Another boat?

We liked this one but it is not  available till the end of the season.

A bittersweeet journey

Moore 2 Life at Cropredy marina

Back in January we decided to have our boat painted but the arrangement fell on stony ground. Then we considered the implications of down sizing to a shorter boat for 'summer cruising' and started to look at the market. A cruiser or semi trad stern less than 50 feet would suit us now.

Our son suggested that selling now and buying later would get the best value. Could we face up to the idea of not having a boat for a while? ABNB gave us a valuation just based on our description. If they had created a brochure they would want to put the boat on the market before we had found another boat and charged us 6%!

It was while we were looking at boats for sale when we met Dave and Chris who were looking for a 'live aboard' boat. Perhaps it was fate, being in the right place and the right time. They came to see Moore 2 Life and liked what they saw. Eventually an offer was accepted subject to a survey. That in its self is the binding contract!

They were happy to hand over a 10% deposit after a trial run. We all then signed an agreement to sell and buy describing what was for sale. A witness also signed the document. Dave and Chris have been lucky to be able to see all our boat documentation and have us as owners to provide an in depth demonstration.

Our buyers arranged for a survey to be carried out at the marina. There were a few things that needed fixing before a 'pass' could be obtained. Every thing except the gas bottles had to be removed from the gas locker. We had anchor and concrete ballast in there! These were relocated in the well deck store space. The gas locker floor had to be painted and the bottles made secure away from the regulator. The shower pump out pipe had to be looped up higher than the outlet to ensure water could not get in when on a river. Our solar panel feed although fused was connected to the wrong side of the battery isolator and should be direct to the batteries.

It is so annoying when so-called experts carrying out work on boats do not seem to know the rules. A boat survey is so much more involved than the safety test!

During the six weeks it took from start to finish we had traveled up and down five times to remove all our personal belongings. The new owners are to rename the boat 'Morning Mist'. That was her original name when we bought her as described on the CE plate.

August visit

We have been busy giving Moore 2 Life some much needed tender loving care.  The gas locker had a very rusty floor and needed a major scrape and repaint.  We used the locker to store an anchor and a load of concrete blocks as forward ballast.  We have been advised to remove the anchor and ballast.

Our boat has always been a bit high at the front and the ballast helped to lower the bow.  Luckily we can move the ballast to the well deck where it can reside under the front storage compartment.

So all of you boaters out there be warned, the gas locker is for nothing else but the gas bottles.  Those bottles are heavy and must be made secure to prevent them hitting the gas regulator.

Then we removed the cratch cover and gave it a good scrubbing.  All the spiders scurried away!  The boat is beginning to look like a new pin at the front.

Even the engine compartment has had some attention.  I discovered that the engine control cables and wiring loom were gently resting on the exhaust silencer!  I have managed to pull them up with tie wraps to a 'sky hook'.

Do we all need a Galvanic Isolator?  For many years we traveled the waterways without one.  Our anodes have been doubled a while ago and are still serviceable.  Out on the cut no boat is connected to an earth.  Now that we are in a marina most boats are connected to earth with their land line.  Does that make the difference?

Dance n Camp

 We were invited to watch Ben dancing with the Little Big Dance company.  His favorite colour is orange.

 

Then the boys set up camp on the garden.  They never slept in it because the bed went flat!

Buyer Beware

An opportunity window enabled us to travel north to Cropredy.  In the sun during the drive up but then it rained in the afternoon.  The British F1 racing was on TV and we got the rain before Silverstone did!

We always leave the water tank nearly empty and on this visit the water was a bit tainted.  A chlorine tablet was dropped in and fresh water poured in.

Readers of our Blog will have noticed our boat visit habit has changed and we are content with it for now.  If we have time we take the boat out and if not we drive round to our favorite canal spots.  This time we went to Weedon, Whilton and Braunston to get our 'fix' on canal life.

We were actually looking for another boat to down size, but not down grade.  We have decided that a Semi Trad or Cruiser stern and no more than about 50 feet long would suit us better.  We have been very disappointed with what is on the market these days.  There really is a lot of junk out  there. Some agents ask for a deposit even before a trial run!  Then you cannot get it back if you decide against your choice of boat.

A tour of the New Forest

We drove across the New Forest to Burley.  A small popular village to the west of the forest.  We found a cafe and sat outside in the sunshine with Molly in the shade under the table.  Unfortunately the traffic spoiled the ambiance.

On the way we stopped at Yew Tree Bottom to let Molly cool off in a river.

We returned home via Lymington to see the Wight Link ferry arrive.

Anniversary

We have been together for 49 years together!

 The cornflowers grown from seed are one of Ann's favorites.

Is it a krazy world?

Have you tried to get the itv player on your 'smart' tv?  My browser on the tv needs Flash Player to use the itv player but cannot down load it!  The BBC iPlayer works fine.  I have both itv and BBC player apps on the iPad and they work fine using WiFi.  Those WiFi TV dongles don't have itv player either.

Now we cannot afford to upgrade the rail network!  What price the alternative?  There were many protests about HS2 but now it may not happen.   New rolling stock is arriving but cannot be used.  The rail network needs the upgrade to electric.  Get rid of those dirty diesel engines.  But then we need more power stations!

I needed to make a phone call in order to register my Master Card with a supplier.  They won't answer the phone but "Your call is important to us".  Cannot do it on line.  Perhaps they could ring me and I will play music in their ear for a few minutes more!

Some foreign manufacturers are having a laugh at our expense!  They do not make things to the so called CE mark specifications.  Is it our fault for buying cheap and nasty products?

The population in the UK has grown to 65 million.   I wonder if that includes people living in boats!  Where are they going to live if we do not build more houses and towns?  Do we have enough space, power and water?

A fool and his money are soon parted.  There are rouges who will take it and give nothing back.  Don't part with your money on just a promise!

That's it folks, rant over!  Now I sit in the garden sipping tea and try to forget that Krazy World!

Visit to Crick

We used our wheels this time and TomTom to navigate us across the midlands to Crick. At one time we were told to go down a dead end road!  We saw sense and turned north.  Eventually Tommy got the message and found another way.

Our friends have a boat called Mimulus near the marina.  Dave and Lyn have a pleasant garden plot next to their boat.  We all went to the Red Lion for lunch and enjoyed a catchup chat.  In the past Dave did a lot of work refitting our boat but now is retired and concentrates on his own boat.

On our return to Moore 2 Life the heavens opened forcing us to slow down as the rain was so heavy.  Once again we have enjoyed a short spell on the boat and managed to meet our boating friends.  Now it is time to get home to meet up with family.

We stay, they go

After a walk in the park with the girls we all move on through Banbury.  While we stay to shop our friends Sue n Vic move on down the Oxford canal.

To Banbury

We set off before 9 trying to follow No Problem but other boaters had the same idea in front of us.  All in a queue at the lock and water point.  It took a long while to get our water and loo full and empty before we could finally move on.

There were of course several boats going the same way heading for Banbury.  We helped the boat in front to get through the locks because it was to our advantage.  Some times a boater from behind would shut the gate as we left the lock.

An old mooring post.  At least it is in the right place outside the lock.  Unlike those new ones that sprouted alongside these narrow locks.

Sue and Vic got to town first and saved us a place by the park.  Then we had Sue's home made soup and Ann's hot bread rolls.

June visit

We were all packed and away by nine on Saturday for two hours on the road to Cropredy.   A couple of trollies full of our transfer kit was then delivered to Moore 2 Life.  Water, gas and electric all turned on to bring our sleeping boat to life.  The batteries were fully charged from the sola panels.

It was just as well that we were ready to go because Sue n Vic on No Problem were arriving at Cropredy.  No time to top up with water before we moved out of the marina.  There was NP but no sign of her owners or their dogs.  At the pub soaking up a pint I suspect.  We settled for a sandwich snack for lunch before those two large black dogs arrived with S n V following.  Into NP for tea n chat.

Next morning was cool as we woke to bird song and church bells.  On with the radiators to kill the chill.

How good it is to soak up the morning on a walk to the Bridge Store.

A change of plan

We were to move the boat to Heyford Fields Marina to be painted. When I contacted the painter he still could not give me a definite date despite his promise of a slot in June made back in January.  I have now cancelled my agreement with him.

As it happens the man who did our blacking at Cropredy Marina does topsides.  So I wait for a quote from him.  At least he does not require a deposit.

Meanwhile I continue to recover from my spell in hospital.  Done some gardening and go for a walk.

Hospital treatment

I got a tummy ache that was persistent. Went to the medical centre and saw a doctor, just walked in and saw him. He examined me and sent me direct to hospital with a letter. It was that quick. A bed was being made available so don't knock the NHS,  I was lucky it worked for me.

Quite by chance it was the same ward I had been in before Christmas. It did not take long to be examined, get a CT scan and start treatment. The problem was already healing and I was put on an antibiotic drip to clear up any infection.

During the following days a routine formed. Medication was given three times a day at 7am, 3pm and 11pm. Nurses checked blood pressure and temperature. I had a few disturbed nights.

A company called Steamplicity provided excellent meals ordered the same day. By the third day I was able to go walkabout for mild exercise and a change of view. My bed was by a window on the 5 th floor but it can be a bit cool if the window was open!

Some entertainment was provided when a helicopter arrived at the hospital twice and a road accident occurred within view! One of the patients was a young criminal chained to a guard! The guard and another changed shift over night. When they left a few days later and the criminal was putting his shoes on, the guard being hand cuffed to him had to bend down several times! You would not believe the attitude of some people. While one patient went off for an operation his partner and daughter continued to play Monopoly till gone 10 one night in the ward!

Amazingly a consultant came to see me several times, even twice on Sunday. Don't knock the NHS. At least it worked for me this time. I am back home after 5 nights inside!

Slow going

During breakfast we decided to stop again at that shop near Fenny for a few more provisions. Set off at 9 with a slow boat in front. Ann and Molly are in front walking the towpath and have to stop to let me catch up! The boat in front got stuck on a corner when another boat past the other way.

Yet another slow boat in front after we stopped at the shop!

Just past Fenny is the Tunnel Bridge and a narrow section that was a tunnel. We eventually got down two locks at Claydon where we stopped.

We walked the half mile to Claydon intending to visit the Bygone Museum but found it gone.

Heavy lorries are not meant to cross the canal hump bridge.

The summit pound

This ten-mile pound we are on is the canal between the top of Claydon locks and the top of Napton locks at Marston Doles. It needs dredging for most of its length. There are many bends in it, often with bridges at the bends! We could only achieve about 2 or 3 miles an hour. Any faster made the boat sticks to the bottom and goes strait on at the bends!

We stopped for a tea break at Fenny Compton Wharf. The Wharf Inn has a shop for essential provisions. We got coffee, tea, beans and marmalade there so it was well worth the visit.

We continued to Marston Doles where Windsong came round the corner. Roger and Pip helped us when we were on the river Nene many years ago now. We just exchanged greetings as we passed.

We continued down two locks and stopped near the engine arm but there is no phone signal here. Thankfully the TV was perfect. We have a limited time on board and at breakfast we decided to turn round. We would have turned down at Napton next day but that would have been a waste of water. Just could not face up to all those locks this time.

We are on board to enjoy the countryside not to cover miles and miles. Many fields are bright yellow with the Rapeseed. Other fields have sheep and new borne lambs. We got about half way back and stopped at Knotts Bridge 130. There is a tall radio mast and the High Speed rail link is planned to pass over the canal here.

News of interest

Extracts from Towpath Talk/Narrowboat World.

Dredging has taken place outside Crick marina before the show.  But water voles have a protected length where no boats can moor!

The IWA are encouraging contact with MP's to support for the Inland Waterways.  They are also organising the removal of invasive plants like Himalayan Balsam.

Many weirs on the Thames are being upgraded to help reduce flooding.

It seems that many canals are still being used for 'fly tipping'.  Volunteers are pulling out many large items.  Such things as bicycles, chairs, tyres and shopping trollies!

Are there fewer boats using the canals or are there more boaters not paying for their license?

A visit to the boat in May

Before leaving home we see the Rhododendrons blooming in Dibden woods.

It is a two hour drive north heading for Cropredy near Banbury, always plenty of cars and lorries to follow. We take three or four boxes containing food, clothes and electrical goods. Just cannot travel light!

Once on the boat it does not take long to wake her up by turning on water, electric and gas so we can make that refreshing cup of tea! We have a just over a week this time because we have commitments back home.

The marina is holding a boat jumble next weekend so we had a clear out. Tis surprising what you collect over the years!

The diesel and water tanks are full so the boat is ready to move. Then we get a phone call from our friends Terry and Myra. They visit on their way back from Crick and we go to the Brasenose Arms for lunch.

It is a lovely sunny afternoon so after lunch we set off north on the Oxford canal. We did eight locks in a few miles to get up to the summit at Claydon. Many other boaters were moving up and down helping us on the way.

Our boating plans

I just hope that these plans come true.  Reading the other blogs our friends write only remind me how I miss that way of life so.

We plan to get back up to Cropredy Marina on May the 12 th.  Traveling north on the Oxford and return home from Cropredy on May the 21 st.

We are to look after our grand children's animals while they are away on holiday.

Our next window of opportunity will be June the 2 nd.  Once again we move north and head on down to Bugbrooke where we are to get the boat painted some time in July.  The boat will be staying at Heyford Fields Marina for a while.

We need to get back home for Ann's next checkup at the end of June.  During July we probably will be driving up to see the painting in progress.

The Cropredy festival is in August so we will not return the boat till after that event.

Life on land is just not the same, being in one place and 'available' means that we get committed to do other things!  Just hope that while we are on the boat we get to meet some of our boating friends.  Please pencil those dates in your diary's!

Political History

Previous General Elections

1997   LABOUR          PM Tony Blair

Labour 419, Conservative 165, Liberal Democrats 46, Others 28, turn out 71%

2001   LABOUR          PM Tony Blair

Labour 413, Conservative 166, Liberal Democrats 52, Others 28, turn out 49%

2005 LABOUR           PM Gordon Brown

Labour 355, Conservative 197, Liberal Democrats 28, Others 32, turn out 61%

2010 CONSERVATIVE/LIB DEM     PM David Cameron

Conservative 306, Labour 258, Liberal Democrats 57, Others ?, turn out 65%

It is best to remember the past when deciding who to vote for.  Promises can be broken!  We should all use our democratic right to vote.