niece's birthday today.  Happy Birthday Minka!  I've been thinking about you today.

We're both starting to feel better and I'm back sitting in my office. I got in a good days work. 

What a chilly morning!  By lunchtime the temperature had only just hovered near zero and it's stayed that way.  Everything's white with frost and the water in the marina is covered by a layer of ice.  The boat is moving freely though.  We made sure to top up our water tank yesterday but not everyone did.  The water points are now frozen solid.  Although.... that tap further down which created the lovely icicle in an earlier photo drips just enough that it doesn't freeze.  There was some crafty connecting of hoses along the pontoon and before too long the water tanks were full again.  I'm thinking the taps are going to stay frozen for the rest of the week - according to the forecast below.

I'm going to have to go out for a good walk tomorrow... regardless of the temperature.  I'm at my limit of being indoors.  If it's nice and icy in the morning I might walk the towpath into Stone.  It's so much nicer than walking on the roads.

Weather for Stone, UK

Currently : 0°C Partly cloudy

Wed : Partly sunny, Max 1° Min -4°

Thu : Partly sunny, Max 2° Min -2°

Fri : Chance of snow, Max 0° Min -2°

Sat : Partly sunny, Max 0° Min -9°

Photos :
1. Yesterday's peace over the marina
2. Such still water between us and nb Stanley
3. Leftover snow on the marina planters this morning
4. Amazing.... bulbs peeking through the snow
5. Iced over today

Hexagon Al and Hexagon El

I had a comment from Alison (Hexagon Al), my 10 year patchwork project partner.  It prompted me to take a photo of my UK progress to date so I could show her.  Last time I'd only finished the star block below so now there's three more. To keep on track I need to finish at least 5 of the stars and 10 of the "hexagons" each year.  We've been here nearly 4 months now so I have some work to do.

I  now have a great spot to sit and sew in our living room.  Mick had cut down the table that was in the cratch and made it into a fold out side table.  He mounted it at just the right height for my "daylight" lamp and it's just big enough for my sewing box and a coffee cup.   Perfect!

I felt even worse today so stayed inside without achieving much.  Mick's feeling much better so I'm hopeful I'll be the same tomorrow.  He went for a walk to Stone to pick up a few bits and pieces.  We've had 3 boaters send text messages asking if we need anything from the shops.  It's so nice to have someone look out for you when you feel rotten.... especially when you don't have a car.  Thanks to you all.

Kinver Canopies came to fit the new cratch cover today, and made the template for a pram cover.  Photos to come.

We had our tap frozen this morning so as soon as it thawed we did a couple of loads of washing and then re-filled the water tank.  I just went for a walk up to the marina building and I could see that water on the other side of our pontoon was already frozen over.   It's already -2 degrees at 7pm so it seems we're in for another cold night.

Sick x 2

Not much to report today except that now we're both sick. We both slept badly and moped about all day... even missing the boaters afternoon tea.  I did persist with trying to get some work done but it took me twice as long as it should have.

Our Ocado delivery was early today.  They called and said they'd be half an hour before our slot which was fine with me.  Mick was still in bed so I rugged up in coat and boots to brave the sleet that was falling in big sloppy splats.  Negotiating the pontoon with the marina cart through the thick, sludgy, melting snow was an experience.

The only other useful thing we did was to top up the water tank.  It is expected to be well below freezing every night for the next week and day time temperatures not an awful lot better.  We're thinking we might get iced in.

Photos of our first snow

 

Talking about fenders

Fenders were a whole new world to us.  They come in a mind boggling range of shapes and sizes and materials.  We'd never have thought that fenders would be something we'd spend so much time discussing and messing around over!

At first Mick re-fitted the existing fenders that were on the boat but the stern one had flattened so much that we ended up buying a small "button" to put beneath it (following the advice of another boater).  The stern fender needs to extend beyond the rudder so that the fender prevents the rudder from damage.  We put the squashed one back over it as it has plenty of wear left in it.  Fenders are expensive! It took a few attempts to get the bow fender to sit right as it had been removed for the boat to be blacked.  There was lots of advice along the way from other boaters but it appears to be doing it's job now (it had been put back on upside down!).

As for the side fenders, we've battled a little with those too.  We use the round rubber ones in the photos below.  We have eyelets along the gunwale (see 4th photo down) to tie the side fenders to but that can be a nuisance when you need to lift them in a lock.  We would have them balanced on the gunwale and of course one would fall back in at the most inconvenient time (like when it happened in a narrow lock with the side wall bulging out). We also lost one when the rope was wrenched off by a lock gate.  Now we've got a few of the plastic hooks that go on the edge of the roof (like the white ones below) but while Mick's home in Australia he's going to make some timber ones.  The eyelets are great for when we're in the marina though.

We do have another set of fenders now which I've previously mentioned.  Sue from nb No Problem left us a comment about little tyres they use when they need to moor with the boat kept away from the bank to avoid an obstruction.  This came about when we had problems mooring up on the Shropshire Union Canal. We had intended to buy some of the tyres but before we had a chance we stumbled across a pile of old go cart tyres at a refuse point.  They have served us well so far but they aren't as wide as the pneumatic ones recommended by Sue so we'll see how we go.  I don't have a photo of them and they're packed away for the Winter now.

I managed to find a few pictures on the following websites to show some of the different types :

http://www.blackpigfenders.co.uk/
http://www.webchandler.co.uk/

Firstly, hooks to hang them over the side of the boat - these two examples hook over the edge of the boat roof.

Then the multitude of bow and stern and side fenders - made of various materials

 

 

First snow

When I went out this morning, there was Diane from nb Ferndale outside their cratch on her phone.... the "onesie" girl.  She certainly looked cosy warm on such a glorious but chilly morning.

Mick wasn't feeling so great yesterday and today he's definitely got a cold.... coughing and spluttering all day.  I woke with a sore throat so it seems I might be in for it too.  Not fun at all.

He did, however, move the tv today.  There's still the cords to tidy up but this evening we'll be sitting facing a different direction.  I went in to take a photo and there he was... asleep in his chair.  Catching up after a bad sleep last night.

I had work to finish for my Melbourne job so that took up the better part of the day for me.  I kept thinking I'll go out for a walk in a minute but got so engrossed in my work that a suitable time to stop didn't eventuate.

Just now I went up to the marina building (5.30pm) in the dark and I thought at first that the timber on our taff seats was frozen again.  When I touched it I realized it wasn't ice but snow!  Our first UK snow! Pity I can't get a photo of it.  It might be a good time to post a photo that Leanne, my sister in law, took while they were on their Antarctica cruise last month.  They bought a fancy new camera with money from their wedding gifts and what an amazing photo this is.  An absolutely perfect snowflake.

Today's photos speak for themselves :