Foxglove Narrowboat

So much to write about but so little time, so I will try to keep each part brief.

Roy has been over to the boat tonight to take some close up pictures of the boat ready for the weekend as we are going over to meet with Sally Tooze who will be taking on the job of repainting Foxglove. I am very excited and very nervous about it at the same time. So many decisions to make, especially the colour scheme that I just do not want to get any of it wrong. From a distance Foxglove doesn’t look that bad. In fact this last few weekends I quite like her the way she is as she looks like a traditional, solid narrowboat, rugged almost for a better word if that makes any sense. It is only when you look close up that you realise how much she really does need the repaint. Here are some photos taken earlier tonight:

I am sure Sally will bring Foxglove back to life. As I previsouly mentioned we are going over to meet her this weekend to discuss everything that needs doing, colours etc etc. Then in 2 weeks we will be making our way by boat for Sally to start the work. EXCITING!!

Another close up to be taken was of Wish. I think it is the cutest photo of her that has been taken. Roy was very lucky to catch her giving one of her cute looks. Good job you cannot see her feet though because she was filthy after all the long walks we had been on. What a fantastic weekend we had though. Didn’t get chance to blog because every night we moored up we did not have a signal.

We arrived on the boat Thursday night late and set off first thing Friday morning and got back home at 10.30pm on Monday. We did not want to leave as we had both had such a great time. The weather had been fabulous. We were very lucky especially after the previous weekend with all the snow. We went as far as Kings Bromley marina where Wish made friends, believe it or not with another collie dog, Bingo. They had a ball to play with which kept them both amused for at least 30 minutes whilst Roy & I were talking to the owner of Bingo. Never got to know his name. I always find this quite funny because you can guarantee you will always find out and remember dogs names but never their owners.

We did have a great Easter weekend though. No weigh in last week as we were away on Friday morning but I have to admit I have been extremely naughty today. Went to work with all good intentions, just a tin of chicken soup………anyway I ended up eating 3 snowball marshmallows, 1 cherry bakewell and a packet of crisps……..oops!! Oh and I must confess I had fish and chips tonight but left most of them cause I felt to sick to eat anything else. Teeny weeny blip today………..annoyed with myself though for not sticking to it as I was doing really well. Blame it on my hormones!!

I have missed blogging as each day we did so much, walked and walked, did lots of cooking including yet another vegetable biryani. Roy is actually getting to like vegetables. See sometimes miracles do happen.

Already been back at work 2 days and it seems like the weekend was weeks ago because I have been so busy. Never mind, I have 12 more work days until I am off for a week. Cannot wait. This is the week where we will be taking Foxglove to be painted. I cannot believe how quick time has gone.
I was supposed to keep this brief but you know me once I get talking I cannot shut up.

Promised the Italian Stallion ( hi Davide) lots of photos from this weekend so here goes:

Tigger has been reincarnated!

King came to visit.

Everything becomes miniature

The “vintage” curtains!!

A step back in time….

We were both very busy all weekend doing one job then another, trips to B & Q oh and to Trentham Gardens where we got some beautiful pictures. The boat looks so homely inside now it really does look beautiful. One month to go now before the outside of Foxglove will also look beautiful.

Well when I opened the curtains this morning what a shock. Around 6 inches of snow everywhere. We are now officially in Spring, supposedly. The weather does not know what it is doing. Our plans have gone out the window for this weekend as there are also supposed to be 45 mile an hour winds so I am afraid Foxglove is having a weekend off.

Still lots to do on the boat though. I have ordered new throws for the 2 chairs in the lounge, tablecloth for the dining table and Roy has ordered a set of Vintage (another word for second-hand/old) Red velvet curtains. I told him I am going to order him a waistcoat and a cap so he looks the part to go with the plates, brasses and curtains! He had been very enthusiastic with this boatman’s cabin and he really has made it homely, I do have to admit, but don’t tell him that.

4 weeks to go until Foxglove sets off for her new coat of paint. I cannot believe how quick it has gone. The plan is still to move in on the boat come beginning of June. There is everything you could need on the boat without the clutter. I am looking forward to a more simpler life, oh and less cleaning!!

Almost forgot, weight loss update: 2.6 lbs loss this week. Total of 9.2 lbs in 3 weeks 🙂

How many of you have just sung the title?? Go on admit it. Anyway, it is not Christmas but it is the season that all the hire boats are now out. We moored up at Stone on Friday and at Sandon on Saturday/Sunday…..there were tons of boats out. Hire boats and private ones. It was the equivalent of the M6. I do wish the hire boaters would learn to slow down though. One particular boat must have had at least 10 men on board, drinking, laughing, NOT CONCENTRATING, and of course they go past you at like 5 miles an hour!! Anyway, it was great to see all the different boats out and about all weekend.

Funniest thing happened on the way back………..Angus heard me coming along the canal and no words were necessary………He had got 2 sticks in his hand waving them as if we were landing on a run away, next thing I gave him a sign with my hands and he did the same with the sticks……..no no no, not what you all are thinking, it was the sign of the letter T. Cup of tea……we both had the same thought. It was nice to have a  catch up with him as he his making great progress with his boat.

It has been a really good weekend and we seem to have done and achieved lots. I even cooked the vegetable biryani. It was delicious. It must have been as Roy ate it all!See sometimes miracles do happen 🙂

We finally got the back cabin stove up and running and oh my goodness what a difference. There was so much ash in the bottom of it caused from one of those pressed fire logs that it had clogged everything up. The chimney has been smoking so much it was what you could say, ” a little distracting” to say the least. That isn’t the phrase I used to tell Roy when I was trying to steer the boat. Anyway, problem solved! The trip back from Wolsley Bridge was fantastic. Little snow flurries coming down but standing at the back of the boat with the doors closed behind me while at the tiller, no one would ever known it was like a winter’s day. The heat coming from the fire was amazing……..in fact it got so hot, the speed wheel got too hot to touch and I had to put my gloves on………then my leg and bum on one side started to burn………I think we put too much kindling in and the fire was roaring away, no smoke, but lots and lots of heat. We soon got the hang of controlling the temperature a bit better and eventually it was perfect, it was heaven. Roy steered for a bit, then I did. Inside the cabin was so cosy. I sat with Wish looking out of the little porthole window watching the world go by. It was so relaxing and everywhere looked so picturesque.

One of the funniest things I saw this weekend was a couple of dogs, both on separate occasions, at the river by Shugborough Hall. Their owners threw a stick into the river and the dogs took one almighty leap, looked liked a flying dog, then landed with a belly flop in the water. They seemed to love it as they kept doing it over and over again. All I could think of after was wet smelly dogs! One of them was a border collie, looked just like Wish. imagine taking that back to the boat?? No thankyou!! Wish fell in the marina once when she fell off the edge of the jettie trying to rush past the jettie gates……the next day was a trip to the dog groomers.

This weekend was great. Roy had bought some planters for me for the mooring spot at the marina. He bought them as a present from Wish for Mothers Day. It was a lovely surprise.

Didn’t get chance to blog last night as we didn’t get home until really late as we sat watching a film on the boat called “Pitch Perfect.” Recommend it to anyone who appreciates music. We also watched Breaking Dawn part 2 of the Twilight Saga on Saturday. Excellent films. It has been very relaxing this weekend. Just what the doctor ordered!

No ideas yet what we have planned for next weekend. Lots to sort out with the house, that I do know. There are also a few more jobs to do on Foxglove before for the re-paint which have to be done. Thank goodness we have Rob Shone on hand to help out. He has been great.

Hi Jo, if you are reading (Hadar NB). For some reason I can’t leave a comment when I try using the word press account so unfortunately I have had to write on here hoping you will read this. I just wanted to let you know I read your blog every day. You really inspire me and I admire both of you. Love the little teddy bear by the way. Hadie would be a good name, short for Hadar. Anyone else who is reading please take a look at Jo’s website www.diaryofaboatwoman  You will find excellent photos also that Jo has taken.

So many people out there living their dream. Hopefully we will be soon.

First week of the diet and I have lost 3 lbs. I am being very good with what I eat. Lets hope it continues.

Anyway, enough about diets……….off to the boat tonight. It is possibly going to snow this weekend. I hope it does while we are out cruising as it is great fun. Seems quite magical.

Got the hats and scarves ready, oh and the wellies, so as long as we are prepared it is fine. Even got Wish her coat. Roy has gone armed with all his cleaning products and yet another plate. The boatmans cabin is becoming his little pride & joy.

Starting to love Fridays because as soon as I finish work I head straight for the boat. Roy is great because he goes and gets all the shopping done for the weekend, gets the dog, lights both fires and basically he gets everything ready so we can set off straight away. It is always a bit of rush because we try to get out of the marina and moored up while there is still light. It will get easier in a few weeks when the clocks go forward.

Looking forward to taking more photos this weekend. Come rain or shine i don’t mind as long as we are on the boat.