Another Year nearly Over…

It never ceases to amaze me how quick the years fly over, and yes, I will say it again, the older you get the quicker they go!

It was a bitter sweet year for me. The sweet being the birth of my second Granddaughter, Darcy, who like her Sister Phoebe is an absolute joy!

Another sweet, was me meeting the lovely Danny at Easter, we are getting on famously and things are going really well. I was beginning to give up on the relationship front, but Danny restored my faith, we do a lot of laughing and feel really comfortable in each others company so happy days!

The bitter was of course losing my lovely little dog Bobby. I still miss him dreadfully, but I find as time has passed, I smile when I think of him,rather than cry. One day I would like another, but for now I am so busy it really wouldn’t be fair.

I am looking forward to Christmas this year, more than I have done for a good few years. Danny and I are having dinner with my Mum. I will see my two lovely Daughters and Son all under the same roof together, I can’t wait, it will be a chance for Danny to meet everyone, including the Munchkins, Phoebe and Darcy!

Well, 2013 has been an eventful year for me. I feel like I have my life back on track. Being happy in my personal life has had a knock on effect, my enthusiasm for things has returned. I managed to get Tickety Boo painted inside and out! There is still lots to do, but I am so pleased with how she is looking now.

My worries about how the boat would look painted inside, disappeared once I saw the difference it made. It is so much lighter and more spacious looking, well as spacious as such a small space can look!

I wanted a complete change, and that’s how it looks totally different! As it still isn’t finished, I will keep you in suspense just a bit longer. In the New Year I will post photos as promised to keep you up with progress. I still have my kitchen units to paint, as I want to change the butter milk to a lovely shade of green, a green that I have picked out from my new curtains…

This is my side Hatch, I find a curtain in the winter keeps out the drafts. I knew as soon as I saw this material I wanted it, little birds, and have you noticed all out of their cages just as they should be! I just have poles threaded through top and bottom, I left the poles slightly bigger than the hatch so they wedge in and stay in place, easy just to pop out when I need to open hatch, simple but effective!

So here is looking forward to a great New Year, I have so much to look forward to! We will hopefully get out on the boat a lot more in 2014, been so busy painting this year I haven’t done much sailing, and I miss it…a lot!

Just before I go, I would just like to wish you all….

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 A Very Merry Christmas

and a wonderful 2014 xxx.

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Bye Little Bobs…

 

 

This lovely little black bundle has been my closest companion, through thick and thin.

To say I loved him to bits doesn’t quite cover it, he was my very own canine sailor, and I was lucky to have him.

He sadly had a tumour and only showed signs of it when it was too far gone to do anything for him…

Letting him go was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I knew in my heart though that he had lost his sparkle and was not the happy little chap he always was, I was not prepared to see him go through the pain that was inevitable.

I spent the last two days with him on the boat and spoiled him rotten! All the things he wasn’t supposed to have were his for the taking, chocolate, cheese treats and anything else he wanted. It was nice that he was still well enough to enjoy all these usually forbidden treats. He had belly scratches and neck rubs galore, even directing my hand with his paw so I knew just which bit I’d missed!

We cuddled, played and acted daft, I cried and cuddled some more, and knew my decision was the right one.

I took him for his last walk, and instead of rushing him, let him sniff everything he wanted, and believe me he sniffed every blade of grass, lamp post and tree!

As rotten as he must have been feeling, he still mustered up the energy to play with his favourite ball, his tail rigid and upright in hunt mode when I hid the ball up my jumper!

I loved that we had that time together. It was hard as he didn’t look as ill as he really was, he was just tired and not his usual self.

He spent his last afternoon lazing on the back deck of the boat, his favourite place. It was a mild day, and it was nice for him to just do what he loved best and watch the dogs walk by on the opposite tow path.

The Vet and Veterinary Nurse were so lovely, they made the whole process dignified for both Bobby and I, and made it as easy as it could be to say goodbye to him, I will always be grateful for that, as I know how often they must do it, but they made me know they really cared.

I will thank them with a card and well deserved chocolates and Wine.

I would also like to thank with all my heart :-

Lesley, who got me through the whole process from start to finish, without her I would have been totally lost. Bobby would stay with her if I went away, her, and her Son Jordan were affectionately known as, “ Doggy Pontins”, and Bobs liked his stay with them.

Danny, who was also an absolute brick and like Lesley was there for me at the hardest times. He had only known Bobs for a short while but was really taken with him, as Bobs was with Danny,in his aloof manner! ( Bob being the aloof one, not Danny)!! I was so pleased he had the chance to get to know the lovable cute character Bobby was, if only for a short while.

My Mum, Dean, Kirsty and Heather who like me, were really upset to hear I had to let Bobby go, as much for me as him because they knew how special he was to me.

Mark who came to say farewell, and was there as a neighbour and friend if I needed him in an emergency in the middle of the night.

My work mates who were all really supportive too, and all the lovely friends who left messages on my fb page, it all really helps.

It also helps to write it all here too, no apologies, as I need you all to know just how special he was, oh and gorgeous!

I have many many gorgeous photos of Bobby, but the one at the top of the page is one of my favourites. I will frame it and hang it up in the boat, adorned with the third place rosette he won, in the one and only Dog Show he entered. The Category was Scruffiest Dog and he came third, how proud was I?!!

The photo will be a reminder to me of all the lovely and happy years I had with one very, very special little Dog, who will be very sadly missed, but who will always conjure up memories of his comic ways ,which will never ever fail to make me smile…

          RIP Gorgeous Boy xxx

The Rainbow Bridge

inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Long Over Due Catch Up!

Ok, where to start! Well first of all Tickety Boo has finally got her lush green coat back…not before time!

As I mentioned in past posts, I was itching to have her looking, “cared for” again.

I used Dulux Weathershield, as I said I would, and couldn’t be anymore pleased with the result. It was lovely paint to use, even in the really warm weather, and I am really pleased with the finish…

Before…

After…

I actually had a lot of before pictures, but annoyingly I deleted them from my camera by mistake, but these two give a rough idea of the improvement the paint job made!

I am chuffed with it! I want to put on a couple more coats, but as you all know the weather has taken a wet turn, so I will have to wait for a few dry days.

Now that the outside is getting there, my thoughts are on revamping the inside. I have had the boat eight years, with the same colour scheme, I want a RADICAL change. I know some of you out there, especially boaters, will throw their hands up in despair at this next comment…the wood has to go!! I love it but I want a change…I will take the bit between the teeth and paint…I want light, bright and airy, there I have said it!!  I have had the idea in mind for a while, but shied away from covering the wood grain, but recently I am beginning to find it rather dark and oppressive. My Daughter, Kirsty’s comment of, “ You have lived in a Sauna long enough”, has given me the final push I needed!!

A whole new can of worms have been opened!! Questions being:-

1. What will it look like?

2. Will I be sorry once the wood is covered? As there will be no going back?

3. Am I making a rod for my own back, having to paint every year, or at the very least wipe down everywhere after my Winter Fires?

I have mulled over these questions on many occasion, but I have the idea in my head now, and when Debbie gets an idea, it has to be done!

So love it or hate it Tickety Boo’s interior will be transformed!!

The transformation is not imminent, as I have the lovely job of scraping and wire brushing the Engine bay and giving that a couple of coats of paint, not a job I am looking forward to. Hopefully the new man in my life, Danny, will give me a hand, even if it is dragging me out of the bay when I get stuck! I know for a fact I will, as it is so fiddly!

Being a woman who loves soft furnishings and all the trimmings you add to a freshly decorated home, I am so looking forward to my new look abode! I have an idea of the colour scheme I want but you will have to wait and see!

I will be doing it on a very tight budget, but it should be interesting watching it unfold. I will be posting my progress on here. Oh and I will make sure the before photos won’t be inadvertently deleted this time!

Well, the weekend just gone was great fun! I went to the fair! Blackpool to be precise. Now I apologise now for my next sentence, it is not meant to offend but, I don’t really like Blackpool, never have… but to be fair I was really impressed with the revamped fair ground. The last time I went it was tatty and tired, this time it was lovely. All clean and modern.

I am proud to say I went on all the scary rides, Danny’s ringing eardrums is testament to that, I screamed like a gooden! it was great fun, I loved it! What made it even nicer, it was a treat off Danny, and the company of him and the lovely Kieran and Erin made the day even more enjoyable, so big thank you to them!

My bones are protesting slightly at the bashing about they endured during some of the rides, but well worth it I would say. The Big One, or Pepsi Max as it is now known, was unfortunately closed due to high winds, I was soooooo disappointed….oh ok, ok I wouldn’t have gone on it anyway, I only had to look at the height of it, that was enough to come to the decision of….NO CHANCE!

There  were a lot of queue's but sometimes that added to the fun watching the look of terror on some of the faces waiting for the rides to start!

So recently my life has been quite busy, going to work, painting the boat, spending quality time with the lovely Danny, seeing my adorable Granddaughters, oh and continuing practicing my singing as we have another show coming up soon!

It is the first time in a while I have felt really good about things, I am happy with my lot, and feel I have things to look forward to after a few years of ups and downs, I am smiling a lot more these days, so all good!

It has taken me a while to realise you are the only one responsible for your own happiness, you can’t off load that responsibility on to someone else. As soon as you realise that, your life changes for the better, mine has…could that be something to do with a certain person who has enhanced my new found happiness…mmm time will tell.

I have a lovely family and friends, so it was unfair to them to be a miserable sod, so I won’t subject them to that any longer, it isn’t really in my genetic make up to be miserable, so I will from this day on do my damndest to be happy…until the electric goes off when it is hammering down with rain and I am in my pyjamas…I can’t promise I won’t be moody, I am a woman, but I will make a concerted effort to still squeeze out a smile through the mood! Sorted!!

Oooo it’s nice to blog again, it has been too long…

Fun Filled Weekend!

Had a really busy weekend, starting with a show on Friday night. It was a fund raiser for Women and Cancer. It was only my second performance singing with the guys, and it was great, I loved it! Looking forward to the next show!

Then Saturday we did Dave John B’s Knockout Road show! There was to be a team of ten of us, but we ended up just eight, but we had an absolute ball, it was the best fun I have had in ages! We were sponsored to take part by Home Bargains, the shop where I work. They kindly paid our entrance fee of £25 each to take part,we then had friends to sponsor us individually, I raised £65! It was in aid of the, “Walking With Giants Foundation”, for those of you that don’t know, it is for people and families that have Primordial Dwarfism, a real worth while cause, and one I was very proud to be a part of.

All of us that took part were game for a laugh, and I have to say that’s what we did most of the day! The Knockout Road Show was amazing, I would recommend it for any companies that want a team building or fund raising event.

I have to say though, parts of my body ached afterwards, in places I didn’t know were there! My eyelashes were the only things that didn’t hurt! Every bit of pain was worth it though!

Please take a look at WWGF web site at… www.walkingwithgiants.org to see the wonderful people and the work they do. A big Hi to Alex and his family, and a big thank you for giving me the privilege of taking part in such a fantastic day! Oh and a big thanks too, to all the girls from Home Bargains who gave their all to make the day…What a team!

The weather was glorious, just as well as we got very wet, and had buckets of cold water thrown over us at regular intervals!!

                               BEFORE………

                           

                               AFTER !!

Odds Are Stacked !

The weather is playing havoc with my, and no doubt, your plans.

I have decided not to get stressed over the paint job on the boat, it won’t get me anywhere…

It was a lovely day last Bank holiday, I had booked the day off as I am normally required to work Bank Holidays. I was thrilled to bits the weather was being kind, so I could carry out my plans for the day, or so I thought….

I was up bright and early, put a wash on, had breakfast, walked Bobby Dog, then decided the action was to begin, then it all crashed around my ears. As I gathered all my materials together,ie sand paper, paint, brush I heard voices approaching on the opposite towpath, nooooooooo it was a troupe of Fishermen, there was to be a fishing match! Now I have said this before, I have nothing against sharing the Canal with the men/women who wish to fish, but why oh why when there is miles of beautiful canal, do they fish opposite boats?

Now can you imagine wanting to work in your garden or on your house with twenty odd gnomes with fishing rods watching your every move from 9am till 4pm, unnerving to say the least!

To add insult to injury the old guy who had the peg opposite me, moaned when he saw it was my intention to work, all be it quietly, on my boat! Give me strength!!

All I wanted to do was do a little light hand sanding, then apply red oxide on the hand rails along the roof of the boat.

I told him what my intention was, only to be asked could I do the side nearest him first as my activity would scare the fish!! For a split second, the idea of starting up the engine and giving it a good few revs was appealing, but I didn’t.

I dutifully did the side nearest him, then the other side. I then spent the rest of the day sat inside my boat fuming at the audacity of the Gnome sitting opposite my boat! I had no heart to do anything after that, so a perfectly rare nice painting day was wasted.

I have promised myself that will never, ever happen again, I will carry on regardless and do what ever I need to do on my boat, fishing match or not! After all I have a perfect right to do so, considering I pay a lot of money per year for my license. Can you imagine if I had dictated to him where to aim his precious pole,as it would disturb my working pattern, I actually could have advised him of a very special place where he could stick his bloody pole…..

On a much lighter note, I had a lovely day yesterday. I went to the Annual Lydiate Festival. I have never been before, and it was lovely! The weather was awful to begin with, cold and wet but thankfully the rain went off, but it remained really chilly!

It is held in the grounds of my favourite pub in these here parts, The Scotch Piper and the grounds of St Catherin's Chapel next door, which is now a beautiful old ruin in a pretty setting.

There was plenty to see, Birds of prey, traditional Morris Dancing,re-enactments of Battles of old, good old home made cake stalls and a really good turn out of local people and visitors, all in all it was a lovely day!

Preparing for Battle at the ruin of St Catherin's Chapel, or Lydiate Abbey as it is also known.

The women folk waiting for their men to return from Battle!

Just two of the beautiful rescued Owls on show. The white one above was really friendly and loved to be stroked, my friend said he felt like a marsh mallow, he was so soft!

A lovely day, enjoyed by all.

Hello Out There!

Just thought I best write a quick post to let you all know I haven’t left the planet!

Face Book has a lot to answer for, I tend to keep up with what's going on, on there, oh and the wonderful, Just Canals Forum Page!

For those of you on there hi, those of you not it would be nice to hear from you. I have to add at this point this isn't an advert for the site, it's just me saying how much I like it! For me it's just a daily reminder of all the funny, thoughtful, helpful and passionate boaters who are out there; not to mention the invaluable advice on there too.

Well I am managing to keep warm on Tickety Boo, she is a lovely cosy boat. There is nothing more satisfying than coming in from work, being greeted by Bobby dog, who does a kind of tap dance with excitement, then lighting the fire and wallowing in the heat that slowly seeps through the boat. 

Up till now I haven't had to boil snow, as I did one year, as the standpipe froze. Then again the winter is not through yet! It wasn't a problem and I felt very girl guideish!

I saw my first snow drop poking through the snow today with little buds of white, they are lovely to see, but even more special surrounded by snow!

There is a small paddock not far from my mooring that's carpeted fence to fence with hundreds of Snowdrops, I really must make an effort this year to get photos.

Well hope your all keeping warm in this snowy cold weather, before we know it we will be in to Spring and hopefully a decent Summer...we can live in hope!

Bobs enjoying the white stuff!