Random Writings

Not the most exciting post this one, but…

Last weekend I took the boat to Cambridge to “do the tanks” (fill the fresh water tank and empty the foul) and so I offered some friends from church a ride on the boat on the return journey on the Sunday. So, faced with having guests, I cleaned and tidied, which was long overdue. I also bought more storage boxes – some to improve the storage efficiency under the bed, and two recycling boxes from Homebase to store kindling and coal for the stove. Previously I’ve just put the coal bag on the cabin floor, which leaves coal dust all over everything it touches…

Recycling boxes adapted as wood and coal bins

I also discovered that by tidying up and removing the nasty folding chairs that came with the boat (which I only ever use to dump stuff on anyway), I create enough space for me to get six of us around the dinner table, and after folding the table back to the dinner-for-one size, the cabin looks positively spacious!

I took some pictures to prove that the boat is occasionally tidy!

Tidy cabin, looking forward

Tidy cabin, looking aft

My improvement plans are moving forward. I’ve ordered a corner desk and filing unit from Mrs Flatpack and hope it’ll be delivered before too long. I’ve got the long weekend at Easter planned for the Big Electrical Upgrade (new batteries, new split charge, new inverter/battery charger) and so I’m about to place a very large order for all the parts so that I can check them all whilst I have time to order anything I’ve forgotten.

Oh, and whilst it’s been incredibly windy (50mph+ gusts), the boat’s been fine so far. Martin’s new concreted bollards are much more effective at holding the boat in position than the mooring pins were!

One of those awkward self-portraits done with a self-timer…

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 at 9:02 pm and is filed under Narrowboat.