The Great Haywood Pier.

As I mentioned in the last blog,  We have made a start on the moorings.  One of the dangers of our mooring since we first moved here has been the poor condition of the decking  which obviously has been down for a good many years and was completely rotten, in fact it has been true to say that the only thing stopping you going through it has been the heavy duty rubber sheeting laid over the top spreading the load.  This can be clearly seen on The first two photos.

 The section to just in front of The engine ‘ole was repaired last summer with some timbers I had left over from making the new shuts and was laid over the top of the existing rotten boards.  It has been our intention to replace the whole lot ever since we moved here but our biggest problem has been sourcing reasonably priced second hand scaffolding battens.  I have been on the lookout for the last year but they have always been either too expensive or collection only and too far away, averaging between £6 & £12 each board and and we need over 100 boards!  As I had already said in the last post, Simon, who had borrowed some of my 3” x 2” supports, brought some old scaffold battens down to our mooring on the Sunday and Chris Shenton and myself had been talking about how we were going to re board the decking etc. He said he would probably pop down in the week and make a start and that we would need some 4” nails and some long cable ties to fix the bearers to the scaffolding under frame.  After work on the Tuesday I called into Wickes and purchased 100 plastic cable ties and 4 bulk boxes of 4” nails, then popped down the mooring to put them in Chris’ bow stank.  God bless him I say for when I got there I was greeted by ‘no decking.  He had already ripped out all the old decking and supports and stacked all the old rotten timber at the back of the mooring ready for recycling.

 The following Saturday (the 14^th), we were both down the mooring quite early and we made a start sawing up the battens into 4‘0” lengths, By late afternoon we had sawed all the full length battens up and managed to produce 30 usable lengths which we loosely laid on top of the bearers that had been cable tied to the framework.  By this time it was 2.00pm and I had to leave as we were having the two granddaughters over this afternoon to take them to the circus.  I did not go down on the Monday but went down on the Tuesday after work and again to be met with all the boards we had cut on the Saturday, Chris had been down and laid and nailed them during The daytime.

 And so there you are, the first 25 foot of our new decking is down and solid and sheer luxury, just the ability to step on and off Darley without the fear of going through is brilliant.  We are now just waiting on Simon to come up with more battens and we can complete the Job.  So in future when we are returning to our mooring on Darley we won’t have to worry so much if we,

Bang it about.

Blossom.

The Grand Staircase

On 31 May 1911, SS 401, Titanic,  slid down Slipway No. 3 at the Queen’s Yard of Harland & Wolff and settled on the waters of the Victoria Channel in Belfast Lough.  In her brief life she would be the largest vessel ever built.  Titanic had been built with some really super facilities and probably one of the finest was the Grand Staircases which were designed to be used only by first-class passengers. The fore Grand Staircase descended five levels down from the Boat Deck to the E Deck

On 29 January 1937 Harland & Wolff delivered the Large Woolwich motor boat Darley to its owners the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.  I thought to myself “if Titanic can have a grand staircase then so can Darley” And so it is now that the rich and gifted (well Dawn & Bruce) can make their grand entrance, down into the hold.  For the last 12 months, since we bought Darley we have been using a 6 foot length of aluminium scaffold ladder to gain access to and from the hold which, to be honest was not the best means and so it was time for action.  The prompt came in the form of the required materials which turned up at the mooring.  On Sunday 8th April, Dawn and I went down to Darley to do some work, Dawn to clean back cabin etc. and me to start painting the hold.  When we got there we noticed that some of the 3”x2” timbers we had on the back of the mooring ready for when we replace the decking (more on that later) was missing.  To ensure no more disappeared, we loaded them into Darley’s hold and counted them.  On arrival back down the mooring the following Saturday, Chris Shenton, who moors next to us, came running down and explained that Simon, someone who moors higher up, had borrowed seven lengths of our timber on the understanding he was going to replace them.  Chris offered to take me up to him, introduce him to me so he could tell me himself.  On the way up to Simon’s mooring Chris explained that Simon owned a scaffold company and that he would probably get me some scaffold boards for our decking.  After a half hour chat we returned back down the mooring to Darley and sure enough Simon came down with his wagon and offloaded about 12 full length scaffolding battens, with the promise of more.  Brilliant I thought now I can make The Grand Staircase.  So I have spent the last three days/evenings dodging the rain and sawing, screwing and painting and here is the end result. 

New, extended back end boards and a new set of strong steps into the hold.  Next time I will blog about what the rest of the scaffold battens have been used for, so till then,

Don’t bang ‘em about,

Blossom.

Gypsy Stew

I have probably moaned before about some of the drivel that Dawn watches on TV what with dancing on Ice, strictly come dancing, dancing with the stars, big brother, I’m in the jungle, dine with me, my big fat gypsy wedding  etc. etc.  But last month she was watching something about gypsy, Pat Doherty who had politician Sally Bercow live with him for two weeks as his wife.  The one thing I did find interesting about the program was that he had her cook him a traditional gypsy stew, Basically it was a stew made using a boiled bacon joint, and it looked really tasty so I thought I’ll have a go, and so I did, and the result was really nice and one I will be having on many more occasions.  I have had boiled bacon or a boiled gammon joint before on many occasions but have always lifted it out of its water, thrown that away then allowed the joint go cold before carving it for salads or sandwiches, but with this gypsy stew, the bacon joint is cooked in the stew so all those tasty juices, gelatine, salts etc. are cooked into the stew and not thrown away as usual.Both Dawn and I really enjoyed it so I thought I would share my version with you as it is so simple, cheap and easily cooked on a range.

Ingredients. (Enough for four)

1 gammon joint (whole)

1 small cabbage(roughly chopped)

2 medium onions (sliced n diced)

4 carrots (chunky chopped)

4 medium potatoes (chunky chopped)

Handful of Whitworth’s Soup & Broth Mix (split peas, pearl barley etc.)

Water (2 pints)

Black Pepper to taste

NO SALT

Method

Throw everything in a large covered casserole dish and wack it in the range until the potatoes start to dissolve.  Add extra water as needed.

We cooked it at home in the oven and had it simmering for two days, but it was well worth the wait.

Enjoy.

and as always, and especially if I have just eaten a couple of bowls of gypsy stew

don't bang me about.

Blossom

Making a star sparkle.

Last November, when we took Darley up to Stone for the fireworks we moored just below Star Lock and as I reported in my blog Nightboating, fireworks & eating out  we did spend a little bit of time in The Star with friends Viv and Si off Monarch & Grimsby.  A conversation must have struck up at some time in the canal bar which probably went something like VIV “you know what you could do with in this canal bar, some canal decorations”  GAFFER “that would be good, do you know anybody who could do that?” VIV “yes we will” GAFFER “If you do I will close the canal bar for the day, supply you with drinks, and cook you a dinner”, and so the seed was set.  so it was then, that over the last couple of months, I have been busy painting all manner of things to include a Seat board, a GU butty table cupboard, two enamel jugs out of The Star cellar, some old uprights and much more, as well as other old canal paraphernalia such as windlasses, ribbon plates etc.  And that’s not including the stuff Viv & Si painted and brought including a GU butty tiller, a small button fender, jugs, a mirror, buckets etc.

Viv & Si turned up at 9.00am last Sunday and after a quick coffee we loaded everything into the back of Viv’s Volvo estate and we headed off to The Star.  We arrived at about 10.00am and after unloading everything into the canal bar was met by Jamie & Lindsey,

the gaffer and his missis, who greeted us with a “two pint of Hobgoblin is it then”  (a bit early in the morning for me but it would have been rude not to) and so the day rolled out hanging, screwing, drinking, painting, more drinking, splicing, picture hanging, more drinking etc. Etc. 

I did notice that the longer the day went on the slower the work rate became.  Don’t know if that was fatigue or alcohol!  By mid morning we had been joined by Paul Barber, boat builder and owner of big Northwich Whitby, and Viv’s upholsterer, wife & their daughter India. At about 12 00am, Jamie said it’s about time for dinner and disappeared to return minutes later with a huge lamb stew and huge rough cut bread noggins.  “Eat as much as you like there’s twice as much as this left.”  We all sat down and proceeded to devour this most beautiful lamb stew.  When we had all finished Jamie stated we could have a second lot later in the day.    So well fed and certainly getting well watered, we continued to dress the bar out with more hanging, screwing, drinking, painting, more drinking, splicing, picture hanging, more drinking etc. 

This continued until about  5.00pm when Jamie said are you ready for some more stew and disappeared into the kitchens, he returned minutes with a most apologetic look on his face “ The staff thought you had finished with the stew so I’m sorry but they ate it, there’s only a bit left!” We sat dawn to have another bowl only to find that what the staff had done was picked all the lamb out of it leaving just the broth and vedge.  Jamie offered India some chicken nuggets and viv said “can I have some please” 10 mins later Jamie  appeared with two very large trays of chicken wings, garlic bread, battered mushrooms and cheesy natchos.  Another feast for a king.  By 7.00pm, and many pints of Hobgoblin later, we were all finished both all the jobs and tired out

 and so we piled all our tools in the car, bid our farewells to Jamie and Lindsey and made our way home.  So, any of you out there reading this, if you find yourself  in Stone, please call in The Star and have a look at our handywork.  PS another trip up has been arranged for later in the year to put more stuff up, so till next time as always

Don’t bang ‘em about.

Blossom.

Herbaceous Borders

Well I’ve finally managed to get my first fix of the year, that’s the first time I’ve been boating since I broke my leg back in November last year, and what a cracking weekend we had.   Viv Scragg phoned Dawn in the week to see if we fancied going up to the Lamb & Flag in Little Haywood to see a band.  I suggested to Dawn that we take Darley out to Little Haywood and stop on her on Saturday night then bring her back on Sunday so we could both have a couple of drinks.  I went down to Darley on Saturday morning and lit the range to air the cabin out and I fired up the Petter and pumped the rain water out the hold as well as a few other jobs.  By two o’clock I was locking up and returning home ready for Dawn’s return from work.  A quick shower and a change into ‘going out’ clothes and we were both ready and so set off from home, stopping off in the town for fish and chips which we took with us and sat in Darleys, now very snug, back cabin.  By half five we were fed and watered, and with the Petter fired up we were off into a grey damp evening, dropping down Haywood lock and by six we were tying up next to bridge 72, Meadow Lane.  We got Bruce off and took him for a walk down the towpath to Cowshit Lock and back before leaving for the pub.  Before I left I banked the range up and closed it all down to smoulder away so that it would be nice and warm on our return.  A quick stroll up the lane saw us sat in the window seat of the lounge and enjoying the first of many pints of Guinness and by 9.00pm we were joined by Viv and Si  and enjoying the company and the band, Herbaceous Borders playing a good mix of rock.  The pub was absolutely heaving especially as a wedding party had decided to join in the fun who had obviously been enjoying themselves most of the day buy the ‘merry’ state of them.  The one female guest, and I’m guessing the maid of honour, insisted in putting her £50 hat on everybody in the room and taking their picture. 

All too soon the evening was over and we were wandering back down the lane to Darley where my plan of having the back cabin as warm as toast had failed!  It was that hot you could have cooked toast.  Got into bed but could not sleep as it was far too hot so had to get up and open the back doors and cool it down. A 10.30 start saw us off down to the boat turn at Taft farm and two hours later saw us back at our mooring at Great Haywood.  The rest of the day was spent cleaning and tidying, Dawn in the back cabin and me in the engine ‘ole, oh how much better I now feel for it.  Another seven weeks and were off to the first show at Etruria and there is a lot of little jobs to be done to get rid of Darley’s winter coat, so if your passing give us a hoot but

Don’t bang ‘em about.

Blossom.

Well worth a trip out.

Now the hour has gone on the clocks, and the days seem longer and a bit of sun on my back, my mind is turning to this year’s boating season so I thought I would list the shows we are taking Darley to this year.  Before I do that though, my mind drifted back to the great fun we had last year, and some of the memories that it left us with, so I thought I would start off with a pictorial remembrance of the shows we went to last year.

4-5 JUNE, ETRURIA

In the shade from the blazing sun outside the museum.

Captain and his mate

Another Captain and his mate, Henry and Phyllis.

Leaving Etruria

Flying through Salt on the return journey from Etruria

25-26 JUNE,BRAUNSTON

The Sunday Parade and Darley heads out towards the turn with previous owner Keith Browne for company.

Descending Atherstone with 4 ton of bagged coal on board which had been transferred from Kangaroo at Griff due to the bridge parapet being in the bridge ‘ole.

Fading light as a convoy travels back to Alvecote with loaded pair Kangaroo and Australia, loaded motor Tench and Darley bringing up the rear.

8-10 July ALVECOTE

Alvecote

And on the lay-bye boats awaited orders---

For the weekend the marina was filled with working boats.

3-4 SEPT, SHACKERSTONE

Being buzzed by a Lancaster bomber

Steam roller up through the village

Steam tractor through the village

9-11 SEPT, WINDMILL END

Windmill End 2011

17-18 SEPT TIPTON

About to leave

Cans and flowers

24-25 SEPT, BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM

Chewing the fat

About to leave the Museum and head for Tipton show.

14-16 OCT, THAT FULLER DO.

Fun and frolics.  Andrew, off Dove, knew something was going on but did not realise I was wearing his cap!

The boat parade

Winding Darley

The railway children!. (Dawn & Viv)

And so to this years shows.  It is our intention to take Darley to :

Etruria Canal Festival, Middlewich Boat & Folk festival, River Weaver Festival at Northwich, Audlem Transport Festival, Alvecote Historic Gathering, Shackerstone Family Festival, Black Country Boating Festival at Windmill End, Tipton Canal Festival, Park Head Gathering and finally That Fuller Do.  That should be enough to keep me going I think so if you see us out and about give us a wave, buy me a beer but

Don’t bang ‘em about

Blossom. 

Making a traditional Rag Mop

I know this has been covered before on many different web sites and blogs but I thought I would detail my version here.  I have said before that I remember boatmen using ‘Croxley blanket’ for making the best rag mops but any supplies of this material used in the paper making industry have long dried up.  So here I have used what I consider, apart from the colour, a good substitute.

Materials:

1 off 8’-0” (2400mm) X 1 ½ “ (35mm) diameter dowel (B&Q, Wickes etc about a tenner)

1 off rubber tap washer (B&Q, Wickes etc pennies)

1 off 4” x 3/8” ( 100mm x 10mm) coach bolt

1 off 2” (50mm) of 1 ½”(40mm) plastic waste pipe.

I roll of standard masking tape

1 piece of cotton open weave material (enough to make about 20 pieces 15” x 3” (375mm x 75mm)

1 tin of striped paint or

1 tin each of red, yellow, white, blue and green.

Tools

1 off ¼ “ (6mm)drill bit

Mallet/hammer

Bowl of boiling water.

Method (handle)

Ensure when you select the piece of dowel that you choose a piece that has little knots and is made out of one piece (they are sometimes made out of pieces of timber glued together along its length which can be recognised by the zig-zag cut joint going across the dowels width.

To prepare the coach bolt you need access to a grinder so that you can grind the bolt down along its length to a tapering square section.  Years ago they used hand forged square ‘cut nails’ which were abundant at wooden boat builders yards but again now as rare as hen’s teeth.

Start by shaping one end of the dowel with whatever means at your disposal ( wood chisel, carving knife, sanding disk, grinder, sandpaper etc) just to take the square end off it and round it up somewhat. Now concentrate your efforts on the opposite end.  Start by removing the sharp edge off the other end with sand paper to put a slight taper on the very end to act as a leading edge.  Take the 2” length of plastic waste pipe and remove any rough edges etc from the inside of the diameter with a sharp knife then pop it into a container of boiled water.  After it has stood for a minute or two carefully remove it and locate it on the leading edge of the dowel.  Making sure it is on square, use a large mallet or hammer etc and knock it onto the end of the dowel the full 2” so that the end of the dowel is level with the end of the plastic pipe.  Now use a soft leaded pencil to mark the centre of the dowel on the end you have fitted the plastic pipe, using the ¼ “ drill bit, make sure you are straight and level and drill a hole down the middle of the end of the dowel to a depth of about 4”.  It is at this point that I usually paint the mop as it is easier to handle without its head.

Start by preparing the dowel with smooth sand paper then an all over coat with a good undercoat(I use an all purpose grey primer) You will find that standard masking tape is not far off the right width to make four spirals along the length. Use a pencil to put a mark on each of the four quarters around the one end of the dowel, split the circumference into four and mark with a pencil.  Fix the edge of the tape against one of the pencil marks so that it is running at about 15 degrees to the dowel , then rotate the dowel which will wrap the tape along its length.  Repeat with a second piece of tape starting on the opposite pencil mark to the first.  After you have two parallel pieces of tape then wrap a piece of tape around the dowel about 12” from the handle end. Paint between the two pieces of tape to give you your first two stripes.  When almost dry remove the tape then leave to dry.  When completely dry, paint between with the other two colours, when these are dry paint the handle end and the plastic collar at the other end green. (the colour order for your four stripes are White, blue, yellow, red.)

Method (Head)

Lay out your strips of cloth in the following fashion on top of a wooden surface (suggest you don’t use the kitchen table) lay them out like the numbers on a clock face with each one covering the gap between the last two until the area is completely covered and all your strips are used.

Ie:

lay one vertically, lay next horizontally, next 45° down, next 45° up, then alternating sides spanning the gap between two existing strips until all strips used.

Take the rubber tap washer over the end of the tapered coach bolt and push it down to the underside of the head.  Place the point of the bolt on the centre of the piled up strips of cloth and hammer it through, lift the mop head off the bench/board and push the bolt right through the cloth.  Locate the end of the pointed bolt into the hole you drilled in the end of the dowel, then hammer home until the bolt goes right into the handle and grips the cloth between the bolt head/washer and the end of the dowel.  Place the mop onto your cabin top, stand back and admire.  Next you need to learn how to spin the mop to dry it!

Ok so there you have it, your own traditional rag mop for just over a tenner, so no excuses now for not keeping your boat clean, and in emergencies can always be wedged down the side of your boat so you

don’t bang ‘em about.

Blossom