Dog Scouts

When we go away caravaning with the dogs we have a full awning that we erect and inside this awning we then assemble an inner tent that acts as a 'bedroom' for the dogs. This follows our first experience of caravaning when the two dogs made it quite clear that a drafty windblown awning as a dog bedroom was not fit for purpose.

Having decided to sell all the caravaning kit in order to decamp to Caxton we cut up this inner tent and used it as a liner for the rear of our old Volvo dog wagon. Now we have decided to keep the caravan we need to replace their sleeping compartment.

We saw this two-man tent last week on sale for £20 and thought it would do rather nicely inside the main awning.

Fletcher and Floyd can be proper dog scouts now -no comments about their woggles please, this is a sensitive subject currently.

An added bonus is that the guy-ropes won't be necessary in the awning so it will take up less space than the old arrangement and can be moved about with ease. We are off next week to Norfolk so it will get its first outing - let's hope they approve.

Fitted kitchen

Here under construction is the only eye level cupboard in the galley. We have restricted cupboards at this level in order to enhance the feeling of space in this narrow steel tube. I imagine that when we get aboard there will be the inevitable confusion about what is to be stored where. Like others I am sure we will attempt to load too much aboard and have to thin things out again.

Prepare to be stunned!

Another Dave Moore masterpiece; behold Caxton's finery...

Here you see the detail of the sign painters art, a graduated shadow.

Dave Moore is in continuing the sign painting of Caxton today. The photo's provide an indication of what the boat will look like but they really don't do Caxton credit. It is only when we get Caxton out of the confines of a narrow workshop that we will really be able to appreciate the red sign written panels against the long black panels down the boats' flanks. Are we pleased? What do you think?

Medical Bulletin

Fletcher and Floyd Labrador are both recovering well from their operations. The first night home Floyd was very sleepy, clingy and completely uninterested in food; Fletcher was seemingly unaffected by his experience and only too eager to eat.

We have a course of antibiotics for them to take and instructions to keep them quiet for a few days. This morning they have had a short walk on their leads, tomorrow they go for post a Op check-up and Monday next the stitches come out.

All is well with their world, and ours thankfully, and as the hormone levels drop we trust that both boys become increasingly more reliable in their behaviour and are a credit to us and themselves when on the towpath.

Banger anyone?

Yesterday our new BBQ arrived and here it is assembled by my own fair hand and awaiting his inspection - I even read the instructions!

We have ummed and arred about what BBQ to get for Caxton, we both favoured a gas version and of those I wanted the Webber Q200 seen below
but when you cost in a small trolley and cover, the best price for this was about £175, just a bit steep we thought. Now if it was designed to do the ironing and change the engine oil then maybe it would appeal more but £175 for a few grilled bangers .. er no thanks. So we have looked again at the Son of Hibachi as reviewed by both of the Canal mags.

Just as an aside, I find the product reviews carried out by the Canal Boat Magazine to be a bit, well, limp. They never seem to criticise anything, nothing comes last, nothing is crap, useless, over priced, unreliable; now are they just very lucky with the choices of product to review or are they ducking the issue somewhere?

Sorry, back to the Son of Hibachi Grilletto (gags on name). It is compact and simple and we liked the chimney effect when it comes to getting it going and the carry case thingy. We hunted around and managed to buy it for £50 and we are going to take it away with us next week when we are off in the caravan. Provided that it doesn't rain all week we will give the BBQ a thorough work-out and report back.

Bribery and Seduction

Joe has just come in with a little present for the boys - PIGS EARS - do you think they might forgive us?
Pigs ears are their mostest favourite snack in the world. Fletcher scurries off to quiet spot in the garden and sets about rapidly devouring his treat, whilst Floyd, silly boy, throws his treat up in the air half a dozen times and attacks it from a number of angles, all the time checking to make sure we are watching him do it - he is just SO brave.

Erm, I think maybe they will be a little more subdued this evening though...

GUILT TRIP

Things are very solemn here this morning. Joe walked the dogs and then went directly to the Vet where he checked them in for their operations. Fletcher and Floyd are to be castrated. Anyone who has had to leave their beloved pet at a Vet's will know just how it feels when you walk out leaving them to the mercy of strangers when it is YOUR job to be protecting them.

Logically you know that you are doing the right thing. Logically you know that this is a routine operation and all will be well. Logically you know that they're as tough as old boots and will recover rapidly.

But what place logic when you feel like a total scumbag?