End of November, 2016.

Today at the lake, which was frozen over by the way, it was quite pleasant walking round with Pepe.

I saw the Egyptian Goose was back after an absence of a few weeks, but also back with him was the adult swan that had lost his mate in the summer!.

I got to thinking why does King Tut keep shooing off the new swan that was trying to get to know the big male.

Perhaps Bob and I had got it wrong all these years, what if it was a female., put this idea to Bob and he came up with a website that stated that Female Tuts have a very loud Honking voice and the males just Hiss.

Mystery sorted!, This Queen Tut can be heard by another friend of mine that lives in a house two blocks away from the lake in the mornings when he gets up.

Sounds about right hey, the females have the soundest voices!.

 

He seems keen as well.

There is some work being done in the park where the Badger sett is.
New path  laid with steel grating underneath to protect the canal wall.

Nice job Lad & Lassie.

On the build 

Lower bow deck about to be fitted

There you go, and the top bow deck also fitted and weighed down!.

On to the rubbing stripes next.

More next time!.
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More of the build, Amelia Rose.

More of the build, Amelia Rose.

After a wet and soggy morning at the lake today, decided it was prudent to come home and get in front of the fire!.

On the way out of the car park met my good friend Lawrence who has just lost his wife and can feel for him after my own loss, even after all this time.

 Here is something I found on the net that I found very true and know he will take comfort in his dogs!.

I hope he see's this!.

Well back to the boat build!.

Made a start on the main cabin.

After adding the other side, making sure the windows were the right way up?, the roof struts were added.

Just checking too see if it fit's alright!.

Then the roof was added, there is a slight bow in the roof whereas the previous narrow boat I'd build was flat, so a bit more fiddly to do, but more authentic really.

The hand rails were then added, if you have ever been on a narrow boat you will understand that there are slight raised rails on the edges to hold on to whilst walking on the side edge of the deck 

Yes, that's me all of 15 years ago and without a hat!!, not my boat I must add, 70 footer, steering tricky.

If you look on the left you can just see the raised hand rails. 

Looking at this picture have decided to make the hatch cover a working one, the kit one is only glued on.

That little roof light looks interesting too!, perhaps I should add one of those?, all winter to go at hey!.

Goes without saying there will be flower tubs and canal art containers if I can find them.

Sooo glad I didn't go for the longer model, would have been very difficult to manage even though I was tempted!.

While we are on this picture you can see the side deck parts

 

Not much to stand on, on the real thing, that's why you need the hand rails!.

Good job I've got plenty of clamps isn't it.

Enough excitement for you for one day.

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Had a trip to Oldham yesterday with my mate Bob the Builder to get his car recall done, even though the weather was atrocious, we had a good day out with Fish,Chips & Peas and unlimited Coffee in the Brewers Fayre next door, food was good, the staff there was very friendly and it was a lot warmer in there than outside.

The wind was so bad my hat did a flyer and I was like Hussein Bolt down the road after it, but apart from that a good bad day.

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"Mummy Mummy, can I wear a bra now I'm 16?", "Shut up Albert!".

A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove you don't need it.

Remember when we spend money like the there was no tomorrow?,

Well its tomorrow!,

What do you call a kangaroo at the north pole, Lost!!.

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That's all for today folks.

Amelia Rose.

More Amelia Rose build.

Drilled the hole for the prop shaft, but not yet fixed it in.

From the inside you can see there is a support for the shaft

Made a start on the bow planking, there are two different planes on the bow so the manufacturer has come up with this idea for us simpletons who are not as used to this type of modelling as my mate 'Bob the Builder' 

First a thin strip round the tight bend to separate the two planes

Then a covering of Balsa wood 

Whilst that was setting, I made a start on the rear cabin!

And the panelling on the sides

Put in the inside panels, glue on the bow planking not set yet.

Starboard side 

Port, inside panel.

Well can't put off the planking for ever, so here we go!, the first step is to run the planks horizontally sticking to the balsa wood underneath.

Starboard side.

Then the port side.

Then its on to the other plane, running the planks diagonally!.

Seen 'Bob the Builder' doing this so its all clamps and rubber bands to hold everything in place until it sets.

Phew!!, finished the port side planking, wasn't too bad really, congratulations to the Riverside man for his ideal way of this type of construction for us simpletons that haven't planked before.

Perhaps its the next build type after this introduction to Plank on Frame building hey!.

So it was a bit easier on the Starboard side being a lot more confident.

A bit of modellers putty filler, doesn't look too bad and shouldn't be too hard to clean up and smooth off.

More build soon!.

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A few weeks ago someone brought two pair of Muscovy Ducks to the lake as they were in danger of being eaten by foxes!.

They had 11 babies between them 

Trouble is they are quite tame and though they live on the island in the middle of the lakes they soon come running when there is food about!

Parents and a baby on the water.

How the babies have grown in just a few weeks, plenty of food at Etherow!.

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Money!, beware out there!!.

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That's all for now folks!.

Amelia Rose again

Amelia Rose again.

A bit more done on the boat, supports for the side walls and floor eventually.

Bow fitted to the middle section using the Riverside clip method!.

Glued and clamped up.

More supports for the Side walls and floor,

that bit at an angle is only a support until the glue sets.

Side walls fitted.

Long isn't it!.

Just checking the rudder position.

Starting the rear cabin whilst glue setting on the bow section

Bow on the roof section so a bit difficult gluing this.

Now the hard part skinning the bow section!.

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Your wildlife picture for today.

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If you get fed up with elderly relatives coming up to you at weddings saying "You'll be next" try doing the same to them at funerals!.

Doctor said "Either He's dead or my watch has stopped.

You can't make someone love you,

All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in!.

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