The paint job

We were greeted in the late morning on Monday by the hard-working and cheery marina lad and the plan was to pump out and then head into the marina and onto the slip-way.

We left the manouvreing to the marina as there were plenty of errends to take care of today, and by mid-day we came home to see our home up and out the water, standing proud.


Whilst we are out of the water, access is by a steep ladder, so everything is carried up and down these, shopping, water carriers, laundry, Delia...


On closer inspection of the hull, she really needs some clear TLC, I think it's a good time to be committing to this work.



The jet wash began...


and the mud and weeds came away exposing some areas of rust. The blacking was well needed!


Whilst out the water, this is a good opportunity to look over other areas hidden away normally. In this case the rudder and propeller are problem points.


If you can notice, the tip of the rudder is bent. No it wasn't us. When we purchased her, she had this little blemish from years of hire-boating neglect quite possibly. So that is due to be either straightened or cut off and with a new piece welded on. We had learnt how to steer with this slight problem, with the tiller at a slight angle, but it would be nice to steer her straight with a straight tiller when it is sorted out.

In addition, the engineers pointed out that the cup that the rudder post sits in has worn away and rusted meaning that the tiller wobbles around. This cup should sit tight on the post and support vibrations giving a clearer sense of movement with the tiller. So that is being cut off and a new one made especially to fit. Yes the cost is totting up...

We discussed the propeller which spread a smile across everyone who craned their head under the swim to look. Yes it appears that Jaws the shark has had a go on the blades. This should be replaced at some point. But £350 and 5 weeks waiting time (as it is a left-hand propeller) means it will have to wait until we plan to have her out the water again.


When the hull had dried off in the sun, the first coat of Black Bitumen was applied to the hull to protect from rusting in the water and already she was looking smarter!


Whilst taking that last photograph, I noticed the mechanism for hauling her out the water...


The motor controls the spindle of strong wire which is attached to two platforms on wheels that the boat sits on. I gather that the platforms were in the water underneath the boat and the boat was pulled out by the winding wire. The wheels of the platforms were guided up by rails like tram tracks. All 14tonnes of boat is held in place by the platforms and guide arms either side. Fortuantely we have a flat bottom so there is thankfully no wobbling on stilts.

The winter into spring

After a spell back in Atherstone we cruised back to Hartshill to make the most of our payment for the winter mooring and see in the end of March. The weather is gradually turning fine and the skies were giving us a great delight.

Sunshine was teeming inside during the days, and it's times like these I am grateful for having such an abundance of windows!


It was Sunday 27th March and time to move towards Nuneaton and our destination, Springwood Haven.


We left Hartshill behind...



and made our way slowly through the gentle green hills...


and round the corner to the marina.



Springwood Haven is a lovely marina and small chandlery on the Coventry Canal. We have frequented it when requiring the 'facilities' and have always had lots of help from staff. When looking for quotes to have the hull blacked and steelwork painted up they came up top trumps all round, so we are keen to have the work done here.

So, we moored up


and out came pickles...


the little water-rat...


to snoop around...


and explore the rockeries up the hill...


making herself feel quite at home in no-time, towering over the marina...


And after being made very welcome by the caretakers at Springwood Haven we snuggled down for the night ready and excited for the days ahead.

Face the fear and do it anyway

I decided to do it today. Even though I haven't got all things in place that I would like, I decided to sell from the boat.


I had spoken of this before to those close and it seemed like a grand idea but considering the following it wasn't the right time. For example, the boat doesn't look very attractive, who would want to buy something from a battered looking boat?! There are obvious issues regarding BW and businesses on the cut and finally what exactly would I sell?

But today I took my brothers advice and scared of all the above, I thought I would give it a go with some baking and selling my produce.

So the morning began with Muffins and after hearing the radio 4 woman's hour going on about the 'cupcake' fad, I decided on selling my muffins in cases as cupcakes.


The blackboard in the kitchen came in very handy and the muffins awaited their recipients.


Delia kept watch for cake thieves...


and the muffins saw people stop and look and pass on by...

After a while of the cakes being outside and still uneaten it seemed only right that Leigh and I should crack into them before they went stale.

So there we have it. I tried and will try again at the weekend when there will hopefully be more walkers by.

I also decided to have a go at making a bracelet/corsage inspired by the floristry classes I work in. I threaded a selection of leaves - including Ivy and others collected from the hedgerow, with copper wire and added a daffodil (a real sign of spring!) then wrapped it around my wrist using fine green wool (Rowan's kidsilk haze - left over from MB's birthday scarf). The wired leaves are bent to curve around my wrist and frame the shape of the piece.




This could be worn at a celebration, like a wedding or just because spring is pretty much bloody well here!

The month of March

Little Delia Derbyshire sat in the Brighton window. An adventure for her and us as we travelled down to visit family and friends late in February.

And when we returned to our narrow home, we made a move back to the lovely little town of Atherstone for ease of access. Although mooring by fields far away from towns is delightful, the towpath had become a muddy slippery path to the closest road and carrying things to and fro was becoming a bit of an issue.

So here we have been for a week now...


it's just 5 minutes to the shop, post-office, train station, market, cash-point. Easy stuff.

Leigh has been making some new fenders for the boat with lovely chain and covers to protect the hull. They look professional and should be less likely to drop off and disappear as we move through locks and along new routes.



After a giggle on the phone with a lovely little niece, I was asked to make a drawing of a fairy and post it to her. So I kept my word and last night gathered paper, a rubber and a pencil and reminded myself how much I enjoy drawing...




I thought I would add some colour and after the move aboard, all I now have are some second hand watercolours. Unfortunately I only have cartridge paper but thought I would still give it a go. I'm sure mum will tell me all about the need for watercolour paper after hearing about this!!



The final spot of good news is that the paint job we have lined up has been moved forward to 28th March! So I will keep you all up to date with the progress of this.

A walking weekend

I woke on Saturday morning keen to get out for some fresh air and a good stretch. Being in a small home means that often stretching isn't all that free and easy.

So I needed these...


and these...


The weather was fine, the canal was still, like a mirror...


and I was timing the distance to the local village, Atherstone...


35minutes later and I was walking into the high street. I had taken my swimming gear and did a morning of lengths until my eye's stung from the chlorine. With the wind drying my hair, I took the towpath back home, passing backyards and cottages on my way...


The landscape was breath taking...


on both sides!


On my route home, the cows who had earlier been moo-ing at each other to shuffle along on the bridge had taken to sitting down, one even on it's side. Oh dear! I thought, best get home before the rains come. And they sure did but fortunately I had made it back inside the boat, phew!

Today, I have started a new woodwork project making a lovely garden bee/insect home for someone's birthday coming up. So I got some ideas from the local hardwear store and picked up some bamboo for the tubes. I've done a fair bit of sawing up of wood to get the roof sorted and battled with securing the 45degree angle. After cutting my hands a few times, it seemed like time to leave it for the day and settle by the fire with a mug of tea.

Into February

With the limitations of the internet stick, I have only just been able to get back online with many thanks to lovely Leigh.

It has been three weeks since I last graced The Kite Experiment with my presence and so here is a little update.

I had some friends round for tea and biscuits...


I have (finally) found local employment and am saving up for the big paint job this year. Leigh has been working on his tape release due sometime this year and is finding his way through making music without speakers, he is amazingly doing a fine job with his headphones.

We have been trying to conserve our reserves of wood and coal as the prices just keep going up. Leigh enquired about a 20kg bag of coal at a petrol station and it was nearly £15 for one bag! Our local supplier has put his prices up from £6 in September to £9 a bag now in January.


So today I have been chopping up a pallet I sourced for free and we have spent the evening by it's burning glow, Leigh even made a stew on the burner with the heat. Marvelous.

An old dog walker passed me by outside as I was taking the pallet to pieces, he told me a tale of how wood keeps you warm three ways; 1) in carrying the wood home, 2) in chopping it up and 3) in burning it up. He sure is right.

We have had another couple of days of fierce winds blowing us around and about, here, there, everywhere and we have all felt the dizzy angst of the wind. Delia has been running up and down the towpath with the wind up her tail. I have been loosing my womanly marbles to a period of character-shifting and Leigh, bless him, has been putting up with us both and hurting the whole time.

Come on fine weather, cheery disposition, namely Spring!!!


We have also been working out transporting goods along the towpath. The wheelbarrow has a puncture which I thought I had well repaired today but Leigh just pointed out that it is flat, again. Our fold-up trolley which is supposed to have a life-time guarantee has broken on the base (I suspect from carting the gas canister from the local marina to the boat when we were iced in). And Leigh purchased a new fold up trolley from Homebase, we used it once to wheel a bag of logs, tried to fold it down and it snapped. To top that, the fold-up box on wheels appears to be broken along the side from carrying or should I say dragging the water bottles along the towpath.

Will someone please invent a fold up trolley that is canal-boater proof?!

I am working on a poem at the moment, inspired by the wind and living afloat. It comes after discovering and reading Beaufort Wind Speed in the back of my rather large dictionary. Here is a sample of the Beaufort Wind Speed...

<1 knots. Calm - smoke rises vertically; sea like a mirror.
1-3 knots. Light air - smoke drifts; ripples on sea.
22-27 knots. Strong breeze - large branches move; telegraph wires whistle; foaming crests and some spray at sea.

and then an extract of my piece (work in progress)...

<1 knots. Calm - Like dry ground. Very little draw up chimney. Canal still.
11-16 knots. Moderate breeze - Faint whistling wind. Slight groan of taught ropes. Tiny wavelets on canal.
22-27 knots. Strong breeze - Rolling water at the bank. A lot of throttle needed when moving. A librarians Shushsh! Unbalancing sway of boat.
34-40 knots. Gale - Hanging lanterns violently sway. Outside bungies metronomically bounce. Ducks blown along canal. Bad day to move.