Farewell Caxton

Yesterday we finished winterising Caxton in order to leave her safely for her new owners Paul and Elaine.
 So that's it, the end of our Caxton adventures and the end of the Caxton blog.    I would like to invite all of Caxton's followers to join us on the new boat and the new blog,  Yarwood....
see you soon.

Galley cleared..

 Saloon cleared ..

Bed aired..

 Bye Caxton

Moving out

Yesterday I started the task of 'moving out' of Caxton.   Using the matching luggage - mainly blue Tesco bags for Joe and I and the boys little Morrison number -  I packed the contents of the larder, then the saucepans, the crockery, the books, the maps, the dog food and much more and ferried it all up to Yarwood where I then placed it all in new homes.
Today the plan is for more of the same... and hopefully Joe will think about making a start on the tool department...

Francis searchlight for sale

Joe has just listed a Francis Searchlight for sale on Ebay.  Just thought I would let the boaty community know just in case anyone is looking for one...

Chromed 9" Francis Searchlight

Nearly time to call a halt...

I will soon be calling a halt to the Caxton blog.  Our new boat Yarwood will be launched on Saturday next (21/01/12) and we hope/aim to complete our transfer from Caxton to the new quarters by Monday 23rd at the latest.  Thereafter, depending on the ICE conditions, we will head into Birmingham until such time as the stoppages allow us to escape south to Gayton and the road to the Fens.

When it comes to voting...

When it comes to voting for the Boaters representatives on the new body that will replace British Waterways, remember the name Andy Tidy.
Andy is standing for election as a boaters representative on the new Canal and Rivers Trust and many in the blogging community will be aware of Andy through his detailed and informative blog, Captain Ahab's Watery Tales.  Of course Andy will not be standing as Capt. Ahab, his pseudonym, so it's either Andy Tidy or Andrew Tidy when it comes to voting.

One other little thought...let's not be apathetic when it comes to vote.  If we want boaters views to influence what happens with this wonderful network we need to ensure that we have boaters in place on the committees etc.  SO VOTE.

Handing over

Yesterday was Caxton handover day and Russell and Tracey arrived to do the honours on behalf of the new owners Paul and Elaine who are still in Oz.    Russell and Tracey are for the time being, adoptive owners so to speak.  They came armed with the old video and recorded all the explanations of the technical stuff , "here be an engine and here be a switch" etc. and importantly, recorded the obligatory visit to the local pub WITH DOGS in tow.....this just to wind Paul up as those who read his blog will be aware of his irritation at the prohibition of anything canine in Australia. 
Sorry Paul, we couldn't resist...

Russell and Tracey, Caxton's new adoptive owners

There's lapdogs and there's ...

And there's LAPDOGS!!
Five and half stone of lapdog to be precise - the preferred evening position of a certain Charlie Chuggs, akka Floyd, Mum or Dad's lap