The plan for December

Tuesday 5th of December 2017.

Regarding projects -

Barry's -

I haven't worked at Barry's since we put the porch roof on.
I have visited to check the house twice - all OK.

Barry came over for a few days and worked on the outside but I couldn't help because Fiona was moving in then.

I plan to finish my jobs off there - toward the end of January.

Fiona's -

They have moved in - all my jobs completed - they are very happy.
I am attending to a small snag list this week - just oddments.

In January - I will build a dog wash station in the utility room.
Based on a fibre glass shower tray - white tiled splash back on three sides - thermostatic shower valve - shower head with a trigger control.
It might need a drop in splash board at the front - we will see.
I am getting all the bits ready right now - no rush.

Workshop -
No progress since cladding the front - no problem.
It will wait until February - after I finish at Barry's

Regarding Christmas -

We fly out to Fuertevenura on the 12th for two weeks at the same hotel that we have stayed the last two holidays - back on Boxing day.
Our grandson Kane is house sitting for us and looking after Penny.
We are more than ready for a rest !!

Mike.

A Visit to Blazer

Wednesday 29th of November 2017

A 5 am start - but heavy traffic - I arrived at North Fambridge at around 10 am.
Blazer was on the mooring in the river - so no option - I had to use the dinghy to get out to her !
I got the key from the clubhouse for the outboard store - loaded my ancient outboard and fuel to a trolley - then lugged it to the dinghy storage area.

The dinghy's were scattered a bit - probably the high winds - then I noticed that my oars were missing!
I have not used them yet - and I don't remember what they look like ?
I found one aluminium oar near my dinghy - probably mine - not sure !
I launched the dinghy with the outboard on - easily started the engine - then set off across 150 yards of river on tick over - lovely.
A bit tricky getting on board but OK.

Blazer was fine - no problems.
I opened the engine cooling sea cock and managed to start the engine, just - with batteries switched to BOTH - only for a minute or so !!

I let go of the mooring ropes and motored over to the visitors pontoon in a stiff breeze.
Blazer was very sluggish - probably the heavy weed growth on her bottom !!

I lit the coal stove and soon warmed Blazer through - connected to shore power - the batteries started a full charge.

I checked all the systems - all working fine - very reassuring.

Thursday - I shopped for CLS timber and some bolts to make a big frame to fit on the car roof rack - made to measure for the dinghy.
I wanted to take it home for fibreglass repair and general renovation in the new workshop.

I dragged the dinghy onto the pontoon and then managed to load it - upturned - onto a pontoon trolley.
I then - very slowly - in the bitter cold wind - pushed it all the way to the car park.

I lashed the frame to the roof rack with heavy duty tie wraps - then heaved the dinghy up onto it.

I secured it with two ratchet straps - direct to the roof rack - solid.

 Friday - I visited the office in the marina to book a lift out for the winter - they will do that for me - maybe next week.
The price of £225 one way - includes pressure washing.
I agreed with the manager for them to pick Blazer up from the pontoon.

I cleaned Blazer inside - made her safe to leave - then set off for home at 11 am.
A steady drive home at 55mph and I was safely home at 15.30.

I now happy that the batteries are charged - no bad weather damage and the dinghy project on the way.

Sad to leave my little bit of paradise - Mike.