Well its Saturday again, I am in this weekend as David is still off enjoying him self in sunny Spain! It started off this morning a bit damp having had a good rain fall in the night,and it has rained on all morning but this afternoon the sun has come out to play again>
All of the boats have returned with no major issues, the people have all enjoyed them selves so the boats have all been turned around again and we have had 6 go out again today for another week, only one day boat went out today, unusual for a weekend to only have one out on a Saturday, there have been a few people around today looking at boats, maybe the boat sales are picking up a bit, keeping my fingers crossed!
The rain has not damped down any ones spirits, well except for the lads and lasses who have been out side turning the boats around, its amazing, when it is raining Fred seems to get the pump outs done a lot quicker than if the sun is shining! Fred then disappeared down the dock and put the final coat of blacking on the boat in there and has also finished strimming the moorings that is now ready to be floated off tomorrow, Bernard has been out on a breakdown, Mick has fitted a battery charger to a privately owned boat, Ralph and Billy have seen all of the boats out and they were all gone by 3.30, that is really good, sometimes it can be well after 5pm before they have all gone, Norbury is now devoid of most of its boats for another week.
That's it from me for today,I'm off home now to put my feet up until tomorrow.
Simon
NORBURY WHARF LIMITED
Shop front in the summer
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Friday, 6 May 2011
Busy warm Friday
It didnt start out to be a warm day, in fact there was a definate 'nip'in the air but it didnt last long fortunetley and by lunch time it had really warmed up, there has been plenty going on here today, only six shared boats turned around today, I am glad as David is not here and he is far better organised than me with dealing with the owners requirements, although Angela does a stirling job and she is very organised as well, I would almost go as far as saying that I miss them when they are not around! I have been busy and we have seen a lot of people in looking at boats or booking boats in for work, paint jobs and bottom blacking which has kept me busy all day, I even sold Lilly No1 today so not a bad day!
Freddie has been kept busy again today with pump outs, he must go to bed of a night time dreaming about pooh! he has done about 10 or 11 pump outs including the hire fleet which is going out tomorrow, he then went off up the moorings, he assures me that it takes a long time to cut the grass but I reckon that he finds a nice patch in the sun and has 40 winks!! Bernard has been kept busy with prop shafts, bow thrusters and engine services, Mick has been puting broken bits back on to the shared boats, sorting a dodgy boiler out and replacing the floor on a boat, steve has almost finished with the paint job and Matt has washed nearly all of the boats, only about 12 to go, I think he will have to finish them off tomorrow.
I dont get to finish early tonight and I have to take Becks up the Welsh canal to collect a boat that is being bought back here to be put up for sale, so on that note I am going to shoot off, so until tomorrow.
Simon
Freddie has been kept busy again today with pump outs, he must go to bed of a night time dreaming about pooh! he has done about 10 or 11 pump outs including the hire fleet which is going out tomorrow, he then went off up the moorings, he assures me that it takes a long time to cut the grass but I reckon that he finds a nice patch in the sun and has 40 winks!! Bernard has been kept busy with prop shafts, bow thrusters and engine services, Mick has been puting broken bits back on to the shared boats, sorting a dodgy boiler out and replacing the floor on a boat, steve has almost finished with the paint job and Matt has washed nearly all of the boats, only about 12 to go, I think he will have to finish them off tomorrow.
I dont get to finish early tonight and I have to take Becks up the Welsh canal to collect a boat that is being bought back here to be put up for sale, so on that note I am going to shoot off, so until tomorrow.
Simon
Thursday, 5 May 2011
All change
I knew it was to good to last, woke up this morning to an overcast sky and a definate chill in the air, compared to the last few weeks any way! It hasnt been a bad day here at Norbury today, the sun has popped its head out once or twice but we did get some rain, it wasnt enough to even damp the dust down, the forecastors have given fantastic weather right through until July, when will the hose pipe bans start?
I had to go out last night up to Swanley marina and on the way back I decided to pop in to Audlem to have my dinner, what a dissapointment, I tried the Lord Combermere last week and their menu was very limited, I have eaten there before and it was excellent, i thought that on this occasion I would try the Bridge, again I have eaten there before and it has been excellent, this time however the place was deserted, TV blarring away with footie and again a limited menu so I went down to the Shroppie Fly, TV blarring away again but at least there was some life in the place and the menu was a bit more inspiring;the rump steak was ordered, well presented but not that good! If you want decent food at a good price you can not beat the Wharf Tavern at Goldstone, simply superb! The canal was very quiet in Audlem and there were only three boats tied up in the town pound and not much either side of the locks, Is it a sign of the times with rising fuel costs and people feeling the pinch that people are not doing so much crusing?
If you notice the time on my posts you will see that it is often early that day, this is because the blog registers the time as soon as you start on a new post, I usually start the post early and then leave it on the computer and up date it all day long, it saves me trying to remeber what has been done during the day, once completed I then publish it just before I go home!
No real calamities today, Fred has been blacking and then he went out for a 'jolly' to Penkeridge, Bernard has been tightening propellors up on the boat in the dock and engine servicing on a private boat and Steve has been painting.
Nowt else to say so until tomorrow.
Simon
I had to go out last night up to Swanley marina and on the way back I decided to pop in to Audlem to have my dinner, what a dissapointment, I tried the Lord Combermere last week and their menu was very limited, I have eaten there before and it was excellent, i thought that on this occasion I would try the Bridge, again I have eaten there before and it has been excellent, this time however the place was deserted, TV blarring away with footie and again a limited menu so I went down to the Shroppie Fly, TV blarring away again but at least there was some life in the place and the menu was a bit more inspiring;the rump steak was ordered, well presented but not that good! If you want decent food at a good price you can not beat the Wharf Tavern at Goldstone, simply superb! The canal was very quiet in Audlem and there were only three boats tied up in the town pound and not much either side of the locks, Is it a sign of the times with rising fuel costs and people feeling the pinch that people are not doing so much crusing?
If you notice the time on my posts you will see that it is often early that day, this is because the blog registers the time as soon as you start on a new post, I usually start the post early and then leave it on the computer and up date it all day long, it saves me trying to remeber what has been done during the day, once completed I then publish it just before I go home!
No real calamities today, Fred has been blacking and then he went out for a 'jolly' to Penkeridge, Bernard has been tightening propellors up on the boat in the dock and engine servicing on a private boat and Steve has been painting.
Nowt else to say so until tomorrow.
Simon
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Unbelievable!
Can you believe this weather we are having? another superb day here at Norbury, the sun was shining again at 5am this morning and I knew it was going to be another fine day! When will it end? The forecasters have said that it will be changing towards the weekend, I certainly hope it doesnt just yet,I know we desperately need some rain but but would be nice if it hammered it down at night and then was sunny during the day time, one can live in hope!
Not overly busy today, we have un docked a boat today and docked a seventy footer for survey and blacking,Fred has pressure washed it and it looks to be in reasonable condition, that will please the prospective purchasers, Bernard has been out to a breakdown near to Chester today,the boiler on Ember wouldn't stay lit, he sorted that one out and has been doing an engine service on a private boat, that only leaves Steve, and he has been painting a boat in the wet dock, Not much to add really, the shared boats are all out, the phones are quiet so no problems with any of them, the wharf has seen a couple of boats on today for services but the canal does seem quiet again.
I have spoken with David who is now enjoying the lovely weather in Spain, when I spoke to him he was in the process of enjoying a cool beer, I wont tell you what I was thinking when he told me!!!
That's about it from me today, we will see what tomorrow brings.
Simon
Not overly busy today, we have un docked a boat today and docked a seventy footer for survey and blacking,Fred has pressure washed it and it looks to be in reasonable condition, that will please the prospective purchasers, Bernard has been out to a breakdown near to Chester today,the boiler on Ember wouldn't stay lit, he sorted that one out and has been doing an engine service on a private boat, that only leaves Steve, and he has been painting a boat in the wet dock, Not much to add really, the shared boats are all out, the phones are quiet so no problems with any of them, the wharf has seen a couple of boats on today for services but the canal does seem quiet again.
I have spoken with David who is now enjoying the lovely weather in Spain, when I spoke to him he was in the process of enjoying a cool beer, I wont tell you what I was thinking when he told me!!!
That's about it from me today, we will see what tomorrow brings.
Simon
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Bank holiday is over
Amazing how quiet it seems once the bank holiday period is over, it has gone from being manic back to its usual sleepy place! well it seems sleepy compared to how it has been! It has been another superb day though weather wise, the sun has been shining down on us all day, but it seems to have been chilly?
I have been out today buying stock so I have not seen all that has gone on,but I do know that the wharf has bben busy today as all of the boats have been leaving they have taken advantage of our excellent fuel price and filling their tanks, Angela has done a sterling job looking after things while I was out and upon my return I only had a few phone calls to make and the odd email to sort out, I might just start going out more often!
The lads have been busy today, well those that are here, Fred hasw had today off, David is away on his holidays in Spain (lucky sod) lee is on holiday so that has only left Bernard who has been doing engine servicing, straightening a rudder, Mick who has been re commisioning a boat after its winter hybernation and other odd jobs on boats here and there and Ralph who has blacked a boat and weeded the wharf and the shop, Almost forgot to mention Steve who has been preparing a boat for painting, it is only having a quick one colour paint job so it shouldnt take him long, nothing elese much to report from today so im off home.
Until tomorrow
Simon
I have been out today buying stock so I have not seen all that has gone on,but I do know that the wharf has bben busy today as all of the boats have been leaving they have taken advantage of our excellent fuel price and filling their tanks, Angela has done a sterling job looking after things while I was out and upon my return I only had a few phone calls to make and the odd email to sort out, I might just start going out more often!
The lads have been busy today, well those that are here, Fred hasw had today off, David is away on his holidays in Spain (lucky sod) lee is on holiday so that has only left Bernard who has been doing engine servicing, straightening a rudder, Mick who has been re commisioning a boat after its winter hybernation and other odd jobs on boats here and there and Ralph who has blacked a boat and weeded the wharf and the shop, Almost forgot to mention Steve who has been preparing a boat for painting, it is only having a quick one colour paint job so it shouldnt take him long, nothing elese much to report from today so im off home.
Until tomorrow
Simon
Monday, 2 May 2011
Early start
It was 5 am when I awoke this morning, I honestly thought that I had over slept because the sun was shining like it was mid day, no wind in the air and the birds were giving their morning chorus (noisy things) I realised at that point that it was going to be another busy day, I have not been disappointed but it has been nowhere near as manic as the past couple of days.
Over the last few days I have been moving boats around and I have to say that peoples boat husbandry nowadays is atrocious, years ago boat men took a real pride in their boat handling skills, a pride in their boats, things were done in a simplistic way to make the handling of the boats and the ropes as easy as possible, it is a real shame that people don't adopt the same attitude as it makes boating so much better, for instance, a boat comes on to the wharf for diesel and they don't bother to tie it up properly and it floats around somewhere in the middle of the canal and makes it really difficult to get on board to even put the diesel nozzle in, then there are those that leave their boat tied with such an unusual fan dangled knot that it takes nearly half an hour to remove the ball of knitting before the boat can be moved, It amazes me that someone in charge of a privately owned narrow boat would take to the water with almost no knowledge of the basics and in some cases no knowledge of the etiquette that is adopted on the canals, thankfully not everyone is the same.
The guys and gals have been kept busy again toady with a constant stream of customers in the Tea room and sat out side taking advantage of this amazing weather, the canal has gone quieter today and we haven't seen many boats on the wharf, maybe the very strong winds are putting people off from moving their boat, if that is the case I don't blame them for staying put.
I am afraid to say that you will have to put up with my rantings for a while as David is having a well earned break, (jammy so and so) although when he comes back I am having a well earned break as well!
That's it from me today, I am off home to put my feet up.
Simon
Over the last few days I have been moving boats around and I have to say that peoples boat husbandry nowadays is atrocious, years ago boat men took a real pride in their boat handling skills, a pride in their boats, things were done in a simplistic way to make the handling of the boats and the ropes as easy as possible, it is a real shame that people don't adopt the same attitude as it makes boating so much better, for instance, a boat comes on to the wharf for diesel and they don't bother to tie it up properly and it floats around somewhere in the middle of the canal and makes it really difficult to get on board to even put the diesel nozzle in, then there are those that leave their boat tied with such an unusual fan dangled knot that it takes nearly half an hour to remove the ball of knitting before the boat can be moved, It amazes me that someone in charge of a privately owned narrow boat would take to the water with almost no knowledge of the basics and in some cases no knowledge of the etiquette that is adopted on the canals, thankfully not everyone is the same.
The guys and gals have been kept busy again toady with a constant stream of customers in the Tea room and sat out side taking advantage of this amazing weather, the canal has gone quieter today and we haven't seen many boats on the wharf, maybe the very strong winds are putting people off from moving their boat, if that is the case I don't blame them for staying put.
I am afraid to say that you will have to put up with my rantings for a while as David is having a well earned break, (jammy so and so) although when he comes back I am having a well earned break as well!
That's it from me today, I am off home to put my feet up.
Simon
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Bank holiday Sunday
Its been another fantastic day here at Norbury today, the weather has been superb,that is two bank holiday weekends that have been superb, we couldn't ask for more, we have had thousands of people here today which has kept Angela, Jay, Natalie, Jack, Caroline, Lorraine and Amanda all flat out in the Tea room since lunch time, they have done a sterling job with keeping the hoards of people supplied with Tea, cakes, beer, wine and some excellent food, It has been the busiest day to date, ever!
We had two day boats go out this morning and they too have been blessed with the superb weather, Mick and Ralph un docked one boat and then docked another for pressure washing and blacking, then Mick carried on with different jobs on several boats,he had another set of batteries to a boat today and I am amazed to say that we have run out of batteries now, that's over 40 batteries sold this week alone! We will be having More stock in next week, Ralph has pressure washed the boat in the dock and me and David have been kept busy with thousands of enquiries about boat hire, motor home hire, paint jobs, people looking at boats.
I wasn't going to have a beer tonight as I had one or two last night but to be4 honest Have to go and look at boat straight after work so while I am out and about I will have a beer.
That's it from me for today
Simon
We had two day boats go out this morning and they too have been blessed with the superb weather, Mick and Ralph un docked one boat and then docked another for pressure washing and blacking, then Mick carried on with different jobs on several boats,he had another set of batteries to a boat today and I am amazed to say that we have run out of batteries now, that's over 40 batteries sold this week alone! We will be having More stock in next week, Ralph has pressure washed the boat in the dock and me and David have been kept busy with thousands of enquiries about boat hire, motor home hire, paint jobs, people looking at boats.
I wasn't going to have a beer tonight as I had one or two last night but to be4 honest Have to go and look at boat straight after work so while I am out and about I will have a beer.
That's it from me for today
Simon
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