Another day

Hi everyone who is still reading this, our journey started this morning nice and bright, we left our last night mooring still on the Trent and Mersey and cruised past a lovely little village called Swarkestone, we had a few locks to negotiate and on Swakestone lock Denise was offered help by a man caled Bob who informed us that he was a volunteer lock keeper, he proceeded to help Denise and whilst talking to Bob he hinted that most people tipped him which we felt obliged to do.

We then proceeded on to Stenson lock and just passed this we moored up, and lucky for us the heavens opened and persintley rained, so we had some lunch, after the rain stopped we went to pay a visit to the adjacent chandlery, unfortunalty the chanderly was closed for lunch but luckily the pub "The Bubble" was open so we decided to have an afternoon drink, must say it was a very nice pub and anyone up this way should pay it a visit, there is also a small hotel attached.After a few beers we paid a visit to the chanderly with the purpose of buying a fender as I have lost one already in some lock, must say we were served by the most miserable server, we were going to purchase a few more bits and bobs but because of her attitude we decided against it. A little bit of trivia about Stenson is the lock is the 2nd deepest on the T&M canal a depth of 12ft 4in  also the bubble pub is named after the little weir which runs a long the length of the lock and then energies in the canal hence the name the " Bubble".

We were going to eat in the pub tonight but when we got back to the boat we decided against it, as we already put out food for this evenings meal.Newson the cats is that Firkin still not settle in, and preferring to stay in her cat crate, cooking a bit better.

Speak to you tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2

Our view of Beeston power works

Woke up early about 04.30 made a cup of coffee but then when back to sleep, got up about 09.00 had some breakfast fixed our water hose pipe, and off we went today we left Cranfleet Canal and on to the river Trent then through a lock on to Sawley cut , poor Denise has been struggling working the locks, also I have bumped the boat going the locks as well and a lick of paint on the gunnels is already needed.We then left the cut bak on to the Trent then on to the Mersey and Trent canal with a few more locks, we passed some lovely houses and villages, Shardlow Being one of these and we should of moored up and looked around but by the time we decided we went passed the mooring spot,we then passed Aston Trent and Weston Trent and moored up as the rain came down outside in the country. Must say these locks and mooring bits are knackering I'm obviously not fit anymore, the cats are still traumatised especially  Firkin as she not eating that much which is really out of character for her , hopefully she will settle. Speak to you tomorrow.

 

 

On our way

Hi, spent all day yesterday having the inverter replaced,also the leak on the diesel inlet was repaired, we also bought a new television and all the other bits, ariels and cables, we then found that the ariel booster wasn't working so we had to wait till this morning to have it repaired, which it was.

So this morning we were up early, I went shopping to sainsbury's while Denise stayed with thecats and the boat while Frank the electrician replaced the ariel booster, we then paid a visit to Findlay the boat builder to say goodbye and thanks we also gave him a bottle of Welsh whiskey to remember us. We then got back to the boat emptied they poo tank and filled the clean water tank and then we set off on our start of our journey.

We set of down the Nottingham and Beeston canal then through Beeston lock on to the river Trent which is so very wide

We then left the Trent and went on to the Cranfleet canal, and moored up for the night in hopefully a quiet spot, the cats seem a little bit settled even though they didn't enjoy today's journey.Speak to you tomorrow.

 

 

Cats aboard

Well set off early thing morning, with the cats , haven't been looking forward to this ones bit,as our cats are really stressed and nervous. We loaded up the car with there cat crate, put a sheet over it and besides cooking meowing for about 10 mins they were purrfect and quite happy as can be in their crate. We arrived at the marina off loaded them and they soon settled .

Problems again with the electrics, the inverter still not working , but for some reason the fridge isn't getting cold, also the immersion heater not work, tried to start the heater so we could have hot water and this wasn't starting, looked in the engine bay and there seems to be diesel escaping , so will have to have a word and hopefully get them all fixed, oh also one of the lounge lights have started to flicker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well we've finally done it we're on our boat, cats included. So far so good they are a bit subdued which is to be expected.
We have sorted out more bits and pieces and ready to start our jeorney. We are waiting for an inverted to be fixed so we'll have electricity on or travels

Took her out for a spin

Awoke feeling a lot better this morning, finger crossed this bloody cold has now been beaten. Denise wasn't best pleased though, as I woke up at 05.30hrs and told her that we were off to the boat, so by 06.30hrs we were on our way to Nottingham. We called into Sainsbury and bought a few provisions before getting on to the boat, we had also brought with us a few items, towel hooks, runner carpet and other bits, we loaded the boat, then Denise and set off by our selves for the first time in our boat.

The entrance to Castle Marina is a bit tight

As you can see

So on my first attempt I truly cocked it up, second time went like a dream, we then took a leisurely cruise up the Nottingham Canal. We moored up for a spot of lunch, then returned to the marina, moored up and went to the pub for a shandy and then a walk along the canal. Back off home tomorrow to see the cats, a surveyor for our house buyers is coming on Friday so we won't be back to the weekend, but we will more than likely bring the cats with us, Cooking and Firkin

 

Taking Essendee over

28May 2013

Well what a week it's been, last Tuesday we took over our boat " Essendee" , but unfortunately for myself I went down with the flu, I think I must of picked it up whilst at the Crick boat show. So off we went last Tuesday  nose running like  a tap to take ownership of Essendeee, when we arrived a Castle marina Nottingham the boat had already been off loaded from the Lorry  and was sitting in the water and hadent  sunk which was a bonus, not that we expected it to, she looked great all new and shiny, Findlay was presented and the rest of the lads and girls that formed part of the team, who were all busy making the boat presentable for us.

We then named the boat with Denise pouring a small bottle of champagne over the bow,

we and all of the crew who helped make her toasted the boat with a glass of bubbly.

The boat is just how we imaged her to look like, we are so lucky, there are a few little bits that needed to be finished so we left them to it whilst    we started to move our personal possession on board. That evening we had a quick wash and then had something to eat in the pub that's next door to the marina and because my cold was now streaming we made our bed and was  in it by 21.30hrs , about 01.00 hrs the next morning I awoke with the need to throw up which I proceeded to do, so the toilet was truly christened as well.

Next day we had to return home as we had a meeting regards to selling the house so reluctantly we retuned home with the plan to return the next day.

31 May 2013

Well best laid plans never run smoothly Denise now has caught my cold/ flu thing so we decide not to go to to the boat on the Thursday, on Friday Denise and I are both feeling a bit better so we take the trip up to the boat, the drive up was pleasant and we arrived at the boat yard about 10.00 hrs, we are now ready to have the demonstration and our first outing, 

Dean one of the lads

took us all through the essentials of the boat  and then turned the key and we were off on our maiden voyage, only an hour up the Nottingham and Beeston Canal, but Essendee was perfect she seems well balanced and easy to manoeuvre,

so much so that Denise even took the tiller and was quite happy to steer past other boats. I must say though that she looked like one of the pointer dogs that has there eyes set only on the prey, her concentration was immense:-)

We then returned to the marina, where we continued to to do little bits of putting away stuff, that evening we ate out in the beefeater inn again, and awoke on Saturday purchased our CR&T licence then returned home, with the idea to return on Tuesday with more items to make Essendee our second home.

04 June 2013

Again plans don't go to schedule, after buying more bits n pieces for Essendee and packing the car for an early start in the morning I started to have pains in my stomach and swiftly had to use the loo, which I then carried on this pattern all through the night and early hours of next morning. So that put an end to our trip , I will see how I feel and hopefully go tomorrow .