Busy Week

Its been a busy, busy week so far this week and it isnt set to get any less busy today.

On Monday we got back from the boat and settled in straight away at work. Before work I did our weekly shop, stuck it in the boot of the car and then hurried to work, finished the morning stint, rushed across the city to home on the norther outskirts of Sheffield to put the shopping away, grab a bite to eat and stick a load of washing in the machine, before heading back to work for the afternoon. After work we rushed across town once more to meet up with Liam's father and sister and the kids for an evening meal in the Walkley Cottage pub, then it was time to head home and sort out the washing to dry. It was gong 9.30pm before we even thought about grabbing a shower or sitting down to take a break.

On Tuesday we had the same old routine of work but when we got home we decided to tackle the front gardens. Liam tackled the hedges whilst I mowed the lawn, did a spot of weeding and prepared a cracking evening meal of grilled mackerel, smoked paprika wedges and vegetables. After dinner it was then time to scrub the bathroom, change the bedding and put yet another load in the washing machine, another busy evening.

Last night was another busy one. We had work during the day then it was time to head back home and tackle the back garden. Again Liam did the hedges whilst I cut the grass and prepared dinner of vegetable cobbler. After we had sat down to our dinners and had a quick shower I then set about preparing tonights dinner of lasagne. 

We have Liam's mum coming around for dinner tonight so last night the lasagne was prepared. This morning before work I gave the kitchen a good once over so tonight we should have made ourselves a nice easy evening. Lasagne is cooked, I just need to make some homemade garlic bread and homemade apple tarts. The pastry is already made in the fridge and the custard so in theory it should be easy living tonight!

We shall see.

Hopefully we have now cut the hedges for the last time this year. Usually at this time of year they have slowed right down and given in growing for the year. The grass no doubt will want another cut or two before the year is out but we have lifted the cut height to the autumn/winter setting in the hope it has slowed down enough.

It looks like we have a busy weekend ahead to compliment a busy week. The raw water pump seals have arrived so that is Liam's job on Saturday morning. I have tasked myself with giving the cabin a good clear out and declutter in readiness for next months holiday on board and the bedding wants changing and just a general clean up and tidy. Thats Saturday gone then!

Wimp

Wimp.

Me that is by the way!

Liam went into the garage last night to get the hedge clippers and the lawn mower out and came back with a picture of this monster.

Needless to say I am not going in the garage until THAT has moved out.

Oh and to make matters worse there was a spider the size of a mouse padding around in the living room as we were watching TV last night.

I really am rubbish with spiders. Please leave me alone....

Raw Water

So here it is. The offending seal that caused us to have bilges full of River Humber, trust me we know it gave way on the Humber with the colour of the water I was pumping from the bilges. There is no mistaking that brown, silty water for anything else!

Actually there are two of these seals to replace but that is all. How can two small seals cause so much mess?

We have a bit of a clean up to do this weekend after the new seals are fitted as the water has sprayed all over the engine bay, again. These seals packed up about three years ago in similar fashion when we were on the Ouse. Again spraying dirty silty water all over the engine bay and into the bilges. At least this time we have caught it before the leak got too bad and we have managed to contain the bilge water and remove it before it has seeped anywhere untoward!

Its a stroke of luck that we found this leak as we were not planning on going into the engine bay last weekend. Thankfully we have now got plenty of time to fix the leak and make sure everything is running as it should be before next months final holiday of the year. Fingers crossed these seals sort out the problem.

Leaks and Leeks

Well what a cracking weekend that was. No need to venture far but we still really enjoyed our weekend bumbling around in Lincoln. Despite having moored just a couple of miles away for six years we rarely, if ever spend the weekend in this beautiful city.

Saturday was spent milling around in town, I had my hair done whilst Liam did a spot of food shopping in the markets and then we had a leisurely breakfast before sampling a few pints in a couple of the many establishments. During the evening we enjoyed a rather fine curry at the Modern Indian on High Street. A great way to end a great day.

Yesterday started slowly, with another leisurely breakfast in The Mailbox pub before heading back to the boat for a few beers to start the afternoon off nicely. Mid afternoon we made our way back to our own berth where we came across the first of the leaks, not leeks just yet!

On getting Liam's tool box out of the engine bay to lend some tools to a good friend we discovered the raw water pump seals had gone, again. So once more the bilges were full of water and the alternator was getting a soaking. Luckily we have caught it in time this time as we go away in four weeks again. So saturday afternoon was spent drying out the bilges and ordering replacement seals. All this hassle for a pair of seals costing just £15.

So with the first of the leaks sorted we sat back for yet more beers when we were joined by some more friends who usually moor in Lincoln. They borrowed a spare mooring for a few hours whilst we enjoyed yet more beers. 

And then for the second leek. Leek and mustard sauce this time to accompany our lovely rump steaks. The sauce was so simple yet so tasty. Simply fry some chopped leeks in a knob of butter. When soft add a carton of single cream and two table spoons of english mustard. Dead easy and a great way to end a great weekend.

Settled In

So Naughty-Cal is settled quite nicely into her temporary mooring.

A Change

Well they say that a change is as good as a rest so this weekend we are going to check out the theory. We are swapping moorings for the weekend with a good friend who moors in Brayford Pool in the centre of Lincoln.

He wants to take his father to the chinese restaurant opposite our mooring so we jumped at the chance to lend him our mooring in return for a couple of nights on his mooring on the Lincoln Boat Club pontoons.

Now there is method to this as we were recently offered a mooring on the boat club pontoons which is significantly cheaper than our current mooring at Burton Waters just a couple of miles up river, well canal. So this will give us the chance to check out the moorings, how we like mooring in the centre of town and whether the change of moorings would actually work for us.

So this weekend will be a bit of a change for us. We dont actually intend to go anywhere and plan to spend the whole weekend in Lincoln which will be a pleasant change for us and a nice break for Naughty-Cal after last weekends blast down the Humber.

Hull 2014 - Part 2

 The morning after the night before.

 Naughty-Cal moored in Railway Dock

 The usual visitor moorings had been full last night!

 Looking out to the Humber.

 The Deep on the banks of the Rivers Hull and Humber.

 The flag aloft.

 Looking out across the river.

 Hull Marina Lock entrance with the waiting pontoon in the outer basin.

 Princess Quay.

 Lovely buildings.

 Magnificent Hull City architecture.

 More grand buildings.

 Heading back upstream and under the Humber Bridge.

Steady cruise back home.