Sorted

I have sorted building insurance for the two properties we are about to own and cancelled cover on our current home as from Thursday. Vodaphone and T-Mobile have our new correspondence address and the Council Tax dept at the Local Authority are set to refund most of the payment they will snatch from my account tomorrow. It has been a day punctuated by e-mails and phone calls as I work my way through a list of people I need to contact about our move. It is now nearly time to walk the dogs, they are giving me meaningful looks at the moment and I fear the nagging will start very soon.

What a Lovely Thought

Only two days to go now before it's moving day. We went into Sleaford yesterday morning to meet with our solicitor, answer final questions and sign contracts. Yesterday afternoon I managed to recycle a stack of kitchen gear, sold the bread maker and cut the grass. Himself made a final sweep of the garage and low and behold, yet another tip run!
Today I will mainly be doing cupboards and Joe will be taking his shotgun to a Gun Dealer. I know I shouldn't wish my life away but, ......but four to six weeks from now we should be back on Caxton full-time. What a lovely thought!

Sunny Sunday

I took myself off with Fletcher and Floyd yesterday afternoon, enough of clearing cupboards it was too good a day to waste, and headed for the Grimsthorpe Estate again. I have lived in Lincolnshire for five years now and only once visited the Castle and until a couple of weeks ago I hadn't been in the park; now I am about to leave these parts I find this veritable gem on my doorstep.

Below, this horse chestnut tree is smothered in burrs - think of all that lovely burr-chestnut to be produced when it is felled.

On our way back I heard a two-stroke motorbike in the distance. As the noise got closer I stopped, turned towards it and waited. Over the brow of a hill appeared the front wheel followed by the helmet and shoulders of the rider who seeing me in the dip looking at him, promptly stopped. I continued to wait and look, a short conversation with his pillion passenger ensued before both dismount. The rider then proceeds down the hill on foot towards me taking his helmet off as he goes.

"Eh, sorry, do yer know where Park farm is?"

I replied No.

"Is it this way?" indicating going past me.

I again replied No.

"Yer don't want me here do yer?"

I replied No, I did'nt.

"Can I go back the way I've come?"

I nod.

"Are yer going to call the Police?"

Producing my mobile from my pocket I reply, maybe.

"Sorry, I'll go back then Ok?"

I nod.

So off he goes back up the hill, mounts his bike, pillion climbs back on and off they go to disturb somewhere else....leaving me to continue walking in peace and them thinking they had just had a close encounter with the owner of a stately home - must have been the tiara...

The two dogs have a different approach to styles, Fletcher is up and over in a trice, you just have to insist that you go first or he takes you out en route, while Floyd looks for any gaps below or to the side before stumbling up the steps throwing himself over; elegant he ain't!

What's That?

It's a Wabbit!!!!

Must have..

An afternoon spent emptying kitchen drawers and cupboards - Yes exhilarating stuff - this Gel knows how to enjoy herself! Why oh why have I accumulated so much cutlery and cooking utensils for goodness sake, I'm not Delia Smith, I don't do dinner parties yet if there is a spare drawer it seems to get filled! Then there are the cupboards of 'must have- barely used-now redundant equipment' :the bread maker, the lovely chrome cappuccino maker, the deep fat fryer that has NEVER been used and the food processor with every chopping, grinding and whisking implement ever made.
I feel an urgent free-cycle session coming on...

Great Race

The first F1 of the season got off to a great start with Jenson Button securing victory for the Brawn Team and GB. Next week Malaysia!

Going Quizzical

Last night we found ourselves in the Coronation Hall at Market Deeping taking part in a Quiz to raise funds for the Market Deeping Bowls Club - one of our friends is a member. We didn't win, or even come close for that matter, but nevertheless we acquitted ourselves pretty well . Our strategy was a bit wanting however, knowing where to play the Joker would have helped; as it was, our choice didn't do us any great favours when you are out to slay the opposition.
This photo is Joe indicating that the contents of the glass are **xzz** ginger beer! Himself was on driving duty of course...

Present from Floyd

Very few days go by without being presented with a skull or leg of a long deceased deer by Little Man (Floyd) - do you want to borrow him Bones?

On Pole

Joe and I have just sat and watched the F1 qualifying taking place in Melbourne Australia - what a result! Team Brawn on the front row, Jensen Button on pole! Now that the coverage is back on the BBC and there are no adverts to avoid we will be sitting watching the first Grand Prix of the season live tomorrow morning at 6am. Saddo's, I know..

God's Shag Pile

God's carpet for the spring, or a happy Darwenian accident, whatever you choose to believe but nonetheless beautiful to behold. I am, I freely admit, quite botanically challenged when it comes to naming wild flora but I do recognise the bluebells emerging amidst these charming white bell shaped flowers.And here we have the humble primrose in its woody nest. Very soon the cowslips will be showing in the grasslands and at the same time the bluebells will be lighting up the woodlands with their vivid colour.

Gongoozlers

The three of us, Floyd, Fletcher and Myself, watching Caxton being winded (turned) on the North Oxford canal.

Sun a Rising, early in the morning..

The Sun rising over the Fens this morning - wow!

Now this is worth being awake to see. A gilded sky.

Chase

For those of you that have several house moves under your belt you might agree that dealing with some solicitors or conveyancers can be character building experience shall we say? Despite technical advances in communication they are an sector of society that clings like limpets to conventional communication avenues, namely Postal services. Fortunately the Solicitor recommended by our Estate Agent for this particular move is a refreshing break from that norm.
This firm use text messages, phones and e-mail to keep us up dated. I have had very little chasing to do for a change but I was on the phone yesterday chasing the 'other side' to chase their solicitor for a missing transfer document, whatever that is.
We are anticipating a call today that will have us haring off to Sleaford to sign contracts in advance of an exchange this afternoon or Monday. Everything is in train for a move next Thursday and given the present economic environment we are very aware of how lucky we are to be able to tick this box on our move onto a boat plan.

Underneath the Arches

I thought I would publish this professional shot of Caxton David Oakes by just to remind myself of what I am going back to when all this house stuff is done and dusted.

Two Items of Interest

We visited our friends yesterday evening to pick up our post. There were two items of interest, one, a disc with photo's from the Canal Boat Magazine photo shoot and the second, a letter from British Waterways telling me that their records have Caxton's Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)certification expiring at the end of May 2009? What is all that about? Caxton is a new build boat and was only launched on 16th October 2008 and doesn't need a BSS until it is four years old surely? I sense a few phone calls coming on...

I'll call you when they're gone....

By lunchtime today I needed to wear sun glasses inside the cottage it being so shiny clean after this mornings' efforts. With the buyers about to turn up for their third viewing I loaded dogs and self into the car, our mission to make ourselves scarce... "I'll call you when they are gone.." says Himself as we take our leave.
Off we trundle, wrapped for inclement weather, well inclement one minute, semi tropical the next, it's that time of year... My mobile stayed suspiciously quiet for the next two and a half hours!
We set off with the trusty GPS and Memory-map to explore the East Glen River.
The river was about 3 feet deep near this bridge, perfect for a Labrador to swim in.

I know it is not MUCH of a river but nevertheless it was teeming with small fish and crystal clear - well clear until Fletcher and Floyd went paddling.

After two and a half hours I made my way home. Did I get a call? Yes of course. As I walked in the door, my mobile rang, it was Himself. "I tried to call you, they went ages ago, where are you?"

In the kitchen dear, in the kitchen...

Mrs Mop

I am in Mrs Mop mode this morning, well later this morning anyway, because the prospective new owners of our cottage are visiting after lunch for another recce. After a flying tidy-up I will be loading dog beds and the occupants thereof into the car for an excursion - the new people do not do pets so best to get the likes of Fletcher and Floyd out of the way me thinks....

Blue skies looking at me...

...... Nothing but blue skies do I see..... Now, who sang that song?

This was the scene when I took Fletcher and Floyd out yesterday afternoon. The footpath crosses the field diagonally, last year a crop of wheat, this year oilseed rape. This farm at Kirby- under-Wood seems to grow nothing but wheat or rape, rotating the crop between the fields each year.

The wee church at Kirby-under-Wood sitting alone just outside the village. I usually park the wheels here and set off across field and wood to walk the dogs.

I have been counting down how many more days I will walk this particular walk before the Cottage is sold and we move to Peterborough. When there we will have a property to refurbish before leaving four walls to live full-time aboard Caxton.

When we decamp to Peterborough For what we estimate to be for six weeks I will have easy access to the River Nene and Ferry Meadows Country Park so I can scope out the 2010 transit through aboard Caxton as we head for the Fens!

The Common Touch

West Harling Common, Norfolk. A short drive from brother David's home is any number of wonderful open spaces but I think my favourite must be this one. Expanses of heath as above and acres and acres of beech woodland and mixed deciduous as well as a limited amount of fir.

This used primarily by horse riders and dog walkers and is so extensive that you can wander here for a few hours without covering the same ground.

Little brother David and his big sister....

Working Party

Friday we set off for a weekend with David and Denise, my brother and sister-in-law, at their home in Bressingham Norfolk. They're in the throes of renovating an old house and garden so there is always plenty to do. Saturday we were joined by Robert, my other brother, and his family - we now had a sizable working party! After lunch we started cutting the top 6 feet off of an overgrown privet hedge that stretched down one side of a garden that runs to well over an acre. What could have been a thankless chore was actually a really enjoyable afternoon working together. Jack, the twelve year old nephew, was on tractor duty, running back an forth with the ride on mower trailer attached, taking the cuttings off to the paddock for burning later. In between his tractor driving he was also driving around the paddock on his new second hand motorbike and yes, I did take it for a spin round!
Many hands make light work as they say and there was quite a sense of achievement at the results of our efforts.
Fletcher and Floyd were in their element playing with big cousin Bentley, David's six year old Labrador and little cousin Ramsay, Robert's 10 month old Cocker Spaniel. Sunday evening both dogs were comatose in their beds by half seven and Joe and I were in a likewise condition about nine......

Caption Contest

Here we have Fletcher, Floyd and cousin Bentley sitting in my brother David's van. Bentley has got into the habit of sitting here to sunbathe, Fletcher and Floyd thought they would join him.

What do you think they are saying?

1. James says..

The dogs' plan to visit PetsAtHome with Lesley's credit card was unfortunately foiled by a lack of opposable thumbs.

2. Captain Ahab says..

The intrepid trio's bid for freedom was foiled by their inability to operate the vehicles seat restraints.

3. Jill and Graham says...

Hey Floyd, tell Joe to speed up or pull over!

4.Dogs on Tour by Greygal says...

Sorry, I thought it was the gear knob...

5. Dave says..Left to right.

Look at the legs on that poodle.

I wish he'd watch where he's going.

Are we there yet?

6.Paul says...

Ok boys on with the human masks and lets get this robbery underway.

7. Lesley says...

Ok own up, who eat the black and white cat?

8.Dogsontour by Greygal says......
Don't look now, lads, but there are five greyhounds wearing pyjamas walking past...

9.Anonymous said...
Listen lads, you know what she's like. If we dont strike a pose for the camera we wont get any peace.

10.Anonymous said...
What do you mean you need a pee? We have only gone 500 yards and have already stopped at 4 lamposts. I dont think that business with the traffic wardens trouser leg went down too well either!

11.Richard Fairhurst said...
"At the next tree, climb up" I knew we shouldn't have bought that catnav.

What GPS?

I had a question posted on the blog from Nicole asking the following:

I would like to get a gps device but don't know what is best to buy. Which do you have and is it good for planning routes to walk from the boat and also easy to use? Nicole

I know that there are any number of you out there with GPS devices, you might like to post a comment about what gizmo you chose and why it may suit Nicole's needs.

As for me Nicole, I wanted a GPS that was completely compatible with digital Ordnance Survey maps (Memory-Map). I wanted to see a map with all the details I would recognise from a paper version. I started by looking at what Memory -Map recommended and then looking on the web for the best prices. It was either going to be a PDA ( small hand held computer with GPS) or an
I-Phone with GPS. I didn't need another phone and the PDA' s tended to have larger screens so I settled on a Mitak Mio P360 as the 'weapon of choice'. Could I get one? Rocking Horse droppings were more common! The PDA formats were increasingly being replaced by I-Phones and Notebooks across the industry, neither of which hit the spot for me. I started looking on Ebay for second hand Mitaks but there were no P360's. The search continued and eventually I stumbled across Road Angel Adventurer 7000. This is a 'conventional' but small road gps device that is waterproof and recommended by Memory-Map. It comes preloaded with OS maps of the national parks and as I already had Memory -Map on my laptop I just transfer what map I need to the Adventurer and off I go walking. I am not a particularly technically competent person - the DVD defeats me - but I don't struggle to use this and it does what I wanted. An additional benefit is being able to find your way around a strange town by using the usual gps route finding software that is included - pop in the postcode and it will take you through the streets to your destination..
Best of luck in your search.

There's efficient..

There's efficient for you. At 06.08 this morning I received an e-mail from the solictor dealing with our house sale etc. At 06.11 I replied and three minutes later came the response. We meet on Tuesday morning to sign all documentation - The move is ON!!!!!!!

Sixteen:Ten And what do you get?

Yesterday the free protective leather cover had turned up for my new Road Angel Adventurer 7000 GPS device, the sun was shining, I was restless. I settled down to plot a route on Memory Map and transfer it to the GPS before setting off with the dogs to field test it. The route I had plotted was a total of sixteen kilometers equivalent to ten miles - and this is what I got...

Starting in the hamlet of Cawthorpe we walked through Bourne Woods and across farmland towards the village of Edenham. Crystal blue skies, warm sunshine, no traffic. Farmers were out in the fields fertilising and spraying their crops, and their livestock was enjoying the fine weather along with the rest of us. Our destination was the village of Swinstead and to get there we were going to be crossing Grimsthorpe Castle Park.A view of the house from across the ornamental lake that the footpath skirts.

This tree is festooned with mistletoe.

Pheasant and partridge are being raised in these coverts.

An ancient and glorious oak.

The ford across a stream.

And the Road Angel? - it worked a treat.

My letter to The Times

Sir
I recently wrote to Huw Irranca Davies, Waterways Minister at the Dept of Farming and Rural Affairs (DeFRA). One month later I received an answer from the 'correspondence dept'. The response did not address the issues I had raised so I replied to this effect and asked that the Minister might DO something. Today I received the second reply, from the ‘correspondence dept’, which is exactly the same as the first and is prefaced, 'As I said before..'.
Is the Government more technically advanced than we are lead to believe, are they now using automatons to keep the tiresome letter writing electorate at bay?

Lesley K
Lincolnshire

DEFRA - Talk to the HAND!

Defra does a Catherine Tate, 'talk to the hand' in it's latest response to me. The latest letter from their 'communications' team/person starts out, 'As I said before..' and then is exactly the same letter that was sent in the first place. My initial response was annoyance and then exasperation and now it is wavering between disappointment, frustration and concern - is Government really this bad? Am I only going to get beyond the Automaton who sent this if I am a notable, or an honourable, or a leading light in one of the lobbying organisations like the Inland Waterways Association?
I could not believe that a communications professional would pull a cheap stunt like re-sending a letter - but they have and in a way it works, they've made their point quite clearly...
'GO AWAY YOU TIRESOME LITTLE TWERP AND STOP BOTHERING US!'

Now there's a taste of open Government for you.

Imagine my Surprise

I was thinking yesterday that in about ten days time I was likely to receive another response from Defra re my mini campaign about the condition of the Loughborough towpath - about another ten days because it seems to take Defra a month to provide an answer to any correspondence. Imagine my surprise then when today I got an answer from Defra. However, when one reads the response it looks remarkably IDENTICAL to the initial letter I was sent.. Now that is Spooky!
More tomorrow when I have had a chance to peruse further...

That's a Date

We have now got a completion date for the sale of our cottage - 2nd April!!!!!! I will feel better still when a contract has been exchanged but hey, progress is progress and I am not going to knock it.

Here Here for the Hedge Fund

Joe was packing gear in the garage yesterday morning and I was washing down the walls in the kitchen while a wee man from the Yellow Pages fixed the integrated dishwasher. One tiny part, a £6.28 float switch, a good clean of water tanks with caustic soda provided by me and it is working perfectly again. Much glee all round as that has cost us less than £50 whilst the replacement dishwasher was going to hit us a lot harder!
In the afternoon my frustration at playing this waiting game for a completion date drove me out of the house with the dogs for a good long walk. I headed out on the fen walking along the top of one of the drainage dykes and came back to the cottage via a drove (road), some 7.5 miles. There are occasional glimpses of what an attractive environment the fens once were with hedgerows and majestic ash trees to dress the flatness of the farmland and red brick farm buildings to add a bit of colour.
The vast majority of the fenland now is a monotonous windswept landscape with no hedges and no trees; a landscape that has been fashioned by whatever EU subsidy was available to farmers, hedges out- bigger fields, 'that will do nicely' as they took the money while grubbing out the ancient hedge. Of late farmers are leaving the margins of the fields for wildlife and planting small copses for bird cover, another farming subsidy at work though the results are a big improvement. There must also be hedging subsidies to be had now though because there is evidence that new hedges are being planted. So hear, hear for the hedge fund, more we say more.. Give us back an attractive varied fenland environment please...

Spring Resolutions

Can you have Spring resolutions as opposed to the New Year versions? Yeah, I don't see why not, do you? So, for someone who is too idle to make New Year resolutions here are my Spring 2009 - back on Caxton - Resolutions.

In this coming year I would like to:

Read four works by Dickens and four works by the Bronte brood, and for a cultural feast, AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh! Perhaps I will even tackle Brave New World and Animal Farm again.
I will learn to paint in water colours - I could always tell people that I rather like the 'primitive' style don't you know..
Lard reduction - I will continue to lose a modicum of weight, here and there, from time to time.
I will make Joe at least ONE snake and kidlee pudding during the course of the year - yuk..
I will continue to drink the medically prescribed amount of alcohol to ensure the rudest of health regardless how often the 'experts' change the goal posts and their minds - fortitude in the face of their vagaries I say!
And, I/we will take Caxton to Liverpool and London.

Well I think that will do for one year, don't you?

Hopefully

Hopefully today, tomorrow, the next day, we will get a completion date for the house move; just give me a date to work to, please! We have broken the back of the packing, the clearing and the de-cluttering and now we are, well, waiting.
Our cottage is in the process of being part-exchanged for two bungalows in Peterborough. One is in excellent condition, the second is tired, very tired. We are going to refurb the second property setting ourselves 4-6 weeks to complete this task then we will hand both bungalows over to an agent to let and manage and high tail it to Caxton pronto like. Hopefully..

What has He DONE?

Yesterday Himself disappeared into the ensuite as a boaty Captain Pugwash and re-emerged naked!
Jury's out! Votes so far:
Beard - 12 votes
No Beard - 1 vote

A Good Year 1954

Last night we were out for a meal to celebrate our friend Alan's birthday. Cheers mate, a good year 1954.

Here we all are, the gang of eight having enjoyed a fine curry in one of Bourne's eateries. There are eight here though ONE is represented by a pint of lager and a hand - shy chap!

How Embarrassing

Yet another circular trip to the municipal tip and the charity shop with the contents of the loft space this time. Motorbike boots, old suit cases, Christmas decorations, assorted desk paraphernalia from the days when we worked for a living, a rotary washing line that literally gave up the ghost this morning. The charity shop also got a couple of designer handbags and my scuba mask, fins and snorkel; not much use for any of that on a Narrowboat.
Whilst emptying the redundant suitcases I also found a whole raft of old photographs, a sure fire guaranteed way to divert you from the task in hand. Lots of former holiday shots, bronzed bodies, slightly sloshed expressions, beautiful Mediterranean vistas and ...what's this, why have we kept these?
The topless sunbathing photo's, how embarrassing! Where's that shredder?

Back on Form

No, we have not added to the pack or replaced one of the boys, this is Floyd as a puppy. He is out with Joe for the first walk of the day and all signs of his recent bout of sickness have gone. Yesterday, indicative of his return to his normal self, I was presented with the dismembered head of a Fallow deer before he then found a whole carcase in skeletal state to rummage in - Yuk! It is a small wonder that he is not ill more often, love him.

Shaping up while we are shipped out..

Sunday last we met with Dave, a boat fitter who had worked on Caxton during the build, to outline a few modifications we wanted to have made. Nothing major, just adjustments that we know will improve our experience of living aboard. It is true I think that no matter how much thought goes into the planning stage of a boat build, the final tweaks only come after you have lived with it for a while.

So there we were last Sunday with a prompt list gripped in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, working our way through Caxton explaining what we required. Another 3/4 shelve in MY bedside table, a gadget for holding open the cupboards above the bed so it is easier to put things away tidily. Air vents at the sides of the bed base. Hang the door between the saloon and the bathroom differently and, fit cupboard doors under the stair at the back of the boat. The biggest change is to the dinette. We are planning to reduce the height of the seat back to open up the boat a little more.

Here is a photo of the dinette under construction and before all the trim was added etc. We want to reduce that seat back to gunwale height opening the seating area to the saloon more. Dave is also going to make a second larger table top that will give us additional flexibility for dining. Both table tops will then be secured under the gunwale when not in use. The work will be done while we are tied up on land so we are out of each others way when Caxton is filled once again with sawdust and screws.

Floyd - Update

Floyd had me up a couple of times in the night but this morning he seems to have perked up! He was interested in some food, an excellent sign, and he is definitely no worse so fears of a blocked gut are receding. Provided he doesn't regurgitate his breakfast I think we can assume that he is on the mend. Yippee do da..

Medical Bulletin - Floyd

We have just returned from the Vets. Floyd is not a well boy - possible, only possible, blockage in the intestine. He is back home overnight to see how he responds to the antibiotic jab he has been given. If he deteriorates overnight he will be back to the Vet for X-Rays, bloods and possible surgery. My little soldier is being a brave boy - Mum and Dad less so...

Stamford - I love this Town

Yesterday I took myself off to the lovely Stamford to complete a couple of errands. Dressed as Nanook of the North I had completely misjudged the weather; a lovely sunny day, I gently simmered as I wandered about the streets and had reached boiling point by the time I scurried back to the car. As I wandered along one street I noticed a sign in the plasterwork above a door - you can just see some black marks over the door of the white house in the photo above.

Below, here they are enlarged.

The premises next door had the sign below above its entrance. A Corn Merchant do you think?

The building above showing evidence of a bit of tax avoidance, the 'window tax' must have been very heavy this year!

In Medieval Stamford there were 14 parish churches. Today only 5 Medieval churches remain standing. Above, St.Georges, with flag flying.

In the Middle Ages Stamford was a centre of the wool trade primarily as a market town rather
than a manufacturing centre. In the 13th century the friars arrived in Stamford. There were 4 orders of friars.

Dominican friars, known as Black Friars because of the colour of their habits,

Franciscan or Grey Friars,

Carmelite or White Friars

Friars of the Sack.

They built 6 'hospitals' in Stamford where they cared for the poor and the sick. During the Middle Ages wool had been the lifeblood of Stamford and probably paid for all those churches. However in the 16th and 17th centuries the wool industry had shifted to East Anglia. The R Welland had silted up and ships could no longer reach Stamford from The Wash.

Above, the R Welland from Albert Bridge and below Albert Bridge from the R.Welland.

Stamford revived in the late 17th century. The river was made navigable again in the years 1664-1672 by digging a new cut. A malting industry thrived in Stamford. Below the old brewery alongside the river.

By the early 18th century Stamford was a prosperous market town again and a busy coaching stop for the coaches travelling to London from the North and vice versa. Stamford boasts some fine examples of coaching inns, especially The George. Of course the arrival of the railways in Stamford in 1846 rang the death knell of Stamford as a coaching town.

Above the Old Station house.

The fact that the Burghley estate is the main landlord has helped to preserve so much of the character of the town, both its Medieval heart and the fine Georgian buildings that compliment it.

As I said, I love this town!

Floyd feeling foul

Floyd is not eating, ergo Floyd is unwell. We have booked him in to see the Vet this afternoon. In the meantime I have cooked up a bucket of rice and some chicken to try and entice the Little Man to eat but so far, in vain. Labradors only stop eating when they are ill, these are not fussy dogs when it comes to food.

Barking Up the Right Street

Our custom has always been to buy good quality - read expensive - dog food in large quantities i.e. four /five sacks at a time and decant the sacks into food bins - read dustbins. The problem with that custom is it doesn't transfer easily to life aboard a narrowboat. One, there is not the space for large food bins and two, there is transportation difficulties in getting large sacks back along a towpath to the boat and that is if you can actually find a retailer of pet supplies anywhere near a canal.
So for the four months that we have been living aboard Caxton, dog food has been whatever I can get from the supermarkets in modest size sacks and that has frequently been Bakers. And Bakers is just fine as far as Fletcher and Floyd are concerned but then F&F are Labradors and anything vaguely masquerading as F O O D is consumed PDQ!

No, the dogs thought the content of their dinner bowls was just dandy, it was me that was getting concerned about a dog food that had bright green kibble and bright orange kibble amidst 'chewy bits' in yet another luminous colour. If I wouldn't eat food with these colourings in why was I feeding them to my mutts? The nutritional value of some of these add-ins is highly questionable according to several websites I have recently consulted. So I have avowed not to buy this kind of product again, instead I have gone for Barking Heads which contains no artificial additives at all.

Of course I have now to resolve how I get supplies when we move permanently aboard Caxton in a couple of months time and then where do I store it? Back to the drawing board then Einstein..

Van GOFF look out!

Whilst clearing out the Cottage ready for the move I have rediscovered my paints, brushes and folding easel - I am going to sneak them aboard Caxton, don't tell Joe..

To The Woods

Bourne Woods Lincolnshire. The trees just before they 'spring' from bed and get dressed in their green finery.

Isn't this a grand land? All I saw this afternoon when walking the dogs was a Munkjac, I didn't have to share the woods with anyone, they were all mine to enjoy!

Siblings, Siblings...

I might have mentioned before that brother No.1, Robert, is a very skilled carpenter and joiner and he has recently set up a web site. So to show sibling support I have just added a link on the Caxton blog to Robert's web site - 'Traditional Wood Worker'.

And in the LOO corner we have...

Loo update.

When we arrived back at Brinklow Marina a few weeks ago I took off to see family leaving Joe under the bed playing with the vacu cassette. We had previously made a flying visit to Lee Sanitation and discussed the likely cause of the exploding loo issues we had experienced. For a very small expense we bought the parts and Joe set about a slight modification in the plumbing of the loo.

Above the re-plumbed cassette with pipe clips securing the flexible feed tube.
Whilst rummaging under the bed Joe discovered that Mr. Mould had taken up residence along the sides of the boat under the bed and in my bedside cupboard below. This unwanted tenant has now been ousted and vents are being fitted to the bed base and cabinets and the the cold water pipe have been lagged to stop future incursions...

REACQUAINTED

Ner, ner, ner nineteen miles away from Brinklow is Cropredy and Cropredy is the current mooring of a certain boat, a certain boat whose owners have been boasting about CAKES! So at a suitable time late yesterday morning a telegraph message was sent to the 'certain boat' Nb. Matilda Rose to expect a boarding party, a hungry boarding party no less.. Poetic licence here, we were actually invited for lunch it wasn't a really a raid.
We arrived in Cropredy and were met by Graham and Jill, Baxter and Muttley and the eight of us trooped into the Red Lion for a pint and a packet of pork scratchings - for the dogs of course. As we were about to repair to the boat the heavens opened and gales blew snow and sleet horizontally down the village street. A short planning committee meeting decided that another pint would be wise given the threat to life and limb outside and this was heartily seconded by the four dogs who were eyeing a second packet of pork scratchings.
Back at the boat Daisy the Cat was NOT impressed by the invasion of her sanctuary by two large unwanted dogs but open warfare did not break out and while four dogs got reacquainted in the confines of the saloon we were presented with a feast by our hosts and we all got reacquainted around the dining table. It was lovely to see our travelling companions again; until the next time, take care and thank you.

Home Sweet Boat

You cannot believe the simple pleasure to be derived from arriving back on board Caxton and lighting the fire; I was home! We piled into the boat, threw the central heating switch and dumped armfuls of gear all over the place.
We have a bit of ' modification' to do with the new rugs we have bought but here they are in their 'raw' state.

After a quick lunch, I walked the dogs and Joe took himself off to B&Q to buy a couple of oak air vents. We are going to increase the air circulation under the bed ahead of having to really press it into service as a storage area proper. Joe is also going to make some racks that will sit off of the floor under the bed, allowing air to circulate beneath whatever is stored on them - and there's you thinking I only married him for his looks and charm.....

Beena tweekin

I've been tweaking the Blog header and managed through some miraculous invention from the god of serendipity to actually get a photo loaded. I also amazed myself yesterday- and JOE - by loading the GPS with an ordnance survey map of the local area here in Lincolnshire! So for my third feat I might try and tackle the DVD recorder --- perhaps not, Himself would not be amused when I announce that I have buggered it all up....ho hum

Bearing gifts we travel so far..

Returning to Caxton tomorrow morning we will be taking back freshly laundered dog beds, a larger rug for the saloon, a new duvet cover and pillow slips (I lose all control when I am in M&S and if frequent replacements of bedding is good enough for Greygal then....), a box of kindling derived from an unwanted shoe cupboard that a mad axeman set about and oil and oil filters for that essential change.

Getting intimate..

I have been getting intimate with the nether regions - of the cottage. Crawling around on all fours wiping down skirting boards, plug sockets and the like, as well as being perched precariously up a step ladder dusting light fittings, is the order of the day at the moment.
We have had the central heating boiler serviced for the prospective new owners but now the integrated dishwasher is buggering about and we would feel guilty about leaving things as they are. I suspect we will be replacing the darn contraption.

Old Mother Hubburd..

Went to the cupboard....
The trouble with the temporary move back into our cottage is that there is nothing in the larder, all has been removed to our REAL home, Caxton. So whilst I wander the aisles of Tesco's looking for some delicacy to feed us with I have to consider that there is no stock of spices or herbs to flavour or embellish any dish - the first few days we didn't even have salt! I have bought fresh herbs of course but I am holding out until the weekend when we return to Caxton then I can raid the on board larder for the spices. The Thai curried tofu has had to give way to macaroni cheese; at least for this week.

Splash it all over

I have just returned from walking the dogs, survived the journey back in the car, just, and then stood in the garden hanging on to a lead while Joe poured three watering cans full of warm water over Fletcher - yes he has done it again, fragranced himself with his splash it all over choice of dead, long dead, Munkjac! Having found his decomposing treasure he was was so pleased with himself that is until confronted by me doing my Attila the Hun impression, wherein he slunk off pretty damn quick.
Now as I sit here in the office typing this scintillating update two hyper dogs are having a tag wrestling match in the kitchen behind me - too tired to care I will only intervene if I hear the dining table and chairs being slung around the room.

NEW TOY

My new toy, a hand held GPS, has arrived along with the dreaded 'user guide'. I suppose I am going to have to read it. I also have the option of a free leather case, either black or pink! It will have be pink - Himself will not be inclined to wander around with my GPS if it is dressed in pink leather.

Graham, this is for you...

Here she goes again...

Below is my second e-mail, sent today, to Huw Irranca Davies the Waterways Minister, about urban towpaths.

Thank you for the attached reply to my e-mail.

You ask if your response addresses my concerns; no it doesn't. In fact sadly, it doesn't even come close. What action has been taken as a result of me bringing this matter to the Minister's attention, any?
The towpath in Loughborough is liberally scattered with dog excrement - there are almost no bins because the Local Authority, Charnwood, is unwilling to enter into any form of partnership with British Waterways about emptying them. You can quote legislation until the cows come home but that does not clear up the towpath and it does not resolve petty turf wars re funding. That needs the imagination of the Minister and their Ministerial Colleagues, Hazel Blears for instance.
My concerns will be addressed when urban towpaths in general are in a good state of repair and free from both litter and dog waste. Local people using the amenity will not modify their behaviour because we wring our hands and wish them to - litter bins and dog waste bins regularly emptied, graffitti regularly cleaned up and vandalism actively countered might do the trick however and that definitely is not the sole preserve of Britsh Waterways to fund and action. So, can this be looked at again with a view to resolving the fundamental problem of where the funding and responsibilities should lie?
Perhaps Huw might like to invite the Chairman of Charnwood Council to accompany him on a walk along the towpath? Be careful where you step though.
sincerely

Lesley K

Fuel Glorious Fuel

Having just spent four months aboard Caxton, sights like these take on a whole new significance. If Caxton and Nb Matilda Rose had been nearby I would have been salivating at the sight of all this glorious fuel for the log burner - actually I think I was....

This is one of the local woods where I walk the dogs when we are land lubbing. The Forestry Commission were busy last summer harvesting timber but they and their contractors leave quite a lot cut and cast aside.

What a waste, as Ian Drury would say...

TO-DO LISTS

To-do Lists for today are to:
Call removal company with postcode of our destination when we leave our cottage
Load car with unwanted bedroom furniture and transport it to Sally Army shop
Load car again with enormous pile of clothes and, you've got it, transport to Sally Army shop...

We are being as hard nosed as possible about what we will keep and what we will dispose of. The shorts and t-shirts have been set aside for going on to Caxton for the summer (here's hoping...)and just about everything else is being re-cycled to the charity shops. We have already been pretty thorough in having our clear out, so good in fact that when we came to do a tip run yesterday it only consisted of two aluminium wheels and an elderly step ladder. We are going to get the Caravan into secure storage tomorrow so that will be out of the way, dismantle the wardrobes ready for the removal company and probably give the grass its first cut.
This morning I am off to Peterborough for some retail therapy with my friend Val - nothing too exciting, new knickers for Himself.

I think I've got it

At last I think I have tracked down a handheld GPS that
a) will do what I want,
b) is in stock and available to buy
c) doesn't cost a small fortune and
d) isn't overly complex.
We bought ourselves a Garmin Etrex handheld GPS last year believing that it would be compatible with Ordnance Survey maps in digital format e.g. Memory Map - How wrong we were. Since then I have been looking for a device that would load a digital Ordnance Survey map and have a large enough screen to make its use viable. A PDA would have been ideal but there has been a steady move away from straightforward PDA's to I-Phones and tiny laptops - i.e Notebooks. I had settled on a Mitak Mio P360 as the best buy for what I wanted but you cannot get them for love or money and it looked as if it was going to be an I-Phone or nothing.
So, while trawling the net again yesterday I was delighted to come across the Road Angel Adventurer 7000

This GPS is dual purpose, operating as an in-car navigation system or as robust and waterproof hand held that you can load OS maps (Memory Map) on to. So I think I've got it, the very thing that I wanted, a rugged GPS that displays an actual map that an idiot like me can follow. All I have to do now is get my hands on one.

Update: I have bitten the bullet and ordered one from AtoZ!!!