Up the tower

Yesterday saw John and I at the Middleton Chapel, where we had to take down the large heavy scaffold that was holding up the Basket ball nets in the cultural hall. They were being replaced with a pair of mobile ones.

So after taking off the back boards and nets it was a case of taking down the heavy scaffolding poles that protruded out of the ceiling, by about 8ft, so we knew they would be heavy.

Team Teal then decided John would go into the roof space to see what was holding them up, it turned out that there was another scaffolding tube across the joist beams and the ones hanging down were fixed to this with scaffolding clips.

John came down to tell me what was required and was looking at the two ends of the hall and said he would be starting at the far end and the pole nearest the outside of the building, I knew instantly what he was thinking, Similar sense of humour! and then he said it "We don't want to do a Del Boy job do we"

I know you won't have forgotten the TV show with this episode, but here it is again, I laugh every time I see it.

With John in the roof space and me on the tower we got our poles down without any damage and then covered the four holes in the ceiling, turned out the poles were about 12ft long, I can say that scaffolding men must be very fit the way they throw those poles about, they are very heavy!

So it turned out a good day as we re-lamped the Hall as well.

So Team Teal success story again.

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Cannibals are not vegetarians, they are humanitarians.

Young woman staggered in to the maturity ward and said she needed help,

Ah said the sister "Due are you" 

"No, Church of England"

Cabinet decided to have a break for lunch and went to the restaurant.

The prime minister ordered a mixed grill.

The waiter said "what about your vegetables"

"Oh they can order what they like" he replied.

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That's all folks 

Great Crested Grebe

Yesterday went with John to Blackburn and Rawtenstall, that was after he repaired the leak under his own sink unit!

The biblical reference about casting the mote out of your own eye, before looking at someone else's, sprang to mind.

Whilst at Rawtenstall we were just across the road from the station and saw the steam train coming in.

Just caught it!

The station

To-day Pepe and I went to Etherow for lunch and a nice walk round the lakes and managed to capture this nice Great Crested Grebe getting spruced up to attract a mate.

I remember the first time I saw these beautiful birds, it was at Beeston near Nottingham where my sister and her husband had a Mobile Home on the banks of the River Trent with canals branching off it.

Perhaps that's where I got the Narrow Boat urge, anyway there were gravel pits near by and there were a pair of Grebe's doing their courtship dancing, what a beautiful sight that's stayed in my mind ever since, and to-days bird preening itself ready for a mate brought back that happy memory

Oh yes and here's the last picture of the Narra Boat model with Reg No and Licence added

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Monogamy leaves a lot to be desired.

Crime doesn't pay but the hours are optional.

No leg is too short to reach the ground.

There is nothing like horse riding to make a person feel better off.

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That's all folks!.

Boats and things

If you didn't see the Britain's got talent here is the winners
Ashleigh and Pudsey.
Why doesn't Pepe do as he's told like this!!!

Yesterday I was out and about with John, helping rather than hindering I hope, perhaps he likes the company as much as I do!

Last week I had some Bit'z and Bob'z added to the car and whilst there waiting had company in the form of this beautiful dog.

She was very attentive whilst I was in the waiting room, perhaps it was the fact she could smell the treats in my pocket which I always have. Very similar to our previous dog Molly.

To-day I've fitted the Bumpers to the Narra Boat.

This is the picture you've seen before 

Added chains and was going to use shackles to fix the chains to the boat, but it looked too messy so I've just used the chain and fixed them to the boat with loops.

Bow bumper

Stern bumper

Head on.

Only the REG No to paint on and the canal licence now!.

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Somebody actually complimented me on my driving to-day.

 They left a note saying"Parking fine" 

So that was nice.

An Englishman,Irishman and a Welshman walk into a bar and the barman say's 

"Is this some kind of a joke..?

Why is the Mexican Olympic Team so unsuccessful?

Because anyone who can run, jump or swim is in America by now

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That's all folks!

Congratulations Man City

Well Manchester City certainly left us with nails bitten down to the quick yesterday didn't they, we were all a bit down in the dumps at John's until the very very last minute!

After the match it was up to the bathroom and more tension whilst John and I ballasted the boat, it was as I suspected the furniture cassette was too top heavy!, I will have to be content with taking the boat to the lake complete and when sailing leave the cassette on the bench, still as my old mate Charlie used to say you can't see it once its 30 ft out on the water.

As soon as we dispensed with the cassette it was all systems go, and it took more lead that I'd taken to bring the level down to the water line, John as always got some more handy from previous jobs so it was more cutting and glueing in. The boat is very well balanced now and I will have to tether the superstructure on as its not a very tight fit, some thought needed there!

There have been a few more bitz and piecez added yesterday ie

Watering cans and gang plank

control dials, those to the left of control box are fluid levels.

Fuel gauge and filler

Gardening equipment

I've changed the front well back to the original style as with the lockers I had put there before it would have stopped the doors opening, it looks cleaner now I think, the watering can is to lift the front floor up to get into the battery compartment.

So that's it just need to take a few strips of lead down to the lake when I take the boat to fine trim it.

Oh yes I've still got to fit the bumpers, got the items ready with chains attached to shackle to the front and rear.

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That's all folks.

Coot family on Saturday 12th May

Saturday the 12th saw Pepe and I at the lake, nice and sunny but you still needed a jumper on.

Walking Pepe round the smaller of the two lakes we came across this family of Coots

This family are from higher up the middle channel

 The family that had their nest robbed and damaged by predators a couple of weeks ago, has rebuilt that one and are still sat on it, hopefully with some more chicks to come.
For sailing this day go to
Sailing click here.

To-day after Sunday dinner John and I are going to be playing in his bath, no not with our plastic ducks!,

We are going to ballast the Narra boat, and has I've only got a shower the draught will be too much even for a Narra boat, I've put a few dials and gauges complete with bezels on the boat this morning ie fuel, pump out and in waste gauges and control  panels.

If all goes well this afternoon I will publish pictures of these, there again it could just be the wheelie bin where its been put!.

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There are a lot of dumb people out there,how about these.

The wheels spinning, but the hamsters dead.

His antenna doesn't pick up all channels.

Missing a few buttons on his remote control.

A few feathers short of a whole duck, hey that sounds like me!.

A few clowns short of a circus.

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 That's all folks

More boat finishing

Over the last few days I've been putting the finishing touches to the Narra Boat.
On Sunday after dinner John and I visited the Kingfisher Pub in Greenfield, only to park I might add, then it was along the canal to take pictures of canal locks and equipment to research a project I have in mind for a later date.

   

This dog on the boat never stopped barking in the half hour we stopped and chatted to the guy who owned the boat, wanted to keep moving I guess.

Then it was back home and a bit of work on the boat.

Windows all glazed and finished, not a mark on them.Whew!! 

Our visit to the lake on Monday was cool but sunny.

Nutty Dog.

If you like Chihuahua'a look at this ladies blog!.

click here

Quiet Moment.

Then home for more modelling.

Engine compartment, not all top show.

Fuel filler and lock handle

Gas locker and tools

The controls.

Well its just the bumpers to add now, have to get my sewing kit out and attach the chains and shackle them to the bow and stern and then its finished.

Yesterday after the afternoon out, I was taking my washing in and though this seems a perfectly simple thing to do, one of the plastic clothes pegs flew apart and the spring hit me in the eye (Lid). 

Luckily the eye lids reaction is very quick so no damage was done, I'll never joke about the mundane work of housewives again, its dangerous workout there, I could understand it if I were riding a BMX up on to the garage roof like some kids do these days, but taking the washing in!!.

Take care out there its a dangerous world.

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No woman has ever shot her husband whilst doing the dishes.

One legged girls are a push over.

If I'd known she would take offence so easily I would have entered her for the Grand National he said.

He who laughs last doesn't get the joke.

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That's all folks.

Back to modelling after the A-Z Challenge

Well the A-Z challenge is finished so it's back to the modelling on the blog again, thank goodness do I hear you say!

Over the weekend I painted the tiller arm for the Narra Boat, it took a while as it was all waiting between  the colours drying, still didn't turn out bad did it.

Same colours as on the boat,looks a bit different being closer together though.

Then it was on to the inside again, the curtains that Velda had made for me earlier, that brought a lump to my throat, 

Even got patterns on them!, the brass fittings are from the inside of electric block connectors and then wooden rails, these were then super glued on the walls inside.

Different colours along the boat.

That's one side finished, just the other side to finish and then it's the glazing (plastic) to do.

And there was I changing my curtains in the house for vertical blinds because I didn't want to be changing curtains every few month's as Velda used to do. perhaps it's my feminine side coming out hey!.

When Pepe and I were in the park on Saturday we were talking to Colin (Well I was) a chap came along and I wondered why Pepe wasn't barking like crazy as he usually does at other black dogs when I realised it wasn't a dog but a Lamb!.

Hope he had his pooper scooper with him.

Then it was home to a nap.

Relaxation.

If your dog is barking at the back door and your wife is yelling at the front door, who do you let in first ?

The dog, of course... at least he'll shut up after you let him in.

Here's a novel idea if you are into photography 

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57423901-285/diy-the-string-tripod-aka-stringpod/?tag=epicStories

As you may know by now my next project is the Model Slipway "Our Lass" and whilst researching that came across this video of the real boat going along at a fair lick.

 Another of her in Harbour, the lights look good and I might be adding those, but the weathering?? don't know if I could manage that?, doing it realistic or the thought in my tidy mind!

That's it for now, must go and finish those curtains, not much ironing on them though is there.

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A man will pay £2 for a £1 item he want's.

A woman will pay £1 for a £2 item she doesn't want.

The meaning of life

If a man say's something in the woods, and there is no woman around ........is he still wrong!.

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That's all folk's