tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20546216080337015982024-03-14T16:05:08.216+00:00SaltysplashA Cruising Diary of our Barge Amy plus the occaisional bits of our liveaboard lifesaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-25575900709229127082010-07-27T16:39:00.010+01:002010-07-27T17:34:21.440+01:001 Year Old8th July was Lilians 1st birthday. <br />We had a bit of a barbeque on the saturday afternoon to celebrate with family and friends.<br /><br /> Our special thanks to Glyn, off Narrow boat HUMBUG for taking the photo's while Laura was the hostess with the mostess and yours truly in true form took care of the cooking.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-xVQKg4zdLe89BnKhJOiP5iK01w7VDZru2xuAb6iCVLbD2iO6BAnDUBnMBML3SdLZY_BSVxHnIsy3iUyY67JdphWntuDq60hWZZQdBvw8oWe8TZEPy9pskhntam1JJ3L6FzA4oU9Vo4/s1600/Lily's+!st+birthday+10.07.10+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2f96XRqLRGoOUpJoUFEJrMNHO6n9yOgBYnFL6g-TSsU-2vbMIaGBa7G_WKPqHNXzWGZya3ttRAdeXQXtxUQrArA4LR_mo7jegWlsub5zU-6UgLBzTByQ5TgS6dYocGTZGa2xE3MAhYg/s400/Lily's+!st+birthday+10.07.10+125.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498623289620662194" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnyBs6fr6tl8-TAhXbNz8j45EythLY_4C3-wbZtZQn6ch8qTzNT2oNd-8jmaWAriN0XdH1E2KPQT0OXCumj3Ep7saiQkEjfYMGYKc_tg7xCJHwMBoK77wD1lyPzQmvZXl9tSFwjU-IQw/s1600/Lily's+!st+birthday+10.07.10+160.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnyBs6fr6tl8-TAhXbNz8j45EythLY_4C3-wbZtZQn6ch8qTzNT2oNd-8jmaWAriN0XdH1E2KPQT0OXCumj3Ep7saiQkEjfYMGYKc_tg7xCJHwMBoK77wD1lyPzQmvZXl9tSFwjU-IQw/s400/Lily's+!st+birthday+10.07.10+160.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498624537632625730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOefLfi5NfSXbzTVfhE-yf4ZXtZivVRc3sBIl9Yc1EZY48E-OXFMJ7p_SH1kVE4X1x1B4PZMnCtrKldNQPwO1rC5orBy0USKVumk-Gd-B05qwPfVrDM_fhBFui7jP-rWebhwww8XY5NE/s1600/Lily's+!st+birthday+10.07.10+154.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOefLfi5NfSXbzTVfhE-yf4ZXtZivVRc3sBIl9Yc1EZY48E-OXFMJ7p_SH1kVE4X1x1B4PZMnCtrKldNQPwO1rC5orBy0USKVumk-Gd-B05qwPfVrDM_fhBFui7jP-rWebhwww8XY5NE/s400/Lily's+!st+birthday+10.07.10+154.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498624533272988034" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5CF9l7TA3kmF-9Byt8VVE5oOsuwmI_a-PP6hyphenhyphen3pODETqiowTM2LpjE2U7oMeUOjG8aeURobMxfbegPPpxkT8i1YlKwNFJa4oDvA2x0Lfb0W_D8ysKyUTyhOr4krKh_t5MIRVYnnC1Ls/s1600/Lily's+!st+birthday+10.07.10+134.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5CF9l7TA3kmF-9Byt8VVE5oOsuwmI_a-PP6hyphenhyphen3pODETqiowTM2LpjE2U7oMeUOjG8aeURobMxfbegPPpxkT8i1YlKwNFJa4oDvA2x0Lfb0W_D8ysKyUTyhOr4krKh_t5MIRVYnnC1Ls/s400/Lily's+!st+birthday+10.07.10+134.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498624527403681714" /></a>saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-38443885273425161832010-07-27T02:39:00.012+01:002010-07-27T04:18:55.516+01:00Oostende voor anker 2010 pt3The next morning saw us both up and about very early, steve to make preparations in the engine room and me to make a flask of coffee and ensure there was enough fresh water and snacks in the wheel house for our expected 10 hour trip.<br /><br />The sky was overcast and there was a little drizzle but we had a window. I cant remember the wind direction but it was 2-3 occasionally 4. <br /><br />Sure enough over the VHF we listened to the announcement from the Little Ships Admiral and it was a Go. They wanted to be away fairly sharpish as there was a Ferry expected at 8am<br /><br />We slipped our mooring and hovered around the harbour watching as one by one the boats left ramsgate to take up position outside in review order to be escorted across the Channel by the Royal Navy <a href="http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/type-23-frigates/hms-monmouth/">HMS Monmouth </a>and <a href="http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/patrol-vessels/p2000-class-urnu/hms-raider-cambridge/">HMS Raider</a><br /><br />Once outside the Harbour there was still a noticeable residual swell from the previous days weather but the little boats gathered themselves together and set off once again for France.<br /><br />Sadly as we monitored the VHF we heard that one boat had been unable to leave harbour due to an over heating engine caused by a blockage picked up in the harbour in the water intake and a second boat had to return shortly after leaving due to a similar problem.<br /><br />We followed the fleet to the North East edge of the Goodwin Sands the turn East for our own trip to Oostende<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7Q9SRyOMTxOf-Qi_vHpbna0rqqQ7oAClHJpNndxhf4DnHuF1MYGcpT1HTKz3knDweqlI74tokEWgf6eZpErEuHEOwph2sjQ5Xebzt8yUWvOI5eI2TmaWfE4rgpGAPRcAOuzHMcF4Oo8/s1600/100_0788.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7Q9SRyOMTxOf-Qi_vHpbna0rqqQ7oAClHJpNndxhf4DnHuF1MYGcpT1HTKz3knDweqlI74tokEWgf6eZpErEuHEOwph2sjQ5Xebzt8yUWvOI5eI2TmaWfE4rgpGAPRcAOuzHMcF4Oo8/s400/100_0788.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498399336275599234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7a1dNiBczEBSxPI-Zk4vVDttJLgJXxXCLl9kAdsLeHKvr74sUr03PruWvYak_FdS0fTr_Qivn3AQZhHhraciIuIETzTrihsBhSaA_2Umof1h_kZCQJ8hUHL7lo0lCCKDJmanLewN55ME/s1600/100_0787.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7a1dNiBczEBSxPI-Zk4vVDttJLgJXxXCLl9kAdsLeHKvr74sUr03PruWvYak_FdS0fTr_Qivn3AQZhHhraciIuIETzTrihsBhSaA_2Umof1h_kZCQJ8hUHL7lo0lCCKDJmanLewN55ME/s400/100_0787.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498399328956875906" /></a><br /><br />The good ship Mary Jane<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1wLgKDo0MjS_jxFprGlsCHoruFrxfHgjGqsi9duq_92WARFMiYTSX6AkxC4QuBXoAPb0NRIPW_N2IbG96SPRls-HFMtv9zGu0kq70nILUHQvSFC1fgZOn20XWo17sO-rJ_06nYEVqJM/s1600/100_0790.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1wLgKDo0MjS_jxFprGlsCHoruFrxfHgjGqsi9duq_92WARFMiYTSX6AkxC4QuBXoAPb0NRIPW_N2IbG96SPRls-HFMtv9zGu0kq70nILUHQvSFC1fgZOn20XWo17sO-rJ_06nYEVqJM/s400/100_0790.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498399814887266626" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62Zk2qvqPMt7-IWF68DbDLWy6rRNeVgur23rCJcMoAcB9MILpY3MC2Q32GmB46OgaZzpjpI3sHqeAZNMmV2CS4j6r7e_kMdJ6blA1FgNYTs5RsOxKr45oncgt7buD5e7hSJHC0ylIxXY/s1600/100_0791.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62Zk2qvqPMt7-IWF68DbDLWy6rRNeVgur23rCJcMoAcB9MILpY3MC2Q32GmB46OgaZzpjpI3sHqeAZNMmV2CS4j6r7e_kMdJ6blA1FgNYTs5RsOxKr45oncgt7buD5e7hSJHC0ylIxXY/s400/100_0791.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498400267075266914" /></a><br /><br />The Rest of the Fleet<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOnWuI3l-a01goKe15sDstn1IZuVLUDpwZQS4cH6Q_5jXqIQIq-GHGsr3zLve2PdOI9IbPLFcUo-VKkDL-a4LaujxXlDVoYsxvFDDwnpMMFKgyJau1Be7c8ZUrhBcoRbvp9gOIkjzkeE/s1600/100_0792.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOnWuI3l-a01goKe15sDstn1IZuVLUDpwZQS4cH6Q_5jXqIQIq-GHGsr3zLve2PdOI9IbPLFcUo-VKkDL-a4LaujxXlDVoYsxvFDDwnpMMFKgyJau1Be7c8ZUrhBcoRbvp9gOIkjzkeE/s400/100_0792.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498400935871101842" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEzx63tTaz9sEHmYg5Mwo5llWTFS2D36RVKImIQZHgFgRESoAaCO6zVOqZ_-KeHx69bl9P2gFJv8_3xDWbpCHUpDL-fhVlU4LnltGvmJddblOPVSFmWw0m2N-VEFIJ36GV4XN4DRNIiU/s1600/100_0789.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEzx63tTaz9sEHmYg5Mwo5llWTFS2D36RVKImIQZHgFgRESoAaCO6zVOqZ_-KeHx69bl9P2gFJv8_3xDWbpCHUpDL-fhVlU4LnltGvmJddblOPVSFmWw0m2N-VEFIJ36GV4XN4DRNIiU/s400/100_0789.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498400930164307506" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9FIh_lGpnbsZUHKezl82GAN0X9LaQ1X8JA7OveAeNaxSSmPoyMwW_JDO0CpXIkn2wYJE92rc5vb1_7x_7Cp0kqIDoOkRRUt3dQ5K4mZ-E99CORE5-a4nAZOvM-ZpYrEdaptdxf4kMLo/s1600/100_0796.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9FIh_lGpnbsZUHKezl82GAN0X9LaQ1X8JA7OveAeNaxSSmPoyMwW_JDO0CpXIkn2wYJE92rc5vb1_7x_7Cp0kqIDoOkRRUt3dQ5K4mZ-E99CORE5-a4nAZOvM-ZpYrEdaptdxf4kMLo/s400/100_0796.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498401972930679410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdM12VXn5vSAf8IWxmueNFO0sBDncFOfsuL2gAKVxc2rnRAF3_1s-aYFNhgI1XX28kamuQLXmTX03pkEgkjEH1xV4qUAXxGGGbA1WEC-10ZBIV3lavYQ9uHlxFmvgvs73F573GF6Ktkk/s1600/100_0794.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdM12VXn5vSAf8IWxmueNFO0sBDncFOfsuL2gAKVxc2rnRAF3_1s-aYFNhgI1XX28kamuQLXmTX03pkEgkjEH1xV4qUAXxGGGbA1WEC-10ZBIV3lavYQ9uHlxFmvgvs73F573GF6Ktkk/s400/100_0794.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498401962734841122" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa55xj3pGcjnU2ATsaVjKlhg8L8L13SktTAxsv6CLUmvFR59TMFtO1n7jGW02NnyhTXdBmbJRZRGdV57TZHjhrzHP40_zmsbGdAtashrkBtEtImLtf9akMSm8tYpWaGP0mCetozo43UA/s1600/100_0793.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa55xj3pGcjnU2ATsaVjKlhg8L8L13SktTAxsv6CLUmvFR59TMFtO1n7jGW02NnyhTXdBmbJRZRGdV57TZHjhrzHP40_zmsbGdAtashrkBtEtImLtf9akMSm8tYpWaGP0mCetozo43UA/s400/100_0793.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498401954879996642" /></a><br /><br />We said our goodbyes and continued to listen to the VHF channel being used by the Fleet till we were out of range. Our own crossing was very uneventful thankfully, there was very little traffic in the shipping lanes and we sipped our coffee and nibbled our snacks till we finally raised Oostende in just 8 hours. <br /><br />Normally smaller boats are berthed in the inner Mercator Dock for the Festival, however, upon our arrival we were told we would be berthed in the Outer Montgomery Dock. We wernt overly pleased with this for a couple of reasons, Firstly, The Outer Dock is Tidal and during rough weather it can have a swell of over 6 foot and secondly, everything goes on in the Inner Dock and we felt we would be rather out of it stuck so far outside.<br /><br />Never mind, we would make the best of it and make Valonia as presentable as we possibly could.<br /><br />The three remaining days just flew by what with visiting ships, showing guests around Valonia and of course plenty of evening entertainment.<br /><br />We once again met up with the crew and skipper of the <a href="http://www.mtkent.org.uk/">Tug Kent </a><br /><br />The weather as usual was its classic May mix of sunshine and rain and all the time, ourselves and the rest of the English contingent had an ear for the long range forecast.<br /><br />It didnt look good, yes the winds were shifting southwesterly but still between force 4-6...and this time we would be heading West...same old story.<br /><br />The final day of the drink up.....i mean Festival came and went and we spent the last evening in the company of the Kent's skipper. I forgot to mention we picked up an extra crew member on the saturday. Nick came over from the UK on the Eurostar as I had the previous year but would be returning with us.<br /><br />That night, the wind was a full blown gale, We were moored to a pontoon which was rising and dipping in the swell and the ramp leading down to it was groaning and squealing in protest. Steve rechecked the lines and made sure that at least we would remain with the pontoon should anything untoward happen and we then retired to our berths ready for the return journey in the morning.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUu5u6Zr08Y8YSX4IjEUmoGJSkS7zasYXHwlt9MoPUmcTt9PsEVfwvhfq_WiNiBWY_vttOK4uXjGwnm0Y4HYTYgGpwgMaHk9RCmNMlyDBajOhscN54oyCTXaICmDzALbzzN-NiUuWRko/s1600/100_0799.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUu5u6Zr08Y8YSX4IjEUmoGJSkS7zasYXHwlt9MoPUmcTt9PsEVfwvhfq_WiNiBWY_vttOK4uXjGwnm0Y4HYTYgGpwgMaHk9RCmNMlyDBajOhscN54oyCTXaICmDzALbzzN-NiUuWRko/s400/100_0799.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498407619779809170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfEf1FiTNsmKMiVdlYWK3SOD6j7zAP41pXJal8BTB1Zcp0Ez6OB6gaZa6Y90VKC5CmcPxcaKm48Z6h2aEntxzaI9ya0n2gKDjArqj5y7KJfP6s5-E7KRWdK1er2BRp6JInQeoXKrf3C8/s1600/100_0798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfEf1FiTNsmKMiVdlYWK3SOD6j7zAP41pXJal8BTB1Zcp0Ez6OB6gaZa6Y90VKC5CmcPxcaKm48Z6h2aEntxzaI9ya0n2gKDjArqj5y7KJfP6s5-E7KRWdK1er2BRp6JInQeoXKrf3C8/s400/100_0798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498407614698102082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V_C6nX-RkJWeUoHgQL8mrnf2HkCa8QykvqJFYxb_1R8A5mssX9omZMgZaOgiBAHb4ojMNAE3fonO-sAAvW10gR6eCPr9IURCqXYcC2jSr4cCkKdKpqeiCFGroSXNvtOHt55bETESdpw/s1600/100_0797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V_C6nX-RkJWeUoHgQL8mrnf2HkCa8QykvqJFYxb_1R8A5mssX9omZMgZaOgiBAHb4ojMNAE3fonO-sAAvW10gR6eCPr9IURCqXYcC2jSr4cCkKdKpqeiCFGroSXNvtOHt55bETESdpw/s400/100_0797.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498407609432663938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RVJhTiKDtoh_YrDRXyfDpCD-umTqx7HXZGExbtvcf4ccvgjp8tS9gkCa8E0Qij8O77kXinRkNhyFDmU_pcEaAzcKrckkInhp6WP8a5u8SpipLGrGDD3sZ7BkagxCfQPit54KbsEC3Y4/s1600/100_0801.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RVJhTiKDtoh_YrDRXyfDpCD-umTqx7HXZGExbtvcf4ccvgjp8tS9gkCa8E0Qij8O77kXinRkNhyFDmU_pcEaAzcKrckkInhp6WP8a5u8SpipLGrGDD3sZ7BkagxCfQPit54KbsEC3Y4/s400/100_0801.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498410340230805522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cAOs_krM0Q2Q_GOJ7XRCfYPZD9pxQHUtWpff0d4NWLfOnQeWEMk5mw68vVPL0Tny8QnfaCzn_oMLkgE1jeDTVugdaf7TEzArpR_8TX4xRW1dSuFrVSohhn1f_iJLyIZ-Xx0-jCBh_6o/s1600/100_0800.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cAOs_krM0Q2Q_GOJ7XRCfYPZD9pxQHUtWpff0d4NWLfOnQeWEMk5mw68vVPL0Tny8QnfaCzn_oMLkgE1jeDTVugdaf7TEzArpR_8TX4xRW1dSuFrVSohhn1f_iJLyIZ-Xx0-jCBh_6o/s400/100_0800.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498410333693228482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKKRGTe6h_CijjAGhd0sQ5JaLdJef4e3DuCI5MQLLhHF_wWDUtf3AJ_IKWEUzAUzQZG8fvTUlmx95ECVzKcSkngEHUN78UBbFdEJ4uQUvOGFY2QTqaonOS7_mh7JYNg-5UTF3LGFPZLI/s1600/100_0803.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKKRGTe6h_CijjAGhd0sQ5JaLdJef4e3DuCI5MQLLhHF_wWDUtf3AJ_IKWEUzAUzQZG8fvTUlmx95ECVzKcSkngEHUN78UBbFdEJ4uQUvOGFY2QTqaonOS7_mh7JYNg-5UTF3LGFPZLI/s400/100_0803.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498411132700064418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxltFVXyd23Avmzewq-khsrxZ_VBuh6aK0Lk-26WsSeKmDl8_bnTCpgoWE2OIAnW7elKwxKG159A4GZb0ol_Exf4Z6gIyQ9dGyWAclX9tTyI262wMD_ntN8fN3YF6wXFfCBg42ebzTWA/s1600/100_0802.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxltFVXyd23Avmzewq-khsrxZ_VBuh6aK0Lk-26WsSeKmDl8_bnTCpgoWE2OIAnW7elKwxKG159A4GZb0ol_Exf4Z6gIyQ9dGyWAclX9tTyI262wMD_ntN8fN3YF6wXFfCBg42ebzTWA/s400/100_0802.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498411122894916034" /></a><br /><br />The next morning dawned bright and very very breezy, The general forecast for the rest of the week wasnt good so after much discussion with Kent, it was decided we would set out and radio back how we were getting on so that they could make the desiscion to go or not. We then also had the option of turning back if things got too bad.<br /><br />We set off to much horn blowing and safe trip wishes, and made our way out past the break water.<br /><br />Conditions were very similar to our trip along the Thames estuary, our nose was digging deep and we were throwing water up and over us.<br />After about half an hour Steve called up Kent on the VHF.<br /><br />It was just at the point of him saying "its a bit lumpy but not too bad" that we were suddenly caught by a large wave on our port beam, we rolled slightly to the right, then, mounted the crest and quickly rolled to the left and kept on rolling, Steve was cut off mid sentence as he gripped the wheel with both hands and I just remember looking down at him. We were on our beam ends, steve in the bottom of the trough and me high up at the top looking down at the water through the port wheelhouse windows, As quick as we had rolled left we again rolled right and our positions were reversed. I rember hearing loud thuds from behind us as nick was tipped bodily from his bench seat, thrown onto the chart table and then thrown back onto the bench. We suddenly righted ourselves and as if nothing had happend, Steve resumed his radio conversation with Kent....this time adding that there are occasional rogue waves.<br /><br />That was the senario for the reat of the run along the Belgium and French coast until we finally turned North West for England. Nick and myself swapping seats to allow each other a rest from trying to remain on the bench seat and steve all the time keeping us on a course which offered the smoothest ride.<br /><br />There are no photos of our return trip as both hands were used for support, we didnt even get our first dose of coffee till England was finally in sight.<br /><br />We eventually reached Ramsgate and if ever I have been glad to see that port it was then. <br />It was with much regret that I jumped ship at Ramsgate in order to catch the train home as I felt I had left Laura on her own with Lilian for too long and as I only had 1 more day left before I returned to work I thought it best that I get home.<br /><br />All in all a very excellent week. My deepest thanks once again go to Steve for the invite and his seamanship in getting us there safely and home again, To Valonia for being a worthy seaboat and to Laura for giving me the time off once again for this most excellent adventure.saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-21225432705271695542010-07-23T11:06:00.007+01:002010-07-24T00:00:34.134+01:00Oostende voor anker 2010 pt2Where was I......oh yes, we had just arrived in Ramsgate, I have never ever chosen Ramsgate as a port to visit other than as a refuge to avoid the heavy weather and seas that batter those shallow shoals around the South East Coast of England.<br />It does seem that almost every time we set sail for Oostende we invariably end up running for that safe haven that is the Port of Ramsgate.<br /><br />Imagine how important and secure that Port was to those brave souls in flimsy, lightly planked and totally unsuitable boats 70 years earlier as they gathered and waited for the 'Nod' to head off towards Dunkirk.<br /><br />The Sea during that time was maybe the least of their worries.<br /><br />We hoped to be berthed in one of the inner pontoons however, there was a dredger working inside and we were instructed to 'Raft up' alongside one of the old little ships on the outside pontoon, it was a lovely white hulled heavily varnished gentlemans Yacht so very typical of 1930's design. <br />I made sure I put every fender down that we had on board as steve brought us alongside assisted rather quicker than we wouldve liked by the still strong easterly winds.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-9izPInEWHORac2SFCcyg4Ng0Wwo0DgOd0-hoaAv_mWCn9hT_BuYgB-hxEotLyyTz5hYt0F_ATwdrKgNWU8m7S3DiPhMGt5pdhQTIfNa4MwzFp_nDBo6DlDkA637dp2ivOXBUJ171Ps/s1600/100_0781.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-9izPInEWHORac2SFCcyg4Ng0Wwo0DgOd0-hoaAv_mWCn9hT_BuYgB-hxEotLyyTz5hYt0F_ATwdrKgNWU8m7S3DiPhMGt5pdhQTIfNa4MwzFp_nDBo6DlDkA637dp2ivOXBUJ171Ps/s400/100_0781.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497230178222631522" /></a><br /><br />Directly in front was an old wooden ferry/trip boat<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YDKo6KzHepuPTGPx3Te0gkUy9tnBktPeA30OMDCBpi6wZxk6JI94oSE0gWlhcRAp3I9qZgFyHtoISmlc6P9z4h0Dh3IdVyZlFNkjjOtd8q25qGbQ2MTZ5_uh7hsCeFJziq1S2Ye4bQM/s1600/100_0782.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YDKo6KzHepuPTGPx3Te0gkUy9tnBktPeA30OMDCBpi6wZxk6JI94oSE0gWlhcRAp3I9qZgFyHtoISmlc6P9z4h0Dh3IdVyZlFNkjjOtd8q25qGbQ2MTZ5_uh7hsCeFJziq1S2Ye4bQM/s400/100_0782.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497231021633953266" /></a><br /><br />Eventually the dredger finished its work and we shifted position to the inside pontoons. The rest of that evening was spent on board <a href="http://www.adls.org.uk/t1/taxonomy/term/199">Mary Jane</a><br /><br />The next day the winds were still easterly 5-6 so it was a no go for Oostende, That meant we were going to be late as the festival was due to start the following day but as things turned out we were able to enjoy the celebrations laid on in Ramsgate for the 70th Anniversary of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuation">operation Dynamo</a><br /><br />This entailed a few breakfast bevies aboard Mary Jane then a visit to the shops to stock up on supplies and then to watch the parade of the Dunkirk Vets and Fly Past by the Battle of britain memorial flight<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiDoclFwHo7NYpIeKNbhSu7OGenOASGFGx2XW9F-TsKAtEx5v5p9wETLCi_8KyLgZX0bLThJxflCYCKAiFvXNNyUo55l41lrVTzKCy1cytVbE5fhdb9IzDBP3aG9G79RIM_xT1aIfmrc/s1600/100_0783.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiDoclFwHo7NYpIeKNbhSu7OGenOASGFGx2XW9F-TsKAtEx5v5p9wETLCi_8KyLgZX0bLThJxflCYCKAiFvXNNyUo55l41lrVTzKCy1cytVbE5fhdb9IzDBP3aG9G79RIM_xT1aIfmrc/s400/100_0783.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497237148771311138" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkKxY_-hRtrtOgRWnIXqsM4xEGGqlhtm6IWt6z2VVLdgf8vuHuAgBly39vFbJ9r9sZjvigEdNTAJFkmFq2T0_6tipH8gHqTQ9_MCu7UkBoeYRdmAeytdAnCr4e7nqcj0woZbefIMJbOI/s1600/100_0784.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkKxY_-hRtrtOgRWnIXqsM4xEGGqlhtm6IWt6z2VVLdgf8vuHuAgBly39vFbJ9r9sZjvigEdNTAJFkmFq2T0_6tipH8gHqTQ9_MCu7UkBoeYRdmAeytdAnCr4e7nqcj0woZbefIMJbOI/s400/100_0784.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497237155673595266" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sIvjhIgqxvdXORQiuzcWoCqiS6hhCfU2lRa-lNU8wQLx-UNVSxiogTrShFRVL2fpLk09gN0QJ1dA41sdItsv96kTS_DLCayPY8RBepwlbU8tpdcVd-9qf6dUrw9oeKpgkQj8s7g1gQ8/s1600/100_0785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sIvjhIgqxvdXORQiuzcWoCqiS6hhCfU2lRa-lNU8wQLx-UNVSxiogTrShFRVL2fpLk09gN0QJ1dA41sdItsv96kTS_DLCayPY8RBepwlbU8tpdcVd-9qf6dUrw9oeKpgkQj8s7g1gQ8/s400/100_0785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497238131223759970" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLemik6fKQmKd4pdxJmeplNn9tJ2cLaHEDnP9vtzYZM1XMAYRRrx9dCt4wLurQjtRntGl2S_MXBDWhDn7UppkafyLOsyT3DeCNgG8ktWJrOyX3KrqI37lcG8FwXNFjEwrer2QGFHpcmOQ/s1600/100_0786.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLemik6fKQmKd4pdxJmeplNn9tJ2cLaHEDnP9vtzYZM1XMAYRRrx9dCt4wLurQjtRntGl2S_MXBDWhDn7UppkafyLOsyT3DeCNgG8ktWJrOyX3KrqI37lcG8FwXNFjEwrer2QGFHpcmOQ/s400/100_0786.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497238139214310162" /></a><br /><br />That evening we spent in the Yacht Club which sits on the cliff overlooking the harbour and gave us an excellent view of the firework display which exploded into the skys from the Harbour breakwater.<br /><br />The Dunkirk Ships were due to leave the next morning so all eyes had been on the weather reports during the day. Anything above a force four and it would be likely that the 70th Anniversary Run wouldnt go ahead.<br /><br />There would be a Go or No Go descision made at 7am the next morningsaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-3280286819119406902010-07-21T01:05:00.014+01:002010-07-21T02:19:19.756+01:00Oostende voor anker 2010The end of May saw us once again in Boat Festival season.<br /><br />I was very fortunate that my old friend Steve was in need of crew to attend the Oostende voor anker festival, so I took my berth on the good ship Valonia and we set off from Cuxton on the river Medway towards Ostend in Belgium.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVMZsGwU-UJd_lTjDoQGY2eId2xCkEQssNK162ittg-JaxACogv8yQtCaQdlssFtfuK3scxTtqJ1PuFZZvNnsmqhxfVRz5l-sv0TYWm18qZ_c8nBTnPdDq9OIwZ9_9fXpeqd4YDVQB1Y/s1600/100_0769.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVMZsGwU-UJd_lTjDoQGY2eId2xCkEQssNK162ittg-JaxACogv8yQtCaQdlssFtfuK3scxTtqJ1PuFZZvNnsmqhxfVRz5l-sv0TYWm18qZ_c8nBTnPdDq9OIwZ9_9fXpeqd4YDVQB1Y/s400/100_0769.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496146868381183250" /></a><br /><br />Ex Pilot Cutter Valonia worked the south of England UK waters from i think 1969 onward. She has twin 200bhp Cummins diesel engines which when new could push Valonia through the water at 25 knots, She probably manages 20 knots these days if pushed.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8sGKgO1dVwgB-IhBqV5hhBqoC4EQdNZu3Lemow9zNQqerBVkKDArJZdv35hx-pSFfTrOxGU-Q0vGTUJDSwrJfus5UjZ8PifoIVl8peaCJ-Q_Q0NSWNGxekh_L74uX63j1P_lVwPQMDU/s1600/100_0767.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8sGKgO1dVwgB-IhBqV5hhBqoC4EQdNZu3Lemow9zNQqerBVkKDArJZdv35hx-pSFfTrOxGU-Q0vGTUJDSwrJfus5UjZ8PifoIVl8peaCJ-Q_Q0NSWNGxekh_L74uX63j1P_lVwPQMDU/s400/100_0767.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496148638971062146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZRtspcFUWvj4ZsjeIm_1D-5FrXS6TO30bpnD03q3iBuW16B-jRyfzaDIFbEKb4IaO8uxZ0WcNC_jfjhFimp_y27mANxyzJpw_8NiOPCBKtet8Ots9-igQd-UdQbieHtSAZdGo1ncstU/s1600/100_0768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZRtspcFUWvj4ZsjeIm_1D-5FrXS6TO30bpnD03q3iBuW16B-jRyfzaDIFbEKb4IaO8uxZ0WcNC_jfjhFimp_y27mANxyzJpw_8NiOPCBKtet8Ots9-igQd-UdQbieHtSAZdGo1ncstU/s400/100_0768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496148631499798418" /></a><br /><br />The weekend before was absolutely lovely, the sun was cracking the flags without a breath of wind. I drove down to Kent with the soft top down and met Steve at the boatyard. <br />An evening meal at the White hart and a few sherberts later saw us aboard and ready for the morning....the weather report didnt look good.<br /><br />Sure enough, the next morning saw an overcast sky and a vicious North Easterly Wind gusting force 4-5 occasionally 6.<br />This is never good news for a run along the North Kent coast on an outgoing tide. The reasons being, the tide flows easterly and a North Easterly wind means the tide pushes against the wind making the sea rather choppy....(understatement of the year)<br /><br />We knew that we wouldnt get to Ostend this day so a run to Ramsgate was the order of the day. <br />The construction of valonia means that you have to spend all of your time in the wheel house as both engines are located forward of the wheelhouse which means the forward accommodation is cut off as it would be rather dangerous to try and attempt to enter the engine room when under way due to the boats movement. (too many hot exhaust pipes)<br /><br />The River medway itself is very sheltered so we made good time heading down river to the thames estuary,<br />As we passed Chatham I caught a good look at my tub Emblem, She looks a little tired but I understand she is due for dry dock later this year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8eFRdt0zH5Nh_-ZbhyOMd9CPbwVL-EBwlMFtJQ5CL45qLDk0aToZUL7u2O0ny27FhLd4HU9a3wb1PNW_jpeRW_QfoDFrRw6XDo0ru5lYq_zQMJCgz3VJ017a3IWRouxcs6CvpMHJGDc/s1600/100_0770.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8eFRdt0zH5Nh_-ZbhyOMd9CPbwVL-EBwlMFtJQ5CL45qLDk0aToZUL7u2O0ny27FhLd4HU9a3wb1PNW_jpeRW_QfoDFrRw6XDo0ru5lYq_zQMJCgz3VJ017a3IWRouxcs6CvpMHJGDc/s400/100_0770.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496153194213965970" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEile-xkjGYvGZBCxTahby_5EN8gXLOuVY-1h8fpU2MpapJUE9ebX5EEynkkW6taRC9-9rBIHCocqfsQL-jCZR3HPM0HqQB-O1KDXam1xXwJI9d0wlP6th6rxauXctqAjVgjcCIRxF29eiY/s1600/100_0771.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEile-xkjGYvGZBCxTahby_5EN8gXLOuVY-1h8fpU2MpapJUE9ebX5EEynkkW6taRC9-9rBIHCocqfsQL-jCZR3HPM0HqQB-O1KDXam1xXwJI9d0wlP6th6rxauXctqAjVgjcCIRxF29eiY/s400/100_0771.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496153824979398146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8NdcGtxPeBNS9-3QCuGtzCITRQQ585x-BhGUkbSJcPnlEzhBc5xH6arIyvgkIGTqlbmqfYd0PnEMOmq8_u_swZtejhjPD49V215b7uiPqyW-MxjsxUhMHLOHYBOJTGYZpITMMTnIU8A/s1600/100_0772.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8NdcGtxPeBNS9-3QCuGtzCITRQQ585x-BhGUkbSJcPnlEzhBc5xH6arIyvgkIGTqlbmqfYd0PnEMOmq8_u_swZtejhjPD49V215b7uiPqyW-MxjsxUhMHLOHYBOJTGYZpITMMTnIU8A/s400/100_0772.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496154262291855698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf3AO8gHs_Az-CctLpZjrjf5MQYzkpl5EZRRzLH6b-mreOkKAeZL2pqq_QDmJvGIJXdXwu5GcEs_yWy_0kqWAnybaxb_sF_0VzxpkvzgTkW7wr0F6sbg62H6yyS69QoOcYDwNQIEtDkQ/s1600/100_0773.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf3AO8gHs_Az-CctLpZjrjf5MQYzkpl5EZRRzLH6b-mreOkKAeZL2pqq_QDmJvGIJXdXwu5GcEs_yWy_0kqWAnybaxb_sF_0VzxpkvzgTkW7wr0F6sbg62H6yyS69QoOcYDwNQIEtDkQ/s400/100_0773.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496154698471661746" /></a><br /><br />The sun came out as we approached the mouth of the Medway but the wind continued to blow as Strong as ever. <br />We ventured forth into open water, ie the Thames estuary and headed east along the inshore passage towards Ramsgate, As soon as we left the sheltered waters of the the River, the waves came at us in regular and irregular intervals. We only had appx half revs on the engines in order to save fuel so instead of riding on the waves at cruising speed we ploughed through the waves, The bow digging deep into the crests and then scooping up the water collected on the deck and tossing it back over the wheelhouse as one would do with a shovel of sand. <br />the first time it happened I said to Steve "we're going under" it seemed to take an age for the water to clear the screens and our only view was a pale green watery mass while the boat shuddered and thumped her way through the trough.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljMF-UhHxJJHQiLkUocIXRnloFp8yWO_8j43covkBMsq20o2MDVCCXxPRnXqqR_99hEcY5IxFpJBEGacfpWbwFWCl6M4zfK_ZH7Vdw3FLkPeEYKSJ1qH_fA3aDRG-a96MJsAfV_qtKGM/s1600/100_0775.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljMF-UhHxJJHQiLkUocIXRnloFp8yWO_8j43covkBMsq20o2MDVCCXxPRnXqqR_99hEcY5IxFpJBEGacfpWbwFWCl6M4zfK_ZH7Vdw3FLkPeEYKSJ1qH_fA3aDRG-a96MJsAfV_qtKGM/s400/100_0775.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496158205562350146" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MXp5vxKXAWAOxzQ8avxlF5yauju0TeNwvmxi-OVgbLfOElkwDEZxZhNki56IfszHXjL_bc6xKvNkC5gjHcZna3mOzro8LKkamv7IE90JFZQc44A5n46aasATQgsy1YXMQUZuX4DYv24/s1600/100_0779.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MXp5vxKXAWAOxzQ8avxlF5yauju0TeNwvmxi-OVgbLfOElkwDEZxZhNki56IfszHXjL_bc6xKvNkC5gjHcZna3mOzro8LKkamv7IE90JFZQc44A5n46aasATQgsy1YXMQUZuX4DYv24/s400/100_0779.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496158978617798242" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6m-fqUubaHNpIMnf6qhZjCXlLIAMmgvCYaOOKuhBQP2fZJR3fx4t3SjRKHUEdjG7vpr7NXKjpPvBpTYQWdCiJdTQLNER63oDYulm3JQ1L6ZJJ_RRgD2uxQMmTm3o3mg2JgHVyLkFm-B8/s1600/100_0778.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6m-fqUubaHNpIMnf6qhZjCXlLIAMmgvCYaOOKuhBQP2fZJR3fx4t3SjRKHUEdjG7vpr7NXKjpPvBpTYQWdCiJdTQLNER63oDYulm3JQ1L6ZJJ_RRgD2uxQMmTm3o3mg2JgHVyLkFm-B8/s400/100_0778.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496158957371209042" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp0vHQhcKpVPC8VK1GHh3SshU-EKN5hLnLQE7JDi2FttBlYUp6Xo7QHKEvcri5rJPnYk8V6sKQjl9vJUKQQdKu3oQI1olJujrIvP5i3aTZjT5NoPyCIev88P3_JzZ-Scn8gWKb6sBGvs/s1600/100_0780.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp0vHQhcKpVPC8VK1GHh3SshU-EKN5hLnLQE7JDi2FttBlYUp6Xo7QHKEvcri5rJPnYk8V6sKQjl9vJUKQQdKu3oQI1olJujrIvP5i3aTZjT5NoPyCIev88P3_JzZ-Scn8gWKb6sBGvs/s400/100_0780.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496159637642125842" /></a><br /><br />Passing The Northforeland was interesting, it looked like we had indeed become a submarine as we dipped and scooped our way round the Kent Coast.<br /><br />It was with much relief that we finally arrived at Ramsgate after 6 hours of bouncy bouncy and what a nice surprise awaited us.<br />It was the 70th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation and our old friends on the Dunkirk little ship Mary Jane cracked open a beer and refreshed or flagging souls.<br /><br /><br />more to followsaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-40921604513892053732010-05-19T14:42:00.009+01:002010-05-21T01:05:11.267+01:00Its about timeIts about time that I updated this blog having neglected it for too long while doing other more important things such as looking after little lilian who's not so little anymore. Id forgotten how much attention baby's require.<br /><br />We have now been aboard Amy for 5 months and can report on our progress so far.<br />As previously mentioned the heating and hot water is provided by a Refleks Diesel stove. Compared to the old Squirrel solid fuel stove on lady Elgar, this system is marvelous. No bags of coal to store or lug around, No Ashpans to empty, it can be left on all day without needing attention and feeding and the heat control is at the turn of a tap. It couldn't be simpler, or so I thought.<br /><br />Just as the snow had reached its peak and 2 weeks before Christmas the stove suddenly and without warning went out. Luckily we have 3 electric radiators so we were able to keep the boat nice and warm albeit at the expense of the electric meter.<br /><br />I just couldn't understand what had gone wrong with the stove which had been burning away merrily one minute and then stone cold the next. I checked the fuel tank and there was just under half a tank left, so I foolishly set to work on the regulator behind the stove which I was convinced had somehow become clogged up either due to water in the fuel or maybe dirt from the tank. <br /><br />It was several hours later and much messing about had been done to the regulator before I finally sat back and realised that I had been an idiot. Yes, there may well be fuel in the tank but the blockage could be in the pipework to the stove.<br /><br />To cut a long story short I eventually found that there wasnt any fuel getting to the stove at all. This was purely and simply the fact that its a gravity fed system and although there appeared to be enough fuel in the tank it wasnt enough to force the fuel through to the stove.<br /><br />I quickly solved this by nipping down to the boatyard and topping up the tank with 4 barrels of fuel. We couldnt take the boat as the canal was frozen over.<br /><br />The fuel started to flow but now the regulator wouldnt let fuel into the stove. In my tinkering with it I had obviously upset the balance of the float and no amount of tinkering would solve it. The yard eventually solved the problem by fitting a new regulator. A complete waste of time if only I had thought things out logically before jumping in with spanners and both feet.<br /><br />The rest of winter passed without incident and we remained lovely and warm.<br /><br />The end of march saw <a href="http://www.wilsonsofkinver.co.uk/">Wilsons of Kinver </a>arrive and finally fit our long awaited Stern Hood. This canvas hood now covers the whole of the rear deck giving us effectively an additional room and somewhere to hang wet coats when its raining.<br /><br />Heres some pics<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsbg8ll-CyoawSNlkIWwYz9GyenZX1Oox7aUBAUifqhE1d8bGO5BQlSqOWK75Sc6PkXlD15jBWWt5phto_23CEnpcaoWeLLHDLRx80pLN2OuJU6f79mESFJkLyt2Lw0-UlpqX6XAUYEY/s1600/100_0748.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsbg8ll-CyoawSNlkIWwYz9GyenZX1Oox7aUBAUifqhE1d8bGO5BQlSqOWK75Sc6PkXlD15jBWWt5phto_23CEnpcaoWeLLHDLRx80pLN2OuJU6f79mESFJkLyt2Lw0-UlpqX6XAUYEY/s400/100_0748.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472991887743519810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePDCEjgxKKUFvm4mBUED1nbOyL_OSGfjLXl-jvHvPy0M6W3NKqWmBwliWk-S4zXbajAZXbjwig1r3md3cB8W2U53C7CeNAU8sqR6n0JSuXbBCabmt1HLV4o-s8xiSNoJKOkSQOO5Ce6U/s1600/100_0749.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePDCEjgxKKUFvm4mBUED1nbOyL_OSGfjLXl-jvHvPy0M6W3NKqWmBwliWk-S4zXbajAZXbjwig1r3md3cB8W2U53C7CeNAU8sqR6n0JSuXbBCabmt1HLV4o-s8xiSNoJKOkSQOO5Ce6U/s400/100_0749.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472992603723295234" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3Vtyk-0p9uk/S_P6cI0q6DI<br />AAAAAAAAA0w/-pT4c0rU_ts/s1600/100_0751.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0fDHL50kii-I3ArwvAxmGBxU0VjeiV0-o_JZvVwo-As3VMJsTuqXPcPCyirUUl-nTCcBYbTD8hR7BhRLYsHb6vZv8AaDK45leezWn5BD_IzDWLKxr6ojNrtTENPPxNlSaU4r7rbHT0E/s400/100_0751.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472993333496965170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzXoZrBpjLTHLVlrtxnN5_J51dhvs105NzvKXUF84adm_6Y2TEzD305q85lUPF9icTciloorJ-jaJKFfc7LStiRCvgaH4ky9Z877pmG52T15wXMG59yj6d_qoouyvMpRCQc7UhX8av5M/s1600/100_0750.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzXoZrBpjLTHLVlrtxnN5_J51dhvs105NzvKXUF84adm_6Y2TEzD305q85lUPF9icTciloorJ-jaJKFfc7LStiRCvgaH4ky9Z877pmG52T15wXMG59yj6d_qoouyvMpRCQc7UhX8av5M/s400/100_0750.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473507336924862754" /></a><br /><br />Finally heres a couple of pics of Lilian now at 10 months old<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLHuv32Nww5f7-679YlyRrmwyelNW485PuEEs3YxTpa0ucpnvB0DPSBVFGrQaooSsQ6WT8Ieva7sZ2HCVepw1LmMJO9f6IYHKU1clKGWBBSVcIesmcFD8uqa4Rd2BBDDivIAp8PoJ_3Q/s1600/100_0743.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLHuv32Nww5f7-679YlyRrmwyelNW485PuEEs3YxTpa0ucpnvB0DPSBVFGrQaooSsQ6WT8Ieva7sZ2HCVepw1LmMJO9f6IYHKU1clKGWBBSVcIesmcFD8uqa4Rd2BBDDivIAp8PoJ_3Q/s400/100_0743.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472995760267827314" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhP1h0lsOPXv00ioJevCp7emgYR2Us6a2jclPGLBbRMZ2daBE8KZtnU1yQv__p3tjW1IyJ0eUWRj82C57L4m3ejg_h614hG2yDdo-eT6p08bYiNS_RzQ980_Poe5U1rpLbzB8vWUdt3w/s1600/100_0731.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhP1h0lsOPXv00ioJevCp7emgYR2Us6a2jclPGLBbRMZ2daBE8KZtnU1yQv__p3tjW1IyJ0eUWRj82C57L4m3ejg_h614hG2yDdo-eT6p08bYiNS_RzQ980_Poe5U1rpLbzB8vWUdt3w/s400/100_0731.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472996497963072866" /></a>saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-68363628387527112902009-12-18T01:21:00.006+00:002009-12-18T02:29:35.397+00:00Some Pics of our LilianShe is now almost 6mths old.<br /><br />I think we have been the luckiest parents on the planet.<br /><br />Since she was 2 mths she sleeps on average 10-11 hours a night when she decided her bedtime was 8pm sometimes 7pm following a busy baby type day.<br /><br />She has 2 teeth when others older than her by several weeks have none and her only gripe about teething is a few moans during the day when she is in particular discomfort. The rest of the time she spends testing her teeth on the nose and fingers of Laura and her Godmother Lydia.<br /><br />last month, with the arrival of her first tooth we decided to try her out on solid food, we had read all the books which told us to be patient and not to expect her to take to it straight away but to keep trying.<br /><br />She gobbled up her first bowl in 1 sitting often grabbing the spoon to try and feed herself.<br />Its got to change soon surely, when is she going to turn into the baby monster?<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauDcw-J_XCSQZXeuXDBHqn9m5k4erbla8P_3Zv1_i5LK7knHpAAqY4K64UsB36IACSxan6M9jQGxMTVJDtelu66Ajjevq8unO6mnSIZhbLwTpDO7WtkO2qIJTU2Y2TA76tAbpzVMGrzI/s1600-h/100_0656.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauDcw-J_XCSQZXeuXDBHqn9m5k4erbla8P_3Zv1_i5LK7knHpAAqY4K64UsB36IACSxan6M9jQGxMTVJDtelu66Ajjevq8unO6mnSIZhbLwTpDO7WtkO2qIJTU2Y2TA76tAbpzVMGrzI/s400/100_0656.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416383695414816274" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YmdB6Pqnf-u-sYutyNm7fUuwQc-yLRO2_G0wvufKd9dm6c8rlG7UCPL0p5TN6awGzTgrTRmE5222EGeNsSAYmQHt5OL_AHlRI3gzmcCezISZrbZbf82YdZMHSmWCmIOEFmjb36TvGug/s1600-h/100_0658.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YmdB6Pqnf-u-sYutyNm7fUuwQc-yLRO2_G0wvufKd9dm6c8rlG7UCPL0p5TN6awGzTgrTRmE5222EGeNsSAYmQHt5OL_AHlRI3gzmcCezISZrbZbf82YdZMHSmWCmIOEFmjb36TvGug/s400/100_0658.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416384047536635394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vYy9yzBjGdxay9nrtg2xCzDMib_h7mxouk9y7K52nTfQjFhAThGTFX6lbpVeqk3P5VMUr5bZ7qxmzcGAc0SLYG7ZOtOKFO-3XvskqHeDKB02aw9M57jq0Gr-CloPnTF_j1Pq_BiNDsc/s1600-h/100_0680.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vYy9yzBjGdxay9nrtg2xCzDMib_h7mxouk9y7K52nTfQjFhAThGTFX6lbpVeqk3P5VMUr5bZ7qxmzcGAc0SLYG7ZOtOKFO-3XvskqHeDKB02aw9M57jq0Gr-CloPnTF_j1Pq_BiNDsc/s400/100_0680.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416384677045779906" /></a>saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-73038176210363861892009-12-18T00:55:00.008+00:002009-12-18T01:17:29.985+00:00Oh the weather outside is frightfulIts time for a few photo's<br /><br />We have been aboard Amy now for over a month and what differences have we noticed compared to life aboard Lady Elgar.<br /><br />Well, Our Reflex Diesel stove has been alight since day 1 with only minor turns of the temperature knob to acquire a pleasant heat aboard. No coal bunker to fill up. No coal bags to manhandle on board, No ash pan to empty, no coal dust settling everywhere. <br /><br />I do miss the flames of a real fire though.<br /><br />Its now 1am and there is a blizzard blowing outside.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRyrUo8EVpvkjr6mPF22H55yUbXY8h8tl_IKq3b-Are0c8arIpbLDH2d41y-Pplq1BAbHmhtd2bODPJmsrd-gSTqk25nCQvggwtBh8hCxwimooO7g9AJnGpSYLdLezqyg0L2eo2QtEFk/s1600-h/100_0685.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRyrUo8EVpvkjr6mPF22H55yUbXY8h8tl_IKq3b-Are0c8arIpbLDH2d41y-Pplq1BAbHmhtd2bODPJmsrd-gSTqk25nCQvggwtBh8hCxwimooO7g9AJnGpSYLdLezqyg0L2eo2QtEFk/s400/100_0685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416375736647267474" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUyC6z3FS1Ya5T3UwRCpjdJ-oKp2CYxgd0_EfILXbbtqoUj9lWSMT7C1VP9ObBqMa_cTfzYTL10TXFzoXXAaZv6d3efc8emti1Lmls7BuYYoUGvm62tS9PPUMIGVSS9MjKwSulVNkj0w/s1600-h/100_0687.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUyC6z3FS1Ya5T3UwRCpjdJ-oKp2CYxgd0_EfILXbbtqoUj9lWSMT7C1VP9ObBqMa_cTfzYTL10TXFzoXXAaZv6d3efc8emti1Lmls7BuYYoUGvm62tS9PPUMIGVSS9MjKwSulVNkj0w/s400/100_0687.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416376337576128322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl7yZJIlIIA75CPFTo7F5sMuLExFEsb4gzrD4tHGk8ubBnLbTup7_p2WUKVEvZ4m3IzxlTOUxNwrrOBSfwGMSFGvGkd4b5NiHwAAbi1NY08CHv77fJemxCKxsB1scG6aY2Cx5_i5futM/s1600-h/100_0686.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl7yZJIlIIA75CPFTo7F5sMuLExFEsb4gzrD4tHGk8ubBnLbTup7_p2WUKVEvZ4m3IzxlTOUxNwrrOBSfwGMSFGvGkd4b5NiHwAAbi1NY08CHv77fJemxCKxsB1scG6aY2Cx5_i5futM/s400/100_0686.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416376331875797282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIVFd7K18x2sf-UmO85UehSwGn2Y1mSf-07SGrBl8RJX9a0HuDmnMZfaMItFL4rElTiD7PXQZc50XQhIcOuFXBfdNlpiaPSBabz-7UPHPVHh5qcThrurGb4Su1aP4DhJvrpuFGVssn-U/s1600-h/100_0688.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIVFd7K18x2sf-UmO85UehSwGn2Y1mSf-07SGrBl8RJX9a0HuDmnMZfaMItFL4rElTiD7PXQZc50XQhIcOuFXBfdNlpiaPSBabz-7UPHPVHh5qcThrurGb4Su1aP4DhJvrpuFGVssn-U/s400/100_0688.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416376915310047346" /></a><br /><br />Remember the space we had aboard LE?<br /><br />This is a pic of a visit from Laura's brother and sister in law<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxugoRXmDmQei8RjeSYNCrRohZ2MuVkurxw2-oVTo9J7NhJ3J2wJ2knOMX5lrWONKVPZnd5hEVy6M2PiRwzkNzpUur2yxL8ab-9TgsBkYImioiLOHO_TEr4vUNlLW-2z1UwPL1IawiDRQ/s1600-h/100_0649.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxugoRXmDmQei8RjeSYNCrRohZ2MuVkurxw2-oVTo9J7NhJ3J2wJ2knOMX5lrWONKVPZnd5hEVy6M2PiRwzkNzpUur2yxL8ab-9TgsBkYImioiLOHO_TEr4vUNlLW-2z1UwPL1IawiDRQ/s400/100_0649.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416377818064379810" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is our Living room on Amy<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn-8jrr8NnEm4W8VmT68O8Kfo3lemupnT2BUV0Yxz7lfhjsRcuiQZpQYCcsFVl0LpYz-w3zPqwiXOYmJ1X0uvCrlocdUuP6f5b51UC1t57ghCgQrgTEqcXHjYJpnGIGk941Lu2H2eJbI/s1600-h/100_0689.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn-8jrr8NnEm4W8VmT68O8Kfo3lemupnT2BUV0Yxz7lfhjsRcuiQZpQYCcsFVl0LpYz-w3zPqwiXOYmJ1X0uvCrlocdUuP6f5b51UC1t57ghCgQrgTEqcXHjYJpnGIGk941Lu2H2eJbI/s400/100_0689.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416378446835276498" /></a><br /><br />Merry Christmas one and allsaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-3105199863978702692009-11-19T19:51:00.009+00:002009-11-19T22:44:28.295+00:00A new homeThe day of the Launch finally arrived and we were up bright and early. Not as early as we had expected because Lilian decided she was having a lie in and didn't wake up till quarter to eight meaning she had slept for nearly 12hours. <br /><br />Its typical isn't it, you trust her to be your alarm clock and get you up at her normal time of 6.30am and she lets you over sleep.<br /><br />Highline had let us know that the crane would arrive at 8am and maneuvers would commence shortly after. We didn't know the pecking order though as two boats had to be returned to the water in addition to ours and i think another 3 had to come out for surveys and blacking.<br /><br />Neil and cath from Herbie arrived shortly after 8am and together we all hung around the yard waiting for action.<br />The crane driver was doing various things to his charge including fitting a wind speed monitor to the boom as the day was gusting very strong.<br /><br />Finally, following what looked to us to be a lovely mug of tea, the driver and staff of Highline swung into action, and ever so gently and with great care each narrowboat was placed back in the water and another was hauled out ready for a hull survey.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7oKgn6aWaQfU5t9IK-K2d8f_fLWhYTMAGInb4hj_gRRPgHnQPpAw5hPiGcL6GqCPMlOQT5BGXEX8c86wJbsZUYfpu96vBtN9PAIj6BQ-fwlZposot9mokeq_Iz0eN6lAMzHCUMgQoiM/s1600/100_0669.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7oKgn6aWaQfU5t9IK-K2d8f_fLWhYTMAGInb4hj_gRRPgHnQPpAw5hPiGcL6GqCPMlOQT5BGXEX8c86wJbsZUYfpu96vBtN9PAIj6BQ-fwlZposot9mokeq_Iz0eN6lAMzHCUMgQoiM/s400/100_0669.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405908308849887138" /></a><br /><br />It was then the turn of Amy<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6dpFGHGGnDzcT6gjWejxSQ_4ql6ygF-qa67A5wNlzBDraJ1e8nvmAUz5p4oSaIhSrVpd2f_mK7KYkr664aRVYNGnCFEagZnV8DxcodY0eCEquDM364_SKpAHFdBdlR95LBfkCgu3s2Q/s1600/100_0666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6dpFGHGGnDzcT6gjWejxSQ_4ql6ygF-qa67A5wNlzBDraJ1e8nvmAUz5p4oSaIhSrVpd2f_mK7KYkr664aRVYNGnCFEagZnV8DxcodY0eCEquDM364_SKpAHFdBdlR95LBfkCgu3s2Q/s400/100_0666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405909201883445234" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9ABq3lSbyjsE67nt-EsXRS7zgKeJu73bpGIfM4TMEs_r1UiGNR4_k3MAb8Zahib_2sO8ZU4q86z8G3FBUS2Eu1G_lueDtSVAaerDbZZBJv1WFpbNRV607AIGvpa55NfBSqU-gn_Te9g/s1600/100_0667.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9ABq3lSbyjsE67nt-EsXRS7zgKeJu73bpGIfM4TMEs_r1UiGNR4_k3MAb8Zahib_2sO8ZU4q86z8G3FBUS2Eu1G_lueDtSVAaerDbZZBJv1WFpbNRV607AIGvpa55NfBSqU-gn_Te9g/s400/100_0667.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405911317266061762" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcy5PEwW0HtL3HOVP_DsLeWacq4rcGKMTycy64OruQmSngJaTOvsFVFR2p6vjaf1xGLeFIiE_kKQ3FpOaSfRgvVKkkAZpLIdXlJgfEFtWdUl2cLyWAYLmLGPcQltQhVWSrYIMEFFnYyw/s1600/100_0672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcy5PEwW0HtL3HOVP_DsLeWacq4rcGKMTycy64OruQmSngJaTOvsFVFR2p6vjaf1xGLeFIiE_kKQ3FpOaSfRgvVKkkAZpLIdXlJgfEFtWdUl2cLyWAYLmLGPcQltQhVWSrYIMEFFnYyw/s400/100_0672.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405912074630646322" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyrjrTFF8xTJK0gUFDO_ZzLqRAlMMxi2kxZZoBUA4OqE6XlonVEE_3zHdzM04itVmEbVp9n8cJSzIoVffohtjJIfXHOmimQtruRNQBt45NvNz83DeVe_s6PCv3KCz8E6H92Rvhm-3B_c/s1600/100_0673.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyrjrTFF8xTJK0gUFDO_ZzLqRAlMMxi2kxZZoBUA4OqE6XlonVEE_3zHdzM04itVmEbVp9n8cJSzIoVffohtjJIfXHOmimQtruRNQBt45NvNz83DeVe_s6PCv3KCz8E6H92Rvhm-3B_c/s400/100_0673.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405912082053399986" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv9Sg1klWZD5cMcD6M4xkbo_DuSVRQIiVD-CKlrlyC0SQKIl0uZMD93JrmvtdD0MnyZjuqBRnElDd2Z9oAN4qhpmoGz90I0vy77YKbS4YrxxbpvVX0wkt3KaFRLISvhxCwB8hDMBpvPw/s1600/100_0674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv9Sg1klWZD5cMcD6M4xkbo_DuSVRQIiVD-CKlrlyC0SQKIl0uZMD93JrmvtdD0MnyZjuqBRnElDd2Z9oAN4qhpmoGz90I0vy77YKbS4YrxxbpvVX0wkt3KaFRLISvhxCwB8hDMBpvPw/s400/100_0674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405939967501866850" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOIW4ib3oJhFqP6z0MGU-9mVNEF7pTuSLJAvg3JjuOCjzE03aITs9JPhBt7ddsYBa_B8FXAZ15foBbuEbXX_myRUkZ3SwSXEw6TPhw_3LUdGXqpsNJ7jW3yrSEmQAbuQOcUCzdVUIa4Q/s1600/100_0675.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOIW4ib3oJhFqP6z0MGU-9mVNEF7pTuSLJAvg3JjuOCjzE03aITs9JPhBt7ddsYBa_B8FXAZ15foBbuEbXX_myRUkZ3SwSXEw6TPhw_3LUdGXqpsNJ7jW3yrSEmQAbuQOcUCzdVUIa4Q/s400/100_0675.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405939974497546818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTIxC_7c8bsG593REDAhyy2gwTz2BKbN9O1sFYrxcjerDDMRgxLmg6_EviTUWYxT-t7Jq8Obc8tR3P6t182yr6hIw-b-pzc8lrYsv5TyFt-H77kq3QgmlGq3jkGShe9czPTN6RyfGjG0/s1600/100_0676.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTIxC_7c8bsG593REDAhyy2gwTz2BKbN9O1sFYrxcjerDDMRgxLmg6_EviTUWYxT-t7Jq8Obc8tR3P6t182yr6hIw-b-pzc8lrYsv5TyFt-H77kq3QgmlGq3jkGShe9czPTN6RyfGjG0/s400/100_0676.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405940944084145650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Kpt54ZClgBskjnL5F5WM23UDrX7zkhQrmknWh7UW2T5IwivvUexdv1soWRaRAIXppagmQa4SSrCqKDkUDR_SLVbTqk857HDhWTk24o2khhSWqPXxe4M32VI9C8rncMps05zWuwgvi48/s1600/100_0677.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Kpt54ZClgBskjnL5F5WM23UDrX7zkhQrmknWh7UW2T5IwivvUexdv1soWRaRAIXppagmQa4SSrCqKDkUDR_SLVbTqk857HDhWTk24o2khhSWqPXxe4M32VI9C8rncMps05zWuwgvi48/s400/100_0677.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405940950677463506" /></a><br /><br />Once afloat I turned the key in the ignition and the Barrus Shire 40HP engine kicked into life on the first go. A quick check of the stern gland and engine dials and I set off for the winding hole just a short hop along from Highline so I could turn, and then return to the yard to take on some fuel, giving the staff chance to finish their first leg of craning day.<br /><br />Lilian had long since fallen asleep obviously finding the sight of a huge crane and flying boats not half as exciting as a plastic rattle or a purple squeaky elephant. Our neighbour Lydia once again came to our aid as she had done for our wedding and took Lilian while we sorted ourselves out for the rest of the day. Without her help we would've really struggled to do, even half of what we achieved.<br /><br />Amy cruised the short distance to the winding hole with ease and I found the tiller very responsive. I managed the turn in one go, and arrived back at Highline to meet Laura and Neil. <br />One of the downsides to buying Amy is that we would lose our neighbour Herbie. Thankfully they were not going far and had managed to secure a nice little mooring alongside Nb Humbug which is even closer to the car park and whose owner is a really lovely lady. I think they will get on well.<br /><br />We filled the fuel tank with over 300 litres of diesel, (The heating system is a Reflexs oil burning drip feed stove) and then with the help of Neil, we moved up to our slot and secured Amy in Lady Elgars place.<br /><br />The rest of the day was spent moving our belongings from LE to Amy and sorting out wiring for phone lines and satellite TV. Got to get your priorities right :)<br /><br />So far, life on a widebeam is just fine. All crew members doing well and swinging cats.<br /><br />Our next mission is to finish the move from Lady Elgar then give her a spring clean before she goes up for sale.<br />That will be a sad daysaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-38440115762916515722009-10-28T23:25:00.002+00:002009-10-29T00:34:35.538+00:00Of Mice and MenThe best laid plans etc.<br /><br />My dream, once I retired from the force was always to sail Emblem round Europe in particular visiting Norway and the Baltic, I thought it was a very good Best Laid Plan, but, My Best Laid Plan went Awry when I met Laura.<br /><br />So we joined forces and my Best Laid Plan was to retire and then we would cruise the canals of England. My best Laid Plan went Awry when we were blessed with the arrival of Lilian.<br /><br />My Best Laid Plan was to bring our family up on our narrow boat enjoying our lifestyle and all it had to offer. My best Laid Plan went Awry when we met AMY.<br /><br />Amy is a 55' x 10'6" barge, She is brand new, spacious, and waiting for us to move aboard.<br />I think it finally hit home that we were short of space when I had tripped over one of Lilian's chairs for the forth time in one day, and of course, staying in the caravan in Morecambe showed just how much space can be available if the set up is right.<br /><br />Lady Elgar was my ideal Narrowboat. She was all I ever wanted in a canal boat. A traditional stern, engine room, top spec fit out from a craftsman, a well designed and attractive hull/shell and a boat to be proud of. She has served us well for these last 2 years and it is with some regret that she is now up for sale.<br /><br />It is with no regret that by Friday, Amy will be our new home.<br />So, wide beam cruising here we come.<br />I haven't told laura yet but I aim to take her as far north on the Grand Union as possible, that should be just short of Birmingham before we meet Narrow locks. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/Blistunnel.htm">Blisworth </a>and <a href="http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=149">Braunston</a> tunnels will be interesting as I understand wide beam boats are supposed to arrange passage with British Waterways so they can make sure no other boats come the opposite way while you are navigating the 14' wide tunnel.<br />I have never seen a wide beam north of Milton Keynes and according to the guide book, The Grand Union ceases being a wide canal north of Berkhamstead. Nothing ventured nothing gained.<br /><br />Dare I even say the words....My Best Laid Plan is...............<br /><br /><br />Will post some pics as soon as we have the green lightsaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-3064153482512753072009-09-19T12:21:00.005+01:002009-09-19T12:39:22.696+01:00Canals and pretty lightsFriday saw us visiting Laura's Aunt and Uncle in Hest Bank near Morecambe. Their house is almost alongside the Lancaster Canal so we all took a walk along the towpath for an hour or so. The canal here has some splendid views across Morecambe bay over towards the lakes, sadly we neglected to pick up the camera so no shots of our stoll.<br /><br />There were a couple of boats moored up around Hest Bank visitor moorings, the most unusual of which was a narrowboat with a Turf roof. Im not quite sure of the advantages or disadvantages of having your roof covered in grass but it was certainly a talking point.<br /><br />That evening we drove down to Blackpool and joined the line of traffic to view the Illuminations.<br />Lilian as expected slept through them so missed the attraction. Laura did some videoing so at least she'll be able to see them when she is older.<br /><br />Today we will be tidying up the caravan and packing ready for the long journey home tomorrow morning.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1W90EmA-qooAWFFzgcv8xUNlGs8XHi14UXqitZmoJz5JuWkBrHz319XlzrpeKi3jIb3okvrzDKFyYrQO0oAq-i67u2FiGIfJolNY64MJP6fmlNm70gMsSOqgPOLXoWqFbUL7wYbEPsqY/s1600-h/100_0636.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1W90EmA-qooAWFFzgcv8xUNlGs8XHi14UXqitZmoJz5JuWkBrHz319XlzrpeKi3jIb3okvrzDKFyYrQO0oAq-i67u2FiGIfJolNY64MJP6fmlNm70gMsSOqgPOLXoWqFbUL7wYbEPsqY/s400/100_0636.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383139880172074850" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOWhlJ9BlO6lGETfYE9YF5OO_n8Q-dHCWFKVyG6M7602cktRa-0DyJjWwN3Y-8YF1K8bcUqvOQGirLPWzNG-UiUK3hWsAmA_D-vRvscXuL22_EdhyA8zxd5p_3Sv9r_QOJUjkJVV2ST4/s1600-h/100_0637.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOWhlJ9BlO6lGETfYE9YF5OO_n8Q-dHCWFKVyG6M7602cktRa-0DyJjWwN3Y-8YF1K8bcUqvOQGirLPWzNG-UiUK3hWsAmA_D-vRvscXuL22_EdhyA8zxd5p_3Sv9r_QOJUjkJVV2ST4/s400/100_0637.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383140274076433890" /></a><br /><br />Geoffs top tip of the day,<br />Dont take photos using flash through windscreen at night<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArN7kgoyXkmwtWfFJFN1qWQbWUoOxYxcp-bZ8plluW92poALhYhb7MQs6ML3c-qY_Jp9vw5PHJBAdhiPRziIt67twVzD2smi35nFzxIAHcR8JfUiQGRigXCzmYJgPUnS0hNfweirAnV8/s1600-h/100_0638.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArN7kgoyXkmwtWfFJFN1qWQbWUoOxYxcp-bZ8plluW92poALhYhb7MQs6ML3c-qY_Jp9vw5PHJBAdhiPRziIt67twVzD2smi35nFzxIAHcR8JfUiQGRigXCzmYJgPUnS0hNfweirAnV8/s400/100_0638.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383140855715795362" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fiW6iJMEEATYma6mWol_3tsFjoUTg6srf-ZzulEL0tar9ZHU8uRpURuHczBrtkYCtkM2oFsGkat1GGCC_bMv6MINqsWsC8UxCF9ka_H_r3yMLEoUzm4-5WUZX1pQz8k29kaukdS2yyk/s1600-h/100_0639.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fiW6iJMEEATYma6mWol_3tsFjoUTg6srf-ZzulEL0tar9ZHU8uRpURuHczBrtkYCtkM2oFsGkat1GGCC_bMv6MINqsWsC8UxCF9ka_H_r3yMLEoUzm4-5WUZX1pQz8k29kaukdS2yyk/s400/100_0639.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383141371122277426" /></a>saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-60010540864134539292009-09-17T16:39:00.013+01:002009-09-18T08:18:41.102+01:00The Lancashire WitchesMy brother and I used to sit around my Great Grandmothers chair in her little bungalow and listen while she told us both the tales of the Witches of Pendle Hill.<br />Being just small children we used to lap up the stories of Old Mother Demdyke and not so old mother Chattox and their evil deeds in and around Pendle, Whalley and Clitheroe. So yesterday, the three of us set off over the moors and fells of Lancashire on the trail of the witches.<br /><br />Its a fantastic drive out of Lancaster climbing high up onto the moors with excellent views over the Lune valley and over to the Lake District. Some may call the Lake District Cumbria but to me it has always been and will always be Lancashire.<br /><br />We then dropped down off the tops into the Forest of Bowland and parked up alongside the Trough of Bowland which is a small shallow river running through the valley which we used to paddle in as children. Lilian had her feed while Laura and I scoffed some of the butties and pies we had prepared for the journey.<br /><br />From the trough we continued on over to Barley neath the shadow of Pendle Hill. We passed through some lovely little villages, some with tea rooms and all with what appeared from the outside some very welcoming Inns.<br /><br />Our day finally ended up at Dovestones Reservoir where we finished our rolls and even lashed out on buying a cup of tea each from a snack wagon.<br /><br />Sadly we saw no signs of any Witches on the way although we did come across a Sheep called keith who advised us against "stopping in these parts"<br /><br />Highlight of the day for Laura was "being on my honeymoon, sitting in the car out of the wind eating a meat and potato pie drinking a stewed cup of tea watching my husband feed the baby"<br /><br />Oh yes, she has now decided she doesnt want a widebeam anymore, she now wants an old farm on the side of a moor looking out onto Pendle.....I may have to start working more overtime.<br />Lancashire really is one of Englands most beautiful counties.<br /><br /><br />A small brook or Clough pronounced cluff running through Bowland.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJr5yxNAkGfAFpzPAYReGtRiKF_eQJ6NB3yWNf0r-_oYgWIaKo8GEtq2m196y8nT8Vm2WZxyfe9gad5savMpFshOfhoaCLO5k7YM7voKYRmFHVqJZMVAAJ99VfgbK-n815QpVt-kJ8lU/s1600-h/100_0611.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJr5yxNAkGfAFpzPAYReGtRiKF_eQJ6NB3yWNf0r-_oYgWIaKo8GEtq2m196y8nT8Vm2WZxyfe9gad5savMpFshOfhoaCLO5k7YM7voKYRmFHVqJZMVAAJ99VfgbK-n815QpVt-kJ8lU/s400/100_0611.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382474363901044642" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5gbQJuU3LzPAgtaMTTNkzvKkun74FhHclrLelAJHOCB8bFdttapH1iMLXCGjxIcoAbgWX94xNOxvyAevbA8CS6HPxyZA8bd6EgSrBdEuxfzw874j6qwOjFPDu4oTshMlsXQaGb9yJM0/s1600-h/100_0612.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5gbQJuU3LzPAgtaMTTNkzvKkun74FhHclrLelAJHOCB8bFdttapH1iMLXCGjxIcoAbgWX94xNOxvyAevbA8CS6HPxyZA8bd6EgSrBdEuxfzw874j6qwOjFPDu4oTshMlsXQaGb9yJM0/s400/100_0612.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382483442257467314" /></a><br /><br />Keith the Sheep and a couple of mates warning travellers not to go any further<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ0xxPJg2hdrbjfHlXATMUbNkLczM2mrTH7EZ0uoIt_xCFHAI1dK1mLiOMvgKw8WvcqrjzNVhuWr3WMEeth4F9TLksUXLp1BdI-fmISVjl9oXqKZNvVGil9h8_dSpquNfJtSWu5J7N3Y/s1600-h/100_0618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ0xxPJg2hdrbjfHlXATMUbNkLczM2mrTH7EZ0uoIt_xCFHAI1dK1mLiOMvgKw8WvcqrjzNVhuWr3WMEeth4F9TLksUXLp1BdI-fmISVjl9oXqKZNvVGil9h8_dSpquNfJtSWu5J7N3Y/s400/100_0618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382484291086897154" /></a><br /><br />Pendle Hill<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsF0_ePvyBHyJJr4787Ff63KjYTXSVcj41n9fyzvokFjaWer4Q5H0xDUb44qUWwcjklOKkerU-gdg6jJSqWs_yODX6GM3eEhAp0z45kyxmTLGQYjRqXVNch6NkpjU_nGrl7MFvxRuwUE/s1600-h/100_0619.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsF0_ePvyBHyJJr4787Ff63KjYTXSVcj41n9fyzvokFjaWer4Q5H0xDUb44qUWwcjklOKkerU-gdg6jJSqWs_yODX6GM3eEhAp0z45kyxmTLGQYjRqXVNch6NkpjU_nGrl7MFvxRuwUE/s400/100_0619.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382485390224957250" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj98R-TQ9L0TjvWExc6_uVhdIbZUAC72CrNoh58b_Qql418Zz23SFvq9KSO3XCWyWERBxm4tES4jERVdGC4Y6Af_yKPDC7XDccwRuSy8Y19vCseKuKE8j76JXbD2EZ_ACWMcKBU3TEiY/s1600-h/100_0620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj98R-TQ9L0TjvWExc6_uVhdIbZUAC72CrNoh58b_Qql418Zz23SFvq9KSO3XCWyWERBxm4tES4jERVdGC4Y6Af_yKPDC7XDccwRuSy8Y19vCseKuKE8j76JXbD2EZ_ACWMcKBU3TEiY/s400/100_0620.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382489108264849298" /></a><br /><br />Dovestones<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbTuEtlH49ZR0CZ5wHmGxUSsuu7gsJUDMc_XWrH9HhEb8KbuhI6c6jp6d8FoZk0NeEdBZ27rBd5gxyCGsNtPHLzEDcV9CJkR9HR4HSqN-P4vRT36L5ZwvLyZXpGBgi9XDRW6KHFHeDgc/s1600-h/100_0623.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbTuEtlH49ZR0CZ5wHmGxUSsuu7gsJUDMc_XWrH9HhEb8KbuhI6c6jp6d8FoZk0NeEdBZ27rBd5gxyCGsNtPHLzEDcV9CJkR9HR4HSqN-P4vRT36L5ZwvLyZXpGBgi9XDRW6KHFHeDgc/s400/100_0623.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382701575087390242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpuYmUkj9IQRssa5cR9rpTTBJCet5s-sxOAXT-6mQppc6cCN59pJg78aY3UUOahg5H8eugeV10l0Ctbkkrp6L16PV9cQih7D4p3YluC61Jv12yY1y9fCIZfc3Vf7A35C_MJVnehbOiKE/s1600-h/100_0624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpuYmUkj9IQRssa5cR9rpTTBJCet5s-sxOAXT-6mQppc6cCN59pJg78aY3UUOahg5H8eugeV10l0Ctbkkrp6L16PV9cQih7D4p3YluC61Jv12yY1y9fCIZfc3Vf7A35C_MJVnehbOiKE/s400/100_0624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382701980318864690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthfIzxE2XQCp7tC4v6NugeEHCZ7BFRivZLiJuvhlUE9FUpr5gqf7GATNz9VnOoTjAmZAexwbVP7sK_WiEz9ppT5nZM-vHggXLOCi9y8yocBtg9pc8Fyz6yStq5a4sJXZl3MXNtPzlelY/s1600-h/100_0626.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthfIzxE2XQCp7tC4v6NugeEHCZ7BFRivZLiJuvhlUE9FUpr5gqf7GATNz9VnOoTjAmZAexwbVP7sK_WiEz9ppT5nZM-vHggXLOCi9y8yocBtg9pc8Fyz6yStq5a4sJXZl3MXNtPzlelY/s400/100_0626.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382702450757660178" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPtEfdZWCqNi9I4UbqnK13DF9-cu4E3dZZzz-ITI9oySZEnNQHY0cgWdrC3wub_BwnupaEfpSlhyphenhyphenXII_mKAvDFaBkgoXXS21q7n-Ass5XjGEn4c5t2X3tmjufbxxxb757C_Yzv72JbKE/s1600-h/100_0628.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPtEfdZWCqNi9I4UbqnK13DF9-cu4E3dZZzz-ITI9oySZEnNQHY0cgWdrC3wub_BwnupaEfpSlhyphenhyphenXII_mKAvDFaBkgoXXS21q7n-Ass5XjGEn4c5t2X3tmjufbxxxb757C_Yzv72JbKE/s400/100_0628.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382702827553571858" /></a>saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-50022770171241614552009-09-16T08:51:00.005+01:002009-09-16T09:27:19.240+01:00Not the Slough Canal FestivalI almost got excited a few weeks ago when I was reminded of the approaching Slough Canal festival during the weekend of 12th Sept. I then thankfully remembered that I was getting married that weekend and laura may not appreciate my non attendance.<br /><br />Originally we were going to have a couple of weeks away on Lady Elgar for our honeymoon due to peanut still depending on her sterilised bottles and not really being old enough to travel abroad, however, we suddenly came up with the idea of doing something a little different and still giving the illusion of going away.<br /><br />At short notice, I trolled the t'internet and we found a lovely little static caravan right on the seashore of <a href="http://www.ukcaravans4hire.com/to-let-userid738.html">Morecambe bay </a>in Lancashire.<br />A quick phone call to the owners Audrey and John showed our choice of week was available and all was then booked.<br /><br />The Caravan is lovely and the view form the front is stunning with superb sunsets, plentiful wading birds to view through binoculars and views across the bay to Fleetwood and the mountains of the lake district. You can even see Blackpool Tower on the far horizon which is all lit up at night as the <a href="http://www.blackpool-illuminations.net/">Illuminations </a>are currently on in that town.<br /><br />The downside to this caravan is, I was silly enough to compare it internally with what a wide beam boat would be like. Guess what, Laura is now looking at wide beams lol.<br /><br />heres a few pics of our journey so far<br /><br /><br />The view from our window<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LchJgbCJCVYlwMXAUlJRaEtSiFc4vvRxkdTXfIJ_lg8RrPnMB2uNoLJrbYmWsGCCXhcAW24y05r0D_oSls7OenNmsYJ0xksDKI8-GNe5z4jTgqWZKLTPiOqZUaGk8DdO39K2yXtp-uU/s1600-h/camera+175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LchJgbCJCVYlwMXAUlJRaEtSiFc4vvRxkdTXfIJ_lg8RrPnMB2uNoLJrbYmWsGCCXhcAW24y05r0D_oSls7OenNmsYJ0xksDKI8-GNe5z4jTgqWZKLTPiOqZUaGk8DdO39K2yXtp-uU/s400/camera+175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381976157289568274" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhijLKvRX1pUWfjV5Wyr7WfcIFljC-Hm23XJDJdAL8FOVTSYsKJWNfCLlSPaL4xWcvp2DHFHwSfNgBkBfGUYd8wZ0EvI4QEAuZASbWfpuZzXks0QN7v2ohyQF7hHpORXh2Z-7GYxXQWX8/s1600-h/camera+177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhijLKvRX1pUWfjV5Wyr7WfcIFljC-Hm23XJDJdAL8FOVTSYsKJWNfCLlSPaL4xWcvp2DHFHwSfNgBkBfGUYd8wZ0EvI4QEAuZASbWfpuZzXks0QN7v2ohyQF7hHpORXh2Z-7GYxXQWX8/s400/camera+177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381977121147731170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqrFJBlQ3b_1h1-edVQ0sk0HUl3K5OACO6eVyiI7iv-cDAlE7S3_O0DAY2EgOhwSDpeTpF0x1J3WuGHM7DGfkFqc9GI4cCbnTqeREawReQ2ACm88jYPGVSVN682d2tWEDIrCftt-59gs/s1600-h/camera+173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqrFJBlQ3b_1h1-edVQ0sk0HUl3K5OACO6eVyiI7iv-cDAlE7S3_O0DAY2EgOhwSDpeTpF0x1J3WuGHM7DGfkFqc9GI4cCbnTqeREawReQ2ACm88jYPGVSVN682d2tWEDIrCftt-59gs/s400/camera+173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381977115162100338" /></a><br /><br />Sleeping beauties<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y5Ls1m2X6xlJTdSadl4_b8FBBS4_0vmh-ve-kD8BjGBYDJcRlQccSMMEi4fYlKD40LyhH0uW00itC2zEpvYWuBPgIti8eTF1JT7Udw1NzVBlRZC_kMqXBRPPUdQmdJSm046fnHWH7qM/s1600-h/camera+180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y5Ls1m2X6xlJTdSadl4_b8FBBS4_0vmh-ve-kD8BjGBYDJcRlQccSMMEi4fYlKD40LyhH0uW00itC2zEpvYWuBPgIti8eTF1JT7Udw1NzVBlRZC_kMqXBRPPUdQmdJSm046fnHWH7qM/s400/camera+180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381978052751628882" /></a><br /><br />Ready for a grand day out<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bGj6dX2CspmhruU5TfgAMPV-8vyAoSTflfhAjdn2I6VXmXa5wo0thDLeR0NJFYPZJUVGO0zxHuggvMKleJmZRBUWAua1V3PTXABaQwHGL_kFdEOp1n3f1jCF098gX9tvj_BS1gfw6ns/s1600-h/camera+181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bGj6dX2CspmhruU5TfgAMPV-8vyAoSTflfhAjdn2I6VXmXa5wo0thDLeR0NJFYPZJUVGO0zxHuggvMKleJmZRBUWAua1V3PTXABaQwHGL_kFdEOp1n3f1jCF098gX9tvj_BS1gfw6ns/s400/camera+181.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381978062120823794" /></a>saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-88600244595573222672009-09-15T10:11:00.009+01:002009-09-15T11:07:58.598+01:00Mr & MRSFriday 11th September finally saw the joining together of Laura and myself in matrimony.<br /><br />We met family and friends at the registry office in Sutton for the ceremony then progressed onto the Police sports club in Bromley for an evening reception.<br /><br />The day went very well albeit very quickly which didnt give me enough time to admire my beautiful bride. (she scrubs up nicely)<br /><br />Our thanks go to family who travelled some distance to be with us, Lauras Aunt and Uncle from Lancaster, My Brother and Sister in law and nieces from Rochdale and Laura's other Uncle,Aunt and cousins from Birmingham.<br /><br />Special thanks Go to our Neighbours Ian and Lydia from Nb Serendipity for looking after Lilian overnight into saturday. They missed the reception due to horrendous traffic on the motorway giving them a 3 hour journey to Bromley which should only have taken an hour at the most. <br /><br />Apart from the bride, the most popular attraction was little Lilian who was introduced for the first time to many of her relatives.<br /><br />A big thank you again to all those who made our day extra special.<br /><br />heres a few pics<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK3TgeQ2-rgaKgjPk_qN3hUWIBiqKYp5ynYdsoQoGYXzhMVHEwK1AWZkk7zX6dRLxjRNAmp9pBsI0EEKpky-AeHg4OhOYfxgujsF9uwYQL5n5kIBIpK_fPn6g7kEy0P3Tv3bGy_R03No/s1600-h/camera+111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBK3TgeQ2-rgaKgjPk_qN3hUWIBiqKYp5ynYdsoQoGYXzhMVHEwK1AWZkk7zX6dRLxjRNAmp9pBsI0EEKpky-AeHg4OhOYfxgujsF9uwYQL5n5kIBIpK_fPn6g7kEy0P3Tv3bGy_R03No/s400/camera+111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381622421220643378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOFTaFx4jM1BEk-zlPXQ-emFIzEfdV98R9e2-_Y9iv9dlX3XcJ93sQY7GUz5g80kncobaKgWX1ZfY7V48L5-JiISjM8PY6IcsMtEw-yCjKdp1e0kpbQerXilcsjz0czIWWVwo_m0AHmg/s1600-h/camera+110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOFTaFx4jM1BEk-zlPXQ-emFIzEfdV98R9e2-_Y9iv9dlX3XcJ93sQY7GUz5g80kncobaKgWX1ZfY7V48L5-JiISjM8PY6IcsMtEw-yCjKdp1e0kpbQerXilcsjz0czIWWVwo_m0AHmg/s400/camera+110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381622413539184690" /></a><br /><br />My mum with Lilian<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfETLzUi0NTup-DDjCarccUc5TyffcKnsQRCfN-PRgA01ICEpZ_Ds3pFTKDo8Xa71SqYMWn1OTh5eXLeD41u2IeQ5TzKw-X13J-c7PqtC7HdDADXnbkflT3qvy86WqcDuZzPjVvIAZbPo/s1600-h/camera+160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfETLzUi0NTup-DDjCarccUc5TyffcKnsQRCfN-PRgA01ICEpZ_Ds3pFTKDo8Xa71SqYMWn1OTh5eXLeD41u2IeQ5TzKw-X13J-c7PqtC7HdDADXnbkflT3qvy86WqcDuZzPjVvIAZbPo/s400/camera+160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381628621615848722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3Jaend1c14erQ0eUz17NrJvfVqBj-OWFYcZa1S47-i4vkzqyj6mAHG1l_3218rlVxU1WIiZRTOpYOddiZ-5S2tKH0r-jmXHEn9ZeweqGTn8gGBpo_kO16aW_pkbClCc1iWR2BTchZFY/s1600-h/camera+141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3Jaend1c14erQ0eUz17NrJvfVqBj-OWFYcZa1S47-i4vkzqyj6mAHG1l_3218rlVxU1WIiZRTOpYOddiZ-5S2tKH0r-jmXHEn9ZeweqGTn8gGBpo_kO16aW_pkbClCc1iWR2BTchZFY/s400/camera+141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381628610723471234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEguQOCE6WROhl4CQhjFxK9xwxuirQl1vOG52fOoJ3ux_9-qX_ONIl7doBJK_mBvs_MQbSNDaA1xjl9B_9x1_MzqHQd9ksyq7yxbw-fMfKU5HRJ4axfB4ox3sKHDWMR-h2nbWSCP-lllE/s1600-h/camera+130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEguQOCE6WROhl4CQhjFxK9xwxuirQl1vOG52fOoJ3ux_9-qX_ONIl7doBJK_mBvs_MQbSNDaA1xjl9B_9x1_MzqHQd9ksyq7yxbw-fMfKU5HRJ4axfB4ox3sKHDWMR-h2nbWSCP-lllE/s400/camera+130.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381627746684440946" /></a><br /><br />Lauras mum tending lilian<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Xgjc2YgY5-DqB-0n_3xi0VxE58Dd06_xlfS3vX4-laaa8lPlqywJH1ug43RBLCk_1dUeZtCuC06roVt3X8Pjn7AqN2qImf3TLGRvuMptV-obDpbTDd0uI6oc7LXOueXcGl9A7uUmdwo/s1600-h/camera+125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Xgjc2YgY5-DqB-0n_3xi0VxE58Dd06_xlfS3vX4-laaa8lPlqywJH1ug43RBLCk_1dUeZtCuC06roVt3X8Pjn7AqN2qImf3TLGRvuMptV-obDpbTDd0uI6oc7LXOueXcGl9A7uUmdwo/s400/camera+125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381627737598902370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOynjFBL-ClQpb4h6isEbY9VGb0oLBzDWRwvNZkf69oQVeMbAWlG7ABP9qx1nGJF-TuQfthrZP97VYVej0J11oRQwFOqaCAn-qhkL99gB2DCdAxmamprLTtT88JpKASu6fIVFlsDQArA/s1600-h/camera+161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOynjFBL-ClQpb4h6isEbY9VGb0oLBzDWRwvNZkf69oQVeMbAWlG7ABP9qx1nGJF-TuQfthrZP97VYVej0J11oRQwFOqaCAn-qhkL99gB2DCdAxmamprLTtT88JpKASu6fIVFlsDQArA/s400/camera+161.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381630867921068146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawGMH7d9REoiVnPD5iRWRN7pJ7Bye86CMvVL2dliPR3PP3OJuKT89plZMXnGLbL-hWU5k_nSrmeUpi-cttNbW1gejDkeppl-pq8BFAUuK9MIHzozo-M33ReZBDPDQQjw-lh9YItizWOU/s1600-h/camera+146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawGMH7d9REoiVnPD5iRWRN7pJ7Bye86CMvVL2dliPR3PP3OJuKT89plZMXnGLbL-hWU5k_nSrmeUpi-cttNbW1gejDkeppl-pq8BFAUuK9MIHzozo-M33ReZBDPDQQjw-lh9YItizWOU/s400/camera+146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381630857079549570" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYraP1rnFtiiPXQr7qz8jxW4fwxpzvRmiqjpPxLBcNyWUkukbZkDNQo1LqI1jbl-jdnyO3Rf0FPczUCvu5WezUKh15neEvOce1QD5irI0Ju0K8vfiRysPui2FhW-7QerFLpG4CThfjZZQ/s1600-h/camera+137.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYraP1rnFtiiPXQr7qz8jxW4fwxpzvRmiqjpPxLBcNyWUkukbZkDNQo1LqI1jbl-jdnyO3Rf0FPczUCvu5WezUKh15neEvOce1QD5irI0Ju0K8vfiRysPui2FhW-7QerFLpG4CThfjZZQ/s400/camera+137.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381632021325299842" /></a>saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-22249635118867196562009-07-13T14:03:00.007+01:002009-07-13T15:10:11.993+01:00PeanutHer timing was perfect. After waiting 9 months with much anticipation, Peanut finally decided to arrive on her expected due date of 8Th July.<br /><br />Laura woke me at just after 7am and advised me she was going to phone the hospital as she thought it was time. After explaining to them her Labour symptoms they advised her to come in and so we packed the car and headed off to the maternity ward.<br /><br />By 8am Laura was in the delivery room and so we settled down for what we thought would be a long, and for her , painful day.<br />The pain was certainly there but just under 6 hours later, Peanut arrived safely.<br /><br />She weighed in at 8.7 pounds.<br /><br />Shortly after she was dressed and placed in a cot, we were suddenly brought back to reality as Laura suddenly began to hemorrhage quite badly. The room then filled with 8 people all working away on Laura, making pin cushions out of her arms with injections and various drips and drugs being introduced intravenously into the back of both her hands.<br /><br />After a little while the Doctors managed to settle Laura down and peace once again returned to our room. Thankfully Laura soon recovered herself and we once again settled down with our new Daughter to see through the rest of the day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaREILCuPBVeTdnOxeZuF4dspDaSn6Nh4obz9wx9FjvVA28weYsu194i5u52-w4OHRMx35gk1MZZ_OhP6kkrqv74x4H5qqdLcYy3SIBvu4A0ii41OpUBheAYZkC1zjveMJP7AgzM5omag/s1600-h/ostend+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaREILCuPBVeTdnOxeZuF4dspDaSn6Nh4obz9wx9FjvVA28weYsu194i5u52-w4OHRMx35gk1MZZ_OhP6kkrqv74x4H5qqdLcYy3SIBvu4A0ii41OpUBheAYZkC1zjveMJP7AgzM5omag/s400/ostend+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357942205565090978" /></a><br /><br /><br />Lilian Rose aka peanut<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvybhjH8lVtSJNbaiHCxH7-0daobpBQKhUcF5O5av_noWnp_iyGkX61IMy17ZexcGeBN6rX2p3KD9bzuiAVjef7DaKEzjmbmQBsEF_SzmOPYkLKiIay6gAzY35SisI-GfSPIOOZqKNQiY/s1600-h/ostend+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvybhjH8lVtSJNbaiHCxH7-0daobpBQKhUcF5O5av_noWnp_iyGkX61IMy17ZexcGeBN6rX2p3KD9bzuiAVjef7DaKEzjmbmQBsEF_SzmOPYkLKiIay6gAzY35SisI-GfSPIOOZqKNQiY/s400/ostend+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357942211638188114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfpQKCiHYXhNSLXkFRhuHqO8UZaQA68-2qxsIkSkwT1jiuWvpUUIOlGAOkmNc-R8PCOMdNBXYupjvcklsuBC9veW3MJLh-RdPobC36vmo98Oqmvo9XHqePH0LessqdcMvxhy92MhNtrg/s1600-h/ostend+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfpQKCiHYXhNSLXkFRhuHqO8UZaQA68-2qxsIkSkwT1jiuWvpUUIOlGAOkmNc-R8PCOMdNBXYupjvcklsuBC9veW3MJLh-RdPobC36vmo98Oqmvo9XHqePH0LessqdcMvxhy92MhNtrg/s400/ostend+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357943109059543874" /></a><br /><br /><br />Laura had to spend a few days in hospital while they made sure she was fully recovered and eventually we made our way back to Lady Elgar and home.<br /><br />Our neighbour Lydia made sure our return was aptly marked.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLFlPaj4E_2s_aRqSaOc-z5UgPIxqDm3CoyfEQLCN6hxaEAa-qlIphTd5TSF4lxz-QPE5wqh6FeD9oZbcP-qdv0hMbkdSKjO2cjxBuFBkpjG4Slb0mSk9XgsdnWxb3LiyghyhC4lS6s8/s1600-h/ostend+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLFlPaj4E_2s_aRqSaOc-z5UgPIxqDm3CoyfEQLCN6hxaEAa-qlIphTd5TSF4lxz-QPE5wqh6FeD9oZbcP-qdv0hMbkdSKjO2cjxBuFBkpjG4Slb0mSk9XgsdnWxb3LiyghyhC4lS6s8/s400/ostend+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357944742532193282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiaV7E9X3eAphQPPbRVE2vRLVwyT3c1yM2WWB7ByEOo2yBW2tnXnf6Od3PTdO5ifW0ocjYebBIZQp4MxIRHYERluQSnZEi_HbIZIppyvUc4-Q-qtrwWuo6sCyVvFbeY7EJWevC5SM7Us/s1600-h/ostend+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiaV7E9X3eAphQPPbRVE2vRLVwyT3c1yM2WWB7ByEOo2yBW2tnXnf6Od3PTdO5ifW0ocjYebBIZQp4MxIRHYERluQSnZEi_HbIZIppyvUc4-Q-qtrwWuo6sCyVvFbeY7EJWevC5SM7Us/s400/ostend+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357944446211985602" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Time seems to have flown by in the couple of days we have been at home and we've had to get used to the shortage of sleep and total attention that Lilian needs but we are both very proud and grateful for this gift we have been givensaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-68146072983313258262009-06-02T22:44:00.018+01:002009-06-02T23:57:25.366+01:00Oostende Voor Anker Pt 2A big part of the festival is Beer.....I mean music. There are bands and folk singers playing at 2 venues throughout each day. They range from 5 piece Irish style groups to 10 dutchmen singing sea shanties.<br /><br /> Our personal favourites are a group called <a href="http://www.hotrats.net">Hot Rats</a>. Well worth going to see them if ever you get the chance.<br /><br /> This is them on the stage outside st peters church<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ed0qEbmYx5TvvfaI95bB4o4vQWFQBlTzAry9X6X7EuS0y8hJOQW06poqh5JJ3ix4dQXiEiuRs5tBCC6ntc8xXfnI0zUwQAFjTQHmxUfleDxM3FDlXLNew829jiKxAvo2TKFftzaKW0A/s1600-h/ostend+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ed0qEbmYx5TvvfaI95bB4o4vQWFQBlTzAry9X6X7EuS0y8hJOQW06poqh5JJ3ix4dQXiEiuRs5tBCC6ntc8xXfnI0zUwQAFjTQHmxUfleDxM3FDlXLNew829jiKxAvo2TKFftzaKW0A/s400/ostend+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342851871234576002" /></a><br /><br /><br /> Derek, our third crew member is a self confessed Hot Rats groupie. Here he is coming back laden with a bottle of specially brewed Oostende Voor Anker beer which we felt had to be consumed during the concert incase it spoilt while sitting in the bottle<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvVUVB2oEbXOb7tTtcUJayL3VRWzj4jyZ01nyCGQcvGsaYtoQPf_k-nyX_q_1kGl9pt2hkx4l3vbhALq-8iqD2G-pDiQzxWLVo7muTB68zf5k7E94-VxZj9B8meBZz8GMZqi8gmtmBcQ/s1600-h/ostend+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvVUVB2oEbXOb7tTtcUJayL3VRWzj4jyZ01nyCGQcvGsaYtoQPf_k-nyX_q_1kGl9pt2hkx4l3vbhALq-8iqD2G-pDiQzxWLVo7muTB68zf5k7E94-VxZj9B8meBZz8GMZqi8gmtmBcQ/s400/ostend+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342852913726731058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i3BJxwheg0PrKcrFrO46aHRSvN2Z1FA-RvqHjA5wx9drWwFldVoxMIRZy7SNHk93d7BYVzWLWPhyMwoW_BSKfuQY14pqufv-vCjYdx6EWGxV63dNxYAXT87jdhqaNuotoI6w8fhZwOs/s1600-h/ostend+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i3BJxwheg0PrKcrFrO46aHRSvN2Z1FA-RvqHjA5wx9drWwFldVoxMIRZy7SNHk93d7BYVzWLWPhyMwoW_BSKfuQY14pqufv-vCjYdx6EWGxV63dNxYAXT87jdhqaNuotoI6w8fhZwOs/s400/ostend+010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342853532075295746" /></a><br /><br /> They ended each of their sessions with a musical number featuring Phil, their resident spoons player<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2yTPmbBl48ldI7XEbiovH34zc5RuL3ZocvpeO5Ie92PI8XArTlZySwdDy-DcT0K-JHh3A66yUcfg5ki4OytaqmPfp204bGydYHb2Bb6x0RcmScyQ17V4aFUOS4snjGSxYoVhsn67PpI/s1600-h/ostend+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2yTPmbBl48ldI7XEbiovH34zc5RuL3ZocvpeO5Ie92PI8XArTlZySwdDy-DcT0K-JHh3A66yUcfg5ki4OytaqmPfp204bGydYHb2Bb6x0RcmScyQ17V4aFUOS4snjGSxYoVhsn67PpI/s400/ostend+012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342853852534491346" /></a><br /><br />If you love boats of all shapes and sizes then its a must day out<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarvAlQHOELH7ZA7nLJ_8kLA0eu7xr6Xp4vPggpOX5kQE6NA_DAySokx5Skt2VQd9L6mUDJxX1cnpk1rydHeMuXWd3pQxXP9qvHbB7Z0ewseA7AA57HpJRHjO3-TH4tFiCcpkAq122t64/s1600-h/ostend+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO5udDQKHk06Ul-W56OKPxD1PQJKeCPfaOg-8NwrUHKijhmgqiAD5G8suNm8kaKEavzST3Aw1tQAML6hH7_EfRLVyGv984gbBauAleZnzlmZ7aGX4hXQ4U_OWezBcRDOA2Vj-ehADQ0E/s400/ostend+023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342857877063323810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMkG7-HasZEjwqTYj2bWjEus2uJ8CM5h04b6H5tQ9dOGdHlavO7X6hI_SnFF5jcXs7C7_yoKt2tCBA1ui_jnpI0np5rjAWrLAVtZD8OT5Ue1Fo7lDH0Lb8ygBA74Yaw7rXmEmVVIuGdo/s1600-h/ostend+022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMkG7-HasZEjwqTYj2bWjEus2uJ8CM5h04b6H5tQ9dOGdHlavO7X6hI_SnFF5jcXs7C7_yoKt2tCBA1ui_jnpI0np5rjAWrLAVtZD8OT5Ue1Fo7lDH0Lb8ygBA74Yaw7rXmEmVVIuGdo/s400/ostend+022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342857867744075554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKfrEYTTzJFw_TYffWfgYYGz8-4tYOukg6h-RfNClJx5GSbH8XuXpp7HpzWbqFIkU0PWcbH7VCGzcgGlUmYQX36IOGb31AcopxK6gRVLoHhGCZTiErLJSxumpUAW-FrJ7mMxgoM8pj1g/s1600-h/ostend+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKfrEYTTzJFw_TYffWfgYYGz8-4tYOukg6h-RfNClJx5GSbH8XuXpp7HpzWbqFIkU0PWcbH7VCGzcgGlUmYQX36IOGb31AcopxK6gRVLoHhGCZTiErLJSxumpUAW-FrJ7mMxgoM8pj1g/s400/ostend+027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342858593722070962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAFOH0NHXHuAwBr1bzLcO0Gsi24dECrEsnFr3CDVmqSqwZefASHHv3AZLUjmrdYQGDGppAmrge-hZeRRKdGadKnu3y02LD2jErUAW-w0nkby4Pcu0vTv56XEKGBP0XgG4cBpjhnMgo_Y/s1600-h/ostend+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAFOH0NHXHuAwBr1bzLcO0Gsi24dECrEsnFr3CDVmqSqwZefASHHv3AZLUjmrdYQGDGppAmrge-hZeRRKdGadKnu3y02LD2jErUAW-w0nkby4Pcu0vTv56XEKGBP0XgG4cBpjhnMgo_Y/s400/ostend+025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342858591028410930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WreDqKQ964UTOVPfDlT8ak83z-c2M_5b7tu6-T6kuudJdXDtYjnmwKrQXOzOFBFxIzGd5keRZedm_5pdV6wVihFLAthJmBW4p5YDsmGKIrIWiIZcO9bOIKPZ3SOT1nC1iCLfB-mKA1g/s1600-h/ostend+028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WreDqKQ964UTOVPfDlT8ak83z-c2M_5b7tu6-T6kuudJdXDtYjnmwKrQXOzOFBFxIzGd5keRZedm_5pdV6wVihFLAthJmBW4p5YDsmGKIrIWiIZcO9bOIKPZ3SOT1nC1iCLfB-mKA1g/s400/ostend+028.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342859561630745922" /></a><br /><br /><br />Our Skipper Steve taking a turn around the deck of Valonia<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2hll-iW7tRmrWj_J4steMmE_OIic63JdShKfB84_qqJaYeGgYzmB1v-s_Obze8ydzO2vmuaMtVWOirnRit_f1eCObx6F3j8lyDmMIApakXB8-HI3cxi8GtH311mPq0fRCBPeeW2lTM4/s1600-h/ostend+030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2hll-iW7tRmrWj_J4steMmE_OIic63JdShKfB84_qqJaYeGgYzmB1v-s_Obze8ydzO2vmuaMtVWOirnRit_f1eCObx6F3j8lyDmMIApakXB8-HI3cxi8GtH311mPq0fRCBPeeW2lTM4/s400/ostend+030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342859565035168002" /></a><br /><br />Sunday afternoon although very hot was also very windy. This tall ship struggled a bit getting into her berth which was in the larger tidal Montgomery Dock. The crew of the three small yatchs behind her got a little twitchy<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ly7Xq7fmoDonXLIMo7-IfXSZfkb2X4hXlRhLmw3tQ9oQTD2TQwgq3Q3MHk6og5ccbdQz1CInC_9FmSLFeLAEuqOYFb8p9Q57qD_redBWxnqd6_cEoq_z-JfwLPtQFIZCtO67zviKEyo/s1600-h/ostend+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ly7Xq7fmoDonXLIMo7-IfXSZfkb2X4hXlRhLmw3tQ9oQTD2TQwgq3Q3MHk6og5ccbdQz1CInC_9FmSLFeLAEuqOYFb8p9Q57qD_redBWxnqd6_cEoq_z-JfwLPtQFIZCtO67zviKEyo/s400/ostend+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342861744431600786" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtluA1tftqDC_NR6uagWwZXHcBwVlp0qAckQIn9pGVHZM2LWxkEuyZ1qO4lhUl5gDebszUkUOFL5Goub8NgIbLwUhmK526buZUS9N1Ua65XIpiDIIgrqCv8ae61xAPBEjOoHj8neAh2A/s1600-h/ostend+033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtluA1tftqDC_NR6uagWwZXHcBwVlp0qAckQIn9pGVHZM2LWxkEuyZ1qO4lhUl5gDebszUkUOFL5Goub8NgIbLwUhmK526buZUS9N1Ua65XIpiDIIgrqCv8ae61xAPBEjOoHj8neAh2A/s400/ostend+033.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342861746855065170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFt50xysFKukVYNfFEl3KEMRI5jeUUbHijyKNG6Cv41fQl4hajBliIlAoH-qFm4vXth4HWlh6iCP7iMT35vsk9dbZMFQg4BWCBXbAOCbbanO6czT16NCIx1kKK3Ezuwl21fFNJBApZKc/s1600-h/ostend+034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFt50xysFKukVYNfFEl3KEMRI5jeUUbHijyKNG6Cv41fQl4hajBliIlAoH-qFm4vXth4HWlh6iCP7iMT35vsk9dbZMFQg4BWCBXbAOCbbanO6czT16NCIx1kKK3Ezuwl21fFNJBApZKc/s400/ostend+034.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342862439079473154" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0LWNB6SWWJj0BgkxTOF9vAdWq_N69HS2NvMuQaqzIN9cXr46WZiUwyEJlLCZE2DqlFlkKzBq8WW5zaMbQNb4iaYg0esWFHxNEkAOJX696dRNy1xyTkL2pJPEf_BmSHmtvK4qC5lIlA4/s1600-h/ostend+032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0LWNB6SWWJj0BgkxTOF9vAdWq_N69HS2NvMuQaqzIN9cXr46WZiUwyEJlLCZE2DqlFlkKzBq8WW5zaMbQNb4iaYg0esWFHxNEkAOJX696dRNy1xyTkL2pJPEf_BmSHmtvK4qC5lIlA4/s400/ostend+032.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342862444134602674" /></a><br /><br />Finally, hidden very well amongst all the other boats I spotted an English Narrowboat. Sadly they were rafted up 6 boats from the pontoon so I never got a chance to meet the crew. They also blog about their cruising on the continental waterways and it can be found here <a href="http://wanderingsnail.blogspot.com/">Wandering Snail</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVFakhdJEfDuX06yda4TfymvKfWocgUt4HfVcpVrt4393mdh6wu_cjgTs1cf6SJapmqE1PxPA28qAObeV40rtCRTs5584tQ8BeIk3EvZugcC2Wm20lDfGMRzG2XUOgQDLMGxvpKFq538/s1600-h/ostend+026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVFakhdJEfDuX06yda4TfymvKfWocgUt4HfVcpVrt4393mdh6wu_cjgTs1cf6SJapmqE1PxPA28qAObeV40rtCRTs5584tQ8BeIk3EvZugcC2Wm20lDfGMRzG2XUOgQDLMGxvpKFq538/s400/ostend+026.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342864668624287586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZkqfg3-WLhQ08xUbcRAhf_BCiSDA8k4VOK1zhl5K91pgMMjmobmgKQPuskkPLlP5wJl5jWbkDuS3YmkxUhqUtmS7IBQfzRoQyNM8YTD2QyQ7q41MK-yL7lq_FLZnVKC4cnlMjVzsQv0/s1600-h/ostend+018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZkqfg3-WLhQ08xUbcRAhf_BCiSDA8k4VOK1zhl5K91pgMMjmobmgKQPuskkPLlP5wJl5jWbkDuS3YmkxUhqUtmS7IBQfzRoQyNM8YTD2QyQ7q41MK-yL7lq_FLZnVKC4cnlMjVzsQv0/s400/ostend+018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342864665152478338" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /> Our thanks once again to the organisers and people of Ostend for a very warm welcome and such excellent hospitality during the weekend.<br /> Sadly no commemorative plaque for me this year but you never know maybe Lady Elgar might make an appearance one day.......in my dreams lolsaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-27040706726765509062009-06-02T11:11:00.008+01:002009-06-02T11:45:26.474+01:00Oostende Voor AnkerThanks to Laura and my mate steve conspiring together I was packed off friday afternoon to catch the Eurostar from St Pancras to Brussels and then local train to Ostend.<br /> I knew Steve was making the trip in his new boat but being only 5 weeks before the expected arrival of Peanut I'd not made any plans as its a four day festival plus a couple of days either side for the crossing from England.<br /><br /> So it was a very nice surprise indeed to come home from work one evening last week and Laura presnted me with my train tickets. I finished work Friday morning, got a couple of hours sleep then caught the Underground from Uxbridge to St Pancras and just 2 hours later saw me waiting at Brussels Midi for the Intercity train to Ostend. Another hour and there I was, bum firmly in place on a chair in Flanagans bar drinking my first Grimbergen and catching up with the gossip from many old friends made over the years that we have been going to the festival. <br /><br /> It was the 10th anniversary of <a href="http://www.oostendevooranker.be/Home/tabid/56/language/nl-BE/Default.aspx">Oostende voor anker</a> and I had only missed 2. Steve had only missed 1.<br /><br /> some pics of the event<br /><br />London St Pancras Eurostar Terminal<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX3A4CNscbBSfnZFFGKM4Fqgb5bFhVnSQFMto_4Md741nHc3GBwwqFZAC1BxO9-TmqAI2y8gqQ22GN2r7oyFOv0wWYyrgfGfX5CAXwvwZLQUpS-SDPqFvHoeNygOS_eWy1QUfwHUCABQ/s1600-h/ostend+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX3A4CNscbBSfnZFFGKM4Fqgb5bFhVnSQFMto_4Md741nHc3GBwwqFZAC1BxO9-TmqAI2y8gqQ22GN2r7oyFOv0wWYyrgfGfX5CAXwvwZLQUpS-SDPqFvHoeNygOS_eWy1QUfwHUCABQ/s400/ostend+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342675243819208178" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Waiting at Bussels Midi for the connection to Ostend<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm22njLF8ti9aEvbaKf1dJ1lZy3V-DzZbuq47QP25KuB2bJBF1ug_cTS9MS1SUILOPEP5ptZ63CpORDhkaJ_jqBk3MZ3OV9aP3B5YbWLqCBuWItekLZx8XCXCR2I-d2bxAwcgvY0BmkSk/s1600-h/ostend+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm22njLF8ti9aEvbaKf1dJ1lZy3V-DzZbuq47QP25KuB2bJBF1ug_cTS9MS1SUILOPEP5ptZ63CpORDhkaJ_jqBk3MZ3OV9aP3B5YbWLqCBuWItekLZx8XCXCR2I-d2bxAwcgvY0BmkSk/s400/ostend+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342675246124662866" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Mercator dock looking towards the Station<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw59ZtR79_MdtZymr5YVU14zXBfeFDKaWJLe0Cyo90e7wC_LA_iHvgSdSBuJAzULPYcgrGBfeq_V9s0eYANkesMu5QXewiNQ5_4zuKcekxqGd-RfPMNyWJ8XARQO-YhT4mq2huZo6XgPk/s1600-h/ostend+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw59ZtR79_MdtZymr5YVU14zXBfeFDKaWJLe0Cyo90e7wC_LA_iHvgSdSBuJAzULPYcgrGBfeq_V9s0eYANkesMu5QXewiNQ5_4zuKcekxqGd-RfPMNyWJ8XARQO-YhT4mq2huZo6XgPk/s400/ostend+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342676157101963442" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz-_oqpnHTDQxjUud6x3rW6EHARmCBhrVfnWBtff14lqCgERAZpHLCrjEOE-bP5PMpB5mMFw6PEUS8b8sLXhHAIs4mmteaPLvQtrWSkUrg22qdCk1SRnjuLLO2wTB57l-IZyRoQux5Vk/s1600-h/ostend+021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz-_oqpnHTDQxjUud6x3rW6EHARmCBhrVfnWBtff14lqCgERAZpHLCrjEOE-bP5PMpB5mMFw6PEUS8b8sLXhHAIs4mmteaPLvQtrWSkUrg22qdCk1SRnjuLLO2wTB57l-IZyRoQux5Vk/s400/ostend+021.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342676976046977074" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4jvjLsiyPUADBJUFOXkF8BxALtxwo88o55W9J86QvmVticswathdoUie4LN6zY98gcuGR1TLxSxI79DA5eufXpCurZT367lyGDPIcHhISwh2OH9oZbAPy9DQMjeZuw5kAZw2q4XSlzc/s1600-h/ostend+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4jvjLsiyPUADBJUFOXkF8BxALtxwo88o55W9J86QvmVticswathdoUie4LN6zY98gcuGR1TLxSxI79DA5eufXpCurZT367lyGDPIcHhISwh2OH9oZbAPy9DQMjeZuw5kAZw2q4XSlzc/s400/ostend+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342676972332763890" /></a><br /><br /><br />My Berth for the weekend, MV Valonia an ex 1969 pilot boat<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDA8WqNCK-F6R18DkIqmQURp8EbBNLV1W2Jft7MvGzTHGiQEkdkReXJGI15GrILPBYKMd3imn5yvY2RJMu37Qpeh1xufSX_3IRDXxjqLoRzrKkkjC623wefoSiz0eQsemxScuHLBgw9E/s1600-h/ostend+029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDA8WqNCK-F6R18DkIqmQURp8EbBNLV1W2Jft7MvGzTHGiQEkdkReXJGI15GrILPBYKMd3imn5yvY2RJMu37Qpeh1xufSX_3IRDXxjqLoRzrKkkjC623wefoSiz0eQsemxScuHLBgw9E/s400/ostend+029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342677676644732962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeyYCoI4Rd05Tb4W864geLT6iygw0Qvb4eUSvF7qBHTSFippZbPM41HnUzhLQru8QGdqZYXbtUFYzaJA-o3dUXPd81sMBWbM2PkzoE1BSnb_z25qWCkOD3C9Mao7tjWCZQExXYgs03PU/s1600-h/ostend+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeyYCoI4Rd05Tb4W864geLT6iygw0Qvb4eUSvF7qBHTSFippZbPM41HnUzhLQru8QGdqZYXbtUFYzaJA-o3dUXPd81sMBWbM2PkzoE1BSnb_z25qWCkOD3C9Mao7tjWCZQExXYgs03PU/s400/ostend+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342678430479401890" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ill add some more pics later when ive got them off the camerasaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-86585971432410516932009-05-04T06:00:00.004+01:002009-05-04T06:13:12.427+01:00HomeworkWhile it seem every other boat at the moorings has gone cruising this weekend, We are still securely tied to the bank front and stern. <br /><br />There is a canal festival going on at Little Venice in Central London but seeing as we had to visit the maternity ward at St Helier Hospital Sunday afternoon it was pointless in casting off and setting sail for Paddington.<br /><br />Instead we decided to attack the garden, Laura, armed with a rake and fork sorted out the plot ready for grass seed while I constructed a kind of gravel pit where our new IKEA garden furniture now sits looking down onto the moorings giving us a sheltered spot to cool off in the summer heat armed with lashings of ginger beer and 20 Rothmans.<br /><br />I must admit, ive get very itchy feet wanting to cast off and cruise off into the distance...even if its just for a day......the lure of the water is just too strongsaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-89124805573361808862009-04-06T10:29:00.012+01:002009-04-06T11:11:06.746+01:00A Grand Day Out 2My Daughter Rachael and her boyfriend Chaz came to visit over the weekend. They had originally planned to go to <a href=" http://www.altontowers.com/">Alton Towers</a> but Chaz's car decided it didnt want to drive all the way to Staffordshire from Kent so Lady Elgar and <a href="http://www.thorpepark.com/">Thorpe Park </a>was the next best thing.<br /><br />Saturday is never a good day to visit these places and the queue to enter the park alone took us an hour. Once inside they do have some excellent rides. Laura and myself were more than happy to wander around with Rachael and Chaz while they selected which thrills they were going to experience. The sun was out and it was lovely and warm.<br /><br />Their first ride was on something called 'Rush' basically two huge swings. The queue for this was a mere 15 minutes<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhs5uUJnJQJO4PX9s-i46AhJ73sH2pSp1YeVSy4tdm35krBKjuD4_7GxUQmjw3Ee_K_myc7gjUJdW5gQ09wxjZAiJlGn4tyx-LNTekCtTSOuG9JhFpkoIEAesL79xxneCwgTTS-11Rek/s1600-h/wales+043.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhs5uUJnJQJO4PX9s-i46AhJ73sH2pSp1YeVSy4tdm35krBKjuD4_7GxUQmjw3Ee_K_myc7gjUJdW5gQ09wxjZAiJlGn4tyx-LNTekCtTSOuG9JhFpkoIEAesL79xxneCwgTTS-11Rek/s400/wales+043.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321510926544004962" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY24JdJWaTgLXHWYYlTuYek_1QQgpwMv9P7Hkj_DsegY3UaSp_awvJMQPRa7PF_BPbrZJm3GdlHRdqeFGgBR-UOzNTpH_7R-W_ierggQpaPugmtQn3Ho0xj5gQo28qoAIEOp4bhCpk2OI/s1600-h/wales+044.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY24JdJWaTgLXHWYYlTuYek_1QQgpwMv9P7Hkj_DsegY3UaSp_awvJMQPRa7PF_BPbrZJm3GdlHRdqeFGgBR-UOzNTpH_7R-W_ierggQpaPugmtQn3Ho0xj5gQo28qoAIEOp4bhCpk2OI/s400/wales+044.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321511320711912962" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuM8__SpDpTladffcTzlda-bxZ_wgd_4PPP_1b4ETes6PnP1o-CoP9nMFBok6l-VOCnWUFV2lO1CdS5ymk3tGawwj0RK8anS98XSmp_TovstLiItbYXiPtRCQJTTRhjvxhG4h7lLadtl8/s1600-h/wales+045.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuM8__SpDpTladffcTzlda-bxZ_wgd_4PPP_1b4ETes6PnP1o-CoP9nMFBok6l-VOCnWUFV2lO1CdS5ymk3tGawwj0RK8anS98XSmp_TovstLiItbYXiPtRCQJTTRhjvxhG4h7lLadtl8/s400/wales+045.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321511706659430402" /></a><br /><br /><br />Their next choice was 'Colossus' a multi loop roller coaster. The down side for this ride was the 70 minute queue. Rachael and Chaz duly got into line and we toddled off for some refreshment and to sit on a grassy bank to soak up some rays.<br />We returned an hour later and they were still in the queue.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIRBDR3Di6yUw9R8sz-9HsSOcYOqhhyphenhyphen4OJQjEQBz69cFPxAjo6qWZTcV1gkzUfqezQ-f5rLBBfNET1zfhKgmQdpeJ0YgLpcW_mv6vA1e9bNOBIzI3b7Y4rFSEG6qViD6dsU-ghJuMEcI/s1600-h/wales+048.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIRBDR3Di6yUw9R8sz-9HsSOcYOqhhyphenhyphen4OJQjEQBz69cFPxAjo6qWZTcV1gkzUfqezQ-f5rLBBfNET1zfhKgmQdpeJ0YgLpcW_mv6vA1e9bNOBIzI3b7Y4rFSEG6qViD6dsU-ghJuMEcI/s400/wales+048.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321513445678299330" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2aEBYPtDCLOEzwYA5dopExU8ZKJqN1sgYYkjhO6yCBlxQ1HnQIlEEaf4hyDT1E9QTHAMYFrmd4FvVq6Twa82FU3OCfH3tM1DhykFC2pWKLM8iaBQS85EszcgMz9uRRQP9rtPsGOkgD4/s1600-h/wales+047.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2aEBYPtDCLOEzwYA5dopExU8ZKJqN1sgYYkjhO6yCBlxQ1HnQIlEEaf4hyDT1E9QTHAMYFrmd4FvVq6Twa82FU3OCfH3tM1DhykFC2pWKLM8iaBQS85EszcgMz9uRRQP9rtPsGOkgD4/s400/wales+047.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321514041706004498" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtGxCjfhbJOZ2AJsoP3VhOMHdg7sXPHdJaefghzmCjoFUIaHDP9XhmxznDC0KF_cabvjkSfKgE1U5DUfiJPIAiAkcqu0xv3l1p0DFLcKnf96QAsWgvlJNoYi25TQgohOE0qpuLOca6pQ/s1600-h/wales+046.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtGxCjfhbJOZ2AJsoP3VhOMHdg7sXPHdJaefghzmCjoFUIaHDP9XhmxznDC0KF_cabvjkSfKgE1U5DUfiJPIAiAkcqu0xv3l1p0DFLcKnf96QAsWgvlJNoYi25TQgohOE0qpuLOca6pQ/s400/wales+046.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321514036792971378" /></a><br /><br />So far we had been in the park 3 hours and they had only been on two rides. Weekends really are not the best times to do these things.<br /><br />I joined them on the River Rapids ride and we all got very wet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9tu3899207b4Gq6tB8OeaCdgRL1CsHx74JswkI-gb07UAlPvqmldOUf79h2p1n2p3yskAf9n50LhXVI9GNs9vj8fDhuZLMzwRraYxEmO-ssVWpqBWFBUswbexXi2eGczWemOa-PjW9w/s1600-h/wales+049.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9tu3899207b4Gq6tB8OeaCdgRL1CsHx74JswkI-gb07UAlPvqmldOUf79h2p1n2p3yskAf9n50LhXVI9GNs9vj8fDhuZLMzwRraYxEmO-ssVWpqBWFBUswbexXi2eGczWemOa-PjW9w/s400/wales+049.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321515004710095010" /></a><br /><br />With just a couple of hours left we managed to get on the 'Nemesis inferno' ride with just a 25 min queue. This is a hang in the air roller coaster with multiple inversions and a very good ride....I liked that one :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YBkd6Jv6eiiwwvvwwBEEgKB1gG7XyTJekmWUk0lg0TQl433dvkS0pU-I9J8pRQvEQIb17b90Nc1qeBO6a3Ej15iHFxYsHO5wkfB1w0xdOqbyfWtkcUUg34JjFSu6ax7-Ai08YYbwjSo/s1600-h/wales+050.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YBkd6Jv6eiiwwvvwwBEEgKB1gG7XyTJekmWUk0lg0TQl433dvkS0pU-I9J8pRQvEQIb17b90Nc1qeBO6a3Ej15iHFxYsHO5wkfB1w0xdOqbyfWtkcUUg34JjFSu6ax7-Ai08YYbwjSo/s400/wales+050.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321516003934493282" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMWz_iO74Pehldh8h3SX4bLg0iOgT0N5VUoF6D65VwuOISWuOSUFJ7da5JsbFwNUp6086zO8L2CUOyGwqxu3aw1MyOkSQN3nooj6QIj2PSWaBZTqBApsLMkEdEMUcJ8qCp0y7pLEXJ9g/s1600-h/wales+051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMWz_iO74Pehldh8h3SX4bLg0iOgT0N5VUoF6D65VwuOISWuOSUFJ7da5JsbFwNUp6086zO8L2CUOyGwqxu3aw1MyOkSQN3nooj6QIj2PSWaBZTqBApsLMkEdEMUcJ8qCp0y7pLEXJ9g/s400/wales+051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321516383793808338" /></a><br /><br /><br />The final ride was one called 'Stealth' There was no way i was going to ride as it climbed up to 205 ft. No way folks.<br /><br />The ride starts off on the level and then accelerates to over 80mph before climbing 205 ft and then dropping again before coming to a halt.<br /><br />They queued for an hour<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2skDCCQh4vFLxtC3_gEwE6RnsiMgLu1ml76eBHrf8h1h7TiVeDnkKPPIbeBCYlgVEgaiahcfWJ8_PM3cwYOEpoh_ZQQ9k9DJWG5D3T5hiV8c7ksTE7vIl6-YD1mIbUBOBtRsjU-dYmk/s1600-h/wales+052.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2skDCCQh4vFLxtC3_gEwE6RnsiMgLu1ml76eBHrf8h1h7TiVeDnkKPPIbeBCYlgVEgaiahcfWJ8_PM3cwYOEpoh_ZQQ9k9DJWG5D3T5hiV8c7ksTE7vIl6-YD1mIbUBOBtRsjU-dYmk/s400/wales+052.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321517506957262274" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K4YLKzv-XLg0qEQvMlxcvmoYOWNrI5j_p_GYYapV5lTd_gDIDp6An4CgFQBdTFhJn0HaF5sJ7j_zwvKUFkJFB9Fs5-gOm-kqcZocKbRNjNIkAq2blz5XSaLWHdUejMYmwZjZ2JPJOPc/s1600-h/wales+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K4YLKzv-XLg0qEQvMlxcvmoYOWNrI5j_p_GYYapV5lTd_gDIDp6An4CgFQBdTFhJn0HaF5sJ7j_zwvKUFkJFB9Fs5-gOm-kqcZocKbRNjNIkAq2blz5XSaLWHdUejMYmwZjZ2JPJOPc/s400/wales+053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321517863660166322" /></a><br /><br /><br />Once of a day we were happy with just the Big Dipper at Blackpool. It seems there is no end to the extremes roller coasters can now take you to, providing of course you dont go during weekends or school holidays.saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-88012284071929303922009-04-06T10:13:00.003+01:002009-04-06T10:27:47.004+01:00Cabin ConversionsThe work in the Boatmans Cabin has finally been completed making it into our bedroom and converting our Cabin into Peanut's Nursery.<br /><br /> Our bed is now the full width of the cabin which then folds away during the day to allow access from the rear doors and to the storage cupboards underneath. or at least it would if the mattress wasnt too big! <br /><br /> Another cock up on my measuring skills meant I ordered a Mattress way too big and bulky. It my own fault for ordering it off t'internet instead of measuring one up in a shop. Never mind, it will do for a few weeks till I can order a new one suitable for use.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIh3wY9zrev84mf7nRAbWI2hNchgZs2TGiLE99rHbZaFTlZgHsB5BZ8PE8TY8p0xHgbUJJKMb31m8L5OAw-qyV1K4WXwynvj6YWL3YdwzvPV-Rty0zltuvncJNcL4TeXDLxo_6VDf5HA/s1600-h/wales+040.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIh3wY9zrev84mf7nRAbWI2hNchgZs2TGiLE99rHbZaFTlZgHsB5BZ8PE8TY8p0xHgbUJJKMb31m8L5OAw-qyV1K4WXwynvj6YWL3YdwzvPV-Rty0zltuvncJNcL4TeXDLxo_6VDf5HA/s400/wales+040.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321506393924205746" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1Fq9FPmq1qpx7giLnglUJHAwrNQG7pI_3n2b1MEYvi1CsuBFDPVi9DGhWH5AaQvMY7gxYvChEOevJicY6EWoqY-3Vy9fGsesVunEx3s19zpqNgoQ0MghBCaKzKQH3awKx7H5A2MeBjc/s1600-h/wales+038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1Fq9FPmq1qpx7giLnglUJHAwrNQG7pI_3n2b1MEYvi1CsuBFDPVi9DGhWH5AaQvMY7gxYvChEOevJicY6EWoqY-3Vy9fGsesVunEx3s19zpqNgoQ0MghBCaKzKQH3awKx7H5A2MeBjc/s400/wales+038.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321506386216898386" /></a><br /><br /> At least Peanuts Cabin is sorted and looking pretty good. All ready and waiting for the arrival day in July.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ8-Bj5PeltbMrtRXuor0zz79i-WG8Oq2vXst76BS9DjNwsFgNb4tWy8lSI4lVjQEBpISTJaNdr0BickQivUUnlRsoXeVaTJl5pTlhl6PPcdMeK-2GJ17VDT6NMlGxjNU_O5yy9Q7xbI/s1600-h/wales+042.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ8-Bj5PeltbMrtRXuor0zz79i-WG8Oq2vXst76BS9DjNwsFgNb4tWy8lSI4lVjQEBpISTJaNdr0BickQivUUnlRsoXeVaTJl5pTlhl6PPcdMeK-2GJ17VDT6NMlGxjNU_O5yy9Q7xbI/s400/wales+042.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321507505013417026" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8ZyVSfLiH5oawD6t23aZO6r9Y6sT53zLCPD2YsyAwvxb-EFHe0ukUpzRu23jUpuBHQNmZcdEzXchOv4zGLW7LwIN2DeZrcgrpSphfLVFut38oKxiIDaHT0t0ARPj_E0NuQPrKSD9lOU/s1600-h/wales+041.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8ZyVSfLiH5oawD6t23aZO6r9Y6sT53zLCPD2YsyAwvxb-EFHe0ukUpzRu23jUpuBHQNmZcdEzXchOv4zGLW7LwIN2DeZrcgrpSphfLVFut38oKxiIDaHT0t0ARPj_E0NuQPrKSD9lOU/s400/wales+041.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321507494761139474" /></a>saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-7212215241713686292009-04-06T09:06:00.007+01:002009-04-06T10:11:37.189+01:00A Grand Day OutWe took a trip to Portsmouth in March as my birthday treat. <br /><br />It had been quite a few years since I last visited, in fact it was well before the days of the Mary Rose being found and the only attraction in the Dockyard was HMS Victory so I was very keen to see the new Historic Dockyard Museum.<br /><br />We arrived just in time to catch a boat trip around the Harbour as our starter and armed with video camera and still camera we were fortunate to see quite a few Warships including the 3 aircraft carriers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FShGBec0y0aE-JHXBi7T2llN6qtNtmsg9K9qJ6dJNfqU6l14ZI4BEbME-nTYMqfWqwq5se-PUjTrMLlfcUnutRtVPrwMIJPXxLZrMFG3sLAlCF5mgdX-Rr2PdbGEtQWKD4hLyUhXNB4/s1600-h/wales+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FShGBec0y0aE-JHXBi7T2llN6qtNtmsg9K9qJ6dJNfqU6l14ZI4BEbME-nTYMqfWqwq5se-PUjTrMLlfcUnutRtVPrwMIJPXxLZrMFG3sLAlCF5mgdX-Rr2PdbGEtQWKD4hLyUhXNB4/s400/wales+027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321489862033471394" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivk0zgm-nPHP35I46cBBUnaN66qB0ShQu1oqk1ksk4BFWX0Fcho-446RBQ1UfjwQSKCYcB_0NM06Jvhcg-RVwJFrqRVIjowjmzIId5PS2tzEzb8Pl8ybidW9h2ujfkf0TksXDuMCyJSik/s1600-h/wales+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivk0zgm-nPHP35I46cBBUnaN66qB0ShQu1oqk1ksk4BFWX0Fcho-446RBQ1UfjwQSKCYcB_0NM06Jvhcg-RVwJFrqRVIjowjmzIId5PS2tzEzb8Pl8ybidW9h2ujfkf0TksXDuMCyJSik/s400/wales+025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321489867128689554" /></a><br /><br /><br />HMS <a href=" http://www.hms-victory.com/">Victory</a> is still for me one of those great ships that justs lets my imagination run away with itself. A period of history I particularly enjoy. <br /><br />Since my last visit they have opened up more of the ship. Originally the lowest part you could visit was the Orlop Deck, but they now allow access to the Ships Hold which is a vast cavernous area in the very Bowell's of Victory.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V-ijVTv6c0-_METEc1d7gSsMQJSl7y_mlso2DNB9eKFUEi1d0rBtniIbyk0TsD08xtTF_FFkWbkXRTL2B6wMFlJ2CQ3O5gbODm4WlRNsrwftxju4jJjPXmAGxxHr2Z8wJ63OOnDsvtg/s1600-h/wales+028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V-ijVTv6c0-_METEc1d7gSsMQJSl7y_mlso2DNB9eKFUEi1d0rBtniIbyk0TsD08xtTF_FFkWbkXRTL2B6wMFlJ2CQ3O5gbODm4WlRNsrwftxju4jJjPXmAGxxHr2Z8wJ63OOnDsvtg/s400/wales+028.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321492987294106674" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2vF8XWeyTfNmmBiajRLhYO2W7y6GMI9J4ud2yQv6JtJqxHs-WVBE-WQ5tuCo8leY-2gKjRu1WL13pi9JkfghEMNY4Zz_Wa7pxnvtQMrj1EdWanJpqZjFriJQm9-ZxS74PqW66SPgd7c/s1600-h/wales+024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2vF8XWeyTfNmmBiajRLhYO2W7y6GMI9J4ud2yQv6JtJqxHs-WVBE-WQ5tuCo8leY-2gKjRu1WL13pi9JkfghEMNY4Zz_Wa7pxnvtQMrj1EdWanJpqZjFriJQm9-ZxS74PqW66SPgd7c/s400/wales+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321492979515615858" /></a><br /><br />I remember when they recovered Henry VIII ship <a href=" http://www.maryrose.org/">Mary Rose</a> from the depths of the Solent but didnt realise how much of the ship had actually been recovered. <br /> On the television pics of the day it just looked like a few timbers but in actual fact, its almost the majority of the Starboard side complete with rudder. The remains are housed in a special climate controlled building and is constantly sprayed with preserving chemicals and wax so you actually view the ship from behind a wall of perspex. It takes a few minutes to get used to the light but it is a fantastic display and well worth the entrance fee alone.<br /><br /> Time was running out and we ended our tour by visiting Queen Victoria's first Iron Hulled Battleship <a href=" http://www.hmswarrior.org/">HMS Warrior</a><br /><br /> The best part of this ship, not just its size but the fact you can wander its decks unescorted and can get into alsorts of nooks and crannies and have a really good explore.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzpfuQr9og4iaOCitIPkJiVDG7XSuuuYtiCCwp_PP4TDsR9M0zJ23If8NiOynNcyyq-ss_6qPhuU4pZM85aQUSB9RkGUQVkBB2lchBdwH7EaVUKBP-trhT2RGhM2KziS4djOsPOsTVxY/s1600-h/wales+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzpfuQr9og4iaOCitIPkJiVDG7XSuuuYtiCCwp_PP4TDsR9M0zJ23If8NiOynNcyyq-ss_6qPhuU4pZM85aQUSB9RkGUQVkBB2lchBdwH7EaVUKBP-trhT2RGhM2KziS4djOsPOsTVxY/s400/wales+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321497647602174786" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrbgi9_dEpm2-lM2ErE32xFv_eC-IFpINmELuffbTBzAk8FOGgCiBs6uD2dSfPiPX3pSSliOSqOe85AOV_JDI1AmfNt5Hi5hpSK4ubkCWu_Bu2BEkd3MSmvlfdNrENHwUAqM3_2DSI4k/s1600-h/wales+030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrbgi9_dEpm2-lM2ErE32xFv_eC-IFpINmELuffbTBzAk8FOGgCiBs6uD2dSfPiPX3pSSliOSqOe85AOV_JDI1AmfNt5Hi5hpSK4ubkCWu_Bu2BEkd3MSmvlfdNrENHwUAqM3_2DSI4k/s400/wales+030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321497641305233602" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI_Q9PLLNcpKVqt-x3v4bC4BohuQwpeWc3_tHHYNagjtumPBDazmmD0qjIUDBkGZjpVbxApmLnhdlJKiIW70ypmf9Lyc4zqxXysLvteO87mo6VnvsWtwPGNITDEv5GoPX4Hn0xSeBhXA/s1600-h/wales+033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI_Q9PLLNcpKVqt-x3v4bC4BohuQwpeWc3_tHHYNagjtumPBDazmmD0qjIUDBkGZjpVbxApmLnhdlJKiIW70ypmf9Lyc4zqxXysLvteO87mo6VnvsWtwPGNITDEv5GoPX4Hn0xSeBhXA/s400/wales+033.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321498486970549890" /></a><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy-pU95CC5GalhuKCYYsn_Rjd7rW-dUk_qxNUDeBKB3DBV0sfrQGbd4wbe2vLtk1cjzMcZ4sBm7YYpWBxNckaKovAzMhebD2aqXLmTwrFjgMPGKGaZLb8iEmfH9HFrDBFopSM4525jqY/s1600-h/wales+032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy-pU95CC5GalhuKCYYsn_Rjd7rW-dUk_qxNUDeBKB3DBV0sfrQGbd4wbe2vLtk1cjzMcZ4sBm7YYpWBxNckaKovAzMhebD2aqXLmTwrFjgMPGKGaZLb8iEmfH9HFrDBFopSM4525jqY/s400/wales+032.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321498486610263426" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRtDDnqkBT3uJNj0dXg8bTSGK6JvQGt3Mmucz70z1hHBn05YDFPP-xI2MzdQ4MxMfY4ulRTG2NxtFmsqZnxv5mcddKUCpjcP8JKeyGjA7n0z2ZUrqInSSMHn3gaGrP99nDTgszjvNmTI/s1600-h/wales+035.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRtDDnqkBT3uJNj0dXg8bTSGK6JvQGt3Mmucz70z1hHBn05YDFPP-xI2MzdQ4MxMfY4ulRTG2NxtFmsqZnxv5mcddKUCpjcP8JKeyGjA7n0z2ZUrqInSSMHn3gaGrP99nDTgszjvNmTI/s400/wales+035.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321499301342039218" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBk6tR_1qOM-dqF_bYzluTgUyILP9a3GJ6QgjYuMudP8Ts8zXBZRAamFV1nRxjAyDxcuBoqhOAgseS-BvvO690qURdxDfp10t39jeJFvYApzFkRlbF3gMiiWtLwAjxRQrwCwtf668orI/s1600-h/wales+034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBk6tR_1qOM-dqF_bYzluTgUyILP9a3GJ6QgjYuMudP8Ts8zXBZRAamFV1nRxjAyDxcuBoqhOAgseS-BvvO690qURdxDfp10t39jeJFvYApzFkRlbF3gMiiWtLwAjxRQrwCwtf668orI/s400/wales+034.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321499299788825666" /></a><br /><br /> Our final attraction of the day was a visit the <a href="http://www.spinnakertower.co.uk/?gclid=COKr7s3x25kCFQOcFQodRl5pVA">Spinnaker Tower </a>which dominates Portsmouth's skyline.<br /><br /> This Tower rises 170 metre's above the Harbour. Encased in glass on three walls with three levels and a Glass section of floor on the lower level.<br /> Laura nor I have very good heads for heights but we were very brave and we managed to get our backs to the solid wall on the first level not daring to go anywhere near the glass walls or the glass floor.<br /><br /> I then got extreamly brave and got my video camera out and began to shuffle slowly around the deck looking only through the viewfinder so that i didnt have to actually look out of the windows for real. I was shaking like an idiot and so we dashed back to the lift back to the safety of terra firma. Coming back down in the lift Laura was laughing at me because the sweat was pooring down my face....Vertigo, it sounds so silly but its horrible.<br /><br /> We had a quick beer in the bar below and I checked out the video camera to see what sights I had managed to record while up the tower.<br /><br /> It appears all I had managed to capture was our feet climbing the stairs to the lift. In my fear I had forgotten to press record, so when I thought i pressed pause to end the recording I had only then just presses record so no video at all of us being brave in the tower of death. Doh!!<br /><br /> We ended the day back at the Swan and Bottle for a slap up meal.saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-87777183079629049242009-03-09T04:07:00.014+00:002009-03-09T06:01:53.272+00:00Welsh Surf n TurfIt has been some time since I last ventured west to visit my matey Paul in Wales. <br /> We couldnt meet up last weekend as he was in Paris watching the mighty Welsh Rugby team lose to France.<br /><br /> We have been close friends for the last 20yrs.<br /> Paul managed to escape from London and return to the land of his fathers several years ago. He found an old barn in Monmouthshire which was being converted into a house and within a few months had finally moved in and settled down to enjoy the fine views across the Wye Valley.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6i_p_0WxQhsaiLbk2WPikgQ6WVbThGln_I3uwjeGq_wSnGAR5KGFOt0DV9tgkZ3U64BOI4AGz1e-5WMRGHWIO-eR7RSUOA3tqop8_IZKQ2NEuzEoss0ly0gSy5iNZyFBcNMOHa3HLv0/s1600-h/wales+019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6i_p_0WxQhsaiLbk2WPikgQ6WVbThGln_I3uwjeGq_wSnGAR5KGFOt0DV9tgkZ3U64BOI4AGz1e-5WMRGHWIO-eR7RSUOA3tqop8_IZKQ2NEuzEoss0ly0gSy5iNZyFBcNMOHa3HLv0/s400/wales+019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311041373227075410" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDVQ8bKQniE05OTgLScTxBZ0WX0FmQ-UHT0AwcJL9Z0ynbyz67mM433p56kt6Mu-qHn8DWXBAiv8REZJCH_nJiPR9cctBXTsVEr_Rrx7Mobxw2nLpk7WODae5p90yw76dqLCmUFQY2Ug/s1600-h/wales+018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDVQ8bKQniE05OTgLScTxBZ0WX0FmQ-UHT0AwcJL9Z0ynbyz67mM433p56kt6Mu-qHn8DWXBAiv8REZJCH_nJiPR9cctBXTsVEr_Rrx7Mobxw2nLpk7WODae5p90yw76dqLCmUFQY2Ug/s400/wales+018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311041360827733490" /></a><br /><br /> I arrived at Pauls about half past 8 friday evening and was greated by his two dogs Wellington and Katy. <br /> A few sherberts later in the local hostalry saw us sitting up till the early hours talking and catching up on each others news. Katy however was ready for bed well before we were<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqcQSS0vV68X4eNPf7bf1jZmhGdWBpXlal6gZJwzmGwykpZO_mw6Wdka88qfpz_yosmZ2GZRIrenfg5UZ-W9KylVZyamNefympDEh-rDm-yWCtcUudJIa5cOnUktf5aykj8Y8qPRA5go/s1600-h/wales+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqcQSS0vV68X4eNPf7bf1jZmhGdWBpXlal6gZJwzmGwykpZO_mw6Wdka88qfpz_yosmZ2GZRIrenfg5UZ-W9KylVZyamNefympDEh-rDm-yWCtcUudJIa5cOnUktf5aykj8Y8qPRA5go/s400/wales+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311044185471928946" /></a><br /><br /> Saturday dawned bright but breazy and our plans were to drive to the coast so that Paul and another friend called Jeff could show off their Surfing skills.....in march!!!.....We loaded up the car with 2 surf boards on the roof, large bags of wetsuits 2 dogs and 3 blokes.<br /><br /> They both regaled me with tales of daring do while riding the surf. I was impressed and firmed up my driving with much anticipation.<br /> As we approached Cardiff the weather had turned and was now drizzling. After a two hour drive we finally arived at Ogmore beach with yells from the dudes of " yeah, lets surf" They jumped from the car skipping and leaping towards the sea wall where spray could be seen being whipped away on the wind. They came to a sudden stop. Their shoulders dropped as they looked across at the sea crashing against the cliffs and rocks and not a square of sandy beach in view. The tide was in. Being brave sufer dudes, not fearing wind or rain, they now huddled down into their jackets and we slouched back to the car and the heater.<br /><br /> Paul viewing the waves<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBt8R5u7uAqlK5KDn9jX2D1VQu32ktxiIgdaP8EkYjsxa0hO5m3Q3IIZpG5vo3YPXR1NPTFauBUOFKWczXRtpmKgA7wVENxQZ8yuvTAizqiU7FgfdwcDIKkF2O0uuMfaEruSIIqrjz48/s1600-h/wales+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBt8R5u7uAqlK5KDn9jX2D1VQu32ktxiIgdaP8EkYjsxa0hO5m3Q3IIZpG5vo3YPXR1NPTFauBUOFKWczXRtpmKgA7wVENxQZ8yuvTAizqiU7FgfdwcDIKkF2O0uuMfaEruSIIqrjz48/s400/wales+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311048916473529954" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz4wrWF_s4_Z8lxQv5B9KTnZFg4f6iHiOodslpXawlfVlBiInuDCAzTvIrcEKUe_IN_NxqLij7jt3vHmrXJugdeTcOHKdJAG3-w_WOAcqB8ERTAsKy43AsgEIzSHpl3nzdnkYIKFyfew/s1600-h/wales+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz4wrWF_s4_Z8lxQv5B9KTnZFg4f6iHiOodslpXawlfVlBiInuDCAzTvIrcEKUe_IN_NxqLij7jt3vHmrXJugdeTcOHKdJAG3-w_WOAcqB8ERTAsKy43AsgEIzSHpl3nzdnkYIKFyfew/s400/wales+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311050048313528578" /></a><br /><br /> Not to miss out on their water based activities, Paul suggested another beach further up the coast. We piled back into the car and headed a few miles further west. Upon our arrival, both Paul and Jeff surveyed the waves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ulQLpy2GrNwZcB6KmsFrMv9EXX9TVmOK3giudhV7tLzOAEbTWYc7GUDKjwJD-g9fSEiip0OJ37mIuWlkFETfEcNxTCmExuCIKQtJNrE2f1FMYU6wJjus0Bc9Akchnlfzod_jFEGMBcc/s1600-h/wales+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ulQLpy2GrNwZcB6KmsFrMv9EXX9TVmOK3giudhV7tLzOAEbTWYc7GUDKjwJD-g9fSEiip0OJ37mIuWlkFETfEcNxTCmExuCIKQtJNrE2f1FMYU6wJjus0Bc9Akchnlfzod_jFEGMBcc/s400/wales+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311051657941453666" /></a><br /><br /> All seemed well until Paul spyed the Parasurfers and realising that their image might not stand up to the scrutiny of these aparant professionals we again retired to the car with excuses of "its too windy"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJeOCQSC1856DnU7jIuMrX3R0NBxQrHAN2Ry4gIpaC8pqh_sSF0DdXZAxMmAzcOxgVEVmcUxXgpbTouaFaotM-8YpKSusnzO-Q7cINUyROy90GkjtM2ahhWa_vkS_HL7fW2OZzUFyc9c/s1600-h/wales+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJeOCQSC1856DnU7jIuMrX3R0NBxQrHAN2Ry4gIpaC8pqh_sSF0DdXZAxMmAzcOxgVEVmcUxXgpbTouaFaotM-8YpKSusnzO-Q7cINUyROy90GkjtM2ahhWa_vkS_HL7fW2OZzUFyc9c/s400/wales+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311052979054888034" /></a><br /><br /> One final choice...Porthcawl near Bridgend. Very unlikely to have any snobby para surfers and the boys would finally be able to impress the local girls with their skills on the boards....Not....The tide was still high, the wind whipping the spray as the waves dashed against the rocks. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh734APNttWbAbQHRqdAPXnGarbCxP1rqTL6OgjArPigE4VxFtsPSkRE3glawIx-F_vzqslseZc3EeUDO3z2u3eag1IO2UW-TgN1uxvj_T3Py_H904mksfl2MPwA0TbtH86x_H3UpGj4dA/s1600-h/wales+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh734APNttWbAbQHRqdAPXnGarbCxP1rqTL6OgjArPigE4VxFtsPSkRE3glawIx-F_vzqslseZc3EeUDO3z2u3eag1IO2UW-TgN1uxvj_T3Py_H904mksfl2MPwA0TbtH86x_H3UpGj4dA/s400/wales+011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311055590169300850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWDWEQpwnHSULZE7HiMbbdUmRkilSMbUOGPUs2PFX4kYD-AlZfKzPLvGE8pX7FAPdcX299HZuyMdoG4TVr_z-IuVWalbx226a68mkymgXSvZbaYmnW1OiqpLbWNfNLKeqtZXDqn6yj6s/s1600-h/wales+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWDWEQpwnHSULZE7HiMbbdUmRkilSMbUOGPUs2PFX4kYD-AlZfKzPLvGE8pX7FAPdcX299HZuyMdoG4TVr_z-IuVWalbx226a68mkymgXSvZbaYmnW1OiqpLbWNfNLKeqtZXDqn6yj6s/s400/wales+012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311056340811705266" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg8TSawMbjv_6URtQVsvnCHBgsUXuuBkBHU9MqIdfTFLXe_svrS-plU9xVBLczlMm4tmy6GukW3DMYceRvmhWqka6IfmCBBVtunBZ6RSPZgCi7_5nB_WVsjgwzsG9gy0wqhBcbStZrxI/s1600-h/wales+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg8TSawMbjv_6URtQVsvnCHBgsUXuuBkBHU9MqIdfTFLXe_svrS-plU9xVBLczlMm4tmy6GukW3DMYceRvmhWqka6IfmCBBVtunBZ6RSPZgCi7_5nB_WVsjgwzsG9gy0wqhBcbStZrxI/s400/wales+010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311056337767356674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ynrpcEo_Wh_dsLMchqrkpoqAws908z3wFmQM1ni4fELy9m_JmmiXmYQ2XOBm9IEoat19UpcIYvZBC_9cPyqmkmbTHqG4tTbABoFgQLhL9Z00v0huYLi3B1x3QfBSjskhdNvhko77Pk8/s1600-h/wales+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ynrpcEo_Wh_dsLMchqrkpoqAws908z3wFmQM1ni4fELy9m_JmmiXmYQ2XOBm9IEoat19UpcIYvZBC_9cPyqmkmbTHqG4tTbABoFgQLhL9Z00v0huYLi3B1x3QfBSjskhdNvhko77Pk8/s400/wales+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311057048932765954" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8hwiOYdWZ1gtx0SBpSZC-vGxF6q6TIJlhJ_D-7lFG6hKxcgXgiJzi0XMMeEvocUTzpuqAe6PvX8OVSU5za8PEx2L41ItMrG9Rn0JcVRf_jLbCZfVjn34M5UONlw4jdz-vuTFstqekNo/s1600-h/wales+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8hwiOYdWZ1gtx0SBpSZC-vGxF6q6TIJlhJ_D-7lFG6hKxcgXgiJzi0XMMeEvocUTzpuqAe6PvX8OVSU5za8PEx2L41ItMrG9Rn0JcVRf_jLbCZfVjn34M5UONlw4jdz-vuTFstqekNo/s400/wales+015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311057026802480114" /></a><br /><br /><br /> The intrepid adventurers gave the dogs a run across the cliffs and we then drove the 2 hours back home and headed off to the Pub to impress the locals of our tale of excitment and adventure.<br /> After much quaffing of ale and long tales we finally returned home and enjoyed a fantastic barbeque of huge tiger prawns, and steak...it was only midnight and the night was still young.<br /><br /> A fantastic weekend. Our journey to the sea, although not a surfing success was actually a great little road trip with the three of us thouroughly enjoying the day.<br /> I can recomend the Wye Valley beers and to top off the trip, Paul agreed to be Bestman this coming september.<br /> Back at home now and the back cabin conversion resumes tomorrow.saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-10433268009660597542009-02-18T07:37:00.003+00:002009-02-18T07:44:55.547+00:00Emblem againWhen I sold Emblem I had some engine spares for the old Gardner 4L3W<br /><br /> For months they had been sitting in my mates stable in Wales and then in the boot of my car waiting for the new owner to arrange collection.<br /><br /> Eventually I got fed up of waiting and managed to lodge them at my daughters hse in Ramsgate thinking i might as well try and sell them on Ebay<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiGuR-pMRzYT8-6IVJ5ant9wK8rECRzt05uyQx9gYApo1gD6r2vvOmPhN4PApzQY8ib_jhzfGl99FcvyYwZThRYvDwx40Jmi2Mhk_LpzjYI-1eWOQIUPR-TcXEc4c-twNmR5gQJW3hRE/s1600-h/Image001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiGuR-pMRzYT8-6IVJ5ant9wK8rECRzt05uyQx9gYApo1gD6r2vvOmPhN4PApzQY8ib_jhzfGl99FcvyYwZThRYvDwx40Jmi2Mhk_LpzjYI-1eWOQIUPR-TcXEc4c-twNmR5gQJW3hRE/s400/Image001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304039251841568978" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynvDIGmVgL6R00Hnb6RgFrGgn_EdTQywjDkc6aCstVgM_jB5b0CpzPQXDDJD_ooTaO3fUDlsc3DlAmraXHpxqzYkjh939Q4PM3iGgHwN05DS55vg61Xou54-_PRnn9Er81WurE5jCVZc/s1600-h/Image000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynvDIGmVgL6R00Hnb6RgFrGgn_EdTQywjDkc6aCstVgM_jB5b0CpzPQXDDJD_ooTaO3fUDlsc3DlAmraXHpxqzYkjh939Q4PM3iGgHwN05DS55vg61Xou54-_PRnn9Er81WurE5jCVZc/s400/Image000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304039245647071970" /></a><br /><br /><br /> Imagine my suprise when i gat a call from Ludwig, the new owner of Emblem asking about the engine bits...It turns out he's been very ill and was unabke to reply to my messages.<br /><br /> At last, I pleased to announced the parts will be going to Emblem to keep her running.saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-82144179324411564692009-02-18T07:03:00.002+00:002009-02-18T07:35:42.677+00:00Time is catching upIt seems like everthing on board Lady Elgar is giving up the ghost just about the same time it was fitted aboard.<br /><br /> Last week the Loo cassettes finally had enough, and yesterday the washing machine decided it no longer had the energy to run a spin cycle.<br /><br /> On top of that, the grill on the oven no longer wishes to grill and one ring on the gas hob has decided it no longer wishes to remain lit.<br /><br /><br /> Anything else?....oh yes.....the water pump is playing up.<br /><br /> Not to be down hearted we decided the gas oven and hob can keep us going till next year, the water pump is still just about working so we've ordered a new one as standby incase this one finally sighs its last breath. The washing machine however has had to be replaced.<br /><br /> We went to currys in Slough and chose a rather nice silver dryer model within our budget which had, written on the label......"last one instock...take home today"<br /><br /> The lady who came to our assistance informed us, we could have it delivered tomorrow (thursday) and take advantage of free delivery which also ends tomorrow, so we said....."oh yes me old hearties"<br /><br /> She then handed us over to her assistant who promptly made a complete hash of the whole affair. He told us it couldntbe delivered till next week....not a big problem....but when we asked..."how about if we take it now" he said "there isnt any in stock"....i took him and showed him the label on the machine we wanted and he said" that shouldnt be on there"....yet his collegue said it was in stock and we could take it today if we didnt like the delivery date!<br /><br /> We eventually agreed on a date next week and he swiped our debit card and then told us it needed authorising....after several attempts at getting through to the authorising phone number he then told us our card had been declined!!!!!!<br /> It was our boat account and we had over £1000 in CREDIT!!<br /><br /> He then tried to tempt us to pay with a credit card but we pooh poohed his suggestions and we high tailed it to the bank and told them the story.....the bank clerk informed us there wa nothing wrong with the card and our account was healthy.<br /><br /> We then decided to return home and order our choice on the internet...I typed in our post code and model number and was informed that we could order our selected machine for collection at either the Slough branch or the West Drayton branch.<br /><br /> Not wishing to deal with Slough anymore.....having been told by them it wasnt available......i clicked on the West Drayton branch and the message came up that it would be ready for collection in 1 HOUR!!!!!<br /><br /> I then spent the next hour disconecting the old machine and sure enough...we went to the West Drayton branch and collected the reserved washing machine.....we use the same account card and it cleared without any request for authorisation at all.<br /><br /> 7PM saw the new washer installed and going through its first wash with a minimum of fuss....I must admit however, If it hadnt been for a kind chap offering his help at the boatyard to lift the damn thing, It would still be sitting in the car even now...cant expect Laura to do lifting things.<br /><br /> So, what was the final thing to go wrong?<br /> The bathroom light fitting gave in......is it because everything was fitted at the same time?......who knows....is it because Lady Elgar knows peanut is on the way and she want to have everything working prior to his/her arrival?<br /><br /> As you mayve guessed, my work in the back cabin has come to a stop due to all the other things suddenly needing attention, except that is for the Boatmans stove which is now sitting in the shed waiting for our neighbour <a href="http://www.nbtortoise.org.uk/">simon</a> to take possessionsaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-23562233557947275562009-02-10T04:59:00.004+00:002009-02-10T05:22:28.746+00:00Pennies from HeavenAint t grand when you suddenly have a crisis, and you have to fork out for something which doesn't fit into your budget. Then, all of a sudden you remember 'Piggy' sitting on the shelf which, for the last few months has swallowed all your £2 coins.<br /><br />On counting 'Piggies' contents this morning we found we had enough to replace the <a href="http://www.yeomansoutdoors.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=960">'Elsan'</a> porta loo plus spare cassette and a new water pump.<br /><br />The 'Elsan' cassette's have a large handle at the front which one pulls out in order to dump the deposit into the holding tank.<br /><br />We had in total 3 of these cassettes on board Lady Elgar which mustve been about 15 years old. well, the last one finally gave up the ghost yesterday when the handle finally sheared off.<br /><br />Piggy to the rescue and a quick visit to Denham Marina, coz Highline and Uxbridge are closed on mondays, and we are now the proud owners of a <a href="http://www.bridgendcamping.co.uk/default.aspx?CategoryID=18&ItemID=POR465">Thetford465</a> plus spare cassette.<br /><br />The water pump....well....its been getting slower and slower so tomorrow i will pop into Highline and order a new pump, again courtesy of piggy.<br /><br />I like Piggy Banks :)saltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2054621608033701598.post-88433829613549575172009-02-04T03:17:00.001+00:002009-02-04T03:56:30.414+00:00Its still winterTime has just flown by since I last posted.<br /><br /> Below is a pic of the sofa/futon/bed we had in the saloon.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgNKIRcrsNJSVQamzPLOjgR56Ihb2ZUngMCiDdwxmUlHEHzPdNj0Ma9zv1QNNZZ1mfkmTYPJ9ShBuRXgtjxeSYlncw2w5lkNf2V_nAD8HKmTUO5wtUmunAxtliNrdYvSCfM7Uyhgsh-4/s1600-h/Image005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgNKIRcrsNJSVQamzPLOjgR56Ihb2ZUngMCiDdwxmUlHEHzPdNj0Ma9zv1QNNZZ1mfkmTYPJ9ShBuRXgtjxeSYlncw2w5lkNf2V_nAD8HKmTUO5wtUmunAxtliNrdYvSCfM7Uyhgsh-4/s400/Image005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298777715249948130" /></a><br /><br />We now have so much more space ready for Peanut and the Stove has once again become a feature of the room rather than just a heat source<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo0PvP9PTYfVAsXGVRrt8p6YLO9WGGyLb6SHBRrTvKHESLDJaZ7Ddm0VgaTRTOju9I9UepDbX220XHaW40whFBNdook93mH98kGWLIOkxeptTNX8-_dlIYwFm96gNtQKyyvrgKP_KNao/s1600-h/Sofa+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo0PvP9PTYfVAsXGVRrt8p6YLO9WGGyLb6SHBRrTvKHESLDJaZ7Ddm0VgaTRTOju9I9UepDbX220XHaW40whFBNdook93mH98kGWLIOkxeptTNX8-_dlIYwFm96gNtQKyyvrgKP_KNao/s400/Sofa+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298777715460818722" /></a><br /><br /><br /> I have to confess my time on the PC has been taken up playing an old game of mine that i recently upgraded. Its a WW2 submarine simulation called Silent Hunter 3.....very addictive and time consuming.<br /><br /> So to combat the time spent in front of the PC we took a trip to Reading over the weekend and visited the Hobby supermarket. <br /><br /> I bought some Hessian sheets and a Rag Rugger with the intention of making a Rag Rug or two. I delved into my wardrobe and removed all clothing that I hadnt used for over a year ready for cutting into strips for the rug.<br /><br /><br /> Laura decided she would try her hand at Latch Hook crochet and cross stitching,<br /><br /> Here is her Latch Hook masterpiece so far<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVszSUK7ZZD5_cqBsrf2zZeKZW5zLzDKPlUcr_1P18FF0BA8A6k4vN9YpkACWGUwAlf0Kx45C-i_OEawnhqyB8CkSETj_WJzgWe3AqRoYj7nuhlypyiNnaGhEkcqDgKmGVF0S4_Mgi0o/s1600-h/Image006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVszSUK7ZZD5_cqBsrf2zZeKZW5zLzDKPlUcr_1P18FF0BA8A6k4vN9YpkACWGUwAlf0Kx45C-i_OEawnhqyB8CkSETj_WJzgWe3AqRoYj7nuhlypyiNnaGhEkcqDgKmGVF0S4_Mgi0o/s400/Image006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298782723599062146" /></a><br /><br /><br /> After several hours work she has completed half of her picture. She has, thoughout those several hours had a go at me requesting to see how my rug is coming along.....Alas, those several hours have been spent cutting and stripping clothes ready for the big rag rug event....ps...the co-op cloth bags that you have to buy these days instead of plastic carrier bags make ideal rag bags to keep your strips of cloth in.<br /><br /> Rear cabin has now been measured and my plan is forming for converting it into our master bedroom. Work is due to commence at the end of this month. <br /><br /> Peanut's next scan is 23rd Feb. That will be the 20 week scan.<br /><br /> Current size is a small Grapefruitsaltysplashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172143760000458068noreply@blogger.com1