Coal delivery and new pillows.

Hi Folks.

After the fun and games we had yesterday moving Hadar in the ice to the Sanitary Station, we spent the night on the electric hookup, which meant I got all of my washing done and used the tumble drier, so everything was washed, dried and put away within a couple of hours. After we had got a few things done, we decided to go down the late night shopping evening in Market Harborough. We went and had dinner at Abbey Cottage Chinese Restaurant, which we had been to a couple of times before, but they were closed. This time was third time lucky and we were not disappointed, because the food was lovely. With full tummies, we headed into the town to join in the madness which is the late night shopping event, which is held every year. There were loads and loads of people milling around in the town. We went and said hello to the Hfm team, who were playing festive music. There was a lot for the children to do with fair rides in the town centre. The atomosphere was very festive, so hopefully the local stores will have had a good evening, they stayed open until 9pm.

I really had thought I would have slept like a log last night, but nope that did not happen. We were in bed by 9.30pm, because we were both shattered and Keith was falling asleep in his chair. The night began well, with me falling asleep straight away, but that did not last, because at midnight there I was wide awake and listening to Keith snoring grrrrrrrr. He has a bad shoulder at the moment, so he cannot sleep on his side like he usually does. This means he is laying on his back and therfore he snores. It got so bad that I got up and sat in the saloon for an hour and listened to him snoring and the wind blowing the ice against the boat. I felt I knew how Titanic must have felt when she was hit by an iceberg, because it really is eerie when the ice scratches along the side of the boat. A bit like fingernails running down a blackboard. 1pm I climbed back into bed and tried to sleep, but I knew I had to be up at 6am, so was then clock watching. 6am came and the alarm went off. I was up and dressed with a list of things to get done before our coal delivery would hopefully arrive. The list went something like this.

1. Breakfast.

2. Walk Paddy.

3. Put washing machine on.

4. Roll up the sheeting on the hold and tidy coal.

5. Fill up the water tank.

6. Make a Sausage Casserole, which was put in the back stove.

With all of thoise jobs done, it was time for a coffee, whilst we waited for the coal delivery to arrive. When Tom and Chris arrived, they pulled the lorry as close to the sanitary station as possible, so they could use the crane.

The delivery was made so much easier with the crane arm lifting each pallette off and down to the wharfside. Tom and Keith then lifted the coal bags to the boat and I stacked them in the hold. With the hold full, it was time for Coffee and hot Sausage Rolls before Tom and Chris left to do their next delivery.

Deliveries made to a couple of customers we secured the hold sheeting. Keith then did some ice breaking in the basin so the hire company can move some of their boats to the service area on Monday as they need pumpouts, he then reversed back down the canal to our original mooring where we will be until the thaw is complete hopefully. Once moored up, I then legged it down the town to buy some new pillows. A couple of our old pillows are now being used by Paddy for his bed, because his previous ones were absolutely disgusting. They are now residing in a skip. Paddy now has two nice clean, dry pillows for his bed and we now have two brand new pillows for our bed. It is a win, win situation. The town was packed with Christmas shoppers, it was still as manic as last night. I did what I had to do then legged it straight back to the boat, where I had to unload coal for a customer coming to collect their coal. With that job done the closed sign went up on the boat, because I am well and truly cream crackered. I will most definitely sleep well tonight and if I do not there will be trouble.

Coal sales are on the up.

Hi Friends.

I am afraid this is a quickie tonight, because I am everso slightly cream crackered after a very busy day. This morning, with a frost on the ground we set off for Crick. Along the way we managed to sell 22 bags of coal, our best day yet to regular customers and some new customers. It is always wonderful to meet and greet new customers. We winded Hadar at the winding 'ole between Bridge No.7 and the M1 Motorway bridge and have moored up near Bridge No.8 for the night, feeling slightly knackered but with a warm satisfying glow, maybe that is because the stove is kicking out a lot of heat.
Going to enjoy a nice hot dinner and then settle down in front of the TV. I have a feeling I may sleep well tonight.

Foxton to Market Harborough.

Hi Friends.

Yesterday evening after dinner and a nice hot shower, I took my camera and went and took some photograph's, as the sun was beginning to set. The local farmer was busy combining whilst the weather was good. We were told that they would be working through the night, which did not both either of us. I grew up on a farm, so know how busy it gets at harvest time. The smell of newly cut wheat is a smell which takes me back to my childhood.
I remember every Summer helping out with the harvest. My friend and I would help with bale cart. This was of course long before Health and Safety came in, so it was pitch forks to hand and get your backs into it. I spent many happy hours on bale cart, earning pocket money to boot. LOL.The Foxton Locks looked really lovely as the sun was setting and much quieter now that the tourists had all but gone home.I sat on one of the many benches and watched as the sun went down over the trees. A microlight flew over the locks and I was fortunate to capture it. In this photo it looks like it is riding on rails lol. It was a lovely end to what was a frantic day.

After a somewhat torrid day yesterday, sleeping last night for both of us was a somewhat fragmented affair. So much so that I ended up getting up and making us both a cup of tea. We did then both doze back off to sleep, but were up at 8am. I took Paddy out for his walk, which is a good run across the field when we are at Foxton. With the harvest done the evening before the field was free to run on now, so Paddy was off like a steam train. He loves to run every now and again, but then spends the rest of the morning sleeping.

We got the boat ready for the off and left the mooring at 9.15am, with a view to get to Market Harborough to make a coal delivery. We were not far from Bowdens Bridge, when we got hailed down by Jenny and Jim on nb Jolly Rodger, who wanted 3 bags of Taybrite and some Kindling. They like others are finding the evenings chilly now. It was lovely to catch up with them both. We will see them throughout the Winter, because they have a Winter mooring at Market Harborough. We arrived at Market Harborough having cruised the 5.5miles, worked 0 locks, the swing bridge was open and it took us just 2 hours. The moorings on the towpath were a little thin on the ground, so we winded in the basin and asked Debbie if we could moor in the basin for a couple of hours. We recieved a very warm welcome from our friends in the basin. It really felt like we had come home. I rang our customer who wanted coal and he and his wife came down to the basin to collect it. We then managed to find a mooring on the towpath for the weekend. The bow is sticking out a bit, but as we cannot get into the bank it will do us just fine. Paddy will have to make a leap of faith to get off of the boat, which I just know he will hate.

Over the weekend, we will do a food shop and catch up with people we know here.

Never a dull moment.

Good morning world.

It has been a busy old time this past few days. Lots of coal selling due to the cold evenings we are having at the moment. This time last year coal sales had dropped to nothing pretty much, so this is an added bonus for us. As I say to people "There is no point in being cold".
I had a delivery of Toilet Blue and Kindling, because I had run down to nothing, which does not happen to often. Thanfully I now have a stock again for anyone wishing to purchase either.
I have continued to be up to my elbows in paint, as I continue to get the boats paintwork up to scratch. I always say to anyone who asks about painting a boat. It is a bit like the fourth rail bridge. Once you get to the end, you have to begin all over again. You really do have to keep on top of the paintwork on a boat. After all when you have spent several thousand pounds on the original paintwork, you do not want to let it go. I also have the benefit of enjoying the fact that I can wheeled a paint brush and seem all powerful. Whilst waiting for the paint to dry, I have done all the usual chores of washing and cleaning, those are the boring tasks which we all have to do, but never speak about.

Does anyone else have this problem?
I have been trying to find someone to trim my hair. When I say someone, I mean someone who does not want to charge me an arm and leg, to take about an inch off. I always have a dry trim, because I have to be careful what shampoo I use. So I have been scouring the hair dressers here asking them what they charge for a dry trim and it seems that the prices vary hugely. One I went into would charge me £15 before 1.45pm, but after that it was £25. Another wanted to charge me £21. I finally found one who will do it for £11, so I will be heading there in the next few days. I think £25 for 10 minutes work is an absolute cheek. If I could do it myself I would. But I am not that skilled yet.
Yesterday was Baking Sunday. I baked a Coffee and Walnut Cake and a Chocolate and Walnut Cake. I love baking and usually do at least one cake a week in the Winter. With the weather warming up, this will dwindle off, because it gets to hot in the galley with the stove going. For this reason I tend to buy cake in the summer months if we want any. The Chocolate and Walnut cake went to the hire company this morning, for the employees to enjoy with their morning cuppa and we have had a slice of the Coffee one, which although I say it mayself was not half bad. Yeah I know, self-praise is no recommendation, but hey if I don't praise it no one else will.
With the evenings being very chilly still, the saloon stove is lit then let out, lit then let out during the day, as it gets a little warm in the saloon and with my hot flushes, my system has been in overdrive. But it has meant that I can still get my stews cooked without using the gas stove, which is always a bonus.
The time is now past 1.30pm and we have said goodbye to Lois and Chris on NB Hilhouse, who have left the basin once more for pastures new. Happy cruising to them both and of course Boller their love dog. We have been down the town, to buy some paint brushes and trundle around the Charity Shops, which we always love doing. It is true to say that the Charity Shops are not as cheap as they used to be. So it is harder to find a bargain these days. I am so glad I did not do any glossing today, as it is now rather dull outside and showers are threatened. This afternoon will be a case of watching the afternoon movie. "The Guns of Fort Petticoat". made in 1957 starring Audie Murphy, Kathryn Grant, Hope Emerson.
So whatever you are doing, have a lovely day.

That Friday Feeling.

Good afternoon friends and followers.

Well what a contrast to yesterday, which of course was Thursday. Dank Thursday was what I called it, because it was so miserable. Today is Friday and it has been a fabulous day. I woke up to warm Spring sunshine, to give me that wonderful Friday feeling. I find that when the sunshines, I always want to get on and do job, and today was no exception.
Have you noticed that when the sunshines, it always shows up the dirt and dust?
That was the case this morning, and so it spurred me on to get some Spring cleaning done. It will snow next week, I just know it will. I am never normally this early with Spring cleaning.
Having not slept to well again last night, I still had a spring in my step, and even the dog was on his toes for his walk this morning. He must have sensed it from me. Having walked him, and fed him and the cat, I set about getting some jobs done. First on my list this morning was a wash..... No not me silly........ a clothes wash. With that doing, I relit the back cabin stove, which I let out last night as it was way to hot in the back cabin to sleep. On the back cabin stove we use good old house coal, so usually end up smoking people out to begin with. Whilst the washing was doing, and the fire was springing into life, I cooked meatballs in a Sweet and Sour sauce for dinner tonight. I am so glad I am a woman and I can multi task. Ha ha. With that in the back cabin stove. The first load of washing was done and one of the crocheted blankets from the back cabin was then put in for a wash. I did break for lunch and a refreshing cuppa. Before deciding on my next task. Whilst eating lunch, I went on my facebook page, to see what everyone was up to. Whilst on there the survey of the day from the local radio station came up. It was 66% of people consider themselves to be what??? Think about it and I will answer it towards the end of this posting.
After lunch I decided it was time to tackle my brass work outside. I have not bothered to polish it for a couple of months now, due to the weather and the smoke from the chimneys which tarnish it. The mushroom vents and portholes were looking very sad and forgotten. There was nothing for it, they needed some TLC. Firstly I wiped them over with some Cillit Bang, which is great for getting off the grime. It then took some elbow grease and Brasso to get the shine back. They are not perfect yet, but looking much better. Whilst I was sat on the roof polishing away in the sunshine. I got chatting to passers-by. Oh the joy of being out in the fresh air. We always get to chat to some lovely people. The only problem with cleaning brass is the fact that it ruins your nails. I am not one of these women who can wear rubber gloves. mainly because I have an allergry to rubber (long story) and I cannot work properly with gloves on of any sort. So my nails look dreadful. In fact my hands are a mess at the moment, what with humping coal and cleaning brass. One of these days I will have to get some TLC for my hands and nails, but that will have to wait until I end my days of moving coal around. Talking of coal, I have a customer coming tomorrow to collect coal, so I will be up to my elbows in coal dust again in the morning I guess. A coal delivery is also due next week, so I am hoping the weather is kind to me that day.
Ok so did you work out the survey?
66% of people consider themselves to be what???
The answer is Middle Class.
I am not sure what class I am and I really do not care. Is there such a thing as class anymore?
I supposed if I was pushed to say what class I maybe, I would have to say working class. But I really hate that term. We should all be equal. Ok I realise that there is a distinction, because there are those who have lots of money and they have never done a days work in their lives, but I do not like the fact that we are put in classes. The last time that happened to me, I was at school. LOL.