A week off is never enough time to get everything done, and relax at the same time, David said in a previous post "where has the week gone" well the same thing applies when you are on holiday as I am sure you will all agree, it was nice to be away from work but I never truly get away unless I go abroad or somewhere where there is no Phone service or Internet; I spent most of last week doing jobs around home and spent a couple of days in mid Wales, God I know how to live the 'high life'
As you can imagine I have been busy catching up all day today, don't get me wrong David has done an excellent job of getting everything sorted and I take my hat off to him for getting things like the new brochure proofed and to the printers, the Internet updated, the blog up to date and keeping all the balls in the air. Well done David.
Not much to report about today, Princess was docked and pressure washed off, Fred will give it a coat of blacking tomorrow, After that was done Ralph carried on with a few snagging items on Ember, just when you think everything is sorted you notice something else that has been missed, IT WILL BE DONE BY FRIDAY as its going out on its first cruise then. Mick has been fitting a 240V battery charger to one of the boats and stripping some external fittings off Sophie, Sophie is a 57 footer that has just come in to have a full repaint, I will be posting some pictures as it is progressing, I would have taken some today but Lee has been making a mess all day with his sander so I gave it a miss.
That's it for today, so until tomorrow
Simon
NORBURY WHARF LIMITED
Shop front in the summer
Monday, 28 February 2011
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Where has the week gone?
I had a fantastic night out in Birmingham last night with some friends. We met in Gas Street Basin (they were aboard boats and unfortunately I was just visiting by motor vehicle) and had a couple of drinks in the Prince of Wales PH on Cambridge Street, which is very close to Cambrian Basin. I've got fond memories of being in this pub back in 2001/2 when we used to attend the boat gathering in Birmingham. The lease is currently for sale, but the existing occupants are determined that it will not close. It's well worth a visit if your visiting Brum - if you like "proper pubs". We then decided to hit Broad Street to find somewhere to eat, we only got as far as Jimmy Spices World Buffet which is at the site of the now disused Regency Wharf between Broad Street and Gas Street Basin. I have to say that the food was fantastic and comes highly recommended. I had a drive down Broad Street before heading home (about midnight), it was heaving with people - I thought we were in a recession? Not on Broad Street, by all accounts! City life is a bit different to Norbury, but I know my preference. I love going to Birmingham by boat, I find the BCN so interesting. The architecture of the buildings is amazing, the construction of the elevated sections of the motorways is mind blowing, and the infrastructure of the canal network is just out of this world. I must admit that although I enjoy visiting the BCN I also like to turn back onto the Shroppie at Cut End to head home to the peace and tranquillity at Norbury!
Well, not only do I not know where today has gone, but where has the week gone?? It seems to have flown by. Monday again tomorrow and Simon will be back from his holiday already. Two thirds of the list of "jobs to be done" that he left me have been completed.
I've nearly finished our 2011 hire brochure, so I should be able to get that off to the printers once it has been proof read tomorrow and the page layouts have been sorted. The new boat manuals are virtually complete and now just need assembling into their files. There is only Princess left to dock and black tomorrow and then we will be ready for the "season" :-). I can't wait until we get into full swing. There's nothing better to have all the boats out and the basin empty!
Mick has been working on Sphynx most of the day. We need to replace one of the radiators so I must remember to order that in the morning. Ralph has been putting the final touches to Ember, she looks a treat and is off out on hire this coming weekend, after a final walkthrough she will be ready.
Jay and Carolyn were very busy in the tea room this morning, cooking breakfasts and serving bacon butties. Customers seem to come in waves, a slack period and then they all walk in together. Several times today there has not been one seat available inside and walkers along with their dogs have dodged the showers and enjoyed afternoon tea and cake on the wharf.
It's gone cool again here tonight, so a quiet night in with my feet up infront of the fire is in order.
Speak to you at the weekend.
Regards,
David.
Well, not only do I not know where today has gone, but where has the week gone?? It seems to have flown by. Monday again tomorrow and Simon will be back from his holiday already. Two thirds of the list of "jobs to be done" that he left me have been completed.
I've nearly finished our 2011 hire brochure, so I should be able to get that off to the printers once it has been proof read tomorrow and the page layouts have been sorted. The new boat manuals are virtually complete and now just need assembling into their files. There is only Princess left to dock and black tomorrow and then we will be ready for the "season" :-). I can't wait until we get into full swing. There's nothing better to have all the boats out and the basin empty!
Mick has been working on Sphynx most of the day. We need to replace one of the radiators so I must remember to order that in the morning. Ralph has been putting the final touches to Ember, she looks a treat and is off out on hire this coming weekend, after a final walkthrough she will be ready.
Jay and Carolyn were very busy in the tea room this morning, cooking breakfasts and serving bacon butties. Customers seem to come in waves, a slack period and then they all walk in together. Several times today there has not been one seat available inside and walkers along with their dogs have dodged the showers and enjoyed afternoon tea and cake on the wharf.
It's gone cool again here tonight, so a quiet night in with my feet up infront of the fire is in order.
Speak to you at the weekend.
Regards,
David.
Saturday, 26 February 2011
and some of Ember
We had heavy rain over night and it was still raining when we came to work this morning. I was down in Stourbridge last night and the water on the M5 and M6 was pretty amazing on the way home - I would of been better off with a jet ski!
As the title says, I got some internal shots of Ember today so here you go.
From entering at the front are two single berths that also form the dinette when the table that is stowed opposite the galley is erected.
Next comes the fully equipped galley.
Then the dinette that converts into a double bed.
Following this is the main shower room.
Then the two double bedrooms.
Followed by the toilet compartment and vanity unit opposite and the two single berths at the rear.
It's been a busy day here at Norbury. Phoenix, Summer Wine and Shropshire Blue returned from their weeks outing and Phantom, Phoenix, Shropshire Blue, Debdale and Oasis Too have departed the basin with some very happy holiday makers aboard for this week.
The sun has been out this afternoon which has lifted every ones spirits from the forecast of the rain continuing throughout the day.
Fred has turned the boats around, whilst Bernard checked the engines over and Ralph checked the internals. Ralph has showed the boats out this afternoon and been doing some finishing off jobs on Ember. Fred is down in the dry dock blacking Sphynx in between serving customers on the wharf and Bernard is still repairing a boat, which will hopefully be finished by closing time :-).
That's about it from me today.
Regards,
David
As the title says, I got some internal shots of Ember today so here you go.
From entering at the front are two single berths that also form the dinette when the table that is stowed opposite the galley is erected.
Next comes the fully equipped galley.
Then the dinette that converts into a double bed.
Following this is the main shower room.
Then the two double bedrooms.
Followed by the toilet compartment and vanity unit opposite and the two single berths at the rear.
It's been a busy day here at Norbury. Phoenix, Summer Wine and Shropshire Blue returned from their weeks outing and Phantom, Phoenix, Shropshire Blue, Debdale and Oasis Too have departed the basin with some very happy holiday makers aboard for this week.
The sun has been out this afternoon which has lifted every ones spirits from the forecast of the rain continuing throughout the day.
Fred has turned the boats around, whilst Bernard checked the engines over and Ralph checked the internals. Ralph has showed the boats out this afternoon and been doing some finishing off jobs on Ember. Fred is down in the dry dock blacking Sphynx in between serving customers on the wharf and Bernard is still repairing a boat, which will hopefully be finished by closing time :-).
That's about it from me today.
Regards,
David
Friday, 25 February 2011
Pitctures at last
The rain has held off so far today, although the sky looks pretty threatening.
Well at last I have managed to get some pictures of Quartz, so here you go. They will be added to our website over the next couple of days and will also appear in our 2011 brochure.
(I didn't take this one today - there's still ice on the canal in the picture!).
From entering at the rear is first the dinette that converts into a double berth.
Next comes the galley.
Followed by the shower compartment with the pumpout toilet opposite.
Finally comes the two fixed bunks.
Bookings are coming in nicely for Quartz and I think that she is going to become a popular four berth boat. Talking about bookings, Ange has been kept busy today, there seems to be a steady stream which will hopefully keep us all busy throughout the season.
Python came back with some very happy customers aboard this morning. She was out again this afternoon along with three other boats that Ralph and Fred set to and turned around without any problems.
Mick is working on replacing the central heating boiler in Sphynx. They don't last forever, and I would imagine that this one had been in for a good time. It had sprung a leak during the winter, so the water jacket has been removed and replaced and it is now being reinstalled. It's just a case of testing the gas system for tightness and servicing the other gas appliances before it can be run up and tested.
Lee has finished painting Princess and has this afternoon been cleaning out the dock ready for the next boat to be put in for a paint job. It soon mounts up when old items are removed from boats and not put in the bin!
We all had Fish and Chips for lunch. I mentioned it earlier on in the week and all of the staff jumped at the chance - so it looks like a regular meal for Friday lunchtimes. At least it will avoid having to cook on a Friday night!!! We used to do a similar thing when I worked for Nationwide Building Society, but there we used to sit on the pier end at Southend - they don't taste the same sitting by the cut, although I wouldn't change my current location...
Lets hope for some sun tomorrow ;-)
Regards,
David
Well at last I have managed to get some pictures of Quartz, so here you go. They will be added to our website over the next couple of days and will also appear in our 2011 brochure.
(I didn't take this one today - there's still ice on the canal in the picture!).
From entering at the rear is first the dinette that converts into a double berth.
Next comes the galley.
Followed by the shower compartment with the pumpout toilet opposite.
Finally comes the two fixed bunks.
Bookings are coming in nicely for Quartz and I think that she is going to become a popular four berth boat. Talking about bookings, Ange has been kept busy today, there seems to be a steady stream which will hopefully keep us all busy throughout the season.
Python came back with some very happy customers aboard this morning. She was out again this afternoon along with three other boats that Ralph and Fred set to and turned around without any problems.
Mick is working on replacing the central heating boiler in Sphynx. They don't last forever, and I would imagine that this one had been in for a good time. It had sprung a leak during the winter, so the water jacket has been removed and replaced and it is now being reinstalled. It's just a case of testing the gas system for tightness and servicing the other gas appliances before it can be run up and tested.
Lee has finished painting Princess and has this afternoon been cleaning out the dock ready for the next boat to be put in for a paint job. It soon mounts up when old items are removed from boats and not put in the bin!
We all had Fish and Chips for lunch. I mentioned it earlier on in the week and all of the staff jumped at the chance - so it looks like a regular meal for Friday lunchtimes. At least it will avoid having to cook on a Friday night!!! We used to do a similar thing when I worked for Nationwide Building Society, but there we used to sit on the pier end at Southend - they don't taste the same sitting by the cut, although I wouldn't change my current location...
Lets hope for some sun tomorrow ;-)
Regards,
David
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Flown by
Another day has flown by! I can't believe that it is already 10 minutes to 5. Where has the day gone to?
It has been lovely to have the sun out all day. I've even been outside in my shirt sleeves rather than being wrapped up in a jumper and fleece :-).
We've had to have a shuffle around of boats today which takes a couple of hours out of the day, but (fingers crossed) they are all in the right location ready for the turnrounds this weekend.
Fred has blacked Sphynx and generally been tidying up around the yard, whilst Bernard has been armed with angle grinder and welding set to do some repairs to one of the boat that we are currently working on.
Mick has finished the works required on Quartz and has been doing some odd jobs on the other boats that are going out this weekend.
The tea room has been busy today with walkers, cyclists and tourists.
I know I promised you pictures of Ember and Quartz, but I haven't got around to it yet! - tomorrow, honestly...
Regards,
David
It has been lovely to have the sun out all day. I've even been outside in my shirt sleeves rather than being wrapped up in a jumper and fleece :-).
We've had to have a shuffle around of boats today which takes a couple of hours out of the day, but (fingers crossed) they are all in the right location ready for the turnrounds this weekend.
Fred has blacked Sphynx and generally been tidying up around the yard, whilst Bernard has been armed with angle grinder and welding set to do some repairs to one of the boat that we are currently working on.
Mick has finished the works required on Quartz and has been doing some odd jobs on the other boats that are going out this weekend.
The tea room has been busy today with walkers, cyclists and tourists.
I know I promised you pictures of Ember and Quartz, but I haven't got around to it yet! - tomorrow, honestly...
Regards,
David
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Where has the day gone to?
As the title says "Where has the day gone to? I really don't know - it has flown by!".
The carpet fitters came this morning to lay the carpet and lino on both Quartz and Ember, which went quite smoothly. By early afternoon they were ready to carpet the office, well all I can say is what a mess we got into. It took me back to those days in early December when we were in disarray and it has taken Ange and I all afternoon to get straight again :-(
Simon popped in this afternoon, just to make sure that we were working hard. He is impressed with the effect that the carpet has made. It will hopefully keep us a bit warmer too.
Quartz and Ember do look superb, I'll get some pictures of them tomorrow as I want to get our 2011 hire brochure finished off and the new pictures uploaded to our website, and of course here so you can all see them too.
Bernard has been out to a breakdown at Cookley on the Staffs and Worcs canal today, which meant that he was out for most of the afternoon. Fred has docked Sphynx and pressure washed her. Lee has made short work of the painting works required on Princess.
Lets hope tomorrow is a little more productive!
Regards,
David
The carpet fitters came this morning to lay the carpet and lino on both Quartz and Ember, which went quite smoothly. By early afternoon they were ready to carpet the office, well all I can say is what a mess we got into. It took me back to those days in early December when we were in disarray and it has taken Ange and I all afternoon to get straight again :-(
Simon popped in this afternoon, just to make sure that we were working hard. He is impressed with the effect that the carpet has made. It will hopefully keep us a bit warmer too.
Quartz and Ember do look superb, I'll get some pictures of them tomorrow as I want to get our 2011 hire brochure finished off and the new pictures uploaded to our website, and of course here so you can all see them too.
Bernard has been out to a breakdown at Cookley on the Staffs and Worcs canal today, which meant that he was out for most of the afternoon. Fred has docked Sphynx and pressure washed her. Lee has made short work of the painting works required on Princess.
Lets hope tomorrow is a little more productive!
Regards,
David
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Photographs today
Some pictures for you today!
Firstly, here is Phantom following a coat of blacking that Fred has applied this morning. She will be refloated tomorrow and we will then be docking Sphynx.
Here's Fred washing the cabin off on Yelvertoft.
Lee is busy with Princess, he can be seen here painting the cabin top.
Steve is getting along with Victory. Here is a photograph of the inside virtually all insulated. Panelling will begin tomorrow :-)
It's been a quiet day here today. Only a couple of boats out and about on the canal, I suppose that's down to it dropping a bit chilly again though?
Bit short and sweet I know, but you have had some pictures!
Regards,
David
Firstly, here is Phantom following a coat of blacking that Fred has applied this morning. She will be refloated tomorrow and we will then be docking Sphynx.
Here's Fred washing the cabin off on Yelvertoft.
Lee is busy with Princess, he can be seen here painting the cabin top.
Steve is getting along with Victory. Here is a photograph of the inside virtually all insulated. Panelling will begin tomorrow :-)
It's been a quiet day here today. Only a couple of boats out and about on the canal, I suppose that's down to it dropping a bit chilly again though?
Bit short and sweet I know, but you have had some pictures!
Regards,
David
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