March 2013

Friday 1^st Met Barbara, Jill and Andrew initially in the Talbot but soon in the New Inn due to rather loud live band in the Talbot making talking impossible.

2^nd Benny (who we have come to rely on as an alarm clock) failed to wake us until 10.15!! After a large ‘Brunch’ Roger started work on the bathroom alterations. Barbara came for a cuppa in the afternoon.

3^rd Roger working on the bathroom in the morning and then visited by Ann D (midwife) and her partner Lisa and their twins Eleanor and Teddy.

6^th Bought gas and coal from a passing fuel boat. Then took campervan for its MoT (after some starting problems).

7^th Jean having some major work on her teeth!

Evening at the top of Hatton Flight

8^th Drink in the evening at the Hatton Arms with Jill, Andrew, Karen and Roger P

9^th Jean to York and Roger working on the bathroom.

11^th Snow overnight and bitterly cold. Went to Hatton Locks café for full English breakfast.

12^th Jean drove the car to Lapworth and then caught train back to Lapworth station where Roger arrived in the boat  to pick her up. Continued on to Lapworth through Shrewley tunnel where there were giant icicles hanging from the portals. Moored on the link between Stratford and Grand Union canals.

13^th At 11.30 pm we discovered that Benny was stranded on another boat on the other side of the canal! Had to go and ‘rescue’ him in extremely icy conditions!

Benny chilling out after his adventure!

14^th Jean has more serious work on her teeth!

15^th Advertised the campervan on Ebay and then went to Fenny Compton and meet up with Jenny, Rich, Joseph and Samuel for a meal. Joseph then returned with us to the boat for his second night aboard!

16^th Joseph up and about at 6.30 prompt! Rather wet morning so stayed aboard and made Welsh cakes which were burnt but tasty! Bach choir rehearsal in the afternoon which Roger and Joseph dropped in to, and were later joined by Jenny, Rich and Sam.

17^th Andrew Davidson joined us for  a casserole lunch, cooked on top of the wood burner!

Double whammy - using the stove for cooking

After he left we moved the car and the boat to the Black Boy at Knowle. We finally had enough internet signal to place the Ebay ad for the campervan.

18^th More work on the shower; Jean painting and varnishing

19^th March Jean to the dentist for root canal filling! Started tiling the new bathroom panel and discovered new tiles are a fraction smaller than the existing ones. Tricky!!

20^th Tiling today. Excited to find the campervan has already reached its reserve price!

21^st Final fiddly tiling with Roger outside in a ‘Siberian’ wind cutting tiles with the angle grinder. Then over to the campervan to empty its remaining contents into the Kia (Filled to the roof!)

22^nd Awoke to find more snow! Drove Jean to Leamington station to catch train to visit Jenny D in the New Forest. Tony came to visit the boat in the afternoon.

Will winter never end?

23^rd Stocking up on coal and diesel, and more wood logging.

24^th Jean still in the New Forest. Peter over for lunch with Roger at the Black Boy. The campervan sold for £2,150.  Amazing!

They don't build them like that any more!

25^th Jean returned to find there was still thick snow lying on the fields all around us! Spring is a long time coming!

26^th Jean grouting the shower cubicle while Roger chopped wood. Then we had a walk along to Knowle locks.

27^th Clear remainder of campervan equipment in readiness for sale. Jean to the dentist for (thankfully) final session of this treatment.

28^th Jean to York for Easter egg delivery. Plan to return in the Focus was thwarted as the brakes were making a rather alarming noise.

29^th Jenny, Rich, Joseph and Sam along for lunch and a short boat trip up to Knowle locks to fill up with water.

31^st Easter Day.Both of us to church at Radford Rd and then on to Radford Semele for the campervan handover!!  Despite our misgivings the buyer arrived complete with all the cash in £20 notes.