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Morning! I've just had a thought, does anyone want to try Miracle before I sell? It's still pre- second coffee so I've not totally thought it through, but it might be an option.
I've seen the rentals and there really expensive - but the boats are way bigger too, I think i'd have to know you to be comfortable knowing you're not gonna trash / sink / burn her to the waterline etc., but I could see one person or a couple going out on the river lea or something for a week and being ok.

company and help I suppose Sparky, it's not like I'm an expert, lol.
There's a particular lock flight that's a bit intimidating - 21 locks in a row... but it could be easy if they're set up already.

Anybody fancy a week of sailing? I may be bringing a boat back from Birmingham.
(there's quite a few locks)

22.May 2012

**Jacqui of all trades **

I've been giving Miracle some love. I spent the entire weekend sanding, and varnishing the wood surround of her hearth and her doors. I've repaired a bit of wood and preventatively treated the exterior hatch frame for wood rot.

I needed to prove to myself that I could maintain her.

Over the past few weeks I've been hunting for a new narrowboat.
It feels a bit wrong, like cheating.
It's not that I'm unhappy with Miracle, I'm not.
I just want to move up now.
I am making the life afloat commitment.

I found a superb 30 footer in my price bracket, but its got a wooden top.
Most people will tell you to stay as far away from a wooden top boat as possible. They require dedication. They require constant upkeep, without it they deteriorate and you lose your investment and home.

The boat I found is owned by a carpenter.
A very good carpenter.
She's 10 feet longer than Miracle, with ton's of storage. There are two closets!
My heart lept.
I'm a sucker for nice wood work.
Maybe it's because I grew up in Canada, but it's always been something I've loved.
I want this boat.

Most of the refurbished boats I've seen on the market are of the same ilk.
They're "open plan with freestanding furniture."
Exactly what a home owner wants these days. I see why they do it.
**It's great in a flat; rubbish in a boat. **
Boat's are tiny.
You need storage.
Built in sofa's aren't cool looking, but they provide this.
The other thing about the modern refurbished boat is that people have taken to painting over the wood.
Tongue in groove is a beautiful thing, with age it acquires a lovely warmth.

**Paint does not. **

There was a nigle in the back of my mind even though she is perfect.
I've never looked after a thing like her.
I don't know if i have the skill?
*
If manual aptitude is inherrited, I've about a 50/50 chance. *

Consider my parents:

When I was six years old, my father and I decided to build a dog house.
That weekend was one of the most exciting times I've had with my father, we planned, we drew pictures, we cut wood.
I handed him tools.
I pinched my nose with the needle nose plyers so hard I still remember them hanging off my face.
*It was fun. *
We got it all together, brought it outside to the dog and put the lid on.
The dog took one look, whined and ran.
I asked if we should wall paper it for him.
I was too young to notice my father's pain.
That was the only building project I ever remember my father taking part in.

My mother on the other hand, has always been handy.
She's very stubborn and believes she is capable of anything.
This tenacity led to her build her own house. The land was purchased with a cement foundation, on which was a tar paper shed.
It took her 3 years of after work, weekends and holidays but she did it. Plumbing, electric, roof and all. Now, every summer she takes on another project.
One year she decided to build a deck.
The next she rented a digger and re-dug the pond and lined it.
This year she expanded the pond and added an island.

I called my father and he laughed out loud.
Don't buy her. You'll screw it up and you'll end up on the bottom.
When my silence followed, his tone changed to a grave seriousness.
Were you calling me for advice?
Yes.
Oh.
*Yes. Well, you should talk to your uncle about that. *(pause)
*Or your mother. *

My uncle has been sailing racing boats for the better part of thirty years. He'd know more than anyone in our family, if the boat that was tugging on my heart strings was gamble or a good deal.

Instead of calling home to dicuss it with him, I set myself a task.
Fix some little things on Miracle, if I can, consider the boat.
If I can't, forget her.

Now I'm 3 coats of varnish into my hearth surround and it looks beautiful.
I've fixed my cill, and it's ready for paint.
I don't know if I'm ready to take on a whole wooden top boat, but at least I know I'm handy.

Since this discovery, another boat has taken my fancy.

10 May?

Loving the updates :)

err, yes... MAY.

Thanks Luci.
Me too. Pretty sore today.
I'm psyching myself up for moving today, alone.
If i'd fallen off my bike, I'd just get back on - same thing here I guess.

10 May.

There's green slime on my jeans.
I unzip my jacket pocket, and my phone is dry and the light is flashing to let me know I've missed a call.
In a moment of facination I note that my bra is still dry.
**Brilliant. **

It's my birthday.

Ok, well not really; I was born in the fall.
But today marks my birthday as a proper boater, er because of my fall; into the river Lee that is.

It's windy.
It's also pretty wet out.
But I failed to notice both of these things a few hours ago.
It wasn't relevant until I was coming back from getting water.
A more experienced boater would have noted both these things,and known.

It's so windy that Miracle didn't stand a chance of staying against the river bank once I'd cut the engine.
Instead in the 30 odd seconds it took me to get the rope and try jumping for the bank we were already a drift a good metre out.

No, I didn't jump.
My ankles are too dodgy for that.
I started to walk backward along the gunnel to the stern.
I started, as did the rain.

I'm clumsy at the best of times.

Other boaters laugh that I hold on at all times.
Today, I was holding on but I slipped off what are probably the widest gunnels on the river.

Classy.

I'm hanging by one arm up to my thighs in the river.
Behind me I can hear the BMC engine of the Norwegians 58 footer approaching.
I can't see his boat.

I'm thinking of his prop.

I can't get sucked into it.
**
That.would.be.bad.**

I'm slipping.

I've only got three fingers on the rail.
My waist is now submerged.
My blackberry is in the pocket of my coat and my mind flashes back to the conversation I had with the designer..
"completely taped and waterproof, even the zips" he'd assured me.
I'd bought the coat partly because I wanted to show him I believed in him, partly because I didn't own a waterproof.

God. I hope he was right.

I hear the engine of the approaching boat slow.
Miracle, with me clung to her side are now nearly in the middle of the river.
The wind is pushing us quickly.

Please let him notice I'm not on my boat.

"Pull yourself up" clearly he's noticed.

Helpful, I think to myself. I'm annoyed. I want to yell back "No Shit" but I am to tired to argue and this isn't the time.

I wrap my other hand around the fender rope, and try to do just that.
I can only manage my elbows on the gunnel.
I'm kicking my feet to try and tred water and raise myself.
My jeans are flailing around my legs, my shoes are heavy and feel like weights.
It's cold.

I'm losing my strength and sink lower.

Then, I breathe.

I need to think.

I can't get up on the gunnel.
I've got to find another way.
My engine is off.
That's a grace.
I pull myself to the stern.
I should be able to get up here.
It's a few inches lower.
The outboard has metal bars around it and supports at 45 degrees.
I swing my body and try to get purchase on the supports.
I fail.
I try again and get my foot against it.
The Norwegian is yelling directions at me.
I can't make them out over the wind.

I'm getting this though.. it's gonna be ok.

The next thing I remember is sitting on my deck.

The Nowegian's lashing Miracle to his boat.
I'm panting, unable to move.

There's a lot of swearing and three tries before he manages single handedly to moor us.

When he gets back onboard he just looks at me and shrugs.

• "I guess women don't have a man's upperbody strenght"*
  
  

Well, I don't.

Getting my move on..
It was about 3 am and I was woken up by some commotion outside. Then, I felt the unmistakable rock of the boat and heard more banging about.
I was sure someone had boarded. My first thought was that they were stealing my bike.
The rocking continued as did the banging about so I got out of bed. Duckie was going mental. I have an attack cat I thought, how cool.
I left the lights out and went to the door and as quietly as possible I unlatched. Duckie was now by my side eagerly watching the door.
I swung the door open and came face to face with my intruder.
We stared at eachother for a stunned moment.
I quickly closed the door.
Our faces had been inches away from eachother and it was impossible to say who was more shocked.
Tentatively, I re-opened the door.
The intruder was still paralised and staring in the same way.
I was more calm this time and in the moments the door was open this second timeI noted many things.

He was beautiful and big. Much bigger than I'd imagined they'd be. He was also from what I could tell, very healthy. His eyes were bright, his coat a stunning and glossy red. His face and torso was full and fat.

I have just come face to face, with a fox.

Amazing.

Mental note, do not leave my bin bag on the back deck.

thank you everyone who helped make yesterday special. xx

i'd suggets just at the big red barrelled trykes behind the cordoneed off bit after curzon st. - its going to be easiest there i think for lfgss'r to meet there.

hey so we are short some stewards for Big Ride, its on 28th April and we'd need you from 10am til about 3pm on the day. If any of you can help I'd really appreciate it

the link is here
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDZNQnp5Y2hWbkE2d3JxaktYVTQwdmc6MQ

hey guys.
I did the first of 2 marshal recce's today. 45mins in total which is a really easy ask. If any of you could I sure would appreciate it if you were able to marshal (or steward) as I'm pretty sure we're under numbers at the moment.
Only about half of the people who said they were coming did :(

But the people who did come were really, really great! (so that's a bonus!)

thought the peeps that read this may be interested in the film I just saw, its endura training camp..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZvYLe1Bvpg

we're at 2,500 views so far.. and the video has been up for 1 full day. monday I'm pushing out to the other blogs. With luck we'll hit double the amount of people.

@hoops. I have no idea what the cords are.. fruitbat did the music on both uke and a dulsumar (sp) he'll know.

ps. the counter is updating but not in real time.. this morning it was showing 1800+ views which is amazing. I'd like to keep spreading the message... many thanks to everyone who helped so far.

wow^
cycling in the netherlands is (i would imagine) safer than in london, both because of the infrastructure and the general attitude instilled in you from youth.

I believe that helmets should be a choice. i wouldn't judge either choice, just be glad they're cycling. (as jordan has pointed out)

I see this campaign, the Vote with you bike and the Scottish Pedal on Pariliament all as very strong indicators that the cycling issue needs to be considered more seriously by whichever candidate gains power in the election.
there's 30,000 people signed up on the Love London, Go Dutch petition and the others all have similar numbers. I can't see how wearing a helmet or not in the video could make a difference in whether or not the government takes our message seriously or not.

argh.. counter on You Tube seems broken now.. we've been sitting at 305 for 20 mins.

I'd love too have the discussion... more talk the better :)
personally I think helmets are a personal choice - I decide daily whether to wear or not..

nope not too late!!

This is the link!! You may recognise "little Fruitbat junior" and the lovely ms.photoben...

Join the Big Ride on 28 April 2012 - YouTube

yup i'm sure that the BW would love that! lol.

whooohooo.
@ed. its fine really. just not for proper entertaining. I used to like having dinner parties, that's not possible really on a boat this size. But I've managed to hold 2 on other people boats so long as i'm the one cooking they don't mind.

that would be awesome twist!! I'm just waiting on the green light!

somebody tell me if its visable please??

no its in my lfgss album which is now public.