We must be mad

It is minus two degrees outside, it is getting on for eight o clock and being winter it is pitch black. So what are we doing?

Going for a cruise on the boat of course! Fun times!

More sad sights

As the flood waters start to recede the true scale of this weeks floods is starting to become apparent. Across the country untold damage had been caused.

People assume boats will be somehow immune to the problems caused by flood waters. How wrong could they be?

Here we have the sad sight of another boat which had succumb to the muddy waters. The sad story here is that this boat was bought earlier this year as a wreck and the owner had spent months restoring her to her former glory. He had almost finished. Seemingly his ropes somehow snagged the pontoon pulling the boat under.

Hopefully he will have the heart to start his hard work again and give this boat another chance.

River Trent stoppage

A stoppage has been issued on the non tidal Trent between Cromwell lock and nether lock.

The safety boom guarding Cromwell weir has snapped due to the high flows of water and as such the weir is unguarded which is a danger to navigation.

Considering the current very high water levels there should not have been vessels on this stretch of river any how, however the stoppage has been issued as of this morning.

A dry day

At long last a dry day to look forward too with the promise of some long awaited winter sunshine. With this though a change to colder temperatures.

This drier interlude should hopefully allow the rivers time to settle back down to more normal winter levels and allow ground water levels to settle as well.

Of course the rivers slower to react such as the Trent with its huge catchment area will still rise further yet, but hopefully we should have seen the worst of the flooding by now.

The true extent of this early winter flood will take some time to fully reveal itself. It will take insurers a long time to sift through the mess and sort out the many claims. With the ground as sodden as it already is we will all have to hope for another dry winter period, otherwise there will be more of this to come.

Sad sights

I'm sure with the flooding there will be many sad sights. Here is one poor dragged from her mooring.

Still a bit wet

There has been no let up in this rain. We are still getting wet and the river levels are still rising.

It is certainly the worst we have seen the fossdyke flood since we bought the boat here.

With no dry weather forecast until mid week it isn't likely to get better any time soon.

High tide

No great surprise here but the fossdyke is in flood. Thankfully we are safe locked in the marina but many of our boating friends are not so lucky and are out on the river.

Water levels are still rising and with more rain forecast it isn't looking great. Already a couple of boats have sunk and the third was saved from a sinking by the local lock keepers. .

Fingers crossed we get some drier weather before too much longer.

Makes a change

It isn't very often we wake up on a Saturday morning on our own berth. So this morning it makes a very pleasant change.

It is cold and frosty out but we are warm and snug here in the cabin. No way was I going outside to take a picture so here is the view from the starboard saloon window!

Locked in

Well it was bound to happen sooner or later. The flood gates on the marina have been shut due to rapidly rising water levels on the fossdyke.

Looks like we will be having a weekend in the marina this week. I suppose this will give us the chance to do a few of the jobs we have been putting off, like cleaning the cabin upholstery and polishing the cockpit.

Looks like being a productive rather than an exciting weekend on the cards. Winter must be here. I am sure that cal will appreciate a weekend off, her first for a long time.

Another great sunset

On Saturday night we were treated to yet another sunset over Torksey. Unfortunately this heralded time for us to leave and head back downstream and closer to our home berth.

On Sunday we had the nasty job of pulling the dinghy out and jet washing the bottom in readiness for its winter on the Davits. For now it is back in the water but in the next couple of weeks the outboard will go home for servicing and the dinghy will be hung from the Davits.

So here is that cracking sunset.

Another rainy day

At this rate we won't be going anywhere this weekend as the floodgates will be shut on the marina entrance.

We left Lincoln early this morning and it is still pounding down with rain here in Sheffield.

At least we didn't have anything planned today other than work.

Sodden

After just a few hours rain on Friday night the outlets which discharge surface water into the fossdyke were running at full chat. A reminder that after a wet summer the ground is still too sodden to soak up anymore water.

At this rate it is going to be a long winter of flooding, never mind the talk of the coldest winter for 100 years!

Oops

Well it looks like an unscheduled midweek visit to the boat tomorrow. Liam has managed to leave his phone on the boat so we have to make the trip back for it tomorrow night. Never mind.

Frosty start again

Well it's a mighty cold and frosty start to the day this Sunday. But wrapped up warm and cosy here in saxilby we don't mind. Should make for a lovely run back to the marina in the winter sunshine.

Lovely day

Just another lovely late autumn day on the Fossdyke.

Frosty start

Well it is a cold and frosty start to Friday today. Wrapped up warm we have loaded the car with the weekends gear, trudged around the supermarket to stock up with essentials and refuelled the car ready for the week ahead.

Tonight after work we will head to Lincoln and after a quick scrub up we will head for the boat club to spend the evening with new friends.

Gloomy again

Today we have awoken to yet another grey and gloomy day in Sheffield. So here is a sunny picture to remind us of happy summer days.

Jabbed

So yesterday was my mot day. A trip to the doctors saw me having a host of vaccinations to include tetanus, measles, Mumps and Rubella, and the flu vaccine.

They also took a few blood samples. for a host of testing to try to get to the bottom of a recent bout of dizzy spells which is quite unpleasant.

Whilst there they also took a smear test. A great start to a Tuesday morning. Hopefully I should get to the bottom of my recent illness soon.

So who's sharp eyed?

The sharper eyed amongst you will have noted a change to the blog format.

We have gone fully mobile, completely scrapping the landline, broadband and the PC to be replaced with a pair of smart phones.

So what does this mean for the blog? Well it will be updated on a more regular basis wherever we may happen to be. So in theory it will lead to a more interesting blog. Only time will tell I suppose.

Back to work

After a great weekend with better than expected weather it is back to the grindstone and back to grey and overcast weather.

We rounded the weekend off with huge sirloin steaks cooked to perfection and served with garlic and chilli mushrooms, whole grain rice and a fried egg. The perfect dinner to finish off a fantastic weekend.

Now it is just five more days until we are back at the boat. Let the countdown begin.

Sunshine

Well here's too another beautiful morning in Lincoln. The laying up supper went well with a good time had by all and a few challenges laid down for next years boat handling competition. That should be fun.

Morning all

Well what a journey we had last night. Two and a half hours to do an hours trip. Both of our main routes to Lincoln were shut due to serious accidents so we had to go cross country. Of course other people had the same idea so even these routes were busy.

Still we made it in one piece so we should not complain. We finally managed to make our way to the boat club not helped by the gusty wind. And it is here that we find ourselves on this grey morning, drinking coffee and contemplating what to do next.

New Shoes

We treated the Datsun to a pair of new shoes, well tyres, yesterday. The front ones were starting to become pretty worn so with winter around the corner we bought her a pair of shiny black continental tyres. That is it for the spending on the car this year!

With the weekend almost upon us we can look forward to a night in the boat club tonight and again tomorrow night as we attend the laying up supper.

Liam must be looking forward too it because I caught him ironing his shirt last night!

Much needed

This cup of coffee was much needed this morning. The dark mornings, cloudy days and early evenings are doing nothing for my enthusiasm.

Thankfully we are already most of the way through the working week so we can look forward to another weekend on the boat.

Boat clubs

We always said we were not the boat club type. But since joining Lincoln boat club a couple of months ago we have become quite fond of the place. We even worked the bar last weekend.

This coming weekend it is the laying up supper which we will attend even though we don't strictly lay naughty cal up for the winter. It should be interesting.

Another day

Another day another dollar. Another working day is upon us and a bloody chilly one at that too. The car was once again frosty and needed a good scrape to free it of ice.

On the plus side we were treated to yet another great sunrise and daybreak. over the city.

One of the great things about this time of year is snuggling up of an evening with homely food and the heating on full. Last night it was bangers and mash with onion gravy in a giant Yorkshire pudding. Tonight homemade salmon and broccoli quiche with minted new potatoes and winter salad.

Cold start

It was certainly a bit chilly this morning at 6am. Which came as a bit of a shock considering we both woke up in the night boiling hot and throwing blankets off the bed!

The bar work at the boat club went well on Saturday night. We even got to bed at a reasonable hour as all of the guests left earlier than anticipated.

As yesterday was effectively our only day off work we lazed around for the most part having a lazy morning in Lincoln before heading back to the marina to enjoy slow cooked chicken with stuffing, asparagus and broccoli. A great end to a great weekend.

The calm before

It looks like the calm before the storm. Tonight we are working the bar at the boat club for a private function. Best behaviour then!

Maintaining the Datsun

This week it has been time to pay the Datsun some attention. We shouldn't complain really as it doesn't have much spent on it.

First off was having the exhaust replaced which had developed a blow. Then we serviced it and not before time. The spark plugs had done 92k miles and the air filter was very dirty.

Next week she will be treated to new brake pads and discs all round and a pair of new tyres for the front as well as a set of new wheel trims.

With this little lot done we should hopefully enjoy many more trouble free miles of motoring.

A Ray of Sunshine

I pass this tree twice a day every working day and at this time of year it always makes me smile, no matter how bad the day has been.

Hope it makes you smile too.