Stunning Skys and odd birds!

Considering that it is now the middle of December and depths of winter the weather is being rather kind to us and we are having some superb days, lovely sunny spells and its very mild indeed, its that nice its tempting to go boating! And we have got some boats out next week and the week after and even some day boats, so i am not the only one to think what a good idea!

It was a lovely drive to work this morning in the sun and I was treated to a lovely scene over the boat yard as I approached, I tried to capture it on my phone but it didn't come out quite how I wanted, see what you think

after taking the picture I carried on to the main gate and I was met by this bunch of..... well I am not quite sure if they are male or female, but they are an odd bunch, they are Guinea fowl and they sort of live next door but they prefer the wharf and spend most of the day mooching around on the wharf side and trying to get in to the shop and tea room!

Ange will be writing a blog this Saturday and I know David has a lot to say and he will be writing a blog on Sunday.

Regards
Simon

It's been another interesting week here at Norbury. Richard has finished transforming Louisa from this

to this...

The list of works has been quite comprehensive. Which has included: fitting a complete new exhaust system, replacing all the vents and removing the windows prior to painting and refitting. The girls will weave their magic on the inside and give her a good clean and then she will be all ready for her owner to collect.

Bernard has completed fitting the new engine into Phantom. The wiring just needs to be modified and then it is ready to be run up and tested. Meanwhile Fred has blacked her and painted the counter bands. Fred only works a couple of days a week now, but he is kept busy with coal deliveries, blacking and the other day-to-day yard duties.

Best regards, David

winter opening hours

Its nearly that time of year again when everyone closes their doors for a few days over the festive season, unlike a lot of boat yards and chandlers who close up shop for two weeks,we don't, as we very much appreciate that lots of people live on boats and important things can break, so dont forget that we have a fully stocked chandlery and we also supply solid fuel, red diesel and can offer help and advice if something shoud go wrong,  so to see our Christmas opening times just click on the link http://www.norburywharfltd.co.uk/

Regards
Simon

Trip boat ideas?

As you know our trip boat has gone from strength to strength and is gaining a really popular following, even over the last couple of weeks it has been out on several charters,one of the cruises was for the Shropshire and Newport canal society and the last two cruises were for the RAF and were for training exercises, they all had a very good time, one of the RAF cruises was tailored just for them, it started out from the Wharf Tavern at Goldstone and involved a run up to Park heath winding hole and returning back past the Wharf Tavern and up to Tyrley locks, down the locks to Market Drayton and back up the locks and finally finish at The pub, so as you can see we are flexible towards different cruises so if anyone wants something a bit different we are open to suggestions. Now we are now planning ahead and thinking of new events for next year, we are going to be running the very popular fish-n-chip suppers starting in the spring of next year, we are also considering running cheese and wine tasting cruises, but I am asking if anyone has any other ideas, now it has to be sensible and something that the general public would like, so if you have any ideas then please feel free to drop me an email or leave a comment.

As you would expect at this time of year it is quieter than the summer months so that gives us time to catch up on some of the maintenance around the yard, the boats and the holiday cottage, this year we have invested some money in the cottage and it has just been given a bit of a make over, its had new double glazed windows throughout, and a full internal redecoration, and the addition of a solid fuel stove instead of the inefficient open fire in the main sitting room, after Christmas it will get brand new sofas and chairs, the old ones are only three years old and are still in good condition but now that the decorating has been done the furniture needs updating too. So if you fancy a nice stay in a very warm cosy cottage with superb views over the canal and open countryside just let us know.

That's it from me, David will no doubt write a blog over the weekend.
Regards
Simon

Keeping you up-to-date

Although the canal remains quiet, we have had quite a busy week here at Norbury Junction.

Firstly, following a pre-purchase survey it was recommended that Elsie was over-plated along the length of her hull sides, from the chine angle (that's where the side plates meet the base plate) up to and just above the water line. So the hull sides were grit blasted, the steel was ordered and we have completed the over plating work required while the boat was on our dry dock, prior to the new owners taking possession of her.

Here's a few pictures...

Plating to the forward port side

Plating down the port side looking from the front

Plating on the port side looking from the back

Elsie plated, blacked and safely back in the water today

Richard has been working hard in the paint dock and has so far transformed Louisa from this...

to this...

He will be putting the finishing touches to her this week and she should be back out on the water by this time next week.

Bernard has been fitting a new engine into Phantom, which should improve her considerably as the original engine had a lot of hours under its belt and was starting to show signs of problems. It has been quite a big job as we have had to cut out the engine beds and fit new. She is now on the dry dock, Fred is pressure washing her prior to applying a coat of blacking and Bernard is removing the stern gear. We will get a new centre tube machined up this week and re-bush the packing gland, replace the propeller shaft and have it all back together by the end of the week.

Now you are up-to-date I will let you enjoy your Sunday afternoon...

Best regards,

David.

Lots of interest in boat buying

We have been quite quiet here at Norbury today, it didn't help that the A519 was closed in Woodseaves due to roadworks. However this didn't stop the cyclists turning up in their droves this morning which kept Denise and I on our toes for a while.
We had 1 dayboat out this morning, they were lucky with the weather as it was quite mild first thing, it stayed dry for them all day but by the time they got back it was just getting dark and getting a lot colder, the main thing is that they enjoyed themselves.
Well as the title suggests we have had a lot of interest in brokerage boats over the weekend, so much so that we have had offers on Chirk Navigator, Quartz and Sphinx, all offers have been accepted so we are now just awaiting deposits. Who would believe it, November and three boats sold in a couple of days and all ex hire boats aswell.
Bernard has been in today doing bits of engineering and generally making a nuiscance of himself and Lee has been working in the dry dock and sorting out the engineering workshop getting rid of lots of rubbish in there to make room for more rubbish....ha ha.
I have been going through our E-bay shop making sure that we still have all items available in the chandlery and also parcelling up the items we have sold. We are not breaking any records but there aren't many days where we don't sell anything. Also David and I have been having a major sort out in the office, it either went in the bin or transferred to the other office which now desperately needs a major sort out, when I go over and sort it in the week I'll just throw it all in the bin anyway ;-)Lastly, Mrs Tupp has manned the tearoom, She did call me down a couple of times to help her but other than that has coped on her own.
Peter Underwood, you know who you are....capitals, just for you.
Well until next time, byyyeeeeeeeee, Ange.

Where's the snow?

As I was driving home last night, there were threats of snow forecast, so I was quite surprised when I woke up this morning to clear skies. The temperature must have plummeted in the night, because the boats were all iced over. Apparently there were flurries of snow all around us (Cannock, Brownhills, Chester and Stoke on Trent) so we were quite lucky to miss it. I say "miss it", I like the snow really, but it brings havoc to the country and it isn't any good for our game! Moving boats around in the snow and ice, really is not fun... I hear that there is some definitely on its way over the next 48 hours. We will wait in anticipation! 

Activity has been productive here over the last few days: We have got one of our hire boats on the dock, which is receiving a new stern gear and a coat of bitumen on her bottom. Richard, is progressing well with prepping the boat that we put in the wet dock a few days ago for repainting. And it's that time of year for winter maintenance on the hire fleet.

Due to the winter stoppages nearby at Tyrley and Adderley and on the Staffs and Worcs near to Penkridge the canal is extremely quiet at the moment and passing traffic is virtually non-existent. I know I shouldn't wish my life away, but Christmas and the New Year can't come quick enough now - to see the canal open again. Let's hope that we aren't ice bound then...

Joyce and Ange have been busy in the Chandlery today: doing some rearranging and tidying up.

That's it from me today.

Until next time.

Best regards, David.