This and that

Well I am sorry that you haven't had a blog for the last couple of days. I did write one yesterday, honestly, but it didn't seem to post for some reason or another. It did keep flashing up "an error occurred while trying to save or publish your post. Please try again" as I was typing, but I have had that happen before and it has still published. I do apologise!!!

The title of yesterdays blog was Busy, busy, busy and it certainly was. Ange was laughing at me at one point as I had a phone to each ear and was frantically typing on the computer! Ange was busy too with bookings and showing our new member of staff (Lynn) the ropes. Denise was being Denise and was busying herself in the tearoom until she decided to sweep and mop from the office through to the tearoom. She decided to start giggling. Ange and I weren't impressed as we were trying to concentrate, but we soon joined in too - although we didn't even know what we were laughing at.

Quartz returned on Thursday with a great crew aboard. Unfortunately Darna broke her ankle whilst they were away, but she insisted on finishing her holiday before going to the hospital! I think the highlight was watching Simon carry her off the boat... They departed after a hearty breakfast that Denise cooked them. They did ring yesterday to say that she was having surgery in the afternoon and they would keep in touch. Such a great crowd and they assure us they will be back!

We have only got one prime space left in our dry dock before Easter now. Wednesday 20th March to Sunday 24th March. Further details about this service can be found on my last blog entry here. It will be filled on a first come serve basis, so don't miss out, contact me today. We are now taking bookings for the rest of the year too!

I was down in Stoke Bruerne last night and stayed with some friends for the evening. We had an enjoyable evening in the Boat Inn which has been owned by the Woodward family since 1877. I used to spend alot of time there and even lived there for a short period before I came to Norbury. When the day comes that I move onto the bank, then Stoke is the place that I think I would like to be. Northamptonshire is a fine county with it's sandstone buildings and open rolling countryside. Oh... and I forgot the Grand Junction or rather Grand Union Canal!

It has been a damp old day here today, although I think we had a lucky escape as it was snowing as I drove back up the M1 and M6 this morning! 

Both Phantom and Phoenix have been collected by their occupants this afternoon. Our regular customers; Wilf and Maggie, are out of Phoenix for the next six weeks. I hope that they have a fantastic time and come back with plenty of stories to tell. 

There are also new occupants in Wharf Cottage today. It really is a great place to get away from the rat-race, sit back in the warmth of the open plan living room with the fire roaring up the chimney. It is such a unique cottage with its "upside down" configuration. The bedrooms, bathroom and washroom are on the ground floor along with a large utility room and the living room and kitchen are above giving excellent views of the Shropshire Union Canal from the large picture window and the open countryside across the Norbury estate from the balcony on the opposite side of the building. It is available weekly and you can find further details here. We even do Bed and Breakfast when the cottage isn't booked out!

Mick (Mr. Handbag) has applied the final coat of blacking to Dawnstar which we have recently sold on brokerage. He has then been doing some painting and other works on Python. Simon has serviced the engine on Victory whilst Mick has recommissioned Phantom and Phoenix and showed them out. Denise has been chained the cooker all day (not literally!) and Ange has checked the cleaning on the boats and Wharf Cottage and doing her normal day-to-day jobs.

Our Ebay shop is still doing well, don't forget to have a look here. More listings are posted on a daily basis (when we get the time!).

That's it from me today.

Best regards,

David.

One of the jobs that most boat owners recognise as an essential part of keeping their boat afloat is getting it out of the water every couple of years and renewing the coats of blacking that protect the steel below the waterline. However, many may not realise just what else needs to be checked once the boat's bottom is available for scrutiny. When a boat is in Norbury Wharf's dry dock there is an extensive checklist of items

before the blacking itself can be applied.

Manager David Ray explained: “We look at the anodes, of course, to see if they need replacing but we also check the stern tube for wear and ensure the skeg is still straight. “Then we look at the top and bottom rudder bearings for wear and check to see the rudder itself hasn't been damaged. “We look at the propellor for any damage and check the nut and split pins holiding it in place as well a looking at any damages on the chines. We look at the counter band paintwork and the gunwhale sides to see the paint there is OK and

examine the weed hatch, as there can sometimes be corrosion there on older boats. We even look at the fenders.”

David says the three or four day bottom blacking slot is the ideal time to do some simple jobs which would be much more difficult or impossible in the water. “Whilst the boat is on the dock we give the hull a full health

check. We can repair and replace everything from a new fender to a new bottom – although that may take somewhat longer!”

Norbury's dry dock is popular with boaters, especially as returning customers get a 10 per cent discount, but that's also to do with the professional job they deliver and their reasonable charges.

The dock is is particularly popular with liveaboard boaters as it has a substantial walk way from dockside to boat deck rather than some rickety old plank!

Electric and water is supplied free whilst the boat is on the dock or you can stay in the Wharf's own holiday cottage for a few days bed and breakfast or on one of the fleet of hire boats at a discounted rate.

Currently docking and undocking costs £120 and the cost of pressure washing and applying no fewer than three coats of blacking depends on the length of the boat and the type of material used - but all include VAT.

Bitumen costs £7.95 per foot, International Intertuf 16 comes in at £8.99 per foot and Comastic at £10.50 per foot. The dock is also available, on turnaround days usually, for surveys. Norbury can arrange and book pre-purchase surveys, insurance surveys, hull surveys and full surveys. There is an on site Boat Safety

Examiner and qualified Gas Safe Engineer.

Well the weather has been somewhat changeable today. When I came to work this morning the sky was blue and the sun was shining. An hour later the wind had got up and some dark clouds came over and we had a blizzard. Within minutes we had a dusting of snow over everything. By lunchtime the sun had come out again and the snow began to melt. As I write its blowing a gale again and raining cats and dogs and is bitterly cold - wonderful British weather...

Today seems to have flown by. I've spent most of the day outside rather than stuck in the office - it makes a nice change that does. Moving boats around with Fred, docking and generally getting everything in order! I do enjoy working with Fred, he does some odd things and he really makes me laugh.

Simon has been working on Python doing the winter engine service. He has had to replace the exhaust system as when he took the lagging off there was hardly anything left of the original silences and pipework.

Mick has nearly finished the modifications and shower installation to Moore2life. Joyce has been lending a hand today, doing a bit of cleaning and helping with the tearoom. Ange has been catching up on paperwork and manning the office and shop.

Thats it from me today.

Best regards,

David.

It's been a bit quiet here today, although the phone has been busy and we have been packaging yet more items up that have sold on E-bay.

Denise has been on window cleaning duty today. I hadn't realised just how dirty they had got, but we can now see out of them...

Steve has replaced a section of the soil pipe down at Lock Cottage. One section had collapsed due to old age and heavy vehicles regularly passing over them. He has finished doing the brick work in the manholes and replaced the manholes themselves today. We just need to finish off with some hardcore and that will be a good job done.

Mick has been busy working on the shower installation and wash room modifications on Moore2life. See their blog here.

I came across this photograph today and I thought that you would appreciate it. Can anyone date it?

Best regards,

David.

Another mystery picture

We had a cracking night at the Anchor at High Offley last night. I haven't been there for about two months, but as always Olive and Elaine welcome everyone to their unique establishment!

It was freezing hard last night as we made our way back to Norbury, so I was suprised that when I got up this morning and took Annie out that the temperature had picked up again and there was no frost. It's been a bit grey today, with light showers at times but its certainly better than the snow that we still had on the ground this time last week.

It was good to see Duncan and Margaret with the Petrel; along with their friends on Lacerta, yesterday. They had made a special visit to Norbury just for diesel! Simon and I have known them for many years and it's always good to catch up with old friends. Here's a picture of the boats just prior to winding round and departing off to the south. I'm sure we will see them later in the year for more diesel...

Denise has been in the tea room again today and Joyce in the shop. Steve has been busy doing maintenance around the site whilst Mick has been working on a private boat.

We've been busy packing up yet more items that have been sold on E-bay over the past couple of days. They will be taken to the Post Office in the morning. 

Here's another picture for you to guess it's location.

Have a good evening.

Best regards,

David.

Although the temperature's dipped to a low of -4°C over night, it has been a glorious day at Norbury today. It's certainly brought people out of hibernation (although I don't blame them!).

Ange is off for a few days and Simon is on holiday, so Joyce has come to lend a hand. Denise has been busy in the tearoom and Joyce has been having a good sort out in the Chandlery. Mrs. Handbag isn't very well at the moment so Mandy stepped into place to do some Spring cleaning...

Late last year we were approached by a television producer who wanted to make a documentary relating to the disused canal from here at Norbury Junction. He teamed up with the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust, we lent them a boat and he has put together the following program which will be broadcasted on television this year.

Enjoy!


Best regards,

David.

Sooooooooooooo busy

Wow what a busy day it has been here today, it's been like a normal, busy Friday morning in the height of the season.
Simon was putting an order together on Wednesday for chandlery items, I piped up "don't get it all delivered on the same day", I said this because as soon as the season starts looming He just goes barmy, guess what? it all turned up this morning. It has taken Denise and Myself all day to bag everything up and punch and staple all the header cards on shackles, bolts, switches, lift the dots, canopy studs and much much more. All this along with Denise being busy in the tea room and the phone ringing non stop has made it a real busy day.
Simon went out around lunchtime to do some bits and bobs in Newport and asked if I wanted some stock bringing back for the grocery shelves, we didn't go down that road.
He returned a couple of hours later with some compliment slips from the printers that He proceeded to put right down in front of where I was working, after I had moved them out of the way he took the scissors to hack at a parcel that I hadn't quite had time to open, it was a new piece of equipment for the lads to abuse, well I knew that, and that's why I didn't break a leg to open it. He then put the bubble wrap it was wrapped in on my desk along with the scissors and the bank paying in books, at one stage I thought I'd lost the desk, I couldn't see wood for trees :-(
We have had a boat craned out of the water today that is being moved down to London, this was a private sale, not one of our brokerage boats.
We had a repair done to the pressure washer done yesterday as it had given up the ghost, Fred managed to blow it up this afternoon.
Mandy has been helping with the cleaning today in Mrs Handbags absence, she has spring cleaned "Quartz" which has gone out with a very excited crew on board, they have never been on a boat before so I suggested they head off down to Penkridge as they didn't want to do too many locks. After that Mandy checked Wharf Cottage over for Monday as it is out for a short break, the 3 amigos wanted to stay in it for a few days but I'm afraid the answer had to be "no", She then cleaned the 3 day boats as bookings are starting to pick up and 1 might just book overnight.
David and Fred have been busy un-docking and docking today.
Simon (boss) is now on holiday for 2 weeks now, have a good time Simon and see you in a fortnight.
That's all from me for today, until next time.............byee Ange.