Tag Archives: Tuesday

Shh! Don’t Tell Tilly. 29th October

Viking Marina

Checking out the view

Our return to Scarborough was perfectly timed so that after all the unpacking we could enjoy an evening walk in Peasholm Park. We weren’t the only ones to enjoy Moonlight on the Lake, there were at least another 10,000 people who, over two days, walked round the lake appreciating the lanterns and illuminations created by our friends from Animated Objects. In the last few weeks I’d been a little concerned as Dawn had been very quiet on social media, this was the reason why. So many lanterns to make, from Dolphins, houses in the old town, the wonderful swans, music from a local harpist and Elvis impersonator. Plus we got chance to catch up with various friends who were all there ready to start dismantling the display. We’d have lent a hand too if it wasn’t for my knees.

Then it was time to remind ourselves that we are theatrical digs landlords and make sure everything was ship shape ready for our latest lodger to arrive. We seem to attract the baddies from the Christmas shows at the SJT, this is our second year of hosting the evil ones, although David does get to play several other characters as well in Aladdin.

The list of jobs to do at the house is long, emails and phone calls have been made and we’re hoping to hear back from people rather than just being ignored as seems to be the way of things nowadays. I’m giving a few people the excuse that it’s half term and hope to hear from them next week. The hunt for a gardener continues.

Hmm, an aqua blue?

I’m wanting to do some decorating, but I don’t as yet know how my knees will cope climbing ladders. Paint has been selected for the room influenced by the pantomime cloth that is on the wall. There will be a gap of three weeks between lodgers at the beginning of next year when I’ll see how I get on, if I do okay then I’ve my eyes set on another room.

The jobs list for Oleanna is also quite long. When we left last week we were under pressure to move Tilly as stress free as possible. This meant we didn’t do various jobs that need doing when leaving the boat for a period of time. Cleaning the fridge, freezer and cooker to start with. A trip back was needed. The last few years Mick has done this on his own as I’ve been busy on panto.

Double handed and in a car, not reliant on the train, we’d be able to do more, a car was hired, a list made of things we’d forgotten or it would be nice to have, we also managed to remember to take it with us!

Sledmere passing it’s best

Today the journey was vastly different to that made on Friday. Firstly it was quiet, no MEOWING! Secondly the sun was out, no fog today. We chose to drive through Sledmere to see how golden the trees were. Most of the leaves have fallen now, but it was still rather lovely.

Time to have a tidy and tick some jobs off the list

Oleanna sat on her mooring, looking a little sad without her smile. Unseasonably warm we were able to have all the doors open, Tilly not being around also helped. Mick headed off to find Alastair with a list of jobs for him this winter, thankfully he was about rather than having been called out to a brake down. Engine mounts, fuel filters, stern gland and most importantly if he could make us a new connector to our yellow water tank. The one we have is loosing it’s thread and therefore not sealing properly.

I made a start on the weeding. Cleaning out the window channels. Last year I’d managed to do all windows apart from those in the galley. They’ve not been touched since and grass and moss was starting to set in, we’d have a lawn soon if I did nothing about it.

Urgh!!

Each window was lifted out, the channels cleaned out, the soft bit that the glass sits on is where the dirt collects and was really quite muddy! Then the drain holes were cleared, important over the winter. The glass given a good clean inside and out before being put back in.

The galley windows are a touch more difficult as they both slide and are not removable. The window above the cooker was accessible from both sides, but leaning over the cooker I must have pressed and turned one of the knobs by accident. I didn’t notice the smell immediately but once I did Mick had also smelt it. Thankfully with the boat being very well ventilated we shouldn’t have a problem. Gas is heavier than air so can sink, lingering in your bilges.

Scraping out the moss and mud

The offside gally window was much harder. Mick positioned himself on the gunnel of Oleanna and our neighbours boat. He ended up kneeling down to reach the mossy bits and flick out the worst. This did require me to pull our neighbours boat in so he didn’t end up doing the splits. Both boats are quite loosely tied due to the level in the marina fluctuating with ships coming and going in the docks. The inside glass was cleaned, but the outside will have to remain dirty for a while longer. It’ll all be filthy before we’re back anyway with the dust that Goole creates.

Chunky cushioning

The portholes got new cushioning on their supports, a new bit of weed hatch tape. This means they all now close properly, in fact they are now quite a tight fit and need pushing down to be able to close them. Much better than them falling open all the time.

The galley blinds have always been awkward to clean, most probably because we don’t do it often enough! If we could take them back to the house then that might make it easier. I spotted that they had brackets which with the assistance of a knife swivelled to release them. They’ll get a good soapy clean back at the house.

Tilly Too is also headed back for a wash

Mick cleaned out the multifuel stove and when I was finished with galley windows he moved on to clean the hob, fridge and freezer. The stove looks like it can last another year before being spruced up, I’ve not been cooking on it so much this year as it’s been so mild.

It really isn’t that exciting back there!

The sofa was pulled out, Shhhhhh, don’t tell Tilly! revealing the secret passageway to it’s fullest. What lurks in there? A cupboard door that used to be in front of the washing machine, which just got in the way. The left over foam from when I made an infill cushion for the dinette and a roll of sleeping mat which we bought to try to insulate the porthole frame above the bed. The mat will return to the house, the foam turned out to be a good thing to kneel on, so will stay onboard. Hoovering up behind the sofa meant a computer mouse and a knitting stitch marker resurfaced, along with plenty of pens and pencils that get filed there by Tilly for safe keeping.

Filling in the potholes

Outside things were happening. The pot holes alongside the parking area and Oleanna were cleared of water. Then a JCB arrived with some tarmac/ stuff. A chap filled the holes, brushed it flat. He was then followed by a roller to flatten it all out. Blimey it vibrated so much our flue reverberated. Hopefully this will mean we don’t return to Oleanna covered in mud this winter.

Mick took some time to program the invertor into winter mode. The yellow water tank was emptied, contents taken to the elsan. The solids bucket was only in use for a few days so can sit and do it’s thing. The other buckets have been taken to the house already and added to our compost bin that is currently cooking. The other is at least 18 months old and has been deemed compost suitable for the flower beds, when they’ve been tidied up.

What a sky

Then it was time for us to close everything up. Switch lots of things off including the water pump, turn the tap between the pump and taps off and open all the taps, leaving the shower head laying in the shower tray. Water system winterised. I flicked switches off in The Shed. Last rubbish to the bins and use of shore based facilities. Also time to admire the orange sky before setting off back to Scarborough.

Paint for the horn and tunnel light bracket were packed to bring back with us. Now we’ll need to hunt round the chandlers for suitable replacements.

We’d just closed the marina gate behind us when I went through the list of things we’d needed to do. ‘Damn!’ We hadn’t turned the gas off in the gas locker. Mick popped back and did the honours, we were now safe to head for home. All sorted.

Well except on reaching home we realised I’d turned off too many things in The Shed, turning the camera off that the spiders like to take rides on. Plus the heating hasn’t had the thermostat set to come on when it gets really cold. So another visit will be needed soon.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 hire car, 10,000 plus viewers, 1 bored cat already! 1 new lodger, 1 picnic by the hatch, 4 big windows, 3 portholes, 2 sliders, 1 stove, 1 hob, 1 fridge, 1 freezer, 11 potholes, 1 secret shhhh! 1 thumping roller, 1 empty wee tank, 0 camera, 0 heating, 2 tins paint, 4 quotes sought, 5 more to go, 1 still bored cat.

Spaghetti Fork. 22nd October

Castleford to Sykehouse Junction, New Junction Canal

Yesterday was the start of Chippy panto rehearsals for Jack and The Beanstalk. I’d be wrong if I said I wasn’t missing working on it this year. I’d also have rather been at the meet and greet followed by read through and fit up followed by fish and chips at the Blue Boar then having stinging eye drops in my eyes yesterday. I’m hoping we get chance to go down to see the show but we need to combine it with other things in the south, otherwise it would be a very expensive theatre trip. I’m still in touch with many people and am getting the occasional sneak peek at what’s happening.

Amber at the Bulholme Lock

Rather than drawing things out or base coating bits of scenery, today we were going to find out what the health and safety problem was at Ferrybridge Flood Lock and hope for a mooring suitable for some jobs and some cat shore leave.

We got up and pushed straight over to the water point close to Bulholme Lock. With the tank filling we sat down for breakfast. Then the yellow water was pumped into a container for disposal later. Just as we were sorting this a boat came past heading for the lock. We’d have been able to share if they waited five minutes, but by the time we were sorted they had dropped down the lock and were on their way.

That’s a continent of Pennywort

I was on key duty and filled the lock. Just above the top gates was a huge island of pennywort, it spanned the the width of the lock. Mick decided to take a run up, either to split it in two or to take it into the lock with Oleanna. As soon as the bow hit the island he cut the engine and she drifted into the lock with the weed surrounding her. As the lock emptied the weed drifted in front only to be picked up again on exiting the lock. Mick then managed to loose it by stopping to pick me up at the lock landing.

Just look at that!

Going downstream there’s about an hours cruise before reaching Ferrybridge. Lots of trees and today lots of sunshine. One of those lovely autumn days to enjoy being on the back of a boat.

and that!

Just about the only thing that gives away the old Ferrybridge power station is the old wharf where the Tom Puddings were brought to be raised up to empty their cargo of coal. The building is now gone, but the wharf still exists. Pylons stretch off in all directions and stepped back from the river power is still generated. It’s a boring landscape now the cooling towers are gone, so there’s no point in taking photos anymore.

Very nearly there

The last couple of bends and we could see we’d caught the boat ahead of us up. A boat came from the lock too. Then through Ferry Bridge we could see the amber light, self operation! The flood lock is operable.

We caught the boat ahead up just as he was about to negotiate climbing a ladder. I managed to stop him, suggesting that as there were two of us we’d work the lock. I climbed the ladder, then over the footbridge.

Maybe the health and safety issue is with the walkway on the top gates, as you’d need a very big stride to get onto them, the step being a good three foot. But that has been the case for goodness how long. The river level board showed green! Not long till the gates could just be left open. I knew there wasn’t a gate through the handrail to reach the panel, so climbed over it. Maybe I’d have been better walking to the far end of the lock and crossing the gates there, but that was a very long way round, these locks are big round here!

Bank Dole Junction

On our own now, the other boat not in a rush, we carried on heading eastwards. Fishermen lined the banks and nodded at us as we passed. Lots of boats around Bank Dole Junction, quite a few big ones too. We headed right, turning left will be left for next year, or maybe we’ll head to York direct from Goole, or via Pocklington?

Kellingley Colliery is getting more overgrown around the edges, only the occasional gap to see if anything is happening, nothing since March that we could make out.

Sky

Now we were back on the waterways with big skies, reaching from way over there to way over there! We’ve enjoyed trees, hills, rivers this year, but we alos like being back here with so much sky.

Dumping it on the bank

The M62 comes close then drifts away. Then it returns to be passed underneath just before Whitley Lock. Here a weed boat was busy collecting Pennywort. The fork lift prongs on the bow jab into islands of leafy green, then rise up. The down side of this is it’s a bit like eating spaghetti with a fork and not being allowed to twist the pasta onto the prongs, the tomato sauce making the pasta slip off. The chap scouped up the pennywort time and time again to deposit it on the bank. Whitley Lock seems to be a place where the weed congregates. Last year there was a closure for quite sometime whilst it was cleared, at least they seem to be trying to keep on top of it this year.

It’s a slippery thing

As we approached the lock he asked if he could come down the lock with us. Apparently yesterday above the lock had been choaked with the weed. So we lowered down to the next pound the weed boat shooting out of the lock in front of us, hunting down the next mass of weed to collect and deposit on the bank.

Wonder what RAL number that blue is

This is all such familiar water to us now. Past the CRT boat yard at Heck. Plenty of work boats in, one out on the bank getting a new lick of CRT Blue.

Entering Pollington Lock

Then Pollington Lock, our last lock of the year! In Oleanna went, the lolly pop indicators raised and down she descended to the Goole level of the Aire and Calder. The Key of Power could be put back on the main key ring and have a rest.

The VHF radio blurted something out. We always have it on around here to listen in in case there are any freight boats about. It was hard to understand what was being said, Mick checked on boat movements into Goole, Exol Pride had come up Ocean Lock an hour and a half ago. Exol was heading for the New Junction and all the lift and swing bridges, then on to Rotherham. We’d almost certainly have missed her by the time we got there ourselves.

Mind yourself walking backwards

Now at every overhead power line there were notices on the bank on posts, at every culvert notices too. Back towards Christmas 2020 there was a breach on the Aire and Calder, a huge amount of water was lost, the level from this huge pound dropped and several sections of piling and bank slumped into the canal. There is currently a stoppage notice for piling works.

Back filling

Four hi-vis CRT staff walked towards us on the bank. Then a fence that really meant the towpath was closed, not one that you can manoeuvre to get round. Up ahead several work boats. New piling had gone in and a digger was back filling with earth and packing it down. One worker walked backwards with a remote controlled spikey roller. Skip boats of fresh earth were being brought from past Sykehouse Junction, no dredging silt from the canal, this back filling needed to be sturdy.

Plenty of room for us

Our favourite spot at the junction was taken, so we turned onto the New Junction Canal to see what was available. One narrowboat at the far end, we pulled in just where the edging starts to flatten out and tied up. This would do us nicely.

Hooray!!!

Tilly you have four hours! Four!! Brilliant!!!!!! No eating your own body weight in rodents! Spoil sport!

Bit different to panto painting

After lunch I got the attachment of doom out. The rusty patches on the port side that I’d treated before Standedge needed cleaning off again. Then a coat of primer was applied. The boat ahead was being repainted by the looks of it. Tilly would now have to stay off boats and cat walks!

Mick put the mushroom vent top back on, only tightening it with his fingers, not wanting to put strain on the glued threaded bar. This will be fine. Then the interior cover went back on.

Then it was time to enjoy our evening as the sun set. Tilly zonked from so much friendly cover, now lounging on the sofa in front of the stove. Yarn was selected for the next pair of socks, they were cast on. What a lovely day and cruise.

That tail’s up, she’s happy

4 locks, 16.5 miles of big skies, 0 red light, 1 lock on self operation! 2 locks shared, 1 full water tank, 1 clean pooh box, 1 empty yellow water tank, 1 right, 2 colds still clinging on, 1 grab rail with some paint on it, 4 hours of freedom, 3 little friends, 43 pounces, 2 trees, 1 slight patch of white, don’t know how that got there! 1 exhausted cat, 1 cosy Oleanna on our last night out on the cut.

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