The internet here at Swanley Bridge Marina just outside Nantwich on the Llangollen Canal is intermittent, therefore here are a weeks worth of content in one hit:

Tuesday 22^nd May 2018

The dog had us awake at 3am and I took him out but he didn’t settle. Brenda got up with him at 6 and I rose at 7.45. The dog is sick again. Shame when he was settling so well.

On getting up I started the engine straight away as the battery voltage wasn’t registering at all and the lights were dim. Before starting the engine though, the air filter had to be fitted as it had been left off at some stage of the build.

Filled the water tank and, on it being filled full, both the tank filling line and the overflow/vent connections were found leaking.

We then sat down to a long promised cheese on toast prepared on a gas grill. We had promised ourselves this ever since deciding on having a boat built. During the making, the grill and cooker starting smoking which led to concern from Brenda, neither of us much trusting Graeme’s workmanship. It turned out just to be newness.

I then went over to the marina reception to see about getting some help with the shore power connection. However, I came across a guy Duncan who does the maintenance around the marina. He found the problem lay with the shore power column and not with the boat.

Another problem sorted. We did however, have to shift again to an adjacent pontoon where the shore power column was working.  

Along with Duncan came Mike who I knew from working at Middlewich Narrowboats. Mike showed me over the electrics and operation of the Webasto water heater which was reassuring.

I then took off on more errands while Brenda continued to do more sorting. I went to Leisure Sales in Sandbach for floor tiles for the front cratch. B&Qs in Crewe for loads more things to screw to walls and such like. Then Sainsbury’s in Nantwich for some shopping.

Back to the boat where Brenda then started to cook dinner for our guests coming in the evening while I pottered about connecting the television.

Martin, Michelle and Abbey came over for their dinner. It was lovely to see them. Martin connected us to the internet so are grateful to be back in the 21^st century again.

Brenda christened the shower this evening and I am about to follow ready for another early, busy day tomorrow when Aaron comes for the last of our furniture.

Wednesday 23^rd May 2018

We both had a terrible night. Brenda got up at 3am and I followed an hour later. We both pottered doing nothing much. I cooked our breakfast of bacon and eggs. During the making of the toast, the cooker was making a hell of a noise. It sounds as if a fan is touching the casing, another job on the list.

We left the boat at 6am for St Anns Road.

Once there we started dismantling and cleaning the furniture for Aaron arriving with a van. It seemed strange going back to the house, it certainly no longer felt like home.

Once Aaron had left we started the big clean up and did a few more dump runs. Purple Bricks turned up and took all the keys for Chester Road and just left us with one key for St Anns.

We picked the kids up from school and brought them over to the boat for their dinner, Cottage Pie was their choice. It was nice having them here.

We heard that Andy Boat will not now come over on Friday and it is unlikely that we will see Graeme until well into next week. Disgraceful.

After the kids had left we went over to the reception block for an open mic night. 3½ hours of free entertainment and food. A great night with a lot of talent.

Swanley Bridge Marina is a very peaceful place with friendly people and we have been made to feel very welcome. You could do a lot worse than staying here.

Our electricity has run out and there is a high level on the toilet tank. It will keep until tomorrow.  

Thursday 24^th May 2018

We left the boat as soon as we were up and ready and headed off to St. Anns Road for another day of sorting, clearing, cleaning and charity shop and dump runs.

It seems endless.

We arrived back at the boat 3.30pm with all good intentions of work and organising. Instead we part emptied the car, part put things away and then sat outside in the continuing gorgeous weather with a few beers.

Life is definitely slower here already.

Some good news at last from Cauldwell Windows. The stained glass porthole is finished and if the outer frame of one already fitted to the boat is taken to them they will fit it while we wait.

News from Andy at Swanley is that “somebody” from Cunliffe’s will visit us to snag the boat on Tuesday, no doubt after Crick Boat Show. That will be Andy no doubt.

All we want to do is start cruising and put all this stress and hassle of getting the boat finished behind us.

And forget all about Graeme.  

Friday 25^th May 2018

I left as soon as we were up for Caudwell’s in Wigan to pick up the stained glass porthole. On the way back called into IKEA in Warrington.

In the meantime, Brenda did more sorting out and organising on board.

On arrival back at the boat we put the stained glass porthole in place, it looks amazing.

We then went off to Nantwich for food shopping. We were supposed to be entertaining Harriet. I was not really looking forward to having to eat vegetarian but she called off while we were doing the shopping because her mother is in hospital.

I seem to be spending a lot of days in the car.

On the way back from Nantwich we bought a TV aerial.

Some good, good news at last. Contracts have been exchanged on Chester Road. This has been ongoing since the people submitted their offer in early November last year.

Saturday 26^th May 2018

For a change I spent all day at the boat getting through numerous jobs. The main ones being repositioning the horn so that the bow locker lid will now open, cutting and laying foam tiles on the front cratch deck and sorting out the rear cockpit area which was becoming full of all sorts.

It can be difficult to get things done here in the marina. There are always things to watch and people to chat to. Canal time at canal pace.

Fuse No3 for Saloon 12V TV blew when the charger for the cordless torch was plugged in. There was a 10A fuse fitted so it was a surprise it blew at all. We have no spare fuses so it will be a case of swapping with the fridge until we get some spares.

Brenda again spent her time emptying, sorting and organising more boxes from the house.

The washing machine was run and was OK. Washing was put out to dry on the rotary drier attached to the tiller.  

In the evening we went to a pub in Nantwich with a lovely couple we met at the open mic night, Graeme and Carol, to watch Liverpool losing the European Cup final.

Graeme and Carol came back to our boat for a few drinks afterwards. Both are accomplished musicians and Graeme soon had my mandolin singing until a few strings snapped. I really must learn now we have embarked on our new life.

Sunday 27^th May 2018

We didn’t get out of bed until almost 10am. Even Harvey had a lay in.

Martin, Michelle and Abbey came soon after we got up. It was their 23^rd wedding anniversary and it was good to see them. Martin fitted our “raspberry pie”, a device that allows you to download various material through the internet. A great cheers to Martin and thank you.

I went over to visit Graeme because he had quite a few things he didn’t understand with his boat. Luckily I was able to help him.

We pumped out most of the water that had gathered under the cabin floor and will check it again tomorrow. Graeme, boat builder, apparently lost a lot of water during testing and commissioning of plumbing around the boat.

Numerous other jobs were done, there seems to be so much to do. The door catches were fitted to hold the doors open, a thing that had been driving us mad. Also cut and varnished a piece of oak to cover the routered groove in the front cratch board for the horn cabling.

After many days of unbroken sunshine and heat, today has been a mixed bag with the occasional rumble of thunder and heavy downpours.

After dinner I had to dodge the rain to empty the toilet cassette.

Monday 28^th May 2018

We arose to the sight of a Virgin hot air balloon. It looked to have taken off from the Whitchurch direction so was probably the same as for Brenda’s 50^th birthday.

After breakfast we again went to the house. We were hoping this would be the last visit but another will have to be made. All the stuff we have given away and dumped, we feel we have cut everything to the bare minimum yet more and still more keeps coming across to the boat and all seems to disappear into her. So far anyway.

On the way back we called in and picked the kids up. They were to stay with us for the night. Manny and myself went fishing and Brenda and Eva went to explore the marina. We then went for a walk before having a BBQ.

Manny and myself swapped the ropes for the ones made in Yorkshire. They look good but are not of the quality found in a boat chandlery.

I had bought a box of fuses today and so replaced the saloon TV for a 15A.

Heard off Malcolm in the marina today that Andy and Dec are coming out to snag the boat tomorrow and possibly take her out for her trials. Graeme, supposedly, will come out later in the week. It’s a disgrace he hasn’t been out to us earlier. He wasn’t even here for the launching and his absence was well noted by all.

Sleeping arrangements were Brenda and Eva in the bed and Manny and myself in our sleeping bags on the dinette.

Tuesday 29^th May 2018

Had a comfortable night despite the fear of falling out. Downside was waking at 4.30 because of the daylight streaming in.

After breakfast we all spent an entertaining couple of hours watching the marina guys trying to drag a sunken, abandoned fibre glass cruiser out of the water for scrapping. Ropes kept on snapping and bits falling off the boat before it was finally out.

Andy and Dec were out to do some snagging and finishing of paintwork. It was felt all round that Graeme is not coming out to see us because he is too cowardly. Shocking. He had even told Andy that he was to do the trials on her. Andy does not know how to handle a boat.

What kind of a boat builder is he and where is his professionalism?  

The trials went off very well, she handles like a dream. I did however, try to widen the canal at the marina entrance by ramming the opposite bank.

The trial did not last very long, only a few hundred yards down the canal to the first bridge and the winding hole. Back at the marina and the wind was quite blustery when reversing between the pontoons.

Andy and Dec left but will have to return.

We gave the kids the option of staying another night to save a run to Middlewich, but Manny decided he wanted to go home. He didn’t know why.

After dinner we all went for another walk around the marina. Eva has made friends with a few of the ducks, they almost come into the boat through the front cratch.

It turned cold and windy so when closing the boat down it was found the side door could not be shut. The whole frame had previously come loose on launch day and Andy had reglued it with Stikaflex and clamped it in place. Removing the clamps to close the door, it was found the frame trim was sticking out too far and preventing the doors from closing. At 9.30pm the trims had to be removed to get the door closed.

Then the toilet cassette had to be emptied.

A long day.

Wednesday 30^th May 2018

We had decided on another, and hopefully the last, day at the house. Eva wanted to have a last walk around the marina, and maybe see the last of her new found friends, the ducks.

On arrival at the house Brenda again set to cleaning and packing, various admin to finish with the house and register the radios with OFCOM.

I took Eva home, she had had a great time then left for Birkenhead to drop off all my nautical books and magazines at the Mariners Park Nursing Home for retired seafarers. Thankfully they were grateful to receive them.

Back at the house I again did a charity shop and dump run before loading up the car with yet more stuff.

We arrived back at the boat at 6pm. Had a few beers in the front cratch, chicken salad dinner, showers and early bed. 

Thursday 31^st May 2018

Two weeks ago today Bridge Street was launched and we are still in the marina waiting for a visit from Graeme.

For a change today it seems, we spent the day at the boat. The car was unloaded and Brenda started to pack things away. After filling the water tank, I went into Nantwich for various bits and pieces. Got oil from the marina ready for the first 50 hour service, cost of £79.49, with toilet chemical.

Winter clothes were stored under the bed. Jobs included connecting up the tunnel light, making wooden cover for horn wiring channel, pumping out the engine bay, hanging pictures and making an extra shelf for galley overhead cupboards. 

The car has been sold to WeWantToBuyYourCar, they will pick it up on Monday.

Heard off Graeme that he will visit soon. We are certainly not optimistic about this and feel more and more, that he has washed his hands of us and we are now on our own and the unfinished jobs will be left to us.

Ordered Epifanes Light Grey paint, delivery to the marina between 2^nd and 6^th June. Hope its early because we are planning to leave the marina on Tuesday 5^th June.

Heard off the porthole bung people. They have dispatched a bung to the house being delivered tomorrow.

Weather continues to be hot and sunny. It has been since launch day apart from a hot day with rain yesterday.