So Much To Confirm and Some Up and Coming Retail Therapy

Hi all,
Not posted of late as there was not much news to write about up to now.

Chris and I went to visit Fernwoods on Wednesday to have our latest design meeting and see how things were progressing.  We spent the day finalising all sorts of things so AmyJo's fit out can progress.  

We settled on the final colours for the livery, as you know will be two tone greys and discussed how the side panels would be painted.  A few other ideas were firmed up on the outside livery and this meant AmyJo's external features could be painted to completion.  We now need to talk to Andy Russel about getting him to do our artwork.  We did talk to him at Crick and he agreed to do AmyJo so we need to work out something with him fairly soon.  For now I played with Photoshop and came up with this artists impression to give you an idea

Meanwhile Chris and Julia were in deep discussions on finalising much of AmyJo's interior layout, fabrics and so on though Chris has a lot more homework to do for curtain/bung material before we can complete the styling inside.  

The layout for the saloon and galley are now pretty much set with a few remaining tweaks by Julia on the front entrance to finish that off.  The galley colour and worktops have been chosen as have the style of the cupboards and drawer fronts

The colours scheme is now set for the wet room and fittings chosen apart from sink and tap.

Throughout the day our list of things to think about and to buy was steadily growing.  We discussed our electrical need in particular our need to have internet access and the power consumption that would entail.  We are settling on an M2M 3g/4g router with wifi coupled to external antennas.  This means when in range we can use local wifi hotspots and when out of range use the 3G to connect.  The router is spec'd so when 4G becomes more readily available we just need to change the SIM card and we're done.

We also have to think about TV, Washing Machine, tumble dryer to remember but a few.  We'll post more on these as we get them.

As for progress on AmyJo, work is moving forward yet it still does not look much has been done but again, closer inspection reveals much has been going on :-

All the outlets for the sinks, washing machine and so on have been installed.

The engine bed and surrounding area has been under coated in dark grey.

More Roof battening has been finished and floor bearers and Pipe mounts installed

Chris and I got to stand inside AmyJo and here Chris is standing roughly where the wet room will be.  Looks extremely long here but when  the bulkheads are in that will make things look different.

I had a comment from Anonymous on my last post (I do not publish if you don't leave a name), they were concerned the spray foam looks inadequate.  Whilst aboard this time I was able to check the depth and am happy to say its more than enough.  AmyJo's hull ribs and cabin side struts are quite large at my request to give extra strength and is why the foam looks at though there is not enough. 

Not much more has been done outside but AmyJo's roof has now received the anti slip surface and a coat of undercoat on that.  Now we have finalised the livery The outside painting can  progress much further.  

The other boat in the picture is Fernwoods latest creation called Dubel Dutch owned by Martin and Annmarie.  As you may have guessed they come from the Netherlands hence the name. Dubel Dutch is nearing completion and is looking pretty smart with some fantastic artwork by Andy Russel.  Look out for her on the cut in the next month or so, she looks stunning.

We will be visiting again and of course will let you know how things are progressing.

Fernwoods open day and a pleasant surprise

Having spent a pleasant night at the Blue Cow Inn not far from Fernwoods workshop, Chris and I made our way over to Sewstern to help out at the Fernwoods open day.  I believe it was the first they have held and judging from the response will not be their last.

The day started in glorious sunshine and the temperatures started to rise as soon as the sun came up.  It was so nice to leave the coats and jumpers at home.  On our arrival we were amazed to see they had laid on a buffet and Pimms.  This was added to later by a barrel of rather nice local ale that in the  heat was most welcome.

We could simply not wait to take a look at AmyJo and so we walked into the workshop and were pleasantly surprised.  At first glance there did not appear to be too much done on her but closer inspection revealled in fact much had been done.

Holes have been cut for the pump out and rinse fittings (a pair each side), the mushroom vents in the roof

A complete covering of undercoat has been applied to her cabin, roof and gunnels.

But the most obvious is inside AmyJo.   She has now been battened out and spray foamed.

What is not obvious from the photos is the fact cable runs have been installed in the form of trunking along the ceiling and sides along the length of her interior.

I also got to try out our deck fittings for size and they fit perfectly, however, as the pump out is being installed on both sides I need to order another fitting.

After spending the whole day with the visitors and generally taking about our journey we said our goodbyes and headed home.  We have another meeting planned in a few weeks so will have some more photos of  AmyJo's progress.

Bad Back and 3D Boredom

Hi all,
It's not been my week this week.  Whilst having a clear out of our loft stuff I then took it to our local tip recycling centre an pulled a back muscle emptying some cardboard into the skip.  Now the cardboard was not heavy nor did I struggle to put the cardboard into the skip but as I lent over I felt a twinge in my lower back.  I thought nothing of it until next morning when I tried to get out of bed.  The pain was unbearable and the room started to spin so I eased myself back under the covers.  

A few days later whilst dosed up on pain killers I managed to get to the doctors to find I've done nothing more than torn a few muscle fibres so am relieved.  Having been advised to take it easy for a few days I've had a few days off work and will return tomorrow on light duties as the pain killers are helping and the pain is subsiding slowly though I fear a few more weeks yet before all is normal.

It not the first time this has happened and will not be the last.  I put a disk out in my lower back after a car crash when I was eighteen and every now an again it moves ever so slightly sending my back muscles into spasm.  There is no rhyme or reason for it.  It never happens the same way or same motion so cannot be avoided.  Seems this time my arm movement at the same time as the muscle spasm also resulted in a few torn muscle fibres as well.  

So with time on my hands and boredom setting in I started to play with Google's Sketchup putting our interior thoughts into a 3D model so Chris has a better idea how AmyJo's interior may look and here is the end result

This is only a rough idea as the fine details have still to be finalised but it does give some idea.  Please ignore colours and textures as Sketchup is limited on choices.  It also does not include the back cabin and loo as this is very much a blank canvas that we are leaving for Fernwoods as they have electrics etc that they need to get in.  We prefer to leave the design to them, plus, we have to keep some things to the last minute otherwise there would be no interest for you now would there :-)

Bit of deck bling

We wanted some form of lockable deck filler for the diesel and water filling point for AmyJo.  With the price of diesel these days you never know.   I knew they were available and so looked around tinterweb and in keeping with the Chromium look we want we found these the other day and they have just arrived.

Not sure its necessary to lock the waste fitting (can't imagine anyone would want to nick the contents) but it does match the other two so completes the set.  Whats nice about these is the lids  are hinged, not connected by chain, so no dropping them overboard if the chain breaks.

We have no pictures of AmyJo for the time being but Fernwoods are having an open day at the factory on 6th July so hopefully we'll have something for you then.  

Here's what to do with your doggy do!

Just read Jo' Coalwoman's  blog and it has a link to Maffi's blog which in turn has an excellent post.  

http://narrowboater.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/calling-all-dog-owners.html

We live near a field used regularly by dog walkers and I suffer too with doggy do.  I intend to put up a poster advertising Tesco's offer, who knows it may encourage them to it pick up when their dog do's it doodoos.

Well done Maffi for bringing this to our attention.  Keep up the good work

Shades of Grey

Now the excitement of AmyJo's move is behind us and Crick just a memory Chris and I have received the first draft of the styling notes from Fernwood with a list of things we need to think about.

One of these is the styling for the wall panels in the wet room.  We really like our new bathroom at home that had grey marble tiles and decided we would like to reproduce the colouring in AmyJo's wet room.  We have ordered several samples from PolyRey and have been spoilt for choice but narrowed the list down to 3,trouble is we cannot make our minds up as to which to choose

Our 3 choices from which we need to choose

The one we think would be OK

Or maybe this one

We like this but it might be a tad too dark

We have yet to make the final choice and there is no reason why we have to have just one I guess.  As we will be at Fernwood's open day on the 6th July we're thinking of taking them along and trying them in a boat that's in build to see how they look with the timbers.

Crick boat show winner

Just a quick post today.  Anyone know which boat won best in show at Crick?

Hot and sunny Crick for a change

Chris and I have been enjoying the sunshine at Crick boat show this weekend. We've been going to Crick for 5 years now and the last two years it poured with rain.  This year we went armed with rain coats and jumpers but most unlike Crick, it was hot, the sky was clear blue so we walked around in t-shirts, and the coats and jumpers were left behind in the car

Wall to wall sunshine draws in the crowds

There were the usual companies present but a few well known ones were notably missing.

Fernwoods were present with the lovely Priscilla, a nicely laid out semi trad (sorry fella's Priscilla is a boat, a good looking one at that).  The purple and black colours looked stunning in the sunshine and her interior did not disappoint.

The grass bank starts to fill with those taking the weigh off their feet for a while

Just as we were about to leave yesterday we came across a pair of well known little doggies sporting natty Union Jack kerchiefs by the food stalls.  Bombo and Sam were taking a well earned rest while Paul and Elaine (Manly Ferry AKA Caxton) enjoyed the sunshine and a pint.  We were so intent on catching up on each others news I forgot to take a photo, ( I do apologise Bombo and Sam fans).  It was great meeting Paul and Elaine and lovely to see Bombo and Sam looking happy and content.  They are clearly enjoying this boating lark.

    

Today Chris and I returned to the Fernwood stand on the dot of 10am as we had arranged a viewing before it got busy but had already been beaten to the post by people keen to see inside so there was a lot of interest around Priscilla whilst Ken and Julia were busy as ever showing people around the boat.  We were then introduced to Tony and Sue who own The Old Masters, recently built by Fernwoods.  Tony and Sue have a super boat with all the usual quality of workmanship one is accustomed to with Fernwood boats.  Our thanks to  Tony and Sue for showing us around.  We chatted about their boat and our plans and before we knew it half the day had passed.  We said our thank you's and then hit the stalls at the show.  

Well by the end of the day we had our hands full of goodies so I think our bank manager is not going to be a happy bunny as we rather hammered the bank card somewhat.  I have to say we were a little extravagant and purchased a beautiful (and expensive) glass art piece made by a young lady who's studio is on her narrow boat  the floating pod.  Despite the cost we both fell in love with it and we simply could not resist.  I have to add this photo does not do it the justice it deserves.  The attention to the fine detail is not evident in this picture.

  

The work depicts snow on trees in a forest and is mostly grays, black and whites so fits in with our colour scheme beautifully.  Kate, the artist, was inspired by the recent snow in a woods near where she was moored at the time and is absolutely delighted the work is going on a narrow boat.  She informed us the three sections should be displayed as we see fit and is only mounted on the board this way for display and transportation purposes.  We have just the place for it in mind but you will have to wait and see where it ends up.  We did walk away with the intention of buying if it was still there later in the day but neither of us wanted the chance it would sell so we did and about turn and.....

At the end of a fantastic weekend Chris headed of south  to visit her mum and I have come home to finish painting the garage as it rained before I could finish it.  Not sure what would have been better....... visit mother-in-law.......... painting....... ummm difficult one.

Loggerheads and Money trees

Hi All,
After the excitement of AmyJo's move to Fernwoods we have had our friends Derek and Vicky staying with us for a long weekend.  They live just up the road from where we used to live in Essex and  Derek has been very good in helping me replace the roof on my garage as the tin roof was sweating so bad everything inside was getting wet.

After the roof was completed we had a day in hand to spare before they returned to Essex and as the weather was behaving itself we decided to go to the Loggerheads country park for a walk.

Brilliant Cycle racks

Interesting Caves

Chris and Derek take in Devil's Gorge

The long climb up hill

Whilst walking past the caves we came across evidence money trees actually do exist though I doubt this one will be much use.  This tree trunk was covered in coins along its 12ft length.  The coins had been hammered into it somehow so they could not be removed.  One can only surmise this was to appease the devil of the gorge

Chris takes the more interesting way down.

After a leisurely 4 mile walk we wanted to do something else so I suggested we tried something I had wanted to do for a long time, so, as we both were getting canal withdrawal symptoms, we then went on and had a stroll along the Pontcysyllte aqueduct   We passed over this in a hire boat some years ago but never had chance to walk it.  Having not long celebrated it's 200 year birthday the aqueduct still does not leak a drop to this day.

A crew of Canadians marvel at the sight unfolding before them

Chirk aquaduct in the distance

A popular photograph

Chris and Vicky start the return walk as another group of Canadians pass over the aqueduct

Whilst in Trevor basin we met fellow bloggers Julie and her husband (sorry did not get your name) on The Cats Whiskers We had a quick chat as they winded their boat before looking for a mooring for the night.

We have not much to report on AmyJo for now but are looking forward to Crick next weekend, then we have a meeting with Fernwoods planned after that.

Hope you are all well and enjoying the warmer weather.

TTFN

Part 2 - Arrival at Fernwood boats

After 2 hours on the road AmyJo's lorry pulled her into Fernwoods yard.  Tucker's driver did a superb job getting her there and she arrived without a mark on her not that we thought it would be otherwise.   The crane was soon bought into service and the strops placed once more on AmyJo's hull to lift her off the lorry.

I find it fascinating that they place the strops and lift having always placed them in the right spot so the hull is perfectly balanced.  Comes from doing it every day I suppose.

 

Now she had arrived Ken and the crew had to make room for her in their workshop.  It so happened that the day was also launch day for the newly finished nb "One Vision".  One Vision's owners had waited patiently for their boat to be pulled out but they had to wait for AmyJo's lorry to be able to take their boat.

One Vision was carefully pulled out of the workshop and it soon became apparent to both Chris, One Vision's owners and myself that AmyJo was blocking the way for Tuckers to completely remove and turn One vision.  No problem said the crane driver and lifted One vision higher and higher until....

We all held our breath and hearts skipped a beat as a small gust of wind gently rocked One Vision and she started to dip towards AmyJo's roof

We need not have worried though, luckily Tuckers guys were on the ball and levelled One Vision out but it was close and they soon had her settled safely on the waiting lorry

From where I was standing it looked like AmyJo had become a double decker canal boat...ummm interesting concept but the bridges might be an issue I guess.

With One Vision safely on the lorry attention returned to AmyJo and she was moved into the workshop

 Once again Ian was trying to convince everyone he was levitating AmyJo but none of us were having any of it

 It was a tight squeeze getting her in but all went well.  Once inside and with a final help pushing her to one side (on rollers I might add) she had well and truly arrived

Now we look forward to AmyJo's fit out but before that, and carefully on my part, hidden from camera they have to finish preparing their latest boat in readiness for Crick boat show.  Chris and I got a sneak preview before we left for home and can say she looked fantastic.  I think she may well be a contender for the best boat award this year.  But you will have to visit the show and see for yourself.   We will be there on Saturday and Sunday with a growing shopping list in hand.  Somehow I don't think my bank manager is going to have me on his Christmas card list this year!

So excitement over for now and we are not sure how often we'll have photos of the build for you but please do come back from time to time as we will be keeping you all updated when we can.  If you are at Crick and you see us please say hello won't you.  Thanks also for your comments we really appreciate them

Oh nearly forgot.  The saga of the escaped lion?   Was not to be I'm glad to say.  I have it on good authority from a friend who works at the zoo that Chester's three lions, Iblis, Kumari and Kiburi are so lazy they could not be bothered to try and escape, however, our local news paper has the story :-

http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/local-chester-news/2013/05/10/chester-zoo-none-of-our-lions-is-missing-59067-33310729/

My thanks to NeilR for the link to the report.  Did have us going for a while though.

TTFN