Drafted in

We had a lazy day today but we did get a couple of jobs done... the highlight of the day was some guy who thought he would try and break some ice. try being the word.... After ramming the boat moored in front of him he gave it up as a bad job, and then couldn't get back on his mooring due to the broken ice. It is still at least two inches thick here, so we won't be moving for at least another 48 hours. We had been having a draft coming through Derwent6 and couldn't work out where it was coming from. It turned out it was coming through the floor boards where the rads were fitted and with a bit of sponge it's now sorted.

The hoses came out today and we all managed to top up with water, so we can have a shower in the morning!!!

We want to move now!

With such a mizzy day in prospect we stayed in.......Del updating drivers all day and Al reading her book.... The ice is still covering the canal but we've got to say it is thinning. The poor old batteries are now starting to struggle in this cold weather and we seem to be running the engine longer and longer to keep them up to full capacity. We are getting a bit fed up with it all now and just want to move on. We are at half a tank of diesel and half a tank of water, and the poo tank is just over half full. But we're still on a high and have loads of things to look forward too. Watch this space!

In the pub again

Oh No !!! more snow...we woke up to about an inch or 25.4mm in new money.. We had a morning just relaxing as we were meeting Pat & Keith off n.b Thema for lunch in the New Inn. Dropping off our rubbish on the way, we got there for 1.00pm and had a good catch up as we hadn't seen them since Del's Birthday back in November. The food is now very good in the New Inn and we came out of there with very full tummy's... We then went back to Derwent6 for coffee's before they headed off at 4.00pm, before it got dark. It snowed lightly all day, but never seemed to lay very much...good job really! In the evening we just watched Liverpool lose to Reading with another pint or two.....

A walk into Daventry

It had definitely warmed up a bit as the snow was starting to thaw on the towpath. So we decided to go for a walk today as we had not had a lot of exercise recently and really felt we needed it. We took the canal route back towards Braunston tunnel and then took the canal feeder up to Daventry reservoir. At one of the bridges we noticed a car on it roof and went out to see if everyone was ok. A lady was stuck in the middle of the road after she had locked her keys in the car, panicking after sliding down the hill out of control.

It was so pretty in the snow and it wasn't long before we were walking round the large lake and going under the underpass into Daventry. They had these lovely paintings in the underpass and we spent a bit of time looking at them all. We knew it was market day but Daventry was still very quiet. We were gasping for a coffee and thought we would go to Weatherspoons with it's £1.29 hot chocolate and 99p coffee. We got a nice spot on the sofa by the fire and could not resist the prices for lunch. We had ham, egg and chips for £1.99, a January offer, and when it turned up it was a decent plate full... We then wandered round the town centre ending up in Tesco's to pick up some small bits we needed, before heading back to Derwent6. The walk takes exactly a hour and it was 4.00pm when we finally got back. All red rosy cheeked we sat by the fire to warm up with a nice cup of coffee and some chocolate. We certainly didn't lose any weight on our walk but we did get some good exercise!

In the evening with nothing on telly, we played games all night...very relaxing!

Coal was the Goal

We got up early as we wanted to hear Chris Evans Radio Two Breakfast show and what his first track would be.... It was the Beatles with All You Need Is Love just in case you didn't know or aren't bothered.

It had definitely warmed up a bit and we could see some signs of thawing, but the ice was still pretty thick across the canal.

We decided to get some coal and took a walk down to Jules on the coal boat. She was in this time, as the last time she was out in her van making deliveries. We managed to get four bags of Stove Glow and a bag of kindling on the sack barrow and struggled back through the ice and snow to Derwent6. As we thought that was a job well done we didn't do much else all day. Al made some cakes in the afternoon and Del watched some DVD's, just a nice lazy day.......

A warming Sunday Lunch

Late start today due to another late night last night.... After showers we made our way to the pub where we met up again with Andy & Hilary for Sunday lunch. We had a great meal and we sat right next to the warm cosy fire. Afterwards we set out to take Cassie their dog out for a walk and thought we would bring them all into the world of Geocaching. It wasn't long before we found the first one and we then set out to do the second but it went a bit wrong because we ended up in the middle of a field. We must have entered the wrong co-ordinates! Still we were close to Derwent6 so it was back for a coffee and a chat... They left at around 5.30pm and we sat and watched a bit of telly all evening....Dancing on ice.....you can practice here at the moment! It's just been a lovely weekend!!!!!

Free the taps and party

It feels like it's warming up today but the bad news is it could mean more snow. We were up quite early after a late night last night, and joined the kerfuffle at the water tap as boats were now starting to get a bit desperate for water and were trying to get the frozen tap freed off. After about ten minutes we managed to free it off and with all our hoses linked together we got water to the most urgent ones. The boat in front of us is a family with two little kiddies and they were one of the desperate ones. The problem we had then was the water inlets on the boats were frozen, including Derwent6, and we were running backwards and forwards with hot kettles to free them off. We all got water in the end so we should all be ok for another week or so. It is fantastic how the boating community all club together and help each other out and we are proud to be part of it..Al set off to post a couple of letters and Del took the sack barrow to pick up some more coal, but when he got there he couldn't see the coal lady and came back empty handed. Al did post the letters though, and we should be alright on the coal front for at least another four days. We took these photos while we were out.....

We just chilled in the afternoon, strumming, reading and watching some telly, but in the evening we had a Fifthieth Birthday party to go to. Andy and Hilary, who we were out with last night, knew a guy who lives on a boat near them and he invited them to his party which was in a pub not too far away. Hilary asked if we could come along and Dan whose party it was said "the more the merrier" Well when we got to the pub it was packed and there was a big Hog roast going on and a band setting up...It turned out to be a lock in, and we never left the pub till gone 1.00am in the morning, we had another great night. We slipped and slid our way back to Derwent6 at about 1.30 am and it was a good job we made the bed before we left. Mind you Del was stoking up the fire for the night and managed to also put on the fire the special glove you use so you don't burn your hands......Well we did have a fair bit to drink!!!

We Ain't going nowhere

Still very cold last night and we had a sprinkle of snow, but we were ready for it. We have never used so much coal but we definately needed it. We have a lot of wood on board but you can't get the same temperatures that you can with coal. We are so lucky here at the moment due to the fact we have Jules on the coal boat stuck at the top of the Buckby flight, so we may be picking up some more bags of coal tomorrow. The chill factor was so cold we never ventured outside, so we just had a snug day. In the evening we thought it best to get some air and we met up with Hilary and Andy in The New Inn.

The Big Freeze

God it was cold last night.... minus nine was showing on our little weather centre, the coldest it has been on Derwent6. We had the fire going all night, and in the morning we couldn't get the porthole bungs out, due to them being frozen in. There was ice on the inside of the double glazing and we couldn't open the side doors. We've got to admit though it was very snug in bed and difficult to get out of it. Derwent6 was banging and creaking as it tried to warm up, well to a temperature of freezing anyway. The ice on the canal was now twice as thick as it was the night before. You do feel you could now walk on it and it is really beautiful, so a walk must be on the cards , but using the towpath.

We decided to walk down the Buckby flight and spent some time talking to other boaters who's plans had gone out the window due to the weather. On our way down the flight we met up with Hilary and Andy off n.b Maisibert (http://www.maisibert.blogspot.com/ ), who were out walking their dog Cassie. They walked to the local garden centre with us for a coffee, cake and a long chat, it was nice to catch up with them.

We then walked back and as it was into the wind, we found out how bitter the wind chill was. It was burning your cheek bones and it was a good job we had our thermals on.

When we got back and opened the doors on Derwent6....Wow the heat hit you...Lovely!!!! We soon had very rosie cheeks. We were also surprised at the time, where had it gone. We had a nice chill out in the afternoon and watched a beautiful sunset, and a good film.

Snow time

Woke up to snow against the porthole window, and it was beautiful outside with snow on the canal. We sat and listened to the radio and all the traffic reports which we must admit made us feel a bit smug.....this weather is lovely as long as you don't have to go anywhere in it! We spent the time doing some calculations for last year and were amazed that we had done six hundred and sixty locks and ten county's. The central heating has run for 840 hours and the engine at nearly 1000 hours.

The snow turned into showers but it was still cold till about midday when it seemed to thaw a bit. We used this opportunity to see if the water tap had frozen. It was about 200 metres away from Derwent6, just too far to run a hose. On turning it on all we got was a drip but after about ten minutes a small flow had started. We then got the 25 litre container and managed to pour 22 containers into the water tank. As we were pouring it in, the sky's cleared and the temperature dropped. We couldn't put any more in as the tap started to freeze again and went back to a drip, but we did fill the tank to 80% full, a job well done. It did take us about a hour to warm up afterwards though.

We have had some boat movement at the junction with a hire boat trying to get back through the tunnel before it closes on Monday for two months and another boat who thought he would wind (turn around). It turned out to be a expensive turn around as there was no paint on the bow by the time he got back, if they didn't need a blacking they do now!!!!!

Al had a great beef casserole going on the stove, which was bubbling away in Spitfire ale. Derwent6 smelt lovely all day.

We had a romantic dinner in the dayroom looking out at the snow covered fields all in the warm. Would we change this life?........no chance!

Derwent6 is rocking

Del was feeling much better today but was still not 100%, so we thought we would have a easy day just having fun on Derwent6. We played a couple of games, sung a few songs and turned up the music cracking the ice around Derwent6 to Bon Jovi. We did have a bit of a spring clean as the fire had made the boat quite dusty, and we also sorted out some clothes we didn't wear last year, so we can't be needing them. We also took the rubbish to the refuse point. The Cook coal boat came through breaking the ice up to the top Buckby lock. They must have turned at Braunston as they normally go down to Stockton. There has been boat movement here today, but not on the Leicester Arm section as the ice is too thick. Another boat then headed off through the tunnel, before it closes for two months on Monday. We have just had a light sprinkle of snow today and more is expected tomorrow, so we have the water container at the ready in case we need it. After a candlelit dinner we just crashed out with some telly... a very relaxing day really!!!!

Iced in good and proper

We are still so iced in... We want to get moving but it doesn't look like it will be for a few days. We had minus six last night and the fire has been going full bore from the minute we set foot back on Derwent6, it is lovely and warm though. Del has suffered today with a sickness bug and has been doing a good job of filling up the waste tank, it must be all that good rich food over Christmas. We were a bit canny by making sure we emptied the waste tank, and filling with water and diesel before we moored up here. We have enough coal and wood for a month and we have everything here we need including a pub. Still at least this guy can get across the canal easier....

What have we done over Christmas?

A Very Happy New Year to you all.... Can you believe we're into 2010 already. We have had just a fabulous Christmas with all our friends and family which is what Christmas is all about.

Well we're back on Derwent6 and all ready for the new year, and it was dam cold, but not damp, when we first got on board. The first thing we did was start the engine and with a flick of the key the Beta fifty burst into life. The canal here is still frozen and we were a bit careful on how we turned on the water pump and checked all the pipes, but with a little squirt, the pump brought the water up to full pressure. Central heating was next, followed closely by lighting the fire, we still had our hats and coats on at this point. It was back outside to then turn on the gas and get the kettle on.

It took two hours to get Derwent6 up to temperature so we played a game we got for Christmas with our coats on to take our minds off it. It felt good to be back on board back in the peaceful world of canal life and we have to admit we did miss it.

We do like the change of living in a house but there is something about the snugness and outdoor life of Derwent6.

Well what did we get up to..... Well we stayed at Pam & Alf's (Al's Mum & Dad). Just before Christmas we met up with all our friends in Reading

A good night out at Mackenzies in West Malling

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we were with Len, Terry, Cliff, Lou and family.

But the lovely shock of the holiday was a call at 7.30am letting us know that Great Nephew Alfie was born on Christmas Day at 12.27am, so it was a rush down to see everyone at Farnham on Boxing Day.

We then had a day at Richard & Lisa's including a walk around Knole Park

Del went out on a Squash reunion with some guys he had not seen for twenty odd years

We then had a day in London going round the Science Museum and then on to see the show Avenue Q

It all finished off with a New Years Eve Party round Bernie and Sarah's and our first meal together in 2010

Yep!!! we now need a rest............