tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13256033811568353252024-02-19T02:55:58.012+00:00Narrow Boat "The Robber Button"A blog about Narrow Boat (N.B) The Robber Button. Based on the Trent and Mersey canal at Great Haywood Marina, Staffordshire. The trials and tribulations of keeping a narrowboat afloat and in working order, from Blacking the Hull to keeping the engine sound and the inside dry.D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-73089006110571639142024-01-24T14:24:00.003+00:002024-01-24T14:24:52.648+00:00The Robber Button & us. <p> So at the beginning of Covid we sold our home, The Robber Button and bout a small apartment in our home town. </p><p>It was a wrench, we would miss the wildlife, the freedom, but my health and my sanity (no really) meant a move back to dry land. </p><p>The cats loved it, we loved it, 16 years owning her, 8 years living onboard was a perfect thing and it was just the right time to move on. </p><p>So it’s a goodbye from us and this blog will have no more posts. </p>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-43387078893505594032009-06-27T16:13:00.001+01:002009-09-15T17:12:13.895+01:00Stuck at Sandbach<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP2bSS-rq_3Ck2FlsCh-DQk6jVnqGJQl8K026PKt2yM3CbQ02_6wpx2bCMscT575wlr5Q250dmjPsfoWRwTWSFFUw5QBJ08Mplj4Ai4kX7qCGkDk0lCrUBTrvlaOwLtOnySVgte3ITXs/s1600-h/27062009062-766951.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP2bSS-rq_3Ck2FlsCh-DQk6jVnqGJQl8K026PKt2yM3CbQ02_6wpx2bCMscT575wlr5Q250dmjPsfoWRwTWSFFUw5QBJ08Mplj4Ai4kX7qCGkDk0lCrUBTrvlaOwLtOnySVgte3ITXs/s320/27062009062-766951.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352026466518584642" border="0" /></a></p>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-42063041914584691132009-06-24T17:47:00.000+01:002009-06-24T17:53:36.201+01:00Slacking at a lock<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGnCiUlV87E03-T1MxAbXxYQNnBVz_mcyMc_4-UpHX9xXEHdYT4_5CVtgyI2iHYMWvOxDpj0UQi6-xDJzDCb66zrQS1biqJXv8Lr-_0YqAD7zDNwV9fnAJF0mlO2y-vtFHg5-ptiCWNY/s1600-h/24062009061-716203.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGnCiUlV87E03-T1MxAbXxYQNnBVz_mcyMc_4-UpHX9xXEHdYT4_5CVtgyI2iHYMWvOxDpj0UQi6-xDJzDCb66zrQS1biqJXv8Lr-_0YqAD7zDNwV9fnAJF0mlO2y-vtFHg5-ptiCWNY/s320/24062009061-716203.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350938335755843474" /></a></p>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-57750196739864822752009-06-23T20:01:00.000+01:002009-06-23T20:03:41.427+01:00Amazing poppy field late evening sunlight<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlahWySCMLwnZTcQXTYADv9vhybYxWsusbYBTIqw_iDC3f9i4j4XpzjB7BRKsc41vWzSx8hqfgcKZGlmNmSd6LZq8lhyap2RXrh0aKemkqZwxOaQKVM9WI1IHHlucO0-UXLvYbL5lyoSg/s1600-h/23062009059-721429.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlahWySCMLwnZTcQXTYADv9vhybYxWsusbYBTIqw_iDC3f9i4j4XpzjB7BRKsc41vWzSx8hqfgcKZGlmNmSd6LZq8lhyap2RXrh0aKemkqZwxOaQKVM9WI1IHHlucO0-UXLvYbL5lyoSg/s320/23062009059-721429.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350600772864372482" /></a></p>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-55947267217899822302009-06-23T11:17:00.000+01:002009-06-23T11:22:27.231+01:00Eek the spiders are attcking<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimLgpBYzBkNgbYoGRWvCdHfLqHKY4lZHNdL9QS13auUrWNB7T-artmn_hyd6fc1VFt_pfGvmLsTB5FI1zvMC9pNshu_5letYrfBt4rQ9rPPO28wfjlVx9RZhjc-hpucC5bORCLSVyBTE/s1600-h/23062009057-747233.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimLgpBYzBkNgbYoGRWvCdHfLqHKY4lZHNdL9QS13auUrWNB7T-artmn_hyd6fc1VFt_pfGvmLsTB5FI1zvMC9pNshu_5letYrfBt4rQ9rPPO28wfjlVx9RZhjc-hpucC5bORCLSVyBTE/s320/23062009057-747233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350466450923536658" /></a></p>A spider under the grab railD Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-77693512638879780662009-06-22T16:22:00.000+01:002009-06-22T16:32:21.736+01:00New posts at Tixall lock<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszez3kZq-3eHr9OsSXEV_9G9hyHBQ0pxylajScdUp_PiB60-NJpS3fbnbkYZRkRsa_E3-9hzQVALkzvEd2aUqVyPgAMIan1FqT6p1HR3o0UE1CfxI2DDqyoutp5yvLG9qF5Pt24gQxGI/s1600-h/22062009053-741738.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszez3kZq-3eHr9OsSXEV_9G9hyHBQ0pxylajScdUp_PiB60-NJpS3fbnbkYZRkRsa_E3-9hzQVALkzvEd2aUqVyPgAMIan1FqT6p1HR3o0UE1CfxI2DDqyoutp5yvLG9qF5Pt24gQxGI/s320/22062009053-741738.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350175239210072818" /></a></p>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-74326225058029213602009-06-22T16:21:00.000+01:002009-06-22T16:24:26.067+01:00Penkridge and the pub is calling<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboL_gDLeQgO_0TWNa4XD71N9nW5WiSF__bIdiQtKVT9fkUUB8T_vfWGTn1fsqQ9rgoJygVUAEbnodeWekA4TWgoYE52S5I9uy523nlbIfXgfTv7HUZBcsBb3mwTdn1i3vMYSImqhnEWQ/s1600-h/22062009054-766069.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboL_gDLeQgO_0TWNa4XD71N9nW5WiSF__bIdiQtKVT9fkUUB8T_vfWGTn1fsqQ9rgoJygVUAEbnodeWekA4TWgoYE52S5I9uy523nlbIfXgfTv7HUZBcsBb3mwTdn1i3vMYSImqhnEWQ/s320/22062009054-766069.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350173187514315858" /></a></p>We should be in the villageD Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-77970281071707790422009-06-15T12:56:00.002+01:002009-06-15T13:03:31.548+01:00another quickySorry I haven't blogged in a while...this and that has gotten in the way.<br /><br />I have been on few trips. One was so special it will be hard to blog about. Last year I went Mozambique to see some amazing things that a couple and their kids had done over 12 years (see my mozambique mission blog). Anyhoo they are in the UK at the moment(another very long story) and their boss man had flown over to the UK for some moral support and we all went out for the day. It was so special it will be far to hard describe at the moment, I will blog about it in a few weeks.<br /><br />We have also done a few short trips up down the T & M and I have been getting TRB ready for a two week cruise of the 4 counties ring... Which I am sure I will be blogging about and doing some photo updates via my mobile phone...<br /><br />Anyhoo this is just to say I am alive and wellD Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-60412237920050990542009-05-18T09:38:00.003+01:002009-05-18T09:45:18.092+01:00a small needed updateI am sorry I haven't blogged in ages.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />There are a couple of reasons...1. Mrs EB and I went out for a short trip and passed two boats and were told to slow down when we were in tick over!!!! and that really cheesed me off.<br />2. I forgot.<br /><br />Well I did a mens day out on TRB there 8 guys and myself we met about 9am at Great Haywood had a mug of tea and then headed up to Weston had a nice lunch then up to Sandon Lock turned around and headed back. It was a day of relaxing and chatting and just having some fun. I believe the guys enjoyed it, even though person said TRB was like a caravan.... ho hum.<br /><br />Yesterday my friend Martin who gave Mrs EB and I the boating bug came over to TRB and showed me how to service the engine... another few quid saved and it was well worth the mess.<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-7332533106261803812009-04-25T17:36:00.004+01:002009-04-27T18:48:52.139+01:00Finally we Meet Mr Granny Buttons Andrew Denny.<div style="text-align: justify;">This weekend we haven't been up to The Robber Button. Last night was a massive charity night that my parents had organised for MacMillan Cancer Support. It started with a series of karaoke talent nights in various pubs and clubs around North Birmingham. Then last night it was a Gala night with the winner winning £500. A band came down from Manchester and did a great spot a guy bought his karaoke gear down for the singers. All in all it was a great night, even though I hate karaoke with a passion. A lot of money was raised which is what it was all about.<br /><br />So today we decided to go into Birmingham City Centre and have a walk around the canal, I remembered that Andrew Denny from Granny Buttons was in the area and checked Google Latitude and he was about. I text him and we arranged to meet up for a pint and a chat. What a nice hour that was, great to meet up.<br /><br />I am hoping that we can get to TRB next weekend and maybe even take her out for a little trip?<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-38215806224541634212009-04-22T10:40:00.001+01:002009-04-22T11:05:43.022+01:00Nice weekends and crappy boat handling<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaPKXFnU7sxZ3Cjt8xHIfD070e1u2YgCJmZD7Hmpf6oma2QzGQkI8-tnumgMuHKMLbaiKl5coNqpSJ4X0bx-mkrBI7Y0vOvVNOTvtAA9xedf6epKJrGZYpPhtECObwO79NRagOOOHgVo/s1600-h/DSCF2692.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaPKXFnU7sxZ3Cjt8xHIfD070e1u2YgCJmZD7Hmpf6oma2QzGQkI8-tnumgMuHKMLbaiKl5coNqpSJ4X0bx-mkrBI7Y0vOvVNOTvtAA9xedf6epKJrGZYpPhtECObwO79NRagOOOHgVo/s320/DSCF2692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327438756929576594" border="0" /></a>My friend Ed thinking<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I arrived at Great Haywood Friday afternoon to do a few jobs on TRB, there are always a few jobs to do, I don't know why, but there are. So I set about fiddling and fixing, Mrs EB arrived at around 6pm and I made coffee, we listened to The Now Show an excellent half an hour, then we tootled off to Stone by car for a curry. Castle Balti I think it is called does a fine curry and has large portions. On our way there I received a TXT from a friend to ask if his family could visit TRB the next day, I check with Mrs EB and I called him back.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuxvFgHS-A__Af5jVWHD9lB4bRcLzatHXPGBvfHeSyD0q8h_RHe7qFTQ7QGX6SsPQ9o9eKx4e0Is8IgBCa6YGpo9WZeK0VMpp_-Wdqk8sibKdW0JUnLnxHa-U6NkmYchyphenhyphense7uDesT5dI/s1600-h/DSCF2697.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuxvFgHS-A__Af5jVWHD9lB4bRcLzatHXPGBvfHeSyD0q8h_RHe7qFTQ7QGX6SsPQ9o9eKx4e0Is8IgBCa6YGpo9WZeK0VMpp_-Wdqk8sibKdW0JUnLnxHa-U6NkmYchyphenhyphense7uDesT5dI/s320/DSCF2697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327438760752719122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> The Day crew working the lock</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuxvFgHS-A__Af5jVWHD9lB4bRcLzatHXPGBvfHeSyD0q8h_RHe7qFTQ7QGX6SsPQ9o9eKx4e0Is8IgBCa6YGpo9WZeK0VMpp_-Wdqk8sibKdW0JUnLnxHa-U6NkmYchyphenhyphense7uDesT5dI/s1600-h/DSCF2697.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Saturday was a little over cast and quite windy to start off with but that burned off, our friends arrived and off we set, well if only it was simple. I was having one of those days, I tried to help J&J move a boat, but for the life of me I couldn't turn it in the wind, setting off with TRB I had problems getting out of the marina. Later that afternoon, turning at the winding hole above Sandon Lock a BW Boat was moored on the winding!!!! so that proved a nightmare, then getting back into Great Haywood I missjudged the turning and that was as messy as it could get...with someone asking if we needed help. I don't think I could have been more embarrassed if I tried.....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-AmViScRzEcFc8NCdTfoEiskU0p83lq-hJV-47IYd12wPKDppbYDpws4VKT5EH4FC7D24rRhXRB4vXvduAHx011ZjezwyCG4g4TKHTKa1lC5eKnueXhG2vLO0miBoW4NMTresgWCvUU/s1600-h/DSCF2686.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-AmViScRzEcFc8NCdTfoEiskU0p83lq-hJV-47IYd12wPKDppbYDpws4VKT5EH4FC7D24rRhXRB4vXvduAHx011ZjezwyCG4g4TKHTKa1lC5eKnueXhG2vLO0miBoW4NMTresgWCvUU/s320/DSCF2686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327438755431480738" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > Some of the day crew resting after a little liquid lunch</span><br /><br /></div>Well apart from all of that we had a wonderful day, some great company and some good unwinding time with a family I think are wonderful. It gave us time to talk time to laugh and time to just be with friends.... excellent. We went to Western first for a pint and then up to Sandon for the winding, its a nice few hours 3 locks and wonderful countryside and lots of peace and quiet.<br /><br />More days like these please without the crappy me bits.<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-89028827521274353162009-04-15T11:04:00.003+01:002009-04-15T11:09:02.397+01:00Easter<div style="text-align: justify;">Easter weekend was taken with commitments to our Church and on Bank Holiday Monday with a wedding... We did manage an over night stay on Good Friday evening which was just wonderful. When we woke on Saturday morning the weather couldn't have been any better but we didn't really have the time to go out, we did pop out in the car for an hour.<br />I am so looking forward to an extended stay on board but time and other commitments seem to be against us that moment, so I am living vicariously via everyone's blog's keep them up with your travels!!!<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-50116718647904557702009-04-09T10:15:00.002+01:002009-04-09T10:21:53.804+01:00Boat Handling and Dr Who<div style="text-align: justify;">Easter is up on us, and I guess its the first big break when boaters will brave the canals of England, the schools are on holiday and the hire boats are all polished ready to go. We wont be going out as we have commitments else where at Church. Though a night on board will be had on Friday and maybe a lazy day Saturday. The problem with not having a TV on board is I am a massive Dr Who fan and Saturday evening is a one of the 4 Dr Who's of this year, I will record it, but I know all too well come Sunday morning at Church everyone will be talking about it and all will be told from how handsome David Tennant looked to the SFX and even the plot will be discussed (we do go to a lively and full Church of about 400 people...) So if I don't watch it Saturday there will be no point. Sorry about that waffle, back to the blog about boat handling...<br /><br />When we bought <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">TRB</span> in September 2007 we had a one day boat <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">handling</span> course (our only real handling upto that point) and then we were left to it. I do find it kind of strange, if you have any other motor propelled vehicle you have to have a test, you don't have to have lessons, but you must pass a test, but not for the inland waterways? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Anyhoo</span> we had the one day boat handling and off we set. Mrs EB had to go back to work on day 3 so I was on my own and was not happy when I ended up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bouncing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">TRB</span> around a lock. For a time after that first trip I didn't enjoy steering <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">TRB</span> but I pushed through it and now I love taking her out and seeing the beautiful English countryside.<br /><br />I have taken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">TRB</span> out a few times over the winter and this has proved to be invaluable in the learning curve on boat handling, it has been a slow process learning how to manoeuvre a 57 foot boat backwards whilst steering and using the wind to get her into her mooring. But over the winter that is what I have done and I am proud to say I can now do it and in the strong wind coming from either direction, using under steer or over steer. It isn't always the prettiest sight to watch, but I do it without damage to either the Jetty, my neighbouring boat or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">TRB</span>.<br /><br />The day <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">TRB</span> was put back in after the blacking was windy and no one was around so I spent half an hour just playing, using the wind to blow me whilst I tried to manoeuvre around and into mooring letting it blow me sideways and back and forth, at one point a couple of asked if I needed help, I just said no thanks I am playing with wind, and they just said oh OK and looked at me as if I was simple and had been let out for a day to play on a boat.... then one of the Jon's of Jon & John the marine engineers asked if I wanted help, when I explained I was playing using the wind, he said bloody good idea, no one is around, get the experience!! You can't really practice at our marina as it is a busy and lively place most times and where we are moored we are on the path to the diesel and pump out and we are next to the marine engineers (a fortuitous spot) so boats are usually going past all day from morning till dusk. So I took the opportunity when I had it and played for a good half an hour and well worth it I think.<br /><br />Well as the Hull is now blacked and the inside is ship shape I need to go up and really give <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TRB</span> a jolly good wash and wax and get the winter grime off, I did give her jolly good wash and double wax with a friend before winter set in, but she is looking a little jaded now and needs a loving wash and she will be ready for an enjoyable year tootling around.</div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-55730854059773507842009-04-03T09:45:00.000+01:002009-04-03T09:45:07.860+01:00Boats and Modems and Sound Technology<div style="text-align: justify;">We are relatively new comers to the boating world, TRB is our first boat and we wanted it to be a real home from home, so we wanted it to have what we have at home apart from the TV. I love modern technology and think we should embrace what we like and leave what we don't. I have worked in Recording Studios, Production Houses and Radio Stations for a long time and I find I get withdrawal symptoms if I don't have a computer to play on for more than a few days. I love the internet, I don't read News Papers, it's yesterday news and tabloids are so obsessed with 3rd rate celebrity wannabe's and sex I just can't even look at the front pages in news agents. So I read and get my news online, and I use various websites to stay in contact with people.<br /><br />So when we eventually found the boat of our dreams, certain things needed looking into.1st did it have 240v as well as 12v, did it have a good shower and a pump out loo and a good galley to cook in with plenty of space!!! (I know, but it does). Could we actually have our own space? and is there a decent dongle modem that would give us the internet at a fair price when we cruised. We don't want a TV but we did want a sound system to go with our IPods that would sound amazing and not cheap and thin...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We found T Mobile had the best coverage and gave you unlimited internet access (fair usage, not sure what that is, but we never get charged any extra) we do find we spend most time out of the 3g area but that's OK. After a lot of searching we found the perfect sound system for an IPod. Now I am very hard to please with sound systems, I don't care what other people have but I like to have a good sound. The Fatman ITube Carbon was what we settled on with some <strong style="font-weight: normal;">Tannoy Mercury F1 Custom Speakers and it does sound really amazing. I am able to plug my laptop into it when we watch a movie on my laptop. I need to get some sand filled speaker stands as I am losing some bass through the floor into the bilge.... but that is a small issue.</strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQbs-HiAj_cP19bw_pwt85VtxWd9bXacc9qJeQD2WFeVHmQ6veYH3Jrkx2u-ETRunGHpL59A-aNNci-0Nt_Fiq5ScnctcUH3PYHqYgPlJh3s9L7QlIBVlFpwYqneQxfQ50gH1JzW7XmI/s1600-h/FATMANCSP.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQbs-HiAj_cP19bw_pwt85VtxWd9bXacc9qJeQD2WFeVHmQ6veYH3Jrkx2u-ETRunGHpL59A-aNNci-0Nt_Fiq5ScnctcUH3PYHqYgPlJh3s9L7QlIBVlFpwYqneQxfQ50gH1JzW7XmI/s320/FATMANCSP.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320374584370030722" border="0" /></a>I guess we all have our own idea of what sounds good and what we like, I know this little beast of an amp is truely amazing, the valve amps soften the clinical digital sound of the IPod and make anologue recordings sound truely awsome, I was listening to some Abba tracks and they just blew me away, Led Zeppelin come to life and a live blues album I recorded a couple of years ago is stunning. Movies sound fantastic and have that cinema feel with the bass and middle sounding larger than life.<br /><br />So we are happy we have all we need really, well apart from enough time onboard to enjoy it all.<br /><br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-12666193465550523532009-04-02T10:48:00.004+01:002009-04-02T11:11:47.477+01:00Boat Licences and non payers<div style="text-align: justify;">When I am out and about on TRB (something we don't do enough) it really cheeses me off to see boats with an out of date licence or no licence being displayed. Why should they not pay to use the waterways when most others do? I know having 2000 miles of canals is hard to police, but our Marina is inspected regularly (I remember it being done twice in as many weeks around October 2008, we have strict rules at Great Haywood Marina about having insurance, Boat Safety and water licence). It seems to me the canals just outside are not inspected at all? I have seen long term moorer's at various points on the Staffs & Worsc and on the Trent & Mersey without a current licence being displayed.<br /><br />Now reading an article on <a href="http://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/">Granny Buttons</a> about the Oxford it seems just maybe <a href="http://www.waterscape.com/features-and-articles/news/2378/british-waterways-removes-illegally-moored-boats-from-oxford-canal">BW are actually doing something</a> about it. It would be a good thing for BW to get something done about it, it would actually make finacial sense to have all of the revenue come in wouldn't it? So wouldn't it actually pay them to hire a few more staff to walk the tow paths of our wonderful heritage and actually find the licence dodgers and either get them to pay up or take their boats and and sell or crush them? If these people actually thought they might just be caught they would do something about it, but as the chances of being caught is about the same as winning the lottery they take the chance.<br /><br />Sorry rant over<br /><br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-53090249316890856562009-04-01T14:39:00.000+01:002009-04-01T14:40:06.480+01:00Some photos from Wolseley Bridge & Tixall Wide Trip<div style="text-align: justify;">A few photos from last weekends trip to Wolseley Bridge with Mrs EB's sister Liz. We had a marvellous time.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamZ85OLwgNlLa_e_0GjbyajFpzIBnKC0f90Th-VzbghlCETxAnlm_x9xIu7MkqqnUZsAH7ch95ovoV6xlvVZj7qsIwAY7m6JxzgN46rC4zjh_NwQT_PE4Crytj17nFW27yHUAE75Pmyo/s1600-h/DSCF3509.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamZ85OLwgNlLa_e_0GjbyajFpzIBnKC0f90Th-VzbghlCETxAnlm_x9xIu7MkqqnUZsAH7ch95ovoV6xlvVZj7qsIwAY7m6JxzgN46rC4zjh_NwQT_PE4Crytj17nFW27yHUAE75Pmyo/s320/DSCF3509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319700800814331250" border="0" /></a>Great Haywood Junction heading to Tixall Wide from Wolseley Bridge<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrcjTMaAa4z2Z4d0nyvUIuxyOFgOPzMbSShMDKN7CADIZqbBGWD6GJYrAAQrsbiZWbfsduUhObJZViezn_PuiDfES5OnfbcUFTmv2y8HQ0-jujTZYR-Njo7RgSKgNOrMZC7_THLDWWGY/s1600-h/DSCF3510.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrcjTMaAa4z2Z4d0nyvUIuxyOFgOPzMbSShMDKN7CADIZqbBGWD6GJYrAAQrsbiZWbfsduUhObJZViezn_PuiDfES5OnfbcUFTmv2y8HQ0-jujTZYR-Njo7RgSKgNOrMZC7_THLDWWGY/s320/DSCF3510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319700797313140706" border="0" /></a><br />Heading back to Tixall Wide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcpoAPAoJZJgdvTIaXhvv8aHgydE8WMBV0qsgdlcZFKTzWkUAqhwgqbZecoGsIAff5gobF7Exa36yHRbpLnHQj0ybt1z2MevnfES2QLmdkkrLv0zTKIFQEp4-GSsfdV8UWDN0qiu3Q8w/s1600-h/grebe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcpoAPAoJZJgdvTIaXhvv8aHgydE8WMBV0qsgdlcZFKTzWkUAqhwgqbZecoGsIAff5gobF7Exa36yHRbpLnHQj0ybt1z2MevnfES2QLmdkkrLv0zTKIFQEp4-GSsfdV8UWDN0qiu3Q8w/s320/grebe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319715070472583378" border="0" /></a>2 Grebe on Tixall Wide<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx2rHkBektpfOh4FZrDumzfxra583Ok4_UwXIsYGSKxPalQve4NI2uZ-exOroXoVBSeT6yLaYLZWQjyDKWD24EoJorjO9zR4l2Xcj9Asogsj-UMTh2WQRLQkGu7mCMsDqO2r7vXVYP84/s1600-h/DSCF2661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx2rHkBektpfOh4FZrDumzfxra583Ok4_UwXIsYGSKxPalQve4NI2uZ-exOroXoVBSeT6yLaYLZWQjyDKWD24EoJorjO9zR4l2Xcj9Asogsj-UMTh2WQRLQkGu7mCMsDqO2r7vXVYP84/s320/DSCF2661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319715075051424098" border="0" /></a>Mooring up before Great Haywood Lock<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYK7EN3It61JedyxVhUbwFQhTVmwRMOnTIZQP37aiqMqQ2K6mHMMdId52TjU_lmpmsQOvI85zB0mnyxe0IWIDwGX10v22LTp4KR2vAJ4DuN_n1xSTTpNhQWBX4Hmgk60gl2nFAe4cI3w/s1600-h/DSCF3499.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYK7EN3It61JedyxVhUbwFQhTVmwRMOnTIZQP37aiqMqQ2K6mHMMdId52TjU_lmpmsQOvI85zB0mnyxe0IWIDwGX10v22LTp4KR2vAJ4DuN_n1xSTTpNhQWBX4Hmgk60gl2nFAe4cI3w/s320/DSCF3499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319700791920822802" border="0" /></a>Cows crossing a bridge behind us (EB and Liz)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uIK2FLCk7NDPlPrT41IR1RooQSQ8EqEAXI-Wfg0u6bO328BawLRYY3ZV0o5PqZ7wTXrbKZ1iCJBtrs_-cnL4sWEexoXLi3ND6tqpibjRTwQgw0WsYzexK0BC-TbeBwmnjLTSo362knA/s1600-h/DSCF3493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uIK2FLCk7NDPlPrT41IR1RooQSQ8EqEAXI-Wfg0u6bO328BawLRYY3ZV0o5PqZ7wTXrbKZ1iCJBtrs_-cnL4sWEexoXLi3ND6tqpibjRTwQgw0WsYzexK0BC-TbeBwmnjLTSo362knA/s320/DSCF3493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319700269385276242" border="0" /></a>Little Haywood Lock<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcAUOaiR0EhSZL4F8Hz_iyu0NwL05WgqAxj2WZgFI_x4iEFNMN0nd3uCA9LefkFZ3mYaXMq96GFtBa7XzzXOIr2d0RxgoPnwr1228udo32UvH2M-sjv2JoqQpV4TZh0Rg9lDuIT7hqo8/s1600-h/DSCF3487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcAUOaiR0EhSZL4F8Hz_iyu0NwL05WgqAxj2WZgFI_x4iEFNMN0nd3uCA9LefkFZ3mYaXMq96GFtBa7XzzXOIr2d0RxgoPnwr1228udo32UvH2M-sjv2JoqQpV4TZh0Rg9lDuIT7hqo8/s320/DSCF3487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319700264337965986" border="0" /></a>Spring has finally Sprung<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPPAGTOsBPV0W2NdxbK9VY016YcfoQ4AxsdMOcpeW3K-wYNqAjmIdyl8IYDY8NjKcgG1Z55zmgrG-tjr2dQjMDwxTJIhzKOTUWPARoXiapAaod5I7Sw7ID1f6DGR3SVtUZols6vsFH-M/s1600-h/DSCF3478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPPAGTOsBPV0W2NdxbK9VY016YcfoQ4AxsdMOcpeW3K-wYNqAjmIdyl8IYDY8NjKcgG1Z55zmgrG-tjr2dQjMDwxTJIhzKOTUWPARoXiapAaod5I7Sw7ID1f6DGR3SVtUZols6vsFH-M/s320/DSCF3478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319700264753182866" border="0" /></a>How beautiful is England!!! who needs anywhere else?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf3-danmflQ-V8gcc-QX1l09iC8aQSePE1bTlqZYzZM3JtmJW6UZYjuE4LDZfnBUxAfjgNDwdhCDW8o4oWE_R3kkfPXhzgc3KqYomIQETbgQm0Gf9ViQifVdq1ZrYBtpWjZZzBhKoEi0/s1600-h/DSCF3470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf3-danmflQ-V8gcc-QX1l09iC8aQSePE1bTlqZYzZM3JtmJW6UZYjuE4LDZfnBUxAfjgNDwdhCDW8o4oWE_R3kkfPXhzgc3KqYomIQETbgQm0Gf9ViQifVdq1ZrYBtpWjZZzBhKoEi0/s320/DSCF3470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319700254730519778" border="0" /></a>A swan nested at the winding just after Wolseley Bridge<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNnxVV4itFJXvsMBltfE8L2lANd0_Z9oYycbyYu5-X8FHnPIgGxujHcKcHA5Pf2SUxfzeDVNS_7yNko36sXxz157-wwCsgO2fY_mX-Vp1RL-FOQ5uDez-B6yC4j3xdycAbDvZn8sRyQ0/s1600-h/DSCF3461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNnxVV4itFJXvsMBltfE8L2lANd0_Z9oYycbyYu5-X8FHnPIgGxujHcKcHA5Pf2SUxfzeDVNS_7yNko36sXxz157-wwCsgO2fY_mX-Vp1RL-FOQ5uDez-B6yC4j3xdycAbDvZn8sRyQ0/s320/DSCF3461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319700251307067202" border="0" /></a>Walkies!!!!<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-16385478994020774592009-03-31T15:48:00.006+01:002009-03-31T15:59:34.986+01:00Thanks Bones.<div style="text-align: justify;">I was reading Bones's blog and she mentions that her Boat Safety Scheme Certificate is due and this has caused a very slight ripple of urgency in her. This has made me check my paper work on TRB today when I popped up there to set the heating and pick up my IPod.<br /><br />I have found 2 certificates of complience in my "The Robber Button" logbook folder. The frst one is from 2005 when the hull was completed by Keith Woods and then I have one for 2007 from James Barron-Clarke on the completeion of the Build and remedial work when we took over TRB as a new boat.<br /><br />So I either need a BSS certificate this year or in 2011? I will ask Derek the Gas installer who fixed my gas leak earlier this year. I'd like to thank Bones as I could be in trouble if I hadn't checked all of that paper work.<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-40512867016546163402009-03-30T09:48:00.006+01:002009-03-31T15:57:39.511+01:00Wolseley Bridge<div style="text-align: justify;">Photo's will be added this evening<br /><br />So Friday arrived and we met at TRB for a weekend of relaxing, Friday afternoon we did the usual shop and also bought a treat the new James Bond film. Once back from the supermarket and tea was made and enjoyed we settled down to watch A Quantum of Solace on my laptop. I nearly cried as they destroyed the Aston Martin DB9!!! (I really do love that car)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Saturday morning Mrs EB set off home to meet her sister who had just flown back from her holidays and then they drove to the marina. I made TRB ready and we set off about 11:30am for Wolsey Bridge, two locks and about 2 miles. Not a vast trip but enjoyable and it was freezing with a damp air with the odd bits of rain. We got there about 1:30pm and had lunch and a glass of nice red. A little bit of chat and stuff, I then took us to the winding and turned TRB round and headed back to Wolseley Bridge as we had planned on going to the Wolseley Arms for tea.<br /><br />Waking early Sunday morning 8:30 (really 7:30 DST started), we had taken a day off Church (that doesn't happen very often) I set for home about 9 am we went via Tixall Wide as then sun was out and it was the most beautiful morning. Arriving at Great Haywood Marina at about 11:30 we needed to refuel and pump out, there was queue 1 boat in and one waiting, so I moored up at the side by John and Jons Marina engineering. Mrs EB's sister loaded her car and I went and said hello to Jeff, one of the owners of the marina. He was as rude as ever and even tried to stop me getting in the club house!!! I had the last laugh, he was helping to to moor a boat that was filling up and I had a bacon butty, and winked at him and said if he had been a little nicer he could have had on as well.<br /><br />After filling up and pumping out I moored up and we cleared away, I topped up the water and washer TRB down, Mrs EB tidied up TRB. It was a wonderful weekend and very nice to see Mrs EB's sister.<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-24056564501500223022009-03-26T17:45:00.001+00:002009-03-26T19:14:21.130+00:00The Wet Black Bottom is now in the water.<div style="text-align: justify;">So today after 3 days of jet-washing, and painting The Robber Button was trailered back into the water, a slightly nerve racking experience. Jon Sharpe an expert with the tractor and trailer reversed the huge lifting trailer upto TRB<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNLiPMpM7dVlPFxlX9MRfs6-ReJuAgV2hPhEMDADQynpImdTka14a0tPgKTd3o1J5YNDdw2AIw8h1BWDOAssJmXCCOfImNNJyAdOGH2BcYOw2yDTYmJjuGqv3CNplqUc9HAtbgJTVfRE/s1600-h/DSCF2660.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNLiPMpM7dVlPFxlX9MRfs6-ReJuAgV2hPhEMDADQynpImdTka14a0tPgKTd3o1J5YNDdw2AIw8h1BWDOAssJmXCCOfImNNJyAdOGH2BcYOw2yDTYmJjuGqv3CNplqUc9HAtbgJTVfRE/s320/DSCF2660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317547703824668754" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is when an amazing piece of driving is needed, one slight misjudgement and our wonderful boat could be damaged beyond repair, John made it look very easy. </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Aft<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7HkVUcGDFaXgtwRfAGKNEOI_YtQPvZ9KYGZFLMw2Tdyo1MERUkQ9ObRcR7slAniajYXrXZl87hFlyzwOR0WwFyPCI9KVAtuO7vt23__1rN97EgV3gqQ9kWNXAO6_MVckGlqfippcUPQ/s1600-h/DSCF2659.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7HkVUcGDFaXgtwRfAGKNEOI_YtQPvZ9KYGZFLMw2Tdyo1MERUkQ9ObRcR7slAniajYXrXZl87hFlyzwOR0WwFyPCI9KVAtuO7vt23__1rN97EgV3gqQ9kWNXAO6_MVckGlqfippcUPQ/s320/DSCF2659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317547699770252466" border="0" /></a>er a short time I climbed aboard the trailer and onto the stern of TRB whilst John drove up to the rear gates and then revered down the slipway, I put the tiller arm on and made her ready to reverse off the trailer. I have to say I was slightly nervous, the wind had got up and there were waves on the marina. It went very smoothly and I was soon reversing off the trailer and up to our mooring. I was just reversing onto our jetty when the wind took the bow.... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEu8xrjrTtFxWHxWSFQEYYWpYB2jvDzXaShSVxTRDY27mi9lHM9w9q0x6tJ2Vk0-SGhYvde0xo3t5drWesql335Ks5j6PdaHIEemzPRPP_qYsEaFHnufsPjV3-xQYajtyyRXk__lDwAU/s1600-h/DSCF2657.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEu8xrjrTtFxWHxWSFQEYYWpYB2jvDzXaShSVxTRDY27mi9lHM9w9q0x6tJ2Vk0-SGhYvde0xo3t5drWesql335Ks5j6PdaHIEemzPRPP_qYsEaFHnufsPjV3-xQYajtyyRXk__lDwAU/s320/DSCF2657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317547691474223618" border="0" /></a> and I had to start all over again, I have never done this on my own, Mrs EB usually grabs one of the guide ropes and pulls TRB in whilst I am guiding the boat in with the engine and tiller. It was interesting and fun, I was offered help by a couple of very helpful people, but I declined as I really wanted to achieve this on my own, and I did it!!!! yay<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-67397336140894116472009-03-25T16:55:00.006+00:002009-03-25T18:04:11.598+00:00A Very Wet Black Bottom (day 3 of Blacking)<div style="text-align: justify;">I drove to the Marina with a scowl on my face it was raining and boy was it raining. It was also very cold, but at least it wasn't freezing. There are rules to painting blacking on a boat, rule 1 You can't do it with the risk of freezing or at a temperature below zero and rule 2 you can't do it in the rain.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The port side of the boat was in the lee side of the wind and rain, so I managed to get that done pretty quickly, unfortunately the starboard side was in the wind and was really getting a battering. I couldn't do anything at all for about an hour and half as the rain was relentless. After that it did ease slightly, so armed with a drying cloth and my roller I started again only to be rained on again after about 15 minutes. That was how it was until the starboard was done about an hour or so later.<br /><br />Now The Robber Button has a nice Blacked Bottom and is ready to be put back in to the water tomorrow afternoon.<br /><br />To have the backing done by someone would have costed £7 per foot plus the lift out of £150. which is a whopping £549.00 I am guessing plus V.A.T. I do have to pay for the paint I have used, about 1/3 of a large tin which I am getting at trade from the wonderful Jon & John as I have been helping them out, so I have saved a heck of a lot of money which is just wonderful, as being out of work means no money, but I do have to say I am well tired and in need of a large curry and cold beer.<br /><br />This is my first real D.I.Y job on TRB, I am not in the class of Mortimer Bones or Captain Ahab, but I do feel very proud of myself for having done some major D.I.Y work on The Robber Button.<br /><br />Knowing that TRB will be back in the water tomorrow we have a weekend trip planned Mrs EB's sister is joining us and we will be popping out to find a pub on the cut for a meal and few glasses of something of the vine or from the Hop.<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-28695389002835631102009-03-24T17:13:00.003+00:002009-03-24T18:57:21.394+00:00We have a Shiny Black Bottom!!!! (Blacking day 2)<div style="text-align: justify;">So I arrived at Great Haywood in glorious sunshine. I was given an old paint brush and an old roller and a paint tray and off I went. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3HPjVhbBLm9SnfiDy6s8sRxbCC-IOD6GpgcIhvuZmtKT4pU67gGdVc1qnMWht6YgLLUbboCPElhkMmVgMfwbktq0_LJKAnHeWmx_aEQSM9ntn6xLTUD2qMiwLyxd7YvU-5I4XhoRT6I/s1600-h/DSCF2656.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3HPjVhbBLm9SnfiDy6s8sRxbCC-IOD6GpgcIhvuZmtKT4pU67gGdVc1qnMWht6YgLLUbboCPElhkMmVgMfwbktq0_LJKAnHeWmx_aEQSM9ntn6xLTUD2qMiwLyxd7YvU-5I4XhoRT6I/s400/DSCF2656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804763069327698" border="0" /></a> Painting first with the brush the water line, I painted a good thick layer of bitumen paint 57 feet one side and 57 feet the other. Then I started on the roller and about 4 hours later she had a covering of blacking all over the hull and the swim.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Q8DqOR05oWKaXr0LYwbuu_ns1ae0gRjH9M0tcoOtBMZ3YPIyGOBdUTYAGA74rkeABk5TtVM0wBo3z-XSP_8_vN82lPRV698DaahK0oM9WSvwyjNPespzA8KLLC6QPv-8lYX1WbR_me8/s1600-h/DSCF2654.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Q8DqOR05oWKaXr0LYwbuu_ns1ae0gRjH9M0tcoOtBMZ3YPIyGOBdUTYAGA74rkeABk5TtVM0wBo3z-XSP_8_vN82lPRV698DaahK0oM9WSvwyjNPespzA8KLLC6QPv-8lYX1WbR_me8/s400/DSCF2654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804746122150898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I took a break at about 1pm and popped into Great Haywood and bought a lot of bacon for sandwiches and made us all bacon sarnies...Mmmmmm I love bacon sarnies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3kZK1Q8DObhujsioCR8aOWWMBoKFzw0LfFuieCd9K_47Xg3hsIA5VkzBP0vD1lGfoHIxGmwIy4RAoquhkdLpLzUJehTnFoHBuow4zBlv4UTR9fA6ZxHWjcuKnBFo7g1ptSOI5Tg0BMc/s1600-h/DSCF2655.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3kZK1Q8DObhujsioCR8aOWWMBoKFzw0LfFuieCd9K_47Xg3hsIA5VkzBP0vD1lGfoHIxGmwIy4RAoquhkdLpLzUJehTnFoHBuow4zBlv4UTR9fA6ZxHWjcuKnBFo7g1ptSOI5Tg0BMc/s400/DSCF2655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804761135913170" border="0" /></a>. Then after lunch I used the roller again and painted the water line once again. That was that for the day, nature will take it's course and the paint will dry and tomorrow I can give TRB her final coat of Blacking.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOkqjbvwG5vltNbKL4YUNj1wU4UsMzOFEMWHZ-J1OcODGZj9DEhS2n9B2ofnFJDAJF8Uwb3Z3N0xSUOBrNRLTzX2rsYzn498AYgNaor0tfPOW8uB6IVMWJcZLnl_CH26sJGZ_tClAfIQ/s1600-h/DSCF2653.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOkqjbvwG5vltNbKL4YUNj1wU4UsMzOFEMWHZ-J1OcODGZj9DEhS2n9B2ofnFJDAJF8Uwb3Z3N0xSUOBrNRLTzX2rsYzn498AYgNaor0tfPOW8uB6IVMWJcZLnl_CH26sJGZ_tClAfIQ/s400/DSCF2653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316804279726151282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />TRB looks great with her Shiny Black Bottom.<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-33083965631108505642009-03-23T18:25:00.001+00:002009-03-27T11:00:03.308+00:00Day 1 of Blacking (prep) (or cleaning a big dirty bottom)<div style="text-align: justify;">I arrived at a rainy Great Haywood Marina, to be greeted by John and Jon I was to be the first boat pulled out. I helped John, for insurance reasons, John would sail the boat onto the trailer, basically if the boat was damaged or fell off the trailer I wouldn't be covered.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3w51qQ3i9UdHuzQkOjicALRrUfWU6j7aH3KSK5KZdvLV0WajPIMqdXFvgbmpcaVZ1jmZKCma5IBaSPwsZQCufrbau-xBTIo7iqZupdAvtVuxTzgsF3CqP4GRvgaHObebNCPoSFjzgWE/s1600-h/John.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3w51qQ3i9UdHuzQkOjicALRrUfWU6j7aH3KSK5KZdvLV0WajPIMqdXFvgbmpcaVZ1jmZKCma5IBaSPwsZQCufrbau-xBTIo7iqZupdAvtVuxTzgsF3CqP4GRvgaHObebNCPoSFjzgWE/s400/John.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316422232269357906" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6ZuNSvmucQOQINz4y8rOixhAZjV2sjUW0DMztki6QgtMrvpq7ejFNxCG4Qs1rgZwR2nf0lzC18Hhhi0wWAxTiH9Vhv_EkS9or4ZZoCTxQR4ODIBxjxQrLoC7PBcbyoi-1N31Zc5fly8/s1600-h/Reversing.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6ZuNSvmucQOQINz4y8rOixhAZjV2sjUW0DMztki6QgtMrvpq7ejFNxCG4Qs1rgZwR2nf0lzC18Hhhi0wWAxTiH9Vhv_EkS9or4ZZoCTxQR4ODIBxjxQrLoC7PBcbyoi-1N31Zc5fly8/s400/Reversing.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316422245074936722" border="0" /></a>So by about 10:30 TRB was on the trailer being hauled out of the water. This is amazing to watch and is not an easy job, well I know I wouldn't want to reverse someone pride and joy and place it on blocks...... Anyhooo 8 large wooden blocks were placed under TRB and she was lowered onto them. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmb6aE3yoCiRQ7nl19ubdLb1BeDpECskuQ873vi9uAKs2SxJlW31X2nFR3zTRVlzHcWLUnt_rRgWEMSHFXS-r96cfQFgwVwWosNUwAu2bVWbKrzcHXpMEIhZrh6ITcff6rQ7GKXlgInc/s1600-h/On+Blocks.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmb6aE3yoCiRQ7nl19ubdLb1BeDpECskuQ873vi9uAKs2SxJlW31X2nFR3zTRVlzHcWLUnt_rRgWEMSHFXS-r96cfQFgwVwWosNUwAu2bVWbKrzcHXpMEIhZrh6ITcff6rQ7GKXlgInc/s400/On+Blocks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316422249270726930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Once on them I made us all a cuppa and then I was shown the huge jet-washer, diesel powered and so strong that it is a fight to keep it spraying onto the hull of the boat. So for the next hour and half or so I was spraying the bottom of my boat, two and half years of grime and weed was just flying off, along with old paint and rust. With the help of very heavy rain, it was a very wet and messy business but highly enjoyable. The jet-washing job was done but it was raining and Jon and John had to go to do something away from the marina so I locked up a boat on stilts and headed home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tM5l1b-lP-fpzNLyTS6NAMDipInCISjqGXlVSM1BapMCR9tw6RmyBjHp-GYFnEe7YyCqRkJt0l_4XL_f2aa_PYvrTh2Th3TQGVHNxISjJz5BOchHMuyHrmSbnzQphQ0WkRsvLCuGKj4/s1600-h/Blocks+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tM5l1b-lP-fpzNLyTS6NAMDipInCISjqGXlVSM1BapMCR9tw6RmyBjHp-GYFnEe7YyCqRkJt0l_4XL_f2aa_PYvrTh2Th3TQGVHNxISjJz5BOchHMuyHrmSbnzQphQ0WkRsvLCuGKj4/s400/Blocks+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316422258530242018" border="0" /></a><br />Tomorrow as long as it isn't raining too much the first coat of blacking will be going on.<br /><br />To be honest her bottom wasn't too dirty and it would have lasted another year, but I am going on what I was told and that was 2 years should be the Maximum time between blacking's, she has never been blacked and I was really surprised that she wasn't as bad as I expected. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yCYHuNvV0MI9gY2UzP-CAgldvfBKROa6muJoWBqv6Ts7jVW4l1oET6ifPeCDOqV9rskuYcyYdgwnPhkvQnw17KTDHTNfJbbSqrLGh8MelL5LqWPI3_DmWrPThY1z-N-Zj33j7piF6lE/s1600-h/Prop.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yCYHuNvV0MI9gY2UzP-CAgldvfBKROa6muJoWBqv6Ts7jVW4l1oET6ifPeCDOqV9rskuYcyYdgwnPhkvQnw17KTDHTNfJbbSqrLGh8MelL5LqWPI3_DmWrPThY1z-N-Zj33j7piF6lE/s400/Prop.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316425693423478770" border="0" /></a>One side had a heck of a lot of weed growing on it and some big rust pockets. It was also good to see first hand the propeller (<a href="http://therobberbutton.blogspot.com/2008/02/bot-props-and-paint.html">read this link</a>)</div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-36768846207062645772009-03-21T13:59:00.004+00:002009-03-21T15:00:27.734+00:00Good weather...needed<div style="text-align: justify;">I popped up to Great Haywood yesterday with my Mum, she hasn't seen TRB for a very long time and remarked how nice the boat looked and how wonderful the marina now looked now that the plants had settled in and the grass was now established.<br /><br />Not at the boat today as Mrs E.B is in London at a meeting and I will be at the marina from Monday blacking TRB if the weather allows. It isn't looking good, the boat needs to back in the water by Saturday.... Lets hope and pray I can it all done by then.<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-55054441587145084052009-03-16T13:32:00.005+00:002009-03-16T13:43:59.254+00:00The Hammock<div style="text-align: justify;">I thought I would add a couple of photo's from inside TRB below is the Galley and the Saloon, on the work top is the bulkhead hide from the bathroom where the leak has soaked it...well it is drying out nicely and I will be putting it back this weekend. Over the Kitchen hatch is the new fly screen which is a very welcome addition. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2-qIj1Q5GoPLby_8Mi1xz-XnLAd0Da8QyORiY2VdlX5c7yqMESAv2tilchyphenhyphenqCCZsJW9pVwsR8NOQz0hzBNjVuWTxnGPg0i-pN35WuZIzHxc-z01bRGx3ZUm-7whO_uAvIszKcDhAh28/s1600-h/DSCF2570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2-qIj1Q5GoPLby_8Mi1xz-XnLAd0Da8QyORiY2VdlX5c7yqMESAv2tilchyphenhyphenqCCZsJW9pVwsR8NOQz0hzBNjVuWTxnGPg0i-pN35WuZIzHxc-z01bRGx3ZUm-7whO_uAvIszKcDhAh28/s400/DSCF2570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313779836413129426" border="0" /></a>The most comfortable bed in the world "The Hammock" it is just wonderful and is even better when it is a very windy night.....<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMO5eoonU0CwI3m7646pyBzTtwVQvbY3ojaCcF5TYAel-WzbNqmeIhqkGCd84_7RsTB09ZAZFwXVzxeftW1YTx9xFSzrL36GhMhZW77R4moC6QdAi6kglxUeuM-MB4N0zRuSM8HISY18/s1600-h/DSCF2569.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMO5eoonU0CwI3m7646pyBzTtwVQvbY3ojaCcF5TYAel-WzbNqmeIhqkGCd84_7RsTB09ZAZFwXVzxeftW1YTx9xFSzrL36GhMhZW77R4moC6QdAi6kglxUeuM-MB4N0zRuSM8HISY18/s400/DSCF2569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313778576879870098" border="0" /></a>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1325603381156835325.post-61327770929243165622009-03-15T16:52:00.003+00:002009-03-15T18:59:07.138+00:00Windy morning<div style="text-align: justify;">I had a meeting with a friend on Friday afternoon so I didn't get to TRB until around 6pm and the marina was all quiet and deserted. I got on board and turned the heating on and lit a coal fire Mrs EB would be about an hour behind me as she was working late. I set about cleaning and making TRB all nice for her arrival, which was at about 6:50 I was listening to The Now Show on R4. Once that was over we had a drive up to Stone and found a wonderful Idian and had a great curry. The portions were huge and the herns and spices tasted fantasic.<br /><br />Back on board I decided to sleep in the hammock, which was great and so comfortable, during the nigh the wind really got up... I was rocked to sleep. The nest morning I went to see when TRB would be pulled out and I was given a date of a week on Monday, so that will be a busy week of painting. The wind was really blowing across the marina so we decided not to go out but stay at the marina, John and Jon asked for a hand when they were putting a boat back in the water and taking a boat out and the wind wasn't playing so I was on a guide rope.... all great fun. I cooked the guys a bacon and egg sandwich which seemed to hit the spot.<br /></div>D Baynhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15540659830488516098noreply@blogger.com0