We can't think of much else at the moment except whether we'll have a buyer soon. We have had two very interested parties in the house over the last two weeks but no offer. The waiting is wearing us down!
Meanwhile we have other positive things happening. We borrowed the money necessary to finish the other house so it can be rented out. The carpet goes in on Friday and the other remaining jobs are in progress. We had a knock on the door by our neighbour the other day - she thinks she may have found us a tenant! That would be a real bonus. She said she'd send the people up to see us so we can show them the house. They've just sold theirs and want to rent for a couple of years. Once their 3 day cooling off period expires they'll start looking for somewhere to live. That means this week.
Another bonus is that the neighbour over the road with the barking dogs moved out on the weekend. We're so glad.
We are two Australians who lived the dream and spent 20 months as liveaboards on narrowboat Parisien Star. Life before.... during.... and after.
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Pick of the week - Quality Time
This one! This one! We really like this boat. We'd look no further. It would be at the very extreme top of our budget, if we could knock the price down a little. We've really started to think we'd prefer a second cabin like this boat has. We'd convert it into an office but still keep it as somewhere for a guest too.
From ABNB Brokerage is nb Quality Time. (not sure we really like the name).
From ABNB Brokerage is nb Quality Time. (not sure we really like the name).
Price: £62,000
Length: 57ft 0in
Builder: Piper Boats
Fitter-out: Piper Boats
Style: Trad
Year registered: 2008
Certification: BSS to 2016
Engine: Beta Marine B-43KC diesel
Bow thruster: Vetus 12V 55kgf 4hp
Plating: 10/6/4
Last out of water: October 2010
Water tank: 100 gallons built-in
Headroom: 6ft 6in
Fit-out materials: Maple panels with ash trim
Insulation: Spray foam
Berths: 3
Berth sizes: 6ft 6in x 4ft 2in perm double, 6ft 5in x 2ft 0in perm single
Fridge: Shoreline 12V 4cu ft
Washer/dryer: Candy Aquamatic washing machine
WC: Tecma electric flush wc to remote tank
Shower: in cubicle with door
Cooker: Spinflo Caprice free-standing gas cooker
Water heating: C/heating + engine + 230V immersion heater > calorifier
Cabin heating: Webasto diesel c/heating > rads, diesel stove
Mains 230V: Landline + 2500W inverter
Other: Corian worktops, breakfast bar. Forward cratch and cover.
Rear taff seats for steerer.
Location: Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffs
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Hopeful again
After having our hopes dashed a few weeks ago when two out of a party of three wanted our house but the third wanted more "entertaining space", we're cautious about being overly optimistic.
It's been a better week with inspections. First a couple over Easter that came back twice and then rang from Melbourne for a copy of the S32. That's promising. Better still was a new prospect yesterday who fell in love with the place! She also took the S32.
It's hard to keep positive when you don't dare get your hopes up!!!
It's been a better week with inspections. First a couple over Easter that came back twice and then rang from Melbourne for a copy of the S32. That's promising. Better still was a new prospect yesterday who fell in love with the place! She also took the S32.
It's hard to keep positive when you don't dare get your hopes up!!!
Friday, 13 April 2012
Ten year project update
I had barely sewn a stitch from about November to February. Seems I lost motivation. I knew when we had our first 4-10pm sewing group for the year I'd be inspired again, and so it was.
Alison and I are a couple of years into a 10 year project - each making our own version of what we call our Hexagon Star Quilt. I had only very vaguely in mind what I'd need to achieve each year to come anywhere close to the 10 years of getting it finished. But, at our first sewing evening for the year in February, Alison had a year by year planner of what she wanted to get done. I went home and did the same, working out how many of each block I'd need to do per year to come somewhere close to the 10 year mark. It was a bit of a shock!
Each year I need to make 6 "star" and 11 "hexagon" blocks. So in theory, by that February sewing group I should have made 12 stars and 22 hexagons. I was nowhere close! I had just 6 stars and 10 hexagons done in 2 years. I do have quite a pile of pieces cut out. I decided to put aside all other projects and concentrate on this one until I catch up to where I need to be with it.
Since our March get together I've not let a single day go by without working on my project. It's amazing what progress you can make when you concentrate on it. I have also caught the train to work a few times and that gives me some extra sewing time. In three weeks I have made another 3 stars and 6 hexagons. I'm getting closer to catching up.
Alison and I are a couple of years into a 10 year project - each making our own version of what we call our Hexagon Star Quilt. I had only very vaguely in mind what I'd need to achieve each year to come anywhere close to the 10 years of getting it finished. But, at our first sewing evening for the year in February, Alison had a year by year planner of what she wanted to get done. I went home and did the same, working out how many of each block I'd need to do per year to come somewhere close to the 10 year mark. It was a bit of a shock!
Each year I need to make 6 "star" and 11 "hexagon" blocks. So in theory, by that February sewing group I should have made 12 stars and 22 hexagons. I was nowhere close! I had just 6 stars and 10 hexagons done in 2 years. I do have quite a pile of pieces cut out. I decided to put aside all other projects and concentrate on this one until I catch up to where I need to be with it.
Since our March get together I've not let a single day go by without working on my project. It's amazing what progress you can make when you concentrate on it. I have also caught the train to work a few times and that gives me some extra sewing time. In three weeks I have made another 3 stars and 6 hexagons. I'm getting closer to catching up.
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Boating knots
Now here's something we're going to have to learn about. Amy on nb Lucky Duck had a recent post about rope splicing. The link she gave to the instructions on how to make the eye splice also had step by step instructions on a whole lot of knots. Very interesting!
The website is called Animated Knots and I see they have a smart phone app as well. Might be worth it as I'm sure it will take a while before we're any good at them. Would love to hear what experienced narrowboaters use. Comments welcome.
The website is called Animated Knots and I see they have a smart phone app as well. Might be worth it as I'm sure it will take a while before we're any good at them. Would love to hear what experienced narrowboaters use. Comments welcome.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Pick of the week - Joanna
This one is listed with Nottingham Boat Sales - nb Joanna.
We quite like the colour of this one. The photos are quite small so it's difficult to get an idea of the state of the paintwork but it says the boat is in good condition. Nice looking galley and bathroom.
57ft Semi-Trad Stern Narrow boat
£55,000 REDUCED FOR SALE SPECIAL OFFER
Built in 2006 by Alken Engineering.
Finished to a very high standard.
Berths: 4 Berths. 1 Fixed Double + Double Bed Settee.
Main Cabin: Open plan. 2 Double bed settee. Shelving & CD rack. Flat Screen TV. Radio & CD player. Breakfast Bar & Stools.
Galley: 4 Ring Gas Cooker & Oven. 12V Fridge/Freezer. Washing Machine. Microwave, Corian Work-Surface With Incorporated double sink + mixer taps & draining.
Bathroom: Thetford Cassette Toilet. Walk-in Shower Fully Tiled, Tiled Floor Thoughout Area. Storage Cupboards with Corian Top & Ceramic Hand Basin. wall mounted Mirror.
Bedroom: Fixed Double with storage Drawers under & Cupboards Above. Folding Bed-side Table. Wardrobe. Storage Cupboard.
Engine: Beta Green line 4/38 Inboard Diesel (38hp) connected to Calorifier. Skin Tank Cooling. Last serviced on 8 September 2010. Full service history.
Heating: Reflex Diesel Stove. Mikuni diesel heater to radiators.
Electrics: 12V & 240V Electrics. Twin Alternator. Marine Charger 2000w. 2000w Master Volt Inverter 12V Lighting.
Technical Specification: All Steel Hull Plating. 1 Side Door. Stainless Steel Water Tank. Oak Veneer Panelling Throughout.
Additional Information: Current BSC. Timber Cratch Cover. Rear tonneau covers. Galvanic isolator fitted Jan 2011.
We quite like the colour of this one. The photos are quite small so it's difficult to get an idea of the state of the paintwork but it says the boat is in good condition. Nice looking galley and bathroom.
57ft Semi-Trad Stern Narrow boat
Built in 2006 by Alken Engineering.
Finished to a very high standard.
Main Cabin: Open plan. 2 Double bed settee. Shelving & CD rack. Flat Screen TV. Radio & CD player. Breakfast Bar & Stools.
Galley: 4 Ring Gas Cooker & Oven. 12V Fridge/Freezer. Washing Machine. Microwave, Corian Work-Surface With Incorporated double sink + mixer taps & draining.
Bathroom: Thetford Cassette Toilet. Walk-in Shower Fully Tiled, Tiled Floor Thoughout Area. Storage Cupboards with Corian Top & Ceramic Hand Basin. wall mounted Mirror.
Bedroom: Fixed Double with storage Drawers under & Cupboards Above. Folding Bed-side Table. Wardrobe. Storage Cupboard.
Engine: Beta Green line 4/38 Inboard Diesel (38hp) connected to Calorifier. Skin Tank Cooling. Last serviced on 8 September 2010. Full service history.
Heating: Reflex Diesel Stove. Mikuni diesel heater to radiators.
Electrics: 12V & 240V Electrics. Twin Alternator. Marine Charger 2000w. 2000w Master Volt Inverter 12V Lighting.
Technical Specification: All Steel Hull Plating. 1 Side Door. Stainless Steel Water Tank. Oak Veneer Panelling Throughout.
Additional Information: Current BSC. Timber Cratch Cover. Rear tonneau covers. Galvanic isolator fitted Jan 2011.
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Clever possum
It was a big relief this morning to find that the chimney flu possum had climbed up the rope and moved out. We had been a bit worried whether he'd have the strength. After all, he had been there since at least Saturday morning when we first tried lighting the fire and may have been there before that. Plus, with two attempts at fire lighting!
Monday, 9 April 2012
Playing possum
We had a house inspection Saturday morning so we were up early to give the house a once over. The weather had turned cooler so we decided to light the wood burner in the living room as well as the Rayburn in the kitchen. It would make the whole house feel more welcoming.
Mick lit the living room fire and we sat down to breakfast. A little while later I walked past to see through the glass that the firebox was completely filled with smoke. Mick raced outside to discover not a wisp of smoke coming from the chimney. It wasn't looking good! With only 1 1/2 hours until the inspection we decided to just leave it and let the smouldering go out. By the time we left the house the smoke was gone and it just looked like someone had set the fire with wood ready to be lit. Nothing had burnt at all.
When the people inspecting the house had gone we took the wood from the firebox and it looked like the firelighters hadn't even caught on properly. They were left over from last Winter so we came to the conclusion that they were stale. Today the same people returned for a second inspection so among the many other things we had to do today we decided to light the fire - this time using newspaper. The same thing happened - lots of smoke inside the firebox and nothing more. We just left it again and later this afternoon Mick set out to investigate the problem.
Mick got on the roof and peered down the flu with a torch but couldn't see anything. Back in the house he slid back the steel plate that's on the "ceiling" of the firebox and got the shock of his life. A possum was wedged inside the flu! He's hissing and snarling so Mick has hung a rope (with knots tied along it) down from the top of the chimney in the hope that the possum will climb out overnight. We've had this happen in our other chimney once before and the rope worked. We'll see what happens by morning.
Mick lit the living room fire and we sat down to breakfast. A little while later I walked past to see through the glass that the firebox was completely filled with smoke. Mick raced outside to discover not a wisp of smoke coming from the chimney. It wasn't looking good! With only 1 1/2 hours until the inspection we decided to just leave it and let the smouldering go out. By the time we left the house the smoke was gone and it just looked like someone had set the fire with wood ready to be lit. Nothing had burnt at all.
When the people inspecting the house had gone we took the wood from the firebox and it looked like the firelighters hadn't even caught on properly. They were left over from last Winter so we came to the conclusion that they were stale. Today the same people returned for a second inspection so among the many other things we had to do today we decided to light the fire - this time using newspaper. The same thing happened - lots of smoke inside the firebox and nothing more. We just left it again and later this afternoon Mick set out to investigate the problem.
Mick got on the roof and peered down the flu with a torch but couldn't see anything. Back in the house he slid back the steel plate that's on the "ceiling" of the firebox and got the shock of his life. A possum was wedged inside the flu! He's hissing and snarling so Mick has hung a rope (with knots tied along it) down from the top of the chimney in the hope that the possum will climb out overnight. We've had this happen in our other chimney once before and the rope worked. We'll see what happens by morning.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
The truth about living afloat.
Happy Easter!
Being Sunday today we spent some time reading the latest Waterways World we received and the Towpath Talk that Ray brought us last week. Mick likes to trawl through the boats for sale and mark ones for me to look up on the internet.
I came across an article in WW that caught my interest. It was called The Truth About Living Afloat - sort of a list of 50 facts. Some were funny, some were silly, and some were interesting. Some of my favourites were :
30. When other people fall in, you are never there to see it/photograph it. But you know all too well that when you fall in there'll be a group of Japanese tourists there, immortalising it on film and uploading it to YouTube within the hour.
Goodness, I'm not planning on falling in. I sure hope not anyway!!
39. The first things you do when you wake up in the morning is look out the window and make sure the land is still at the same level to you as it was the prior evening, and that your recurring "sinking" dream is in fact, still just a dream.
Now this is something that I have thought about. I've read a few worrying stories on blogs about people waking up and almost rolling out of bed because their boat is tipping.
47. The first time that you steer your own boat yourself, however slowly or poorly, you just know that you're the coolest dude in the world. I wouldn't say that the feeling is better than chocolate, but it's better than pretty much everything else. Yes, even that.
During our endless discussions about what it might be like to finally get our own boat, we sometimes say just this. Imagine how amazing it's going to be to head out for the first time on our very own boat.
50. You used to hate having pictures of yourself shown around, because you always look so gormless in them. But with boating pictures, you don't really mind that you look like a cross-eyed imbecile, because you're just so obviously happy in all of them.
We've not thought of this before but after seeing the photos of Paul and Elaine it's something else to look forward to. Just look at them - they look so happy!!! Click here.
Being Sunday today we spent some time reading the latest Waterways World we received and the Towpath Talk that Ray brought us last week. Mick likes to trawl through the boats for sale and mark ones for me to look up on the internet.
I came across an article in WW that caught my interest. It was called The Truth About Living Afloat - sort of a list of 50 facts. Some were funny, some were silly, and some were interesting. Some of my favourites were :
30. When other people fall in, you are never there to see it/photograph it. But you know all too well that when you fall in there'll be a group of Japanese tourists there, immortalising it on film and uploading it to YouTube within the hour.
Goodness, I'm not planning on falling in. I sure hope not anyway!!
39. The first things you do when you wake up in the morning is look out the window and make sure the land is still at the same level to you as it was the prior evening, and that your recurring "sinking" dream is in fact, still just a dream.
Now this is something that I have thought about. I've read a few worrying stories on blogs about people waking up and almost rolling out of bed because their boat is tipping.
47. The first time that you steer your own boat yourself, however slowly or poorly, you just know that you're the coolest dude in the world. I wouldn't say that the feeling is better than chocolate, but it's better than pretty much everything else. Yes, even that.
During our endless discussions about what it might be like to finally get our own boat, we sometimes say just this. Imagine how amazing it's going to be to head out for the first time on our very own boat.
50. You used to hate having pictures of yourself shown around, because you always look so gormless in them. But with boating pictures, you don't really mind that you look like a cross-eyed imbecile, because you're just so obviously happy in all of them.
We've not thought of this before but after seeing the photos of Paul and Elaine it's something else to look forward to. Just look at them - they look so happy!!! Click here.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
A visit from Ray
We had a lovely visit from Ray of nb Ferndale (Gypsy Rover) last Sunday. It's always such a pleasure to talk to somebody who knows more about life afloat than we do. We have so many questions.
Ray kindly brought us a copy of the Towpath Telegraph which we've put aside for our Sunday morning narrowboat fix. So Easter Sunday will be a great morning of reading. Thanks Ray!
Ray kindly brought us a copy of the Towpath Telegraph which we've put aside for our Sunday morning narrowboat fix. So Easter Sunday will be a great morning of reading. Thanks Ray!
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