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.

A very manic Wednesday.

Hi Friends.

We left Gallows Hill this morning little knowing what the day would bring. It was very windy and rather dull, but with regular customers waiting for us, we knew we had to get to Market Harborough.
We left the over night mooring at 9 am, there was no point in leaving any earlier, because we did not want to arrive in the basin to early, because we would end up waking everyone up in the basin with the noise of our engine. We actually arrived at Union Wharf in Market Harborough at 10am, and immediately people were asking for coal. With the temperatures dropping, people need to feel warm. We winded in the basin and pulled in on the Sanitary Station. I immediately opened up the hold sheeting and pulled out the sack barrow, to discover that the flippen thing now had a puncture grrrrrrr. Having stood on the spot and cursed it up hill and down dale, we came to the conculsion that it had happened yesterday at Gallow's Hill. So no sack barrow the days deliveries were going to be a struggle. I began by carrying the coal on my shoulder to our customers in the basin, which I am used to. Keith was doing the same, but then his back complained again, so he used our small solid wheeled trolley for a while. With everyone in the basin supplied again for another 2 weeks, we sorted out our toilet cassette and got rid of rubbish, before heading out on to the towpath to deliver coal to customers. We then moored up on Logan Street Wharf, where our household customers began arriving for their fuel. I managed to go down the town with the help of one of our best customers, Myles from Paws 4 Walking, he very kindly drove me down town and back again, which was very kind of him. He then went away with his coal and coal for his neighbours. Whilst I was gone, Keith found the puncture in the wheel of our sack barrow, but the glue we had was no good. The kit we have is as old as the hills, so we were not suprised. It has been our busiest day so far and I expect it to get busier as the weather gets worse.
Keith has pulled a muscle in his back again and is struggling, so he is not going to be humping coal around for a while. I have to go down the town tomorrow morning, to buy some puncture repair glue, because the glue in our kit was no good, which was rather annoying because we could not repair the sack barrow. Then we have to go back to Foxton.
I have shut up shop for the day and with dinner cooking, I think I will be relaxing this evening in front of the TV. There is no 'I'm a celebrity, get me out of here' tonight, because there is football on. England are playing France, so I will be watching 'The Apprentice', that is is I manage to stay wake.
Hope your day has been as wonderful?

Wet and Windy Tuesday.

Hi Friends.

It is a real Autumn morning, wet, windy and down right chilly. So pleased we are not having our coal delivery today, as it is no fun loading coal when you wet and cold.
I slept like a baby last night after a nice hot shower. Yep we bought a new shower yesterday and after a couple attempts got it fitted and leak free. It was such a pleasure to stand under hot water pouring over my head. After doing coal deliveries the water was a little black. But that is the joys of my job. So having enjoyed a good nights sleep, we were up early as we wanted to mop out the bilge in the engine room. This is another job that most boaters hate doing, but it has to be done. But before starting our first job of the day. Paddy asked if he could go for his morning walk. Every now and again he will yodle a little tune and it is usually because he wants something. This morning it was a walk in the rain, not his favourite weather, but he had no choice if he wanted to cock his leg. Marmite on the other hand was being extremely vocal because her food dishes were empty and she wanted feeding. I told her she would have to wait till we got back from Pads walk. Not that she of course understood or did she?
Breakfast eaten, animals fed and fires stoked, I climbed into the hold to get the mop and bucket out, whilst Keith removed the floor in the engine room. Keith then mopped as I used an old ice cream carton to scoop out the oil and water out of the bilge. It cut the time the job took by half and we soon had the floor back down and the bucket emptied into the hedge. Another job conquered without a hitch. Yesterday when we bought a new shower, Keith also bought himself a new shaver to replace his broken one. All in all this month has been very expensive for us. I am hoping that over the coming month's we will be able to spend less on emergencies, as I think we must have had most things go wrong. I must not tempt fate thought so saying that in a whisper.
By 9am we were ready to head off towards Market Harborough Basin to our overnight mooring. We arrived to find an almost empty basin. Many of the hire boats are out on hire as it is half-term. Our usual berth was empty for us to go into, so we are now ready for our coal delivery tomorrow morning. Already since being here we have had three customers for coal. Everyone is beginning to feel the cold now and it does not help with it also being damp. When we come into the basin we always go on the electric, so I can get all my washing done. Today I have sheets, towels and boat ropes. Boat Ropes I hear you cry. Yes I wash our boat ropes in the washing machine. We have a set of Summer front ropes which are made of cotton, so they wash up nicely on a hot wash. Being on the electric is an ideal time to do them. I then hang them in the back cabin to dry slowly. They will then be put away until next Spring. Once all the washing is done, I will then put the hoover around later, so the boat is spick and span for the off tomorrow. We have a Dyson hoover onboard, but this only really ever gets used when we are on the electric. I normally use a dustpan and brush. The joys of being able to use the hoover, is I can get to all the dusty areas. Dust can be an issue onboard when you have a coal stove and we have two so double the dust you might say. But I would not be without our coal stoves, because we always have heating. So many people we know have diesel stoves or heating and they have been known to pack up in very cold weather, and with no back up heating they have to go cold until their heating is fixed. My advice to anyone having diesel heating, is to also have a coal stove as a back up for heating. You can also cook on the top and keep a kettle warm. Potatoes also bake nicely in the ash pan.
Right it is now almost 11.40am and we are heading out, so I will draw to a close and wish you a good Tuesday.

Out on a Limb.

Good Afternoon Friends.

Now you know that I have mentioned a few times that we have problems mooring up due to the depth of water, well as you can see from this photograph taken a few moments ago, I am not telling porkies. This is a designated 48 hour mooring outside of Market Harborough basin and it needs dredging. British Waterway's really need to get on the case of designated moorings and do some dredging. It really annoys me that they do not look after popular mooring places. The moorings here are always busy.

After breakfast and a coffee, we moved the boat into Union Wharf. We winded, used the service block, and moored back out on the first towpath mooring. Of course when I say moored up, we are at least 2' from the bank, the water level has now dropped by at least 6", we just hope it doesn't drop any more!
Even Paddy is wondering if he can jump the gap, when it comes to his evening walk.
Moored up and water tank filled, I donned my rucksack and strolled down to Tesco to do a spot of food shopping. I wanted to replace the things we had eaten over the past few days. In all it took me Three quarters of an hour to walk down the town, shop and walk back. Whilst we are here we have caught up with friends David and Viv who are now back on their mooring on board nb First Fruits. It has been a busy old year for them with funeral's, the wedding of their daughter Charlie who is Lorraine in 'The Jersey Boy's. There has not been a dull moment in their lives this year. We know that feeling only two well. I have had a few customers today for Coal, Kindling and Firelighters, I even sold a couple of pump out cards as well, the weather is certainly on the change according to my customers.

I have found time to sweep the saloon and wash the floor. Oh it is an exciting life I lead, but hey someone has to do it. The back cabin stove has been stoked up ready to cook tonight's dinner on and in it. I think we are having Chicken Kiev, with Potatoes and Veg and for pudding a Raspberry Cheesecake, which was going begging in Tesco and it had my name written all over it mmmmm yummy. It will then be time to sit in front of the Tv and watch tonights offerings. Last night I really enjoyed Phil Collins, For One Night Only which was on ITV. I could not help but sing a long to most of the songs. I should have supplied the other half with ear plugs as I am not that good a singer ha ha ha. I will never make it on to X-Factor or maybe I could, after seeing some of the talentless people who go on to that show. It is the last of the Auditions tonight, we then have the boot camp stages to go through. I know there are many who slag off this show, but it amazes me the amount of really talents youngsters there are out there, and why should they not be given a chance to shine. Ok it is true to say some will only have their 5 minutes of fame, but for a few they will go on to bigger and better things. Good Luck to them all I say. Ok I am going now. Have a lovely Sunday folks.

Coffee and cake.

Hi Folks.

It was another very chilly beginning to the day, so yep you guessed it, I have lit the back cabin stove again. The one saving grace is that the wind has finally dropped.

This morning Paddy and I walked across the field. Ok I walked he went off like a steam train until he saw a digger going to work in the field. What is odd, is this digger has been digging up trenches all over this field and I have no idea why. I am wondering if it has something to do with the plans which have been spoken about for a new housing estate and marina. But when we spoke to the firm involved they told us it would not happen for many years. Maybe something happened sooner than they thought. Anyway the sight of this digger put Paddy off of running across the field. He did an about turn and legged it back to the boat.

After breakfast and a cuppa, Keith and I strolled into town to get a few bits and bobs. Keith wanted some electrical wire and a back box for a switch. We also bought some radiator paint, some drawing pins and air freshers. We called into the indoor market and had a coffee. 80p for a mug of coffee, is much more favourable than £2.50 at Costa Coffee. The Tea Cakes looked so inviting, we treated ourselves (last of the big spenders). The walk back to the boat always seems to take longer, because you have to walk up hill for most of it. It certainly gives you a workout.

We took the decision to move closer to Market Harborough for the weekend, with a view to mooring up on the 48 hour moorings. So having prepared the boat for the off, we managed to get ourselves off of the mud and did the 25 minute cruise. We are moored on the wharf before the narrows before the last bend into Union Wharf. We do not know the name of the wharf, so will have to find out if it has one. It is beside the footpath that gives access to Logan Crescent. Before knocking in our mooring pins, I walked up to the basin to see if there were any moorings out on the towpath. There was only one mooring on the 48 hr moorings and as the water level is down, we know we cannot get in there. So we decided to stay put.It was time for cake and coffee. Before settling down to get some e-mails and internet browsing done. I am on the look out for some small wooden storage draws. We want to put them under our printer, as there is space being wasted and that is never a good idea on a boat. But so far, I have not found what I am looking for. I want something like what is in this photograph, but getting it seems to be difficult. I am sure I will eventually find something similar. Storage on a boat is extremely important, especially when you have very little room like us.

Before I sign off, I want to say congratulations to Jamie and Jools on the birth of their son Buddy Bear Maurice Oliver. Jamie and Jules already have three daughters - Poppy Honey, eight, Daisy Boo, seven, and Petal Blossom, 17 months. I am sure Jamie was very excited on the birth of his first son.

Home Sweet Home.

Hiya Fellow Bloggers.

I am seriously wondering where this year has gone. It does not seem that long ago we celebrated Christmas and here we are in September and the shops are already advertising Christmas, as are the restaurants, who are trying to tempt us to eat with them this festive season.

I was awake pretty early this morning, listening to the bird song and the tree's blowing in the breeze. But even though I did not get a lie in, I seem to be topped on my sleep, which makes a nice change. My personal Summer has kicked in again, so waking up with a hot glow was nothing to do with Keith lying beside me lol. I am going to be so pleased when the Menopause is over and done with, it is getting boring now.

Up and about, Paddy was first to be sorted out with his stroll up the towpath and then we got back to the boat where breakfast was ready for me, with a cuppa. We made the decision to go to Halfords to buy a large spanner.

"What do you want it for" I hear you ask. Our thermostat housing on the engine has been dripping for sometime. The nut needs tightening a little. We were going to nip into Tony Redshaw's at Braunston to get it tightened, but as we have not got that far, hubby has decided to buy his own spanner and we will tighten it ourselves. So if you in need of a large spanner, you know where to come ha ha ha.

We walked down to Halfords, which is a good mile walk from Union Wharf, but it is a pleasant walk and we got to see all the changes in the town. Halfords had the spanner Keith wanted and there was only one on the shelf phewww. So spanner paid for we then trekked to Welland Valley Feeds to buy a 15kg bag of dog food for his Lordship Paddy. Hecky thump it has gone up yet again. It is now over £45 a 15kg bag. Me thinks Pad is going on a diet ha ha ha. There was no way we were walking back to the boat with a huge bag of dog food, so we called a taxi. I know we are wimps, but with my shoulder and Keith's back, there was no way we were going to take any chances.

I got a phone call back from the taxi man asking "Where are you?".

My reply was "Welland Valley Feeds, Rockingham Industrial Estate".

His reply "Where is that?".

I had to explain where we were. Then the penny dropped and he said "Oh the pet food place".

I know I speak with a bit of a lisp, but I am not that bad hahaha.

So he was with us quick smart.

Just as well we did not walk back, because it was spitting and spotting with rain as we were driven back to Union Wharf.

Back on board and Keith thought he would tackle the thermostat housing. Just typical the spanner did not fit arghhhh. It needs a little grinding off of it, so we will wait to do that when we are out in the countryside. There was no point taking it back, because they did not have anything larger and the spanner just needs a slight trim.

Kettle was on and we heard a Klaxon tooting. Keith poked his head out of the engine room door, and saw Jo and John slowly cruising past on nb Acen, they were going to moor up and then we could catch up with them a little later on. It is so nice to see them both again. Jo and John usually have a Winter mooring in the basin, so we will see a lot of them again this Winter.

The joy of being back on our Winter Coal Run is that we get to listen to the local radio station Hfm. Keith and I have got to know everyone concerned with the station very well and they always make us feel so welcome in the area. Chris Jones, who does his Sunday bit in the middle played Welcome Home by Peter's and Lee for us, which was so nice of him. We now feel loved hahaha.

Lunch today was for Keith was Bacon and Egg sandwiches, I had Sausage Sandwiches as we had run out of Bacon and Egg's. I feel a food shop happening tomorrow.

I am now trying to decide whether to go and clean the brass in the back cabin. The bedknobs and stove rails are looking a little tired, but then again it is a Sunday and supposedly a day of rest. I could just watch a film instead and do the brass tomorrow. After all it is going no where.

May I wish you all a happy Sunday, I am off now to the real world.

12% of men do not know what???

Good afternoon.

It is snowing here again, which does not surprise me because the sky has looked very threatening, not only that my hair has been very static. Don't laugh. I always know when snow is coming because snow is on the way. The photo above was from a few days ago. I love the blue look to it.

So 12% of men do not know what???
This may surprise you, 12% of men do not know the colour of their partners eyes. I can honestly say my husband knows mine and I know his.
How can you not know what colour your partners eyes are?
Don't people look each other in the eyes anymore?

Today has been taken up with entertaining, the Dentist and fine dining. After the usual morning stuff. Another boating friend came to visit us with his dog. We all settled down with a coffee to catch up on all the latest news and gossip. When boaters get together for a natter, chat can be about anything. We do not just talk about all things boating. Come 10.30am I had to get ready to go to the dentist, so our friend left as he had shopping to do. Hubby and I walked down to the dentist, where I had my check up. We then went to the Angel Hotel for a scrummy lunch. You can have a two course meal for £7.95, which is excellent, because the food is amazing. Hubby had roasted Pork Loin, with roasties, veg and apple sauce, then Sticky Toffee Pud with Custard. I had Chicken Fillet with a Peppercorn Sauce on a bed of Mash with veg, then a Lemon and Blueberry Square ( like cheese cake) with Clotted Cream Ice Cream. To say it was scrummy is an under statement. Definitely a place to eat. We will go there again without a doubt. We were then supposed to go back to the dentist, as one of hubby's fillings has fallen out. He was told his appointment was for 2.20pm, but when we got there, they did not have him down grrrrrrrrr, so we have to go back on Thursday. With nothing else to do in the town, we walked back to the boat, just as the snow began to fall once more. So many people are moaning and groaning about this weather now, but I love it and will always love it. It is so wonderful to have a proper winter for a change.

63%................... what????????????

Hi friends.

Someone opened the freezer door and has left it open it appears, because it is freezing outside. We have snow falling once more woooooo hoooo. But we are nice and cosy inside the boat. Do you know the first question people always ask us?
Aren't you cold in winter. The answer to that is NO. If anything we are to hot, so have the doors open and the other half, sits without his shirt on all evening (Cover your eyes ladies). Well insultated narrowboats are extrmely warm in winter and on ours we do have two coal fires, so we will never be cold. Not to mention a hold full of coal, or it will be when my coal delivery arrives tomorrow.

So I titles this post 63%, why your asking. Well it seems in a poll today 63% of people do what, whilst in town. The answer was drop litter. I found that quite appauling, but not surprising unfortunately. Isn't it sad that despite the fact there are always litter bins, people are to lazy to put their litter in them. When I was growing up, I was taught to either put my litter in a bin, or put it in my pocket and put it in the bin when I got home. If I had dropped litter, I would have got a clip around the ear. But of course that is deemed as child abuse these days. I can honestly say I never drop litter knowingly, because I personally hate to see our hedgerows and street covered in other peoples litter. It takes all of a few seconds to put litter into a bin or pocket and yet we all see people doing it everyday. A couple of years ago, I was walking behind a couple of teenagers and I actually asked the youngman to pick up his sandwich wrapper and put it in the bin. he walked on as if he had not heard me. So I walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, and spoke to him face to face. After him trying to tell me it was not his. He did go back and pick it up and put it into the bin he had walked past. I must have been feeling brave that day, because when I see some people drop litter, I really feel quite scared of asking them to pick it up, because they usually look quite unsavoury. Some towns and cities have fines for dropping litter, but when do you ever see a warden???
The same goes for dog owners who allow their dogs to poop and the owner does not pick it up. But do you ever see a dog warden NO. Still that is another posting, because I usually end up on my soap box with that topic. I do realise I am sounding like a Grump Old Woman, but I love this country of ours and would like to see it kept tidy. Where we are at the moment, I see a woman go out every morning with a carrier bag and she always comes back with it full of other peoples litter. No one pays her to pick it up, she chooses to because she is fed up of seeing it lying all over the place near her home. So that is my rant for the day.

So far today I have relit the back cabin stove and stoked the saloon stove, so we are lovely and cosy. At the moment the washing machine is working overtime, because I am re-waterproofing our outdoor coats and trousers. Earlier on I went down the town to buy myself a new pair of brown trousers from Peacocks for £12.00. Every shop I have been in has black or grey trousers, but no Brown. I don't need Black or Grey, but I do need Brown, so Peacocks got my custom. Thank you Peacocks. We have just had lunch with comprised of warming Tomato Soup with Bread and Butter and for afters an Eccles Cake. I love Eccles cakes and the market does some lovely ones. I found out Saturday that the best time to visit the market is around 1.30pm to 2pm, because they are beginning to sell everything off cheap to get rid of it. So I managed to get two packs of meat for £5 and two packets of Eccles cakes for £3, both bargains. I think I may well fill my freezer, when it gets low from the market butcher.
Well it is still snowing and my first lot of washing is almost done, so I am off to set the drier in motion.
Have a fabulous day,

A first time for everything.

Hi Folks.

Today has shown me that there can a first time for anything in ones life. Today was the first time I have ever been to an auction. I like most people have watched auctions on the TV shows, such as 'Flog It' and 'Bargain Hunt'. I actually had some friends who were on 'Bargain Hunt'. Anyway today hubby and I went to our first auction at Gildings Auction House, in Market Harborough. We had been down to the auction house on Monday to have a look at a couple of items and thought that we would go along today to see if we could bid for four pieces of Measham Ware and a selection of ten ribbon plates. It was over an hour before our first lot came up. This was the four pieces of Measham Ware, which included a large teapot (damaged), jug, kettle and bowl, Estimated at fetching £140 - £160. We were bidding against someone on the Internet. Sadly we were out bid by the person with no face. We had set a limit at £200, because the teapot amongst the four pieces was damaged and we were not prepared to pay anymore. Oh well never mind we will keep looking. Another three quarters of an hour passed before our second lot came up. This was a selection of 10 Continental ribbon plates, were estimated at fetching £40 to £60. There were a couple of other people bidding, but we got the plates for £25 whoop, whoop. It was really quite exciting. It really amazed me at what things sold for, many under their Estimated values. We will most definitly be going again, it was great fun.