Archimedes and Ara stop by

Moored Batchworth, Grand Union Canal

Woke to a dank day today, dark and drizzly. No sooner was the radio on than the news of Charles and Camilla came through. I suppose it will be one of those “What were you doing at the time you heard that” moments.

Well at the time I heard that I was stripping down the trim that we put round the kitchen galley cupboard, it looked awful. So another trip in the rain the half mile or so to the wood yard.

Yes I was cross… it is taking far too long to do this bit, if only we had the proper tools we could do a proper job. So I am a bit fed up today unlike Charles and Camilla no doubt.

Mid morning Annie from Moore 2 Life came running to say the coal boats were just about to pass……… dropped everything, hammer, nails, drills, spanners etc etc yelling at Ann to get them to stop….. “Boots, boots, where are my boots?”… You wouldn’t believe this place at the moment, while we are working away here there is just everything everywhere, can’t find anything in a hurry!

First meeting for us of the two boats Archimedes and Ara that travel this part of the Grand Union Canal. Barney Richardson and wife Jane now running the business after they bought it as a going concern from Alan and Trish Akhurst in October 2004. Barney and Jane had a daughter too of just 3 months old sound asleep while we offloaded coal and diesel to NP. The two boats looked good, and Barney was telling me how much he was enjoying his newly acquired business. I did have a moan about the diesel price though… at 41p ltr it was the most expensive diesel I have ever put on NP, the first time I have ever paid 40p or over… still time marches on, and I suppose should be grateful for the low prices especially with the threat of having to pay three times that amount in a few years time when Government hammer us hard.

All was not doom and gloom in the galley though. By late this afternoon the horrid trim had been replaced with some much better stuff, and now it looks fine. It will be down to me tomorrow just to sand down, round some edges off and spend some time on google looking for some cupboard doors. Might have to get them made, can’t find any custom made ones the size we want.

I am hoping Vic will pull out that cupboard in the bathroom tomorrow, I need to get the washing machine out the way. Wendie and the family are visiting early next week, and at the moment the washing machine is living in the bedroom… Youngest Granddaughter Niamh sleeps in the very spot it is taking up!

A pic from yesterday… a very desolate lake just as the sun was going down. And talking of yesterday I mentioned water foul…. ha! It is such a pity that spell checkers don’t question correct words but different meanings! The fowl were actually very clean and definitely un foul like. (Thanks Ron for the comments on the last blog pointing out my fowl foul error!)