A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL

YES!! It's that time of year again. Once more, I am doing without Christmas cards, preferring to send e-greetings, and donating what would have been spent on cards and postage etc to a worthy organisation. This year it will be 'Help for Heroes' - a charity that 'Supports full time, reservists and veteran service men and women from the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force.'

The BIG news from this end is that plans are afoot to take my narrow boat 'Rosy' - and Fanny the Woof - back to France in March/April 2014. The intention is to stay there for several years. This is not yet definite, but beware - if it doesn't happen, I am highly likely to become an exceptionally grumpy old man.

This past year has been exceedingly pleasant. We left our winter moorings in Rugby and headed northish and westish to explore the Welsh canals, in company with the good ship Clarence. We were testing out our compatibility, with a view to cruising together in France next year. We visited Chester, spent long, lazy days on the River Weaver (below the Anderton lift) and cruised through Wigan. We had just decided that 'Yes, we could get along together' when we had to make a major change of plan. Business pressures caused Clarence to abandon the French cruising plan. Indeed, Clarence zoomed back to Rugby to concentrate on work. I cruised back down south a little more sedately, and went on down the Oxford canal to Banbury and back, ending up at Brinklow Marina (near Rugby) where we are over-wintering.

In recently abandoned Rosy for 3 weeks, and went up to London, to spend several weeks with my sister. Minor problems with Fanny, who is used to open country. The best we could do was to walk the towing path of the nearby Grand Union Canal - my sister's house is not too far from the Islington tunnel. Originally, the London visit was planned with the idea of helping her to move to a new, flat, but she has now decided to stay put - and to merely move downstairs. Whilst in London I celebrated my 70th.

Physically, I'm still in reasonably good nick - though one of the advantages of France is that the canal locks are either automatic, or are worked by a lock keeper. I am also becoming somewhat forgetful, especially of happenings and conversations in the immediate past - so I spend a lot of time searching for things, doing things twice over (as I had forgotten that I had already done them), and keeping notes of what has to be done - and when it needs to be done by! I also forget recent conversations and meetings. Its all a bit frustrating!! I'm pretty sure that Fanny plays on this forgetfulness, and puts on her 'Where is my food' look when I have, in fact, just fed her - hence the recently established FFR (Fanny Food Register).

That's about it for this year. The next update will be earlyish in 2014!!

TO KINDLE OR NOT TO KINDLE?

One of the many things that I like about living on 'Rosy' is that every day is different. At school, university and work, there was a definite routine. On 'Rosy' the only routine is the preparation of the bed when it's time for bed, the stowing away of the bed in the morning, feeding myself and Fanny during the day and organising a shopping trip once a week.

Along with other live-aboards (I know, as I've asked them) its quite important to have a watch that not only tells the time, but also shows the date and the day-of-the-week. Even with these guides, things can still go wrong. I got out of bed the other day, breakfasted (without the radio on) and then set off with Fanny for the mile or so walk to the post office, as I was expecting some mail. The post office was closed - as, indeed, it should have been, as my watch - when, at last, I consulted it - said that it was a Sunday.

I am re-reading 'Brideshead Revisited' by Evelyn Waugh. I have a go at it every 3 or 4 years, so my paperback copy - I acquired it 2nd hand - is now in 3 separate bits. Its going to be a toss-up as to whether I get a new copy, or a new (for me) 2nd hand copy, or a DVD of the excellent TV production from the 1980's. Decisions, decisions!!

I have also decided to acquire a Kindle which, for the un-initiated, is like a small (6 inch) tablet for reading books. Currently, I have a Kindle app on my computer, but the 'proper' Kindle can store 1,000+ books and does not need nearly as much charging-up as my computer.

An additional Kindle plus point is that Fanny will enjoy it too. Currently, I read whilst sitting on an arm-chair (bought from IKEA on the Canal du Midi). Of an evening, I sit on the chair, Fanny sits on my lap and the book rests on Fanny. Fanny is not overly keen on this arrangement, especially when the tome is a bit hunky-chunky. 

FROM LONDON TO 'ROSY'

The new gilet is near perfect. It was delivered the day after I ordered it. My only beef is that the pockets are a bit small. I was going to get a Help For Heroes (HFH) gilet, but they come strewn with HFH logos and I try to avoid logos. They were also more expensive than my choice.

The morning walks along the towing path in London got more and more interesting. The boats are moored 2 or 3 abreast with no water-point visible. I learned that the moorings are merely visitor moorings. Water is available above the lock (which, at the end of my visit, seemed to be closed, whilst lots of waterways employees were tampering with it). On the towing path there was a tent, which seemed to be home for a couple of people. At one place, on the off-side, there were a few long-term moorings.

I paid a visit to the Canal Museum, and was saddened not to find any second hand canally books in it. Rosy's library was largely compiled from the Canal Museum - I could never have afforded to stock the shelves with new books. Instead I bought 2nd hand copies - mostly from the Canal Museum - and even so, my 'Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals' (for example) set me back a tenner some 15 or 20 years ago, even though it was only the 1969 reprint, and was an ex-library book.

Later . . . . .

Our London life was very easy. We were only a 3 minute walk from the Caledonia Road, and its fine array of small food shops. Even closer was a well maintained park. Train and underground stations were within easy walking distance, and there were plenty of bus stops.

Back on Rosy, the first 12 hours were not very pleasant as her interior was damp and chilly. Once the fires were going properly, Rosy was transformed into home sweet home. Yes! I meant 'fires' plural, as Rosy boasts 2 of them. There is an old Epping (complete with its oven) in the back cabin. Then there is the engine room which is fire-less. The rest of the boat is warmed from a Squirrel stove up front, which has copper pipes attached to it that circulate through the living and cooking area, the office (which was 2 bunk beds when I bought the boat) and a bathroom. Despite the warnings proffered by 'experts', the Squirrel circulates hot water through these pipes without the need of a pump. When building the system, we (Dick Goble designed and implemented the system) took care that the out and in pipes - which are parallel to each other - rise on the way out and descend on the way back.

Our first meal back on Rosy was all out of tins, but then we got to a super-market to stock up with perishable food. I keep about 2 weeks worth of canned food on Rosy, just in case . . . . 

ABSENT FROM ROSY

Life is a bit odd at the moment. I am used to hearing rain pattering down on Rosy's roof, and the boat moving around when a strong wind blows. I don't think I have been parted from Rosy for nigh on 2 years.

Now I am having a short 'holiday', spending it with my sister in London. It was only when I opened the front door this morning that I learned that it was raining heavily! Fortunately we are not far from a canal, so Fanny's walks are not entirely boat-free. We are near the Canal Museum and the Islington Tunnel. I've visited the Museum in the past, and I'll visit it again in a day or two, if only to see if they are still selling new and second-hand canally books. Needless to say, the boats are moored two-a-breast, though how they manage for drinking water I do not know - I'll have to ask one them.

I boated down this way a few years ago, en route for the Lea and Stort navigation, and spent a night at the St Pancras boat club. Is it that I am forgetful, or has the boat club mooring diminished over the years - there are a lot of new buildings near it.

I am lodging close to The Cal (as they call Caladonia Road). It is the sort of place where immigrants migrate to, so it's ideal for foodies as most of the worlds cuisines are catered for, both in restaurants and in the shops.

Some 15 or 20 years ago I bought a 'Snow Goose' gilet. It is really a 'fair weather' item. I still have it, and it is still wearable, though it seems that the Snow Goose brand has died. The new gilet - to be delivered in a couple of days - is supposed to be a bit more water-proof. We shall see!!

Toodle pip!!

DREAMING OF FRANCE

I have just spent some time making contact with Briare, a small town in France on the River Loire. The Canal de Briare crosses the River Loire on a magnificent aqueduct. Close to this aqueduct, a branch of the canal descends a series of locks to an extensive port that, nowadays, is dedicated to us boaters. I think it is still possible to lock down onto the River Loire itself, though I don't recall seeing the lock in use. During my previous voyages in EuroLand I spent some 18 months there - it is the sort of place that is difficult to leave. One of the highlights of my stay was that one of the other moorers went away on holiday to his ancestral home in Scotland. I looked after his woof when he was away, and he returned bringing a puppy (a younger sister of his dog) with him for me. Hence I met Fanny-the-Woof. I was pleased to learn that Briare is still as friendly as it used to be. So, if I get over to Euroland in March/April next year (as planned) I can see me over-wintering next year in Briare.

One of the reasons for its friendliness is Christophe, the haven meister, who organised regular BBQs and other community functions. Oooh!! I can't wait to get there!!! One chap arrived there by boat, but has now transferred to a house there. (He was a serviceman, stationed in England, when the drink/driving laws were introduced. His response, at lunch time, was to drive his sports car in through the Mess front door, a right and left turn into the bar, and then the appropriate cry of 'Doubles all round on me, bar man!' He became a civilian again shortly afterwards).

The canal predated the aqueduct, and it is still possible see where the original canal crossed the River Loire on the level. On either side of the river there were extensive lay-bys for barges to moor in whilst waiting for a flooded Loire to subside.

I had a lovely day out with a group who were pushing to have bits of the Brittany canal system restored. Interestingly, all their efforts were all to do with publicity and political pressure. They certainly were not going to get their hands dirty dirty!

On one of my Fanny walks along the river I found an extensive beach with some very fine sand on it. I collected some, washed it (to remove not-sand rubbish) and dried it, with an expectation of using it on Rosy's roof during a re-paint - but I keep forgetting it! 

Mmmmm!! Can't wait to get back!

TEMPUS FUGIT

Time flies!

Music systems

Rosy's re-vamped music system is still not 100% yet, but we're getting that way. We can play our CDs and listen to the radio. The radio sounds very good, as the signal, picked up by Rosy's car radio, is amplified, and emerges through a pair of Wharfdale speakers. The reproduction is far better than what emerges from our Roberts portable radios. What we cannot yet do is to play tape cassettes - but we are working on it.

Kettles

I am blessed with some very good friends. I have mentioned David Long before. I met him a few nights ago. He had been over to France to check out 'Falcon' - currently based in Brittany - and to prepare her for winter. During his drive back home he very kindly went out of his way to meet up with us, leaving behind some sweet chestnuts, a box of Merlot and a kettle. A kettle? Yes indeed.  An elderly, very nice and clean, copper kettle. Mine had been deteriorating, and I had started to use a ghastly modern one - thank goodness that can now be re-cycled.

I say 'recycled' as us wartime babies had it drilled into our DNA that you don't throw things away - which is why 'Rosy' is so cluttered.

Pullovers

I've been contemplating buying a new pullover. I still have my Army 'woolly pulley', (though its showing its age), and 2 Guernsey's.  One is superb - but ageing. It predates central heating. The other is newer. I bought is at a time when I had a down turn in my income, and it has not lasted very well. So I hit the internet.

If you like warm and cuddly things, check-out Norwegian Sweaters and Icelandic Sweaters on the internet. The downside of the Norwegian ones is that most of them are predominately white, so keeping them clean in UK weather systems could be a bit iffy.  (Many of the 'white' sweater designs are replicated in black, but they don't please the eye like the white ones do.

This Blog

I am very pleased pleased and heartened that so many people who followed the old web-log have found there way over to this blog. Welcome! (And, hopefully, 'Enjoy')  

A BETTER ROSY!

THIS 'N' THAT

I had thought that I would update this blog monthly, but I seem to be doing it very much more often. Do let me know (on billybubbles@me.com) if this is too frequent. I had also thought of including more photos, but the weather has been so cold and ghastly that I've avoided the outside world as much as possible. (Plus persuading the photo to be as big as I want it to be is still a bit of a challenge).

What I HAVE done is to tweak 'Rosy' a bit.

I used to have an excellent hi-fi (ish) system. It consisted of a pair of Wharfdale speakers, fed by 2 car radios - one armed with a CD player, 'tother with a tape player. A couple of years ago, there was a major re-vamp of Rosy's electrics, culminating in Sparks inviting me to check that everything was working. I omitted to check the hi-fi, and it was several weeks later before I discovered that they had both died.

It was not until a week ago that I had a serious go at solving the problem.

The CD radio was merely a loose connection, so it now plays CDs. (I also have a clever box that I can load with some 10 CDs, and the radio will play them all). What it doesn't yet do is to act as a radio, but I'll fix that sometime. (I currently use either a Pure Move or a Roberts portable radio. The Pure Move was enjoyable, until its rechargeable battery started to fail. I bought a replacement battery, but for various reasons it is now not the high class sound that I seek ('Rosy' is TV-less, so the radio takes quite a beating). I also have a Roberts radio, which gives excellent sound, but the battery doesn't last very long. I am in the process of getting another Roberts radio that does last  long enough for me).

The cassette tape radio was totally dis-interested in playing tapes.

Fortunately, I mentioned this in the last blog, and a kind person is in the process of posting his un-wanted radio/tape player to me.

This will mean that the tedious task of transferring all the music onto an MP3 player can (thank goodness) go on hold. However, I guess that at some time in the future it will have to be done - though maybe I will shuffle off this mortal coil first.

FANNY

Poor Fanny is a very un-happy woof at the moment. Some 13 or 14 months ago she cut the inside of a hind leg - only a short cut, but she licked it so much that it never healed. A month and a bit ago, I launched a really serious attack on it - a month of 2 pills a day, followed by a month of washing it with some clever stuff twice a day - PLUS wearing a plastic horn wrapped around her neck, so that she cannot lick the wound. She obviously doesn't like this, but the wound does appear to be getting very much better.

BOOKS

I get through quite a few books on 'Rosy'. I rarely buy new ones, preferring 2nd hand shops and book swaps, though I occasionally make use of ABE Books (on the internet with a HUGE collection of used books for sale). I get through most books in a couple or 3 days. However, Anthony Beevor's 'D-Day' has taken nigh on a week. It covers not only D-Day itself, but also co the following months. Detailed and fascinating (if you like that sort of thing). I have already read his 'Second World War'.

(I missed most of the 2nd world war. I was born in London suburbia in Nov 43. My father was conscripted, and my mother took my sister and I to her parental home (a farm in Scotland). Father thought the whole war was a waste of time and effort, and had severe reservations about my entry into the Brit army. I enjoyed the Army a lot. I left the Brit Army for the Oman army, which provided the cash to repair to England and to buy a house without needing a mortgage.

I then became a college lecturer. Then my wife and I separated. I headed back to Oman to become, eventually, involved in the management of the equivalent of a 6th form college. 3 happy years generated the cash for me to buy Rosy - and improved my Arabic, much of which I have now, sadly, lost).

EVERYBODY NEEDS A VERONICA

I met mine during the most stressful part of my life.

My marriage had fallen apart, and I had just joined a college of further education as a lecturer, spending all my waking hours, during the first year, preparing my lectures.

Veronica was another lecturer in the college, and she swept me into her social life.  There was a gang of 5 or 6 of us, most of us with ex partners, who supported each other, partied together and kept ourselves sane.  Veronica had an exceptionally lucky break, when she made the acquaintance of Brad, a young service man who attended a course at the college.  They rapidly co-habited.  Brad became aware of his intellectual powers, and zoomed through his course in the college, going on - in his own time - to gain (eventually) a degree.

We now don't see an awful lot of each other, but we are regularly in contact.  I am having short-term memory problems, and it is Veronica who accompanies me to the assessment centre. She is also the person who receives my mail.  As I am a 'continual cruiser' I don't have my own, every-day address, so I use hers, and then, once a month or so, she sends my mail on to wherever I might be - often via a poste restante address.

LAST DAYS ON THE ENGLISH CANALS

Apart from the journey from Brinklow Marina to wherever Rosy will be lifted out of the water, have her bottom blacked and be loaded onto a truck bound for Europe, these could well be the last few days of my time on the UK canals. We are moored at the southern end of the Newbold tunnel. I just have to pass through the tunnel and then turn into Brinklow Marina for the winter.  Earlyish next year, we will be on French waters.

There are many reasons why I am drawn to the European canals.

First of all, because of the language and cultural differences, there is often a frisson of excitement as one is not 100% sure about what is happening.

Secondly, the Euro canals are very much less busy than those in England. The long stretches of canal with boats crowding the offside are pretty much unknown in France.  This is partly due to the fact that there are many more miles of canal in France than there are in England, so that the number of boats per mile of canal is lower in France.

Thirdly, although I am reasonably fit and healthy, I look forward to the European locks which are either staffed, or merely require one to twist a dangling pole, or break an electronic beam. (The only 'problem' I ever had in a French lock was at the start of the school summer holidays, when the French waterway authorities take on extra locking staff. The one I came across was from a physical training college, had had the minimum of training, and I was his first client. I lurked at the back of the lock.  He wound the top gate paddles up in about 7.5 seconds, sending a wall of water rushing down the lock, which bounced off the bottom gates, and surfed Rosy and I up the lock to crash into the top gate.  A few minutes later, I gave him a crash (Ho! Ho!) course in 'How to work a lock').

Fourthly, I had very many more conversations with bank-side people in Euroland than ever I do in England. Although this was partly due to a narrow boat being a rare sight in some places, it was mainly because, outside England, people do not ignore the strangers that they encounter.  Try walking down a towing path in England, and experiment with people walking towards you. If you say 'Hello' to them, you may get an answer. If you do not acknowledge them, the chances of them saying 'Hello' to you are pretty low. In a busy street in Oman, people are nodding all the time to the people who are walking towards them. In London, you can walk the length of Oxford Street without any eye contact or acknowledgement.

A BETTER ROSY

I've just sent a couple of days in a boat yard.

Rosy needed various bits 'n' bobs done. Some I could have done, others needed experts, so I decided to let the experts do the lot.

1.  Rosy used to be armed with a very good music etc system.  It was based on 2 car radios - one came with a DVD player, the other has a slot for cassette tapes.  I 'lost' them some 2 years ago, when A.N. Other did some work on the boat, and I did not check that all was well until after he had left.

2.  I was un-happy about the amount of water accumulating in the stern, despite having a water pump there.

3.  The taps in the bathroom were dribbling, and I could find no way of fixing them.

Hence I spent a happy couple of days in the Hillmorton boat yard.  I have used this yard ever since Rosy and I have been together, and they have never let us down.

Liam came onto the boat.

He tracked down the problem with the DVD car radio in about 1.5 seconds, and put it to rights in a minute.

The cassette car radio was a bit more tricky, and he eventually diagnosed it as irredeemable.  This is a BIG nuisance, as I have 120 tapes, and tape players have nearly dissappeared.   The solution seems to be to buy a £20 box of tricks that will transfer the tapes to ....... well, something else.  More DVDs perhaps, or an MP3 player (but I'm not sure what one of those looks like, or if they make a 12 volt one).

(Appart from the players themselves, I also have a magic box that takes 12 CD/DVDs and plays them non-stop).

The water in the stern is there because the pump cannot pump all the water out - the last quarter inch just stays there.  So, we put a washing basin under the drip from the prop shaft, and put the pump in the washing basin.  All I now have to do is to sponge away the residual water swilling around, and then Rosy's bottom should be well - and dry.

A new pair of taps has solved the bathroom problem.

When the work was all done, I escaped from the boat yard.  As of now (Saturday) I am moored just just before the Newbold tunnel, and will stay here today and tomorrow.  Monday will see us moving up to Brinklow Marina - in-shallah (an Arabic term meaning 'God Willing') - where we plan to over-winter.

BOATY WATER WORKS

CARE OF YOUR WATER TANK

I've spoken to several boaters about their water tanks, and approximately none of them service their water system. Bearing in mind that I am a live-aboard, and therefore my water doesn't spend too much time in the tank before it is used, I still service the tank every few years. (During my time as a College Lecturer, I ran some management programmes for a water authority, and picked up the following from the students). Folk who use their boats rarely should take particular attention to their water tank - who knows what life-forms are lurking down there!

1. Go and buy a bottle of Milton Sterilising Fluid (Strap lines: 'Complete protection from germs' and 'Hygiene for baby and home').

2. One day, when the water-tank is about half full (and assuming that you have an 'average' sized water tank) put about 200ml (or, if you prefer, 20cc) of neat Milton into the tank.

3. Fill the tank. (This will help to distribute the Milton throughout the tank)

4. Go to each tap in your boat, and open each one, in turn, for a few moments so that the entire water system is full of Miltonated water.

5. Top-up the water tank.

6. You now leave the water system undisturbed for 2 hours.

7. Now the worrying bit. Completely empty the water system. (I find it worrying as the water pump will have to work for far longer that is usual - will it take the strain? Mine hasn't let me down. Yet!!) Once you have emptied it, you fill the tank with fresh water.

8. Job Done

Toodle pip!!

Bill

WHAT WE'VE DONE


I started 'boating' over 40 years ago, and have dabbled in narrow boats, dinghy sailing, sail-boarding and off-shore sailing. After finishing 'work' (which consisted of service in the Army of our own dear Queen and that of the Sultan of Oman, and then lecturing in 'Management' both in the UK and Oman) and having, along the way, divorced my dear lady wife, I took early retirement and went boating.

Rosy was masquerading under the name 'Imagine'. Her owners had bought her new, but were moving to Scotland. She was built by Keel Kraft (I think) and came as a 'trad' 53 ft boat with a 2 cylinder Kelvin engine and was some 15 years old when I bought her.

I had the well deck plated over, so that now she looks a bit 'tuggy'.

I sailed her to Calcutt Boats, from where she (and I) were shipped to Holland.

For the next few years we cruised in Euroland, covering Holland, Belgium, France, Germany and Poland. En route, and very sadly, she lost her Kelvin engine, and gained a 3 cylinder Perkins engine. In Poland we went up (and down) the famous inclined planes at Elblag, in the company of nb Temujin - we believe that we were the first narrow boats to do this. Following that adventure, we cruised back to France, and down the Rhone to check out the Canal du Midi - and 'Yes' it IS all its cracked to be. From there, it was back onto the truck to be shipped back to the English canal system, which we (I acquired Fanny-the-Woof whilst in Europe) are currently exploring.

If all goes to plan, we will return to Euroland early in 2014

Full details of our past, pre-blog adventures in Euroland and the UK can be found at www.billybubbles.demon.co.uk. We are planning to return to European waters in early 2014.

What I have yet to do is to find out how to make this Blog more visually interesting, by getting it to accept a more exciting font, and to learn how to inset the occasional photo.

Toodle pip!!

Bill

CATCHING UP

This year, we quit Brinklow Marina, accompanied by nb Clarence, with a view to seeing whether we can get along together. Should we achieve this, we planned to head off to France together in early 2014.  Briefly, we nipped up and down the Welsh Canal, on up the Bridgewater, and so, after Wigan we paused.

I cannot now recall when we heard the bad news that work priorities would de-bar Clarence from crossing the channel.  Indeed, Clarence headed back to Brinklow, whilst Fanny and I made a more leisureIy cruise back down to the Oxford canal, winding below Banbury.  Then back up the Oxford to Napton Junction to turn up onto the Grand Union, and so to the The Blue Lias for a most excellent boaters Rally.

After the Rally we headed to the Fenny Compton Marina, where Bob the Boat plies his trade as a boat fix-it man, as Rosy had a few iffy bits that needed attention. He had been recommended to me, and I now recommend him to others in the vicinity.

Errrr.  That, really, is my year. I am now back in the vicinity of Rugby, with a myriad of doctors, dentists, opticians and vets appointments.

Sadly, there were not many humorous incidents during the voyage. The best was approaching a blind, left-hand bend. I had a premonition, so slowed right down just as an approaching boat shot FAST straight across the bend and buried itself into my embankment. I managed to pass by on the off-side and was greeted with a tirade from the other steerer for not stopping to help un-stick him. I suggested that he could help himself by SLOWING DOWN on tight bends; his opinion was that he did not know it was so tight, and I rallied that therefore he should have been going even more slowly. I thought I was helpful by suggesting that he move his crew from the front to the back, but I think that this was lost on him.

I am now moored beside Rugby golf course, carefully placed to minimise the possibility of being hit by a golf ball. Its a convenient mooring, near a bus stop to get into Rugby town for all those dentists etc etc.

It is still my intention to go to Europe next year.  I'm toying with the idea of retracing my previous early steps in Europe, by getting trucked to Ternuzen which is just in Holland. They have an on-site crane there, and the people running it were extremely helpful. Watch this space!!

Toodle pip!!

VOYAGES WITH ROSY

This blog will be all about me - Bill, my faithful dog - Fanny the Woof, and the narrow boat Rosy.

Our past adventures were recorded on the web-log www.billybubbles.demon.co.uk.

As before, the blog will be text based, but with the occasional photo.

I am guessing that I will up-date the blog every couple of weeks.

Toodle pip!!

Bill