Just a few jobs

Yesterday morning, with the dogs walked and crossword completed we set about a few tasks aboard Caxton.  I washed and waxed the oak flooring, cleaned out the fridge blacked the stove.  That done I showered and sat back with my book while Joe set about finding the cleaner we bought last year to clean the cratch cover. 
However, finding the cleaner involved emptying the hold and that involved me abandoning my reading to help...
Joe then set about giving the cratch cover and tonneau a good brush and then applied the cleaner and hosed it all down, another job done.
After lunch we drove up to see how the new boat,Yarwood, was doing and took a few photo's of the progress, here.

One bad apple....

I received a comment yesterday on my post relating to  the Petty and Malicious behaviour of Ben Harp of Ben Harp Narrowboats Ltd and their appalling treatment of Tom and Jan of Nb. Waiouru.  I have taken the liberty Bob, of publishing your comment here because the likes of Ben Harp can do untold damage to reputations of all boatbuilders and that is simply NOT fair and not justified. 
Read Bob's comment below...

"When we were looking for a boatbuilder at Crick a couple of years ago we went to see Ben Harp as he was "on our radar screen". He couldn't even be bothered to get off his chair to speak to us. And he told us he was moving on to Dutch barges as he'd "done narrowboats" (about 6 of them, if I remember rightly).
Instead, we found ourselves a very nice man called Stuart Harper (Barnowl Narrow Boats) to build our boat. Never had the slightest worry that he would come up with the goods.

But then you know that already.
Regards, Bob".

And thankfully we had found the same 'very nice man', Stuart Harper, who built Caxton.
 
Our experience was pain free.  The boat came in on time and on price and Barnowl Narrowboats were always prepared to go the 'extra mile' to get things right for us. 
There are any number of talented trustworthy boatbuilders out there and they mustn't be tainted by the awful antics of one very bad apple. 

Furthermore, we were so impressed by our first experience of a boat build that Barnowl were the natural choice for boat number two, Nb.Yarwood and that says it all really...

Shobnall Fields day

We are off to Burton-on-Trent this morning to The IWA (Inland Waterways Association) annual show.  Photo's tomorrow.... 

A Nervous Passenger

Time to hang up the car keys?

My Brother David sent this to me and I just had to share it...

Hear the beat...

I heard Hadar's engine as Keith and Jo crossed the basin at Stourport yesterday lunchtime, I was inside Caxton blacking the stove and not in a state to herald their passing.   When I came to take the boys for their afternoon excursion Hadar was moored up near the service point so we stopped have a chat and catch up with each others news.  Floyd was keen for their dog, Paddy, to 'come play' but Paddy was not impressed with this great black dollop bouncing around making himself look silly.

Paddy, Keith and Jo, aboard  Nb Hadar

Playtime in the river

We set off south along the river, where the dogs were able to cool themselves by taking frequent dips and then chasing past me and shaking themselves, lovely...

Signs of a past industry

All through this stretch are signs of a former riverside industry and activity.  Bollards and the remnants of wharves semi hidden amidst the growth on the riverbank.

A heavy duty bollard, scaled against Fletcher

And then a bit more buried 'treasure', a capstan?

Severn and Gloucester Company?  Another bollard half hidden in the undergrowth.

Perhaps a 100 years ago the river scene would have been very different.  The size of the forgotten bollards and the height of the abandoned wharves and landings indicate they would have secured sizable boats.

New boat build starts

Yarwood's hull sides being fabricated

The build of our new boat, Nb. Yarwood, has started and I am blogging about it here .  The new boat build is the reason for our extended stay in Stourport-on-Severn, being on hand to see the progress and do the running about for 'bits and pieces'.

Most of the decisions re the build are put to bed including the majority of the fit out but the trimmings, tiles, lights, curtains etc. have yet to be decided upon and we are waiting to see how the boat shapes up before committing to these.

A Petty and Malicious act

Ben Harp Narrowboats have excelled themselves by indulging in a petty and malicious act of vandalism and spite.  What a piece of work.  One can only hope that Ben gets his comeuppance and that the owners of this boat, Tom and Jan, get satisfaction!

The damaged  Nb Waiouru

See the full details of what this boat builder has been doing here on Tom and Jan's blog.