A float on Miracle - 20ft narrowboat

@brickman - my "stuff" is in storage for now. Although I won't be needing alot of it anymore if this goes to plan.

Dammit, the engine-powered boating I'm used to is more 350 Magnum than Yamaha 10hp outboard. My day on Miracle was a delightful change of pace.

Started the day wondering why my alarm hadn’t gone yet, it was light out, but only 7.50am.

Having gotten up at 6am the day before I decided to set the alarm for 8am. I’ve scheduled to stay at the boat yard today and do my work remotely. Having just hung the American Oak doors two nights previous, I want to finish my doors.

**I am enjoying my new routines immensely. **
I get up feed The Duck, put the coffee on and make my bed up, then do the brushing, washing as necessary. By that time the Bialetti has done its job and I open the doors to sit outside and have my cafine whilst staring at the beautiful, non dock side of the river.

It’s ace. I’ve created a time just for me which is *a first*.
Morning routine used to be roll out of bed, check blackberry, scramble, throw food at Duckie and scramble again.. this is way better.

So I’ve allocated time to each task I need to accomplish today, which is something I desperately need or I get nothing done and with the coffee empty and Duckie full, I begin.

I didn’t get far today; but I made a lot of tea.

I did however get to play with two new toys. A file sander and a nail gun.

First, I show Alan my piece of wood striping that I want to add to the doors. Then once I have explained that I want to cut it into sections, he blows his cheeks up and scratches his head. That’s not a very elegant way to do it, he says. The purpose of that strip is to keep the weather out; if you go and cut it you let the wet in. Its a bad design.

I get my other doors from the work shop and show him what I mean to do.
Like this. I point to the three sections.

Again, he blows up his cheeks and this time rubs his chin. No, let me see the wood. I hand him the wood. And the hinge locks. I hand him the hinge locks. He puts it all on the work shop table spreads his arm out and stares down. He plays with the hinge lock and sits it on the wood.

**I feel useless. My master game plan for the day has just been foiled. **

The man is pondering things unknown and I am just staring at him.

*Cuppa Tea Alan? *I am already walking toward the “kitchen.”
Yes Please. In the week or so that I have been here I have never heard Alan say anything other than “Yes Please” to every offer of tea. Amazing.

I like Alan. For the first two days Alan didn’t talk to me, unless I addressed him, he was listening though. Paddy and Alan look like laurel and hardy in a manor, Paddy is all angles and wiry and Alan is lumbering and round. I’m betting both of them are seriously strong though, i think you have to be here. It’s also clear that both of them are very talented.

Right. Yer gonna sand this down here, in a nice little dip then the latch will meet the other bit nicely and you’ll still have a single piece of wood to keep the wet out, see?

Ok, I’ll go get some sand paper then.

No. You’ll use the file sander. And with that Alan lumbers over to shelves that have machines and tools and boxes and rags everywhere and produces “the file sander.” When he turns it on to show me how to use it, all I keep thinking is how I want to do my nails.. it does look a lot like an emery board!

After a few corrections I have sufficient mastery of the file sander and I create the two dips required I am looking forward to using the file sander again on Friday (but that’s getting ahead of the story!)
My next job involved the nail gun. Gluing and then “pinning” my wood strip to the doors was easy, except that several times just as I was about to pull the trigger suddenly as if on queue Duckie would decided to walk between me and the doors and bump into me.

7 nails took 15mins. That has got to be a Guinness world record for the slowest job ever.

So, I didn’t get heaps done today but I did something. I also did all my “work for work” and I managed to explain to Jon Snow that i actually want to buy one of his Wendy stoves, which is good!
AND my solar panels will arrive tomorrow! Whoo Hoo.

Today =Win.

Awesome! You say you didn't do much but making your own doors with your own hands is such a worthwhile undertaking, much more satisfying than just making things move around on a computer screen I say!

This is all amazing just read through everything, I have massive respect for you Jacqui it seems like an amazing adventure.
(I got reeally worried when reading about your cat)

Am I the only one to get a bit aroused by girls talking about power tools in such an animated fashion?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Go Jacqui! (and remember to wear goggles)

me

got an email from the elusive Mr Snow today. The quote is nearly 50% more than advertised and includes things that I have no idea of. Time to Google.

Do you have wheels with you on the boat Jacqui. A lot of boaties seem to use cheap Raleigh 20s with a basket on the front for shopping (and a box on the back for Duckie?).

mr. Snow? is that for the wood burner?

TBH all of the prices on the previous page for 'burners sound quite high. I've got a 6kW glass door job here with back boiler, yeah its made in China (what isn't?), but quality is more than adequate and that was barely £200 inc vat + delivery of about £20 courier on a pallet. they had smaller ones (2 & 3kW) in similar style for about £120-140 + del OR do you have to have a special type for the boat?

@brickman - do you have a link?

@Innanzi - nope no wheels. Considered borrowing a brompton. I'm not putting any of my bikes on the roof or outside for the winter!
for now I am walking a lot. (and it sucks)

Fuck IT. I bought the damn thing. It's an investment.

You bought a brompton?

I have enjoyed reading this entire thread- lovely posts Jacqui, keep it up!

There are at least 3 cycle instructors I know of who live on boats in or near Springfield Marina- I think the marina has bike parking/ storage facilities, dunno if they're open to other boaters.

**It’s Nov 5. **

I was meant to be in my mooring five days ago. British Waterways were **supposed **to ring me and tell me where my mooring is and I’m a bit worried that when i get there someone will have taken it. I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it.

Today I finally have hot water. YaY. It was the battery. Easy fix. I am positive the cold showers were good for me though, not so good for me that I will continue them however!

If the weather holds I plan to finish my doors today. Last night I used the file sander to make yet another grooved allowance for my hardware, I am getting much better at this if I do say so myself! It’s a pretty awesome little tool. My weather strip does need its varnish today. I can see that this. Its not a problem so far but I can see that the varnish really does protect it and I don’t want my hard work to go for not.

When I got back last night my solar panel had arrived. It is MASSIVE. I knew it would be and I knew that getting it would take up the majority of my roof. Well, its *all in the name of being self sufficient *and a panel this size will keep me in free electric even in the overcast and horrid UK winter. That was always the priority.

Paddy says that everything, my engine the solar panel installation and the work for refitting my interior pre stove and the fitting of the stove and my battery will be four days labour. I’m relieved to know that. I hadn’t had a quote from him for it until last night and was wondering what I was in for!

I know that when you’re getting work on your home you would normally shop about but in a houseboat with no engine, that’s a bit tricky. Still, I came here because people said good things; and I do feel four days is very fair.

Last night after I’d paid for the stove and all the extra bits I showed Alan the list of parts that cranked the bill to 580GBP. He axed most of it and helped me write an email changing the order.
Here’s hoping Mr. Snow will refund me the 316GBP that Alan says were parts that were not suitable for my install! (I’m sure Jon will, he’s a business man after all). If there are any issues with it, well, I don’t want to think about that just now. Fingers crossed for good business man ethics. Praying that he doesn’t delay my order because of this, its starting to get a bit chilly out and if the cold snap happens before I get the stove I’m going to be a very cold bunny.

So. I finally feel that there is some progress being made here now.

ANGELA – a 55 – 60ft boat arrived here last night, I saw the owner this am, whilst I was having my morning coffee. I think he was looking at the dock sign, it has the wrong phone number on it. I may walk over and see if he wants Paddy’s mobile. I haven’t seen Paddy’s van in the yard and he was going out last night so I don’t think he’s here.

Alan should roll in shortly though and I’ll see about a brush for varnish.

Saw Matt from** LMNH** this a.m. he rides out here for fun. I think he was surprised to see me on the boat. It was nice to see him riding..** god I miss my bike!!**

Nice work J,
You got to get some wheels though.

How is the solar panel attached? I'm always amazed by the amount of stuff the serious boaters leave on their roofs.

Could you squeeze an airnimal into your boat? There was one for sale on here; they are awesome :)

Just read the whole thread, I'm incredibly jealous!
xxx

@ howard, I'm afraid the only bike for me on the boat is going to be a brompton. I've sold both before and Brompton is, in my humble, opinion the bomb.

Thank you all for the encouragement. It's really lovely to hear your comments.

My solar panel is going to be fixed by the boatyard. We're looking at options. It's my priority that the panel be theft proof, given its what will be running most of my necessities.

Today is sanding my speaker boxes in preparation for their varnish. A very productive but chilled out day.
Last night I got the number of a service that comes and does your toilet for 1GBP - WIN.

It's my priority that the panel be theft proof, given its what will be running most of my necessities.

Ball bearings and super glue!

If your looking for a cheap folder decathalon have an offer on this one, not sure how good it is though.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/b-fold-20-id_8186827.html

Just seen this thread Jaqui..

Great stuff. I'll definitely keep an eye on this.

Cheap decathalon folder is ok, not amazing but then its now under a tonne!

Other cheap option is am old raliegh or bsa folder etc, could prob get an ok example for under 50 which us technically a better bike (and lighter) for about 50 to 75 quidi guess.
For storage put it on bank side walkway and lock to something solid (roof drain holes are good, or you could get a dedicated lock loop welded on at the workshop, you can use off the shelf crane/leggingfixings and about 30min to prep and weld