Bacon and Egg Fried Rice

Another really simple dish for you today. This one is something a bit different for breakfast. 

Fry a couple of eggs in a wok mixing them well. When cooked set aside.

Next fry chopped bacon in the wok until crispy. Add some frozen peas. Add a packet of precooked rice and your egg to the wok and mix well ensuring the rice is cooked through. Season to taste with soy sauce. 

Serve and enjoy. 

A Late Gift

Time for just one last Christmas present for 2013. This time it's a gift for Naughty-Cal. 

In timely fashion her original stereo blew up on Christmas Day so we have bought her a shiny new Bluetooth stereo to replace it. 

Boxing Day

Yesterday we made the journey back from Lincoln to Sheffield for a family party. As we had a few hours to spare we took the chance to take a walk through Western Park and Crookes Valley Park. Both situated less than a mile from the city centre they really are green oasis in the city. Western Park houses a fantastic free museum but sadly it was shut yesterday. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas one and all and here's hoping you all have a good one. 

Pheasant Casserole

Yesterday's lunch. Slow cooked pheasant casserole. 

Sunday lunch is sorted

Well sort of. They still need to be dealt with! 

Booked In

Well that's it. Naughty-Cal is booked in for a lift out, pressure wash and chock ashore on the week commencing 13 January 2014, weather dependent of course.

She was due to come out in February anyway but what with picking up a load of debris on the props last weekend and knowing we have damaged the oil seals it didnt seem worth the risk of waiting a bit longer knowing we were getting water in the drive oil.

We have waited whilst after Christmas as we know the yard has a two week shut down during the Christmas period and however much you plan these things there is always something you manage to forget which one of the lads will have in the workshops.

So it looks like we wont be having the usual rush around to get Naughty-Cal ready for the Easter break what with us lifting out early and Easter being later next year we will be able to hopefully get the full list of jobs finished this time instead of a half a list at best. 

It does also mean that Naughty-Cal will be out of the water for longer than usual as the weekend after she is lifted it is my birthday Go Karting Grand Prix day on the Saturday. An extra week or two ashore wont do her any harm mind and will give her an extra chance to dry out a little.

Hopefully with a bit of luck and a following wind the limit of the damage it a set of oil seals and some damaged props. But we wont find that out until she is lifted!!

River Traffic

The rivers of the UK can provide a route for cargos too large to carry by conventional rail or road transport. Here is an example of some large sugar silos being transported along the river Yare yesterday to Cantley Sugar Factory. Far too large to travel by road. Im glad we didnt come across these whilst we were on the Broads!!

Threading the cargo through Reedham Swing Bridge.

Pictures from the BBC.

Special Delivery

So we draw ever closer to the big day. I'm still not really feeling in the mood this year, it doesn't yet seem to have hit home that another year is almost over.

We wrapped the last of our present s last night. A problem with a delivery meant they did not arrive last week which put our plans out a little. But the bulk of the presents will be delivered to their various homes tonight with just one last one left for us to deliver tomorrow evening after work and then that's it. We are free to enjoy the season of goodwill as we see fit to do so. 

I think we are becoming more scrooge like as we get older. I used to love Christmas but now am starting to hate it. The only good thing to look forward too at Christmas is a quiet river if the weather allows us to escape the marina.

Plastic bloody bags

Naughty-Cal found yet another plastic bag in the Fossdyke this afternoon much to Liam's delight. 

This one managed to stall the engine and find its way through the shaft seals so its a lift out after Christmas for some more work doing. Deep joy! 

2013 - Part 4

November 2013 - November arrives and heralds the start of our slowing down into a more gentle cruising pace. Its ditch crawling season for Naughty-Cal with locals cruises on the Fossdyke amongst the first of the winter storms.

December 2013 - The start of December 2013 has been a time for stunning sunsets with the skies ablaze during early evening. So far December has been a mild month if not a little wild with the worst coastal storm surge for some 60 years. 

2013 - The Stats

Ok so there is still a little over a couple of weeks of this year left but we don’t expect to be going too far in the remaining time so the stats for 2013 (so far) are:

• ·         1575 miles travelled
• ·         45 locks traversed
• ·         1364 litres (303 gallons) of fuel purchased
• ·         £1305.74 fuel costs (£0.96 average fuel cost per litre)
• ·         5.2mpg (discounting fuel used by the diesel heating at 0.25 litres per hour)

2013 has certainly been a good year for us and Naughty-Cal. We have travelled far and wide enjoying a good mixture of coastal, estuary and inland river cruising. We have spent far more time on the coast this year than in previous years but have still managed to enjoy cruising the rivers and estuaries during weekends and bank holidays.

The weather has played its part this year with scorching summer temperatures and thus far a mild winter. If this weather continues then we may well manage to squeeze in our Christmas day cruise to the pub, something we enjoyed a few years back but have not managed to replicate since due to adverse weather.

We have big plans for the coming year with even bigger adventures in the planning. It would be nice to think we could enjoy weather and sea conditions similar to those which we have enjoyed this year but we don’t hold out a deal of hope for that. So long as it is reasonable we will be happy.

So there you have it. A round up of what has been a memorable year for all the right reasons. Hopefully there will be many more years like 2013 to come.

2013 - Part 3

 July 2013 - This was the month of scorching hot weather with not a cloud in the sky and luckily for us was also the month of our two week summer trip to Norfolk and Suffolk. We had a glorious five days on the Norfolk Broads, followed by a fantastic two nights in Southwold and then to finish off had a further five nights in Wells next the Sea. A fantastic holiday blessed with blue skies and flat calm seas.

 August 2013 - After the glory of July, August was a more relaxed affair with plenty of local cruising but also a foray up the Trent for the bank holiday in the company of good friends. 

September 2013 - September saw us undertake our first proper solo coastal cruise. We had come back from Wells to Boston on our own in July but this was the first cruise we had fully undertaken with the sole intention of being solo. As it happened it was a good confidence builder as the fresh Easterly breeze ensure there was a decent swell in the Wash.

 October 2013 - The weather is starting to become more drab and the nights are drawing in but that doesnt stop us getting out and about. A trip to West Stockwith always brightens a dull weekend as it gives us the chance to stretch Naughty-Cal's legs once more.

2013 - Part 2

 April 2013 - The weather has really started to pick up by now and many a lazy sunday was spent at anchor in Brayford Pool.

May 2013 - May brought with it glorious weather. May bank holiday was spent in the company of Lincoln Boat Club on their cruise to the White Horse at Dusten Fen, followed by a BBQ at Bardney Village moorings.

May 2013 - The end of May saw us undertake our usual first proper holiday of the year at Wells next the Sea.It is always nice to pull into Wells to friendly and now familiar faces.

 June 2013 - June saw us head to Newark for the annual Newark Festival. We were moored right in the thick of the action with our boats being right behind the main stage. We could have almost reached out and touched the bands, including the headliners Madness!!.

2013 - Part 1

It has certainly been one hell of a year this year. Probably the best we have had in the five years we have owned Naughty-Cal. Helped in no small way by the fantastic weather we were treated too during the summer. 

So this next few posts will be a look back over the year of 2013. I know it isn't quite over yet but it's not that far off to the new year either.

January 2013 - The year started off on a relatively mild note and we managed to fit in many local cruises to start off the year. We dont tend to venture far at the beginning of the year as the weather can be unpredictable, preferring to stay in the shelter of the Fossdyke and Witham.

February 2013 - February brings with it the time to lift Naughty-Cal out of the water for her annual sterndrive service, polish and antifoul. Hard work it may be in the cold weather but the reward for a few days hard graft is to see Naughty-Cal looking like a shiny new pin again once she is relaunched. With the engine serviced shortly after relaunch she is ready to face another long summer of cruising.

March 2013 - This year March brought with it some cold snowy weather. Nothing too serious just enough to remind us that winter was not yet ready to give up here grasp on the country.

 Easter 2013 - Easter was early this year and as such the weather was bitterly cold. This didn't stop us enjoying a lovely couple of days in company in West Stockwith basin though. We awoke most mornings to find a skim of ice on the waters surface but we were all toasty warm on the boats.

Sunsets

We have been treated to some cracking sunsets of late. Here's the last one over Burton Waters. 

The calm

This was very much the calm before the storm. A peaceful sunset as we enjoy a few beers onboard before getting ready for our E Pontoon Christmas bash. 

The Pyewipe Inn made us a fantastic three course dinner once again followed by a disco afterwards. Excellent service once again from all the staff. 

No doubt there will be pictures of the event once they are sifted through! 

It's Arrived !

We have finally given in and accepted that Christmas has arrived. 

Naughty - Cal has her Christmas tree up. We have decided to give the lights a miss this year but a miniature real tree should suffice! 

Surge Ahead

This photograph came to our attention yesterday taken from one of the boats we met up with whilst on our way out of the Norfolk Broads on our way to Southwold.

This photograph is taken as the boats waited in Great Yarmouth Harbour for the lifting of Haven Bridge so that all seven boats could proceed to sea.

During last nights huge storm surge this whole area was underwater. The tide breached the flood walls and entered the town. We could have gone over haven bridge rather than under it.

This just goes to prove the power of  mother nature.

Wrapping

We must be all out of kilter this year. Its only the 5th December but we already have the Christmas presents bought and sorted. 

Tonight we are wrapping the bulk of the presents which I picked up yesterday, thank the lord for online reservations and ordering, they make this time of year so much more palatable. All I had to do was walk into the store, type in an order number and within minutes I was walking back out of the store and loading the car up with goodies. Easy peasy.

The rest of the presents, only four of them, are ordered and are due to be delivered to our house on Monday evening after work so we will wrap them on Monday and start the task of delivering them during the evenings next week. 

By the end of next week we should have everything delivered and we can sit back and relax for the rest of December. 

This is very much out of the ordinary for us. We are usually very much last minute christmas shoppers but for some reason this year it has just felt right to get it all done and dusted early in the month, and I have to say it has been a much more relaxing way to go about the task in hand.

We have been so organised we have even got the numerous birthday presents for this month as well. Its all very odd!!

Seafood Lasagne

Just a little something I rustled up last night from a few bits and bobs in the fridge and freezer. We have so much lovely meat in the house at the moment but we fancied something a little bit different last night.

So this is super simple.

Make a simple white sauce with melted butter, flour and milk, then add grated cheese and stir until thickened and the cheese is melted.

In a seperate pan fry an onion, mushrooms, bell pepper and mixed seafood, we used king prawns, mussel meat and squid. When cooked through add some of your cheese sauce. Mix well then layer in a dish with lasagne sheets. Top with more of your cheese sauce and grated cheese. For this we used a reduced fat mature cheddar. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

Here's ours served with rocket salad and garlic bread.

Good Food

As I am sure you have figured out by now we are advocaters of buying good food. But buying good food doesnt need to be expensive, not if you shop smart.

As i had the day off work on Friday I had the chance to visit our local butcher, a family business who slaughter, butcher and sell local meat. Sounds expensive you might say, but it is anything but.

As an example two big rib eye steaks, one of which is pictured opposite, were just £6.30 and they were matured to perfection and melt in the mouth. The meat was like butter and melted away at the touch of the knife.

Whenever I get the chance to visit the butchers at Grenoside I take the chance to stock up the freezer with top quality products. The produce I bought last week will see us through until the next visit just before christmas, not bad for a spend of a shade under £40, especially as this included steak, lamb leg joint, four duck breasts, chicken breasts and duck eggs amongst other more basic provisioning such as steak mince, sausage and diced pork.

I know it may seem to some like more hassle to shop around at different establishments for different produce but it can pay off if you spend a little time out a couple of times a week to stock up. Green grocers next to stock up the fridge with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Decent Day

After the icy start yesterday actually turned out to be a decent day. We spent the afternoon anchored in Brayford Pool before heading back for home as the sun started to set. 

And Icy!

We really didn't expect this either. Ice breaking already! 

http://youtu.be/skl5kKpLIPo

Frosty

We got a bit of a shock when we got up this morning. The weather forecasters got it a bit wrong here in the Lincoln area. There has been a very harsh frost here in Saxilby with a fine skin of ice on the ditch. 

It's mostly melted now mind and Naughty-Cal is slowly thawing out as the heating releases her from her icy cage, the canopy windows are clearing and the hatches and port lights are now frost free. 

Looks set to be a glorious run back to the marina this afternoon after a lazy morning drinking coffee and listening to the radio whilst enjoying a big full English!