Things Are Changing.

At last it seems as though we are moving forward rather than one step forward, two steps back, after all there can’t be many more problems to find.

The under bed storage has been finished.

As was  

and now.

No ballast to be seen. The only ballast that may go in there is trim ballast

Made these up out of some bar steel that I had lying around (as you do). Each weighs just over 30lb with a handle for ease of movement.

In the bathroom the vanity unit has been reinstalled

And no longer has unsecured water pipes coming out of the floor and just flopping around

 

Even though there’s lots more to do it’s starting to feel as though the finish is in sight – but I’ve thought that before.

Trouble is that I'm enjoying myself so much that I will probably always have some project or other on the go - though I think Karen may direct some of my efforts towards the house.

Floorings Down

At last all the flooring has been laid (big sigh).

 

It now goes into the cupboard and vanity unit bottoms so we will no longer be faced with spray foam spattered base board every time we open a cupboard door.

All the bare woodwork where the cupboards were mounted is now varnished as are the walls behind the radiators.

At the moment I’m remaking the vanity unit base as it seemed very flimsy when removed.

The braces are made from bits of old oak flooring and all pocket screw holes have been plugged save for those that are still required during the fitting – they will be plugged on completion.

I know they will not normally be seen but to my mind a job should be finished off properly whether it’s seen or not. Always been a bit of a finicky so and so but that’s me.

The original 270^o turret is reduced to a 90^o corner. The original looked pretty but served no purpose other than to increase the footprint of the unit and there is not enough room on a narrowboat to waste space.

Been out buying toys again.

This router bit was on special offer and it seemed rude not to get one. It’s for making finger joints like this

And even without any glue it makes quite a strong joint. It will come in handy joining boards together when I come to remake the cupboard in the saloon. Never was to keen on the original glued butt joints.

Other than that there has only been time for two Christmas gatherings with old railway colleagues – nowt like a good old reminisce.

Something To See At last

Down to T-A every day this week and at last the flooring base is all down and the new flooring has been started on.

 

The boards go all the way across from wall to wall and not only where you can see them.

Under the sink as was.

Now – still got to tidy up the pipe work but at least the pump is not flapping about now.

The weather has been cramping my style somewhat, not so much with the short days (got plenty of lights) but with no heating at the moment the cold has been getting to me.

Central heating will be a priority job when I start on all the bits under the wheelhouse.

 

It all looks like a bit of a bomb site at the moment but everything is having to be moved around as the flooring gets done –why can’t we have a Tardis in narrow boat style.

Sweep, Hoover, Dust

That’s all I seem to have done over the past week.

Laying the new floor panels is taking longer than expected owing to the amount of mastic, spray foam and broken screws to be removed. Removing the water pipes revealed a pile more rubbish and sawdust. The flooring being re-laid is being reinforced with more 19mm ply strip under the joins to reduce the amount of flexing and it’s all being secured by 5mm(No 10) stainless steel screws in countersunk holes. The result will hopefully be no more rusty broken screws.

Every piece of work is followed by a sweep up and hoover, now all the crud I can find has gone I don’t intend to replace it with more.

Been toying with the idea of signing up for a bee-keeping course in Grantham as we’ve been thinking a hive in the garden would be good for pollinating the fruit trees on top of the chance of some honey. The only worry is that one of the locals might take the opportunity for a feast.

He’s already emptied the bee box we put up.

Tuesday was down at Woolsthorpe depot fitting new security bars to the windows with Ralph. This time it was sweeping up brick dust.J

The rest of the crew were putting the finishing touches to Mudlark.

The weather round here has been absolutely foul for the past couple of days, got a few cutting jobs done in the workshop but varnishing has been out of the question.

Glad I’m not down in Devon or Cornwall, so shouldn’t complain too much.

Another Busy Week

Quite a bit of involvement with the GCS in the past week, both planned and unplanned.

Saturday and part of Sunday was down at lock 11 near to the A46 at Stragglethorpe clearing some of the debris left after the Experian work parties last month

 

Before

 

 

After

 

 

while the WRG party cleared out lock 10

 

to expose the brickwork.

That has got to be a big well done for all the lads and lasses involved.

 

Got back from a run into town on Monday to find the phone ringing. It was Ian from GCS asking for help down at Woolsthorpe depot after a report of a break in. When we got there we found the windows to the rear had been completely ripped out leaving only the bare brick hole. The security grille in the messing area had been forced off and entry gained there. Stayed until eight making the place as secure as we could.

Down to Tool Station in the morning for new fixings and sealant to do a proper job. Finished in the dark again and have decided to add bars to the outside of the windows to try and deter further intrusion.

The stupidity of this whole sorry affair was that there is nothing of any value kept in the depot, the biggest loss was some soft drinks and crisps left over from the open day, yet the damage done would indicate that these were more than just children. Does the term ‘Strong in the arm – thick in the head’ apply here?

Wednesday morning spent making new security bars for Woolsthorpe and in the afternoon popped over to Hawkes Timber at Bassingfield for a job lot of ply to line the base boards before laying the new flooring.

In the evening it was the GCS AGM. All the usual bits and pieces that you would expect but I was a bit brassed off to learn that CaRT was now insisting that the society pays navigation fees for any workboats using the canal to carry out maintenance.

Urine extraction methinks.

Finally got a few hours down on T-A today. Took the new steps to measure up and mark out where the access to the cool store and bilge will be. The steps still require more varnishing but the felt so secure in position even without fixing I decided to bring the old steps home. They will have to be finished when all the new lining is varnished. Fitted the first couple of flooring boards so with a bit of luck I can start getting the new floor down next week. GCS permitting – I’m already down for a work party on TuesdayJ

Friends And Fiddly Bits

All sorts of disjointed jobs going on this week. The new steps have had the screw holes plugged, and have had a first coat of varnish which had to be done in three stages owing to the shape. The cooler weather is slowing the drying time which is a bit of a pain. I’ve decided the cables for the LED lights are too long which meant cutting the cable because the plugs are sealed in silicone and as the colour displayed is selectable there are four wires in each cable.

The individual wires are too small for crimps so each one is soldered

sleeved in heat shrink tubing

which is then all covered in more heat shrink

and of course this has to be done for each lamp.

 

Remember the original ash deck boards from the wheel house? Bits of one of them form the front of the steps and a bit more has been used to make the capping to cover any wiring on show inside the steps.

Yesterday friends Tony and Lesley popped over to help celebrate Karen’s birthday (the big 50) and I like to think a good time was had by all.

They were very taken by the new pup Tommy and a head count had to be taken on departureJ. Ian from GCS also popped by for a coffee and drop off the tools for this weekends work party at locks 9, 10 & 11 with our team supported by WRG North West.

( I dare say they think we are supporting them, so don’t burst their bubble. J )

Today has been down at T-A reaffixing some of the flooring over the ballast and removing the old mastic. Still finding plenty of broken screws to remove, slow work but we’re getting there.

Karen has taken a week off work to celebrate her birthday but an awful lot of it has been spent up to ankles in mud clearing the garden for winter - typical.

Still Working Away

Not a lot going on at the moment, not least because the weather is making me think it’s time to hibernate.

Even so I managed to get three visits to Woolsthorpe depot to help get Mudlark and Earwig ready for use.

Mostly cleaning and painting

Rowan tried the stove in Earwig but it proved to be a bit smoky.

Things did improve as the chimney warmed but it is definitely in need of resealing.

On the doggy front, we’ve been having a few problems with Tommy getting stressed out when the dogs are left alone. This has been overcome with a bit of patience and a lot of treats so that now if we are both out together he does not think he is being abandoned. All in all though it has meant that the last couple of weeks there has been somebody in the house most of the time and as Karen still has to go to work it has meant less time down at T-A. Still managed a couple of visits to check all OK and offer up various pieces for fitting.

The steps are nearly complete, just need a few coats of varnish and ducting making to take the LED wiring. Hopefully the varnish will help differentiate between the ash body and oak treads. Most of the wood used has been recovered from T-A. Which reminds me – we have a refund from BHNB – found a penny when lifting the floors. J  

The bottom two steps are hinged so that they fold over the step above to give storage access.

A lot of the flooring which cannot be reused is at least keeping us warm at the moment.