Cor Blimey Gov

It’s all happening down here in’it.

Been down to T-A just a couple of times over the last couple of weeks to bring bits off ready for the paint shop, but of course the big hoo har at the moment is over the liquidation of the marina holding company. Don't like being in this situation but leaping up and down like a demented ferret will solve nothing. All quiet down at the marina but the discussion on Canalworld has gone ballistic, seems to get very personal at times. I do wonder if there may be an element of mischief involved. Even got a mention on the local news.

Went to the meeting on Friday in the café which was full and standing and I had to wonder how many non-moorers were there. Standing in the doorway found it hard to hear any questions raised, though I did manage to get some more information afterwards. Can’t see as there is too much for concern at present but intend to keep my ear to the ground for developments. Being a lease holder I get to go to the creditors meeting in Nottingham on February 3^rd which I hope will be more informative as CRT will be there also. Don’t like cities so I shall go in by train and the highlight will be to have a ride on the new tram system.

It’s all been happening elsewhere as well.

A tree came down blocking the Grantham Canal at Vincent’s Bridge in the high winds a few weeks back.

Our motley crew has spent four days clearing it so far

 

But he waterway is again open

Still some more to do but most of it has gone now

Time for a breather as it is blooming hard work.
Saturday got caught in a bit of a shower - thunder, lightning and hail, blooming heck it was enough to make us call it a day.

Good fun though. So much so that I am signed up for a chainsaw course at Brooksby College in the middle of February so I can be of more use in future. Been using chainsaws for thirty years or more but need the necessary paperwork to get it out in public.

Shame on me. I’ve resorted to a bit of retail therapy and treated myself to a chunky new chainsaw as well.

 

Mixed Bag

Well Christmas was the usual round of too many dinners whilst doing the family rounds, and it ended up seeing in the new year with long time friends Tony and Lesley.

Popped down to T-A once or twice just to check on things in view of the weather and have been pleasantly surprised to find everything OK and just how little water has got into the wheelhouse despite the winds.

The Grantham Canal Society is starting to stir again after the Christmas break and we had a work day last Tuesday. Some of the crew went out on Centauri whilst the rest of us had a go at turning Woolsthorpe locks now that CaRT has given us the go ahead. Starting at the top so as not to drain the short pounds, Top Lock (18) with the new gates was fine but Middle or Wilsons (17) was a pig. This lock has been empty for ages so we closed the bottom gates and filled it. As expected the gates were leaking badly due to drying out so loco ash which we had brought (Courtesy of the Great Central Railway Loughborough) was dropped into the water behind the gates and soon sealed the leaks. Left things to soak for a few hours to swell the gates and headed off to Denton slipway looking for fallen trees. When we came back in the afternoon lock 17 was duly drained but for the life of us couldn’t get the top gates to seal against the mitre. It would seem that there has been a build up of silt and debris behind the gates over the years, and us working the gates has pulled it in. Used a long pole to try and scrape the rubbish out with only partial success so ended up using more loco ash to stop the pound draining as dusk fell. A long day and everybody Christmas crackered.

With the problems of silt build up in mind I’ve taken some 1” steel conduit that was lying around and worked up a sweat turning it into a scraper that can be extended to 6m. I didn’t work that hard but I did get warm as it would appear that some time during the grinding and welding I managed to set fire to my body warmer. Only found out later when I found the hole.J

Down to T-A today installing vents in the doors down from the wheelhouse to the galley which was one of the recommendations during the BSS. Thoroughly enjoyable day with the sun shining in. Still a few more jobs to do but only another month before we are in the paint shop.

Playing Catch Up

More chasing my tail over the last weeks. Visited the chandlers to pick up a few bits and pieces as recommended by Chris the boat examiner but most of the time after that has been taken up by the preparation for the WRG work party ant Cotgrave on the Grantham Canal.

The site was to be accessed over a wide ditch and it was decided to make the farmers bridge a bit more secure than it was.

Should have taken some before pics.

Got an invite to attend a CaRT volunteer meeting at Newark as part of the GCS contingent. Found it to be very enlightening with volunteer lock keepers,  towpath wardens and the like attending. The whole mood seemed to be very positive and up beat which I found to be most encouraging.

Back to the Grantham Canal and the WRG week-end.

Did us proud they did, as always.

Shifted quite a few self seeded willows. Thought I had taken a panoramic shot but cocked it up as usualJ.

The following Monday a few of the GCS mob led by Ian were tidying away the tools used and taking Wayne from CaRT who had organised the volunteer meeting out on Three Shires to show what we would like to take on in future.

Since then it has just been a case of being overwhelmed by a case of the dreaded winter barking disease, but hopefully I’m through it now just in time for Christmas.

 

So Merry Christmas everybody.

A Big Sigh

Passed the BSS exam today so Trudy-Ann has a ticket for the next four years. Chris from Ovation Boat Services came over this afternoon and gave the old girl a good going over.

He seemed to be quite satisfied with work carried out to date which was a big boost to me. It is one thing to read manuals and put things together by the book, there is always the question ‘Have I read that right?’ To have it confirmed by somebody who knows what should be what is truly gratifying.

Also picked up a few good hints and tips as to the way forward so it’ll be a quick run down to the chandlers in the next day or two, not least to pick up a new pressure relief valve for the calorifier which has started weeping. Tried reducing the water pump pressure but to no avail.

T-A will be closed down for the winter over the next week or two with a lot if the fittings being removed ready for the session in the paint shop. Railway pensioners Christmas do tomorrow and it looks like a few jobs to be done on the Grantham canal on Thursday in preparation for the Waterways Recovery Group (Wergies) coming to help us out on the 14^th & 15^th  at Cotgrave.

Can I retire from being retired to give me more time?

A Long Pump Out

A lot of time over the last fortnight just tinkering about and generally getting the boat ready for the BSS and winter. One of the jobs on the list was to get the black water tank pumped out.

But as we don’t do simple round here, and the weather has been good. It was a case of load up the dogs last Wednesday and chug round to the pump out point at Pillings after which it was a gentle cruise down to Zouch for a very pleasant meal and a couple of pints in the Rose & Crown followed by another gentle cruise back the following day. The dogs love the open fields up there and wore themselves out chasing each other round and round.

A thoroughly relaxing couple of days with the only thing of note being the state of Loughborough lock.

The bottom gates were leaking so much the top gates could only be opened by opening all the paddles to overcome the flow. It’s a shame really because the damage is obviously being caused by boats rubbing along the leading edge of the gates. I know boating is a contact sport, but this seems rather unnecessary.

Today has been a bit busier down with the GCS clearing foliage from lock 12 down towards Muston after being fortified by an all you can eat breakfast at Muston Gap

An awful lot of the work hade been started on by Thursdays work party while I had been chilling out.

Getting lazy in my old age.

Those Bits and Pieces

There has not been a lot to make notes about lately. It has all been bits and bobs generally getting ready for winter around the home and garden, with the odd day down at Woolsthorpe with the GCS. The birds still don’t seem to be using the feeder yet. I hope it’s just because there are plenty of  berries and seeds about and not because I’ve not got the design wrong.

In the garden the hazel and cob nut bushes are in the process of being pruned but there are so many off cuts that I need to have a bonfire before I can cut any more and there are still the fruit trees to do as well once the last of the apples and pears are off.

Otherwise around the home it has been a case of tidying up the sheds, as over the year they have become very disorganised and cluttered.

Found a good use for T-A’s old floorboards though.

Toasting forks and crumpets at the ready.

Also went down the local scrap yard to weigh in all the old cable that had been removed from T-A. Didn’t get much though, copper has dropped from £4 to £2.50 a kilo –ah well at least I won’t keep tripping over it now.

Work on the wheelhouse is slow because by its very nature it is a series of small panels in different directions and angles, especially with me adding extras  such as drink shelves for the rear seat passengers and speakers for the radio.

On top of that there has been plenty of checking going on getting ready for the BSS on December 3^rd.

Fingers crossed that I haven’t dropped too many clangers J

Blooming Weather

Well the weather over the past week doesn’t seem to have been up to much. At one stage I even resorted to housework to relive the boredom. Otherwise time has been spent in the shed making up a few bits and pieces as it has been far too wet to get many jobs done in the garden. Looking for a few dry days to give the grass its final cut of the year and burn off some cuttings.

A couple of visits to T-A just to see everything is OK and take a few measurements for the wheelhouse panelling. Some time has been spent updating the owners manual, just in case it is needed for the BSS due in December. Yep she’s 4 years old in December and still only clocked up 200 engine hours. Methinks that may change dramatically over the years to come.

Down at Woolsthorpe depot with the GCS yesterday putting up the new bird feeder

While the rest of the lads were trying to burn off the straw put down for the discovery day

 

Good job I was up wind.