Rimey or Hoary

Here's something that's always puzzled me. When is a frost, "A Hoar Frost" and when is it, "A Rime Frost"

For example what do you think this is:

 

 

Well, I don't want to get into a long winded debate over this so make your own mind up. Here's a link to the now infamous Wikipedia to help

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frost

 

Today was a rest day for Gail  and a kind of a snow day for me. I collected a pupil at nine only to drop her off again at 9-30am. Her test is at 8-10am tomorrow morning and I KNOW that it will be cancelled so what is the point of her wasting her "paid for" hours until we know that her test is going to happen. I returned back to our lovely toasty "Jolli" by 10-30am

Gail had a friend visiting her in the morning. The ever lovely "Nicky". We all enjoyed tea and crumpets. Incidentally, Nicky, has a thriving dog sitting and kennelling business. You can board your dogs with her and they have a wonderful time on her farm, living with her own dogs, and enjoying all the cuddles and love that they would get at home. Providing that your dogs do not require manicures, pedicures or daily visits to the hairdressers. We board our own "babies" with Nicky and the buggers don't want to come home. I know that Nicky's very busy over the summer months, but if you would like details feel free to contact me and I will pass on your details. 

 

Today's dog walk was the same as yesterdays, but because of the colder weather it was again as fresh as the first time we did it.



 

The fog hardly lifted today. I suppose it will tonight, just enough to let all the heat out and give us a real hard frost for tomorrow

 

Kind of magical really. Like a frost tunnel.

 

Gail, with no "pooh" bag

 

Rime or Hoar. Made your mind up yet?

 

 

And back to "Jolli" or was it?

 

On Gail's insistence we had to go to the local after our arduous walk, not a lot of people about, but as you can see, the fire was welcoming and welcome, and last but not least, warm

 

 

 

At least Gail had someone to talk to and I could have a couple of pints in blessed warmth. Have I mentioned that it was very welcoming and very warm

 

And so back to "Jolli". Still warm and welcoming (I've heard that somewhere before) for lamb cutlets and roast vegetables.

 

Another cracking day.

 

Be careful out there on the roads all of you. The weather forecast is decidely, how shall I say, hmmm? Oh yeah. Crap

 

I reckon it was a "Hoar Frost". What do you all think?



Marina versus The Canal

Not much exciting happened today, so I though I would use today's post to do a bit of thinking out loud.

A point that has been causing me to ponder over the last few weeks, from the first day we moved on to "Jolli" actually. Is "What are the benifits to consider between life on a marina and life on the canal."

Obviously on a marina you have lots of material benefits, laundry room, dryers, toilets, mains electric hook up and showers to name but a few. You also have much better security that if you leave your pride and joy out on the cut all day, with just the dogs to keep it company. Lets be quite clear about this, our dogs in no way whatsoever would be a deterrent to burglars. In fact as Tess was making them a cup of tea, Tam would probably be offering them my slippers and a beer.

So lets go through these benefits. Laundry room, well we have washing machine on board. Dryer, its usually so hot in the boat that clothes get tinder dry in seconds, We have a cassette toilet and a shovel. Gail has broad shoulders and could no doubt learn to dig a decent hole in a few weeks, she is, after all, half Irish. We also have two spare cassettes and a key to the disposal points situated along the canal. Electricity? We have an inverter and a 2 ltr diesel engine to charge the battery bank (4 x 110 amp/hour leisure batteries)

So that only really leaves us with security to worry about. Well I suppose if you left your boat in the centre of a busy town, on a canal that may be a direct route back from the local nightclub to the nearest sink housing estate, where ASBO's are considered a badge of honour you may be asking for trouble. But surely your boat would be safe, moored up,out in the sticks, or next to a couple of like minded individuals.

 

I took some photos today whilst walking the dogs and it was this scene that let to the "in head" debate as described above. Yes, it looks lovely and picturesque but does it remind you of anything else?

 

It does me. It reminds me of a bl"*dy housing estate for boats. Exactly what we are trying to leave behind

  

 

It is pretty though isn't it. And I suppose it looks a lot nicer than a lot of housing estates.

 

 

All three photographs were taken from the hill overlooking the marina

 

 

I think that in all fairness both our minds are already made up. That is to say that come the better weather we will be off down the cut to further explore this alternative life style.

 

I would welcome any comments that any of you experienced live-a-board boaters may have and indeed any comments from anybody at all.

 

That's it for today folks. Stay safe and be happy.



What a Difference a Day Makes

Well, we were told that bad weather was coming and it should come as no surprise to anybody that it did.

We awoke this morning to about an inch or so of the dreaded white stuff. Personally I love snow, but for Gail it is the cause of sleepless nights and hours of constant worrying. Probably because she is determined that she will get to work and that I know that you cannot teach inexperienced learners to drive when all that they are thinking about is that snow is very slippery.

I did pick up my intended victim, sorry, pupil, on time today for a scheduled three and a half hour lesson. We bravely carried on mastering the "The Turn in The Road" and "The Left Reverse" before calling it a day after about three hours. The snow was beginning to settle on the roads and I was getting concerned that I might have a problem getting back on to the marina.

The return journey took me nearly two hours. Two Hours to do about 30 miles. Admittedly the roads were white, but most of the extra time was incurred because either people were driving at ridiculously slow speeds or breakdown trucks stopping traffic to collect their next fare.

OK rant over. I did get back to the marina and as expected Gail had done everything perfectly. Stove ticking over nicely and dogs fed and watered. Next Job for me. Walk the dogs.

 

The best part of my day, and what a beautiful place to be in. Same old walk, but made so different by a little bit of snow

 

That's "Crack Hill"

 

And that's not, but it is the beginning of a great sunset.

 

Gail is staying at her mothers tonight (late finish and early start) so I am forced to look after myself. Its cold pork, mashed potatoes and baked beans, with lashings and lashings of ginger beer, no, that's Branston Pickle. Just slipped into Enid Blyton mode there for a second.

 

Thats it for today folks. Another day that just confirms my belief that Gail and I have made the correct life changing decision to move on to the cut

 

 

 



Silly Hats and Sundays

 

Today went pretty much as planned actually and bloody good it was as well. We didn't start moving much before 9-00am and then it was a slow start. Cups of tea all round dogs fed and then off for the first walk of the day. Just a quick one around the marina to allow the dogs to do the necessary. 

 

Back on "Jolli". Gail did a little boatwork while I cleaned the windows outside and filled the water tank. We have 150 gallon tank and it lasts us about a week, depending on showers and the amount of washing we do in our Candy washing machine.

 

We decided not to take the dogs to the pub but went in the car for a couple of pints instead. Well I had three and Gail had a half of cider so that she could drive back, bless her, she is good to me.

 

Then it was back for dinner. The huge piece of "Leicester Old Spot" (pork), from the local village butcher, was launched into the oven and then we were off to take the dogs for their promised walk.

 

 

 

The photograph above shows Gail indulging in her favourite part of any walk. She just loves picking up after the dogs and then carrying a bag full of dog sh*t around for a couple of miles. It makes her so happy, but at least in this weather it help keeps her hands warm

 

 

Yesterdays purchases proudly shown off for the camera. Silly Hats and Snow Boots.

 

 



 

 Tam showing that he can be a good boy if he puts his mind to it.

 

We went about a mile along the cut and everything was going fine until the temptation became too much for Tam and he launched himself off the towpath and into the canal after a particularly tempting piece a of bulrush. At least the silly bugger was sharp enough to dive in near a suitable getting out point this time and I didn't have to drag him out by this scruff of his neck. The damage was done by now so I found a decent stick and chucked it in for him to retrieve a couple of times. We now have a very wet and very tired old dog laying in front of the stove, steaming gently.



 

After about an hour and a half we returned to "Jolli" and had our dinner. Roast Pork, Yorkshire Pudding and all the trimmings. Very nice too.

 

Thats it for today folks. Both of us are working tomorrow, although Gail is starting late and I shall be back by 2-00pm. Its good when it is like that as the dogs are not left on their own for too long.

 

The weather forecast for tomorrow is looking pretty horrendous people so take care out there and if it is bad in the morning don't even get in the car. I know I bloody well wont.

 

 



Nothing very exciting to report from the last few days I'm afraid. I started back to work this week after a glorious 6 weeks off, getting to know our (now) beloved "Jolli".

I took a lad to test from Pertenhall on Tuesday and he passed. I was really pleased because now I only have a couple of pupils that are on a weekly pay as you go basis. It is my intention to only teach intensive courses from now on. That way I can work less and spend more time on "Jolli" with our dogs, Tess and Tam, and our lovely canal system.

Gail and I went shopping in Daventry and Rugby today, and spent a small fortune on clothes for the predicted cold weather and some esential food stuffs. We both bought a pair of snow boots. Gail also bought a pair of Jeggings, after I accidentally shrunk her favorite pair by putting them in the marina dryer on too hot a cycle. That'll teach her to let me do the washing, she wont ask me to do that again. I was only tring to help. She also bought a rather nice, warm looking woollen long cardy type thing. Yours truly bought a lovely warm hat that makes me look like a right idiot, a smashing jumper and a rugby shirt that will do for both leisure and work. God knows where we are ging to stow it all.

We haven't got this minamalist life style down to pat yet, and "Jolli" is beggining to groan at the seams. We'll probably have sunk the bloody thing by Easter. All of our cupboards, wardrobes etc are full. Gail will just have to chuck some of her stuff out. I'll put that solution to her later. (About 8 cans of Guinness later)

We both have the weekend off and tomorrow we are having a proper Sunday. Late from bed and early to Pub, followed by a roast, and then a snooze in front of the telly. Some where along the way we have to get in a reasonable walk for the dogs as they have been rather badly done by today with only the bare minimum of excercise. Just enough to prevent accidents on "Jolli"

Gail is watching some inane progamme on the telly and the dogs are both asleep.

 

I did try and prod Tess into action but as you can see she is not all that keen

 

The stove is all fired up for tonights cold weather and the telly has a good signal. There is a new Ken Follet on Channel 4 "The Ends of The Earth" I believe its called which I am looking forward to.

 

Anyhow all is well with us. Blog again soon.

 

Chris, Gail, Tam & Tess

 

 



 

 

Not bad only one day this time went by without a blog.

It came to me that I have been talking about Jolli and the few trips that we have made so far and that I have mentioned things that some readers may know nothing about. OK so lets put that right now. (and also try out my techno skills in loading photographs from my new camera.

Here's a picture of our much loved narrowboat, "Jolli"

 

For those interested she's 57 ft long with a 37.5 bhp Beta Diesel Engine (Naff pic I know, they should get better)

 

Here's a picture of our home marina on a rather overcast morning. We're booked in here until the end of March, and then, weather permitting we'll be off to live like real "River Gypsies"( as the brother-in-law so eloquently put it)

 

 

 

 

A picture of the particular "Hi-Tec" unit that provides all the heat (and more) that is necessary to keep all four of us warm in even the most inclement weather (we hope). It ahs a back boiler that powers radiators throughout Jolli and we use about 25kg of coal every 4 days.

 

 

 View of the interior of Jolli looking aft from the saloon

 

And looking forward from the galley (note all nautical terms are beginning to come quite naturally now0

 

From the "Pullman Dinette" which doubles as a guest double bed

 

The next few photos were taken yesterday on a typical morning walk with the dogs. The black one is Tess and has now reached the grand old age of 14. The yellow loon you can see is Tam, he's 12 going on 2. Every bl*&dy time we get near the water he's in. I wouldn't mind, but as I say he is 12 yrs old and the water temperature cannot be much above freezing at this time of year. Still short of keeping him on his lead all the while he'll keep going in. He doesn't look too bad on it though, does he?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not much else to report at the moment. I did actually go to work today for the first time since we moved on board, and strangely enough it wasn't too bad. Well the lad passed his driving test anyhow, and he seemed pleased. (I'm an ADI, specialising in intensive courses.

 

 

Hope your all well, speak soon.



 

 

 



 

 

Can't believe its been 7 days since my last post. I really must be more disciplined and keep to my promise of a daily blog. Well here's the news since the 29th December. We didn't actually make it to Stoke Bruerne for the new year, the weather on the 29th put paid to that. Much too windy and wet to make the effort.  However the following day looked a little better and we decided to turn  right out of the marina and head to Foxton Locks. The cruise took us approx. 5 hours and was pretty uneventful. Unlike last time we only had one kingfisher sighting, compared to seven on our previous trip to Foxton. I love these bright and colourful little birds and take enjoyment from watching them fly off just before the boat draws level with them.

When we arrived at Foxton we wimped out of tackling the flight and decided to moor at the top lock. We had a couple of drinks in the big pub at the bottom before going to Bridge 61. If you have never visited this place, you must make the effort to do so. It is as though time has stopped and you are in a pub at the beginning of the last century. The white washed walls are heavily covered with wood smoke from the open fire, which as usual was kicking out enough heat to toast crumpets on from about 50 feet away.

We met some interesting characters both boating and non boating before returning to Jolli for dinner.

We spent all of the 31st at the top lock. and the day was pretty uneventful really. Took the dogs for a walk along the cut and had  a couple of pints at lunch time in good old Bridge 61.

We decided that we would spend New Years Eve at, yes, you've guessed it, Bridge 61. What a mistake that was. I've been to wakes with more party atmosphere. We weren't expecting Time Square, but by the time ten thirty came and apart from the owner and the barman, we were the only ones there we decided to call it a night and return to Jolli for the night.

The next day, New Years Day 2013, and incidentally my 54th birthday, dawned overcast but dry. Having made the decision to break our return journey at Welford Wharf we set off. My task was to keep Jolli between the banks of the cut and Gail's was to do the boat work as we cruised. When we lived in a house Gail used to spend hours each week just to keep the house clean. Now she can do a whole weeks "Boat cleaning" in just a couple of hours. I know that this time saving gives Gail immense pleasure and satisfaction as she can know spend more time doing the things she wants to do. Although as yet she hasn't decided what it is she wants to do.

Seven kingfisher sightings today including two pairs. Love 'em, and never get tired of spotting them. We arrived at Welford Wharf in about three hors and moored just before the marina winding hole, only about 150 yards from the pub.(Bonus). Had lunch in the pub, before spending a lazy afternoon on the boat.

That evening was the highlight of the cruise as far as I am concerned. Gail missed her footing as we set off for the pub and slipped into the canal. Laugh, I am still smiling now as I write. When I say slipped in, it was actually only one leg but it was enough. Poor old girl didn't know whether to laugh or cry as she had in fact given her leg rather a nasty knock. However, full of concern for my spouse I carried on to the pub (I couldn't wait to relate the story to anyone who might listen) while Gail changed her boots and trousers.

We met a lovely chap in the pub. Jonathon. Who is a liveaboard with his wife Helen and their two small children.

Another day and the cruise was rounded of by returning to our home marina for a while. We have to work sometimes you know. Three kingfishers sighted, including one just outside the marina. I shall keep an eye out for him as his patch seems to be on my regular dog walking route.

I hope you all had a lovely New years Eve and that this year sees you as happy as Gail and I are now that we are living our dream.