nb Bridge Street

Monday 4 th June 2018 After dinner last night we both had showers. While Brenda then went to bed, I sat up to only to hear the water pump start. Obviously something was wrong. The pump was switched off but no leak was found even though the pump ran continuously whenever it was switched back on. Looking again this morning a pipe had become completely disconnected from the back off the shower control panel. Calls were made to Andy and Graeme. Surely this time he must come out. Andy and Dec were here within the hour followed shortly after by Graeme himself. Hallelujah. Almost three weeks after her launching, Bridge Street gets a visit from her builder. It is fascinating watching Graeme operating when he has to. If he had been this way throughout the build, the boat would have been finished long before she was. It was obvious though, that he was expecting a hard time from us. We were both conscious that if that had been the case he would have just left and no work wo...

Sunday 3 rd June 2018 I was awake and up at 5.30am this morning. We had a number of whiskey miniatures on our shelf of the world at the house. While we have brought the contents of the shelf with us, the miniatures are for drinking. So last night I finished with a now 30-year-old Strathblair. Like fire water. Got quite a few jobs done before Brenda arose. The car was, yet again unpacked. While Brenda put that lot away, I hung out washing (this has become my job as Brenda cannot reach the rotary washing line) and sorted the bow locker. The two collapsible bikes are now here. I wasn’t looking forward to getting them to fit but managed it in the end. You just now have to be careful opening the bow locker doors. We went into Nantwich for a big shop prior to setting off on Tuesday and had the car washed and waxed before it goes tomorrow. We are both getting fed up of living in a mess. Everything seems so disorganised. We are both working hard to remedy this but we ...

Saturday 2 nd June 2018 After having a cooked breakfast and fitting a new shelf to one of the galley overhead cupboards we went out. We had kind of promised ourselves a day away from boat and house, no pressures, no targets. We had agreed that these last few months had been extremely busy for us, despite both being retired. We went into Crewe to get some last minute things for the boat before we become car-less. B&Q for some pull out shelf units, Currys to have my computer sorted (it turned out I was not shutting it down properly!!!) and Dunelm for materials for our porthole bung project. We then went to Nantwich for some shopping and took the opportunity for a walk through the town, a coffee and slice of cake. Most unlike us. Back at the boat I started to fit one of the shelf units but it is not a straight fit as described on the box. We spoke to Andy in the marina regarding our phone call with Graeme and the Robert’s (Graeme’s next customers). Andy ra...

Friday 1 st June 2018 Today was a bit of a mixed bag. I went to B&Q’s in Crewe (my favouritist shop) and to various businesses in Nantwich to try and source some 19-inch-wide boarding for extra shelves in the galley cupboards. All to no avail. I did however, get other bits and pieces to complete other jobs on board. It does though, seem as though I am having to buy more and more tools that I have given away while in the process of getting rid of stuff prior to moving house to boat. Brenda in the meantime did yet more sorting and organising. We then went off to yet another trip to the house. Another dump run, another visit to the charity shop and another full car load for the boat. But now, we are finished there. The place is empty, clean and tidy, at last. Brenda locked the doors for the last time. A poignant moment. Chester Road completed today, 6 months after the people put their offer in. All good will towards them finished long ago and so we draw a lin...

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, ne...

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 along 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...

Monday 21 st May 2018 This was the day we had decided on for us officially moving on board Bridge Street for good. We duly woke at 8am, had breakfast, walked Harvey, put on the dishwasher and washing machine and left the house. On arrival at the boat we unloaded the boxes and I went off on my errands leaving Brenda again to unpack and start homebuilding. I first went to Winsford to pick up the cratch boards then B&Qs in Northwich before heading to Wigan to drop off the stained glass porthole again. On the way back I called into the house to pick up yet more gear. It is incredible how much can be stored on the boat, you wonder where it all goes. Brenda had Graeme Cunliffe’s mother and sister visit to drop off the boat’s documentation. So now she can be licensed. While they were here Brenda told of some of our troubles with the boat and the lack of any visit from Graeme. Arriving back at 2pm, Brenda had done a lovely job of decorating the boat ready for our ...