Water water everywhere

When is this weather going to improve, it seems to do nothing but rain; I was down south over the weekend so I saw a good bit of the country side and I was amazed at just how many parts are being affected by the flooding, I have never before seen the river Avon as high as it is, I crossed it in Stratford and it wasn't that bad but I also crossed it on the M5 and it seemed to stretch across the fields for miles, I also crossed the river Thames near to Oxford on the A34 and that was the same, the water in the surrounding fields stretched for miles and miles, then there would be a piece of higher ground which had escaped but that was surrounded by water making it in to a deserted island; I can only imagine how some poor people have suffered over the Christmas period where their properties have been flooded, and flooded and flooded again; Lets hope that with the coming of the new year there is also some better weather with it!

New years Eve and quite a busy day, lots of people off today so me and Denise have looked after the tea room and shop, Mick has been finishing off bits and bobs on boats, Bernard has been in today to help out, we have had a boat go out on hire and Steve and Bernard have swapped boats over in the painting dock, we have even had some boats on the wharf, so it was worth opening!

I know David has already said it but From me personally I wish everyone a very good New Year and if you are out celebrating later, ENJOY

Regards
Simon

Happy New Year

From the clear sky and strange yellow thing in the sky when I came to work this morning, I thought it was going to be a gorgeous day, but by about 9am the heavens had opened and its rained or drizzled most of the day. To make it worse the wind has been bitterly cold, but that doesn't stop play at Norbury!

Denise has been spring cleaning Princess. I've been winding her up as I said that Mrs. Handbag will be inspecting it when she is in next Friday. Mrs. Handbag (as she is know known by all of our staff, regular customers, blog readers and the regulars at the Junction!) has now got a new title. She is our house keeper and she is going to be getting everything ship shape and Bristol fashion in the New Year ready for the forthcoming and fast approaching season. After Spring cleaning all of the boats her next job is to blitz the laundry so we can see the wood from the trees... She really is an excellent addition to our team and really does do an outstanding job. Her husband (and no, his name isn't Mr. Handbag!) will be joining us in a month or so time to be shadowing Fred in preparation for Fred's retirement - but there is good news... I've persuaded Fred to work part time when he retires, so he will still be a regular site at Norbury later in the year :-D

Ange has been doing paperwork and keeping an eye in the tearoom. Steve has been blacking a boat and doing some paintwork on Solace whilst Mick has been on gas jobs and fitting a super duper aerial to Solace.

It's the last day that I will be working this year, so from me personally Happy New Year to you all. Let's hope it's a good one.

Best regards,

David.

I knew the weather forecast was for wind, but the boats were banging together all night last night as the wind was that strong. At one point I though about getting up and putting some ropes down between the boats (I don't believe in fenders!) but I soon fell back to sleep... I got drenched by the rain walking to work this morning and it didn't seem like it was going to let-up all day, although it did decided to ease off this afternoon. 

Fred's been down in the dock prepping and undercoating the gunnels and counter bands on Reflection. Bernard has been doing no end of odd jobs on the boats and around the yard whilst Simon has been doing an engine service on Phantasy and Mick has been doing yet more gas checks on the hire fleet. Mrs. Handbag has cleaned the cottage and finished Ember off as they are both out today. Denise has been IC in the kitchen and Ange has been busy doing end of month paperwork.

There's been a few boats around today, but I'm longing for those long hot summer days when it is that busy that you don't know if your coming or going - it's much more interesting then...

Best regards,

David.

It's been a busy day here at Norbury in one way or another today. Tom returned with Silhouette from his Christmas break and we got the boat turned round for the next owners. We've bid them fair well and Silhouette has now left to go to her new home. It will be a real shame not to have the owners; that we have got to know so well and built such a good relationship, around on a turn round day. We also got Sphynx ready and seen the new occupants on the way for their New Year break. 

Fred was busy with turn rounds this morning and has docked one of the hire boats with Bernard this afternoon for her annual out of the water inspection, pressure wash and black round. Simon's been working on a private boat that I towed back from Wheaton Aston on Christmas Eve that had developed a problem with it's hydraulic drive system. Ange and Denise have held the fort in the shop and tearoom whilst Mrs. Handbag has been cleaning boats.

That's everything to report for today. Until tomorrow.

Have a good evening.

Regards,

David.

We are open

Don't forget folks that unlike lots of boat yards we are open between Christmas and new year, so if you are stuck for a broken part that is spoiling your winter break then give us a shout as we will probably have one on the shelf, or if you need coal or diesel to keep you going on these long winter days.


I hope you all had a good Christmas, as usual mine involved a lot of driving and it also included looking at one or two boats that are up for sale, I never seem to completely get away from it! Back to normal for some of us today and its been busy enough to keep me going in the office and Denise has seen a few folks in the tea room, David has been out side on the boats today doing winter internal checks while Simon has been welding a poorly boat on the dock today leaving Fred to do pump outs and such like on shared boats, and we even had one on the wharf for services!

 Nothing else to report about today so that's it from me.
Simon

!!!Merry Christmas!!!

There's not much more to say except

From all of the team at Norbury Wharf Limited.

It seems to have been  another busy day here at Norbury today and it has also been a very wet one! I think everyone must be stocking up for Christmas on their supplies of gas, coal, diesel and much more...

Fred's been in a bit of a mood today and wanted to go home even before nine o' clock this morning because he had forgotten to put his teeth in before he left for work. He has been chuntering about it all day and has blamed his wife, who I reckon is going to get an ear full tonight because she didn't remind him this morning. Poor Brenda!

Ange and Denise have been in the shop and tearoom whilst Mrs. Handbag has been cleaning the cottage and boats.

Mick has been cracking on with the gas work that he has been doing, Simon has finished the engine service that he started on Pippin yesterday and Fred has been following me round all day like a lost sheep... In actual fact we docked a Springer that had sprung a leak this morning, moved some boats around and done some painting. Steve finished the bits and pieces that he was in the middle of on Pippin and then went home at lunchtime due to the rain!

We've seen Summer Wine go out today and there are new occupants in the cottage for the Christmas period. I hope they all have a really enjoyable time.

That's it for tonight. Time to go home and put my feet up in front of the fire!

Best regards,

David.