Ménage à Trois in Northumberland

We were up early this morning for a quick shop at Aldi to buy some supplies for our trip to Northumberland.  That having been done we loaded up the van, filled with fuel and headed north with Ray and Diane in a convoy of two.  

As this is a narrowboat blog, this is the bit about the narrowboats - we passed the signpost for Wigan Pier!  

There was superb scenery as the M6 cuts through the Lake District ...

Yep, there was snow in them thar hills ... 

We arrived at the haunted house to be greeted by Gordon and Dot, who are house sitting for a famous, ageing guitarist, who unfortunately must remain anonymous.  We hooked up the motorhome to 'shore power' and then set off for a walk to Hadrian's wall ... 

Dot and Diane on the horizon followed by Elaine, Ray and Gordon ... 

Check out the views from the top of the hill, looking back to the house ...

Poor little baa lambs - it was bloody freezing ... 

We walked through a quarry ... 

... where we spotted the title of the blog!  No - it isn't a pile of dog s**t - it is three frogs / toads / trogs mating! 

Bombo also thought it was dog s**t! 

I believe this is Hadrian's wall, but we took the wrong turn ... we will have to go and check it out later ...  

Here is the merry crew on the way back to the warmth of the haunted house ... 

... and here it is!  What a fantastic buillding ! 

Elaine was checking out the famous muso's music collection ...

... and here is the motley crew warming themselves in front of the open fire - lovely ! 

It's gonna be a good week !  Hic !

Not A Good Result :-(

Today was the day, we were off to Old Trafford to see the mighty Manchester Utd play Liverpool.

We got a good parking spot and joined the throng heading to the big game.

Outside the theatre of dreams.

The Man U guys having a pre match warm up.

I had to buy a scarf.

Ray, the man who made it all possible, I owe you big time!

The teams come out onto the pitch.

Rooney kicks off the first half.

The great Stevie Gerrard takes a corner for the scousers.

Managers Moyes and Rodgers shout out their instructions.

The old bill reading the programme!

Gerrard scores from a penalty

Suarez starts off the second half.

A minute later Gerrard puts them 2-0 up with another penalty!

Keep you hair on Wayne

A packed crowd of 75225 enjoy the action, actually about 75000 didn't enjoy the action!

Third penalty to Liverpool....with all these penalties it was getting like a rugby match.

Gerrard sends the goalie the wrong way but hits the post! 

Suarez scored late to make it 3-0 to Liverpool, but I didn't get a pic.

Man U get a freekick just outside the box....

Can Rooney get a consolation goal.....

....Nope it goes over the bar.

The losers trudge off.

Followed by the victors.

We passed this sign next to the M6 on the way home.....looks like its the end for Moyes!

So our team didn't win but what a day, even if you don't like football the atmosphere  at a premier league is just fantastic, just try and go to one if you can. I will say this about the Manchester Utd supporters, even though their team got flogged they cheer their team to the end with non stop singing and chanting, even after the game has finished, they know that their team will bounce back, not this season though.

Tomorrow we are off in the motorhome to join some of the Aston Marina boaters up in Northumberland, we are staying at a haunted remote farmhouse on the moops! 

A weekend of Sport

We didn't do a great deal today as there was a feast of Rugby on the box. First up we watched the poms stuff the Italians which was to be expected, I missed the next one out as it wouldn't make a difference to the end result. 

During the break between the important games I cleaned up the cratch cover and went to Stone to buy some more paint as I want to paint the stern lockers. 

Then it was the final game, I never thought I would be cheering the frogs, but alas they couldn't do it, but what a fantastic game it was. All credit to the Paddies as they are now crowned the six nation champions.  

Tomorrow is a huge day and one of the most important days since we arrived in the UK two years ago......Ray from NB Ferndale has four tickets to go and watch Manchester Utd vs Liverpool at Old Trafford....I have one of the tickets and I am very very excited to have one and very grateful to Ray for giving it to me.  

Unfortunately my excitement is dampened by Elaine still feeling crook :-( 

Other happenings today....Roly and Bev  on NB Klara left the marina, I nipped down to their berth camera in hand to get a shot of them leaving, bugger too late an empty berth!

I nipped up to the bridge and with the camera on max zoom got a pic of them disappearing through a bridge, they were about 1/2 a mile away by then! You will never meet a more lovely and generous couple than Roly and Bev.

Before heading off for a takeaway chinky I took the dogs for a walk around the marina and was glad to see that the old Fergie  tractor was back on display, they took it away a few days ago. The main reason I am happy to see it back is because its what I tie the dogs to when visiting the farm shop!

Next week we are off to an Aston Marina boaters get together week at a remote farmhouse in Northumberland, apparently the back yard has some old wall built by some Hadrian chap running through it, should be much fun! 

Fog.......Lifeboat......Light!

I was up early this morning as I was on a mission, but firstly I took the dogs for a walk around the marina, the worrying part was three people said to me what are you doing up so early....it was 08.30! Mind you we didn't go to bed till 01.30 the night before!

It was a tad foggy

Once back onboard I commenced my mission. An old customer of mine back in OZ was chasing a part for a Marine Rescue boat over there, the reason he rang me was because the boat happened to be an old Arun 52 ex RNLI lifeboat which were built in the UK.  It was a difficult task as the boat was built in 1978, she was based in Scotland until she was decommissioned and sold to the Australian coastal patrol in 1999. the part they were looking for was a rudder....after many phone calls I think I have found one in Bedford, so I passed all the info over to my old mate back in OZ so he can liaise with them to check that it is correct, all going well it will be airfreighted out next week, I didn't ask the cost but they would be talking thousands. 

This is the boat, she is based in Port Stephens on the NSW coast.

Another boat sailed away today.....

This time it was Clare and Roy and the lovely NB Foxglove. 

So that's the prettiest boat on the marina gone, see ya later guys.

It was a lovely sunny day so I got another coat of varnish on the cratch, then I dived into the vast forward hold where there are numerous spare parts, amongst which were some spot lights, so out of three units I made up one new lovely rust free light.

Check out that beauty.

I also re painted the club symbol on the hatch which had become a bit faded, probably because it is where Bombo sits when we are cruising.

It was now late afternoon and time to go and meet the usual suspects down the pub for a few pints, Elaine was feeling a bit crook so stayed at home with the dogs and her Kindle.

We had the usual session and a laugh, we were joined by Bazza and Carol, from NB Winstons Folly, they are currently  moored up in Stone getting their tractor seats fitted.

Once back on the boat I adjusted the new headlight, I aimed it just above the horizontal and slightly to the left so that should piss off other boats when I meet them in a tunnel.

Finally a couple of things I forgot off yesterdays list.....The BSS has nearly 3 years left on it and the boat also has a safe that apart from passports, cash etc will also easily hold two laptops. 

Anyone Want To Buy A Nice Boat?

We have been thinking a lot lately of our future plans (just for a change!).   

Our first plan is to head to Europe in the motorhome for an undetermined time, plus travel around the UK to visit other places away from the canal.

One thing that is a definite is that we don't want to spend another winter in the UK ... they are just too long and miserable!

So, we will either rent a place in Spain or live in the motorhome in Spain or if that doesn't appeal to us we will return to Oz.

Whilst we are doing all this travelling around poor old Caxton will be sitting in the marina :-(

Therefore we have made the rather sad decision to sell her!

I will do a proper ad with lots of nice internal pics later, but thought I would  put it out there now, just in case there are any blog readers or friends of blog readers or friends of friends of blog readers who would like to buy a  fantastic, lovely, well proven and well looked after live-aboard narrowboat. 

Here is a brief Spec sheet of the boat ...

1. 68 ft Semi-Trad,  built on a  Reeves shell and fitted out by Barn Owl narrowboats, Ash fitout, NO MDF.

2. Launched October 2008.  It was the Canal Boat test-boat March 2009 and Barn Owl show boat at Crick May 2009.

3. It is a 'Reverse layout' with cross bed in the bow.

4. Ubiquitous Beta 43hp teamed with a PRM 150 Hydraulic Gearbox 

5. Powerful Vetus 75kgf  (6hp) Electric bow thruster

6. 5 x 110Ah AGM Leisure Batteries 1 x Engine battery 1 x Bow thruster battery.

7. 240v Travel Power Generator plus  Mastervolt 2.5Kw inverter/charger

8. LED lighting throughout the boat

9. Full size Belling gas cooker

10.  Full size Neff dishwasher

11.  Full size John Lewis clothes dryer

12.  Full size Miele washing machine

13.  12v Fridgemaster fridge

14.  Granite bench tops 

15.  Hurricane Diesel heater. supplying hot water and heating 5 radiators

16.  Calorifier in the engine room heated by the engine, Hurricane heater and 240v immersion heater.

17.  Aarrow ecoburn multi-fuel stove

18.  Flat Screen 240 v TV with freesat.

19.  12v Radio/CD player with ipod connection.

20.  Thetford Cassette toilet with spare cassette.

21.  Full size shower.

22.  Double glazed portholes.

23.  2 x Houdini hatches

24.  2 x side hatches.

25.  160 gallon stainless steel water tank.

26.  Loads of storage space and cupboards.

27.  Super big extended cratch, with cellar doors, allowing access to a huge underfloor storage area. You wouldn't believe the amount of men that have 'cratch envy' ... I'm serious!  There is no need to have any clutter on the roof, the extended cratch also makes a superb dining area in the summer.  

28. Caxton is a quality live-aboard boat, if you check out the blog http://narrowboatcaxton.blogspot.co.uk/  you can see the boat being built, and follow Lesley and Joe's adventures on her up to January 2012 ... after that it is all covered on this blog. 

29.  The Price .... High 60K.

Any more info you can email us by clicking here  or phone 07412176567.

I will do a e-beaut ad later.