Much ado about nothing

While I was on the boat this week and without wanting to spend much more time on my life belts, I just added a small carabina to each one so I can either use the belts with or without the rope as the need arises. As I have said before, there are probably lots of other ways to do this but this seems OK to me.

The upper reaches of the river are still quite quiet... 

...but Ely is bustling with boats. This week, probably because the weather was hot and summery, the waterfront reminded me of a heaving South Devon harbour during the school holidays. As I've been used to having the river much to myself for the last 4 months, this really does come as a shock to the system.

To get a bit of peace and quiet, on Thursday, I headed down the Cam to take a quiet walk along Burwell Lode. Lots of birds about. I could hear a Cuckoo in the woods around Wicken Fen. Saw my first brood of Great Crested Grebe chicks. And nearly trod on a hairy caterpillar. It's a jungle out there!

Back to the boat, I decided to wash the roof and cabin sides. I used an extendable aluminium broom which makes it easy to wash the whole roof from the bank without having to climb on top but during this I broke the broom in half when I put too much pressure on it. I guessed it's main purpose is for washing house windows rather than boats! Anyway, not wanting to relegate the two bits to the bin, I put it back together with a couple of bolts. It's no longer extendable but it still works well.

I only mention this because it meant I could put into use my tapping skills - not foot-tapping but bolt-tapping. Quite early on in my boating trips, I bought a set of 4mm taps with a tapping handler (above), ans a couple of boxes of 4mm brass and stainless steel bolts. I bought much of this little kit from eBay for next to nothing and it has paid for itself many times over when I've needed to fix handles, locks and clasps, brass folding steps, small cleats, cabin hooks, tv aerial fixtures, etc to the metal parts of the boat. It has also now extended the life of my broom. For fans of Only Fools and Horses, this could be the start of  a 'Trigger's broom' saga; I say no more.

Now we're planning a trip to Northampton. Under any other circumstances, taking 2 weeks to get to Northampton would seem a little odd. After all, why would anyone want to go to Northampton? But in a narrowboat, the it makes more sense. Doesn't it? 

Yes, of course it does!

Rain stopped play

I made a start on the chicken run this morning but the rain stopped play.

I've utilised an old wooden farm gate, an iron pedestrian date and a smaller wooden gate I have been saving for years and coupled them up with some stout posts.

I'll stain all the wooden parts black once the rain stops and Molly's old kennel, in the foreground, will be brought back into use as a roost box. It's what she would have wanted.

I'll make some sort of small roof structure at the shed end to protect the chickens from the rain and sun, leaving the nearest end open to the elements so they can sunbathe or shower depending on what takes their fancy.

We rang the people who are selling us the chickens and they confirmed the run is adequate in size for 4 birds though I still think it looks a little small. We are determined to give our new charges a good deal of freedom to roam around the garden when we are at home so this pen will really only be their sleeping, eating and nesting quarters. 

They mentioned chickens are not basically escape artists so long as they are kept fairly well occupied so we may introduce a few distractions like exercise wheels, mirrors, bells and cuttle fish. The last thing we want is a bunch of bored chickens forming an escape committee and building a glider (sounds like a great story-line for a film). 

They also mentioned the pen needs to be about 6 feet tall to avoid them flying out. As we don't want it to be that high, they are prepared to clip their wings and show us how to do it so they can't leave the ground. Well, I suppose they will still be able to jump a little bit if they want to but not actually take to the wing. We can't just thing of ourselves now; we have to think of their well-being too. Did I say chickens were easy to look after?

By the way, the small nest box on the wall will be left for the sparrows not the chickens!

Now, for something completely different. I saw this opposite our house today. I wondered if someone was having a practical joke...

Look closer...

Chicken Run

In the spare time between boating trips, Kay and I have decided to convert part of our garden to rearing chickens. 

(Note: The taxman doesn't need to get involved because the plan is to only have 4 chickens for our personal use so I don't think he, or Bernard Matthews, has anything to worry about.)

My research has proved they are easy to establish and look after, they make good undemanding pets and pay for their upkeep with a constant supply of organic eggs. 

So the area currently set aside for the clothes dryer and garden clutter is to be converted to a chicken run.

This seems quite small but I'm told this is adequate for 4 chickens and will really only be a sleeping and roosting area. When someone is at home they will be able to have full run of the garden to peck about in.

I'm hoping, with a bit of time and commitment, I my be able to train them to be guard chickens, a bit like farm geese. We'll see.

My knot research

Remember my recent post about tying knots in rope? Well, I've not undertaken a PhD in Advanced Knot Technology yet but I have Googled how much weaker a rope is after you have tied a knot in it. 

Jeff Achey, a climber, says:

Anytime you tie a knot in a rope, you weaken it. In drop tests and pull tests, a rope typically breaks at the knot. The strongest tie-in knot you can use is the figure-eight follow-through, which, when pull-tested, breaks at 75 to 80 percent of the rope’s full strength. The bowline is a slightly weaker knot, at 70 to 75 percent, followed by the double fisherman’s at 65 to 70 percent. The clove hitch is the weakest of the common knots, at 60 to 65 percent. 

I'll now have to research what a figure - eight follow-through is. Sounds like something Tovill and Dean might try.

What a nice man...

Another few days away in the hope I could do some more painting but the weather was too unpredictable.

Ely was good place to moor, if a little busier than I'm used to. I bought some more bits and pieces for the Street Fayre in a couple of months (13th July in fact) and pottered about on board.

At the weekend, I had bought a 30m length of polypropylene rope from my local CBS for a few squid and, as it's brightly coloured and floats, decided it would be good to tie on the two Life Belts. Now, I'm not aware of any right way to tie this on (there must be lots of wrong ways) so I wound each one around my hand and elbow (turning it to avoid any twists), wound the loose end back around it and tucked the looped end in so it would come away with sharp tug - if its ever needed in an emergency. I'll have to research this now to find out if there is a better way.

I was interested to read the wrapper and what it said about knots reducing the strength by 40%. I know splicing is much better but 40% seems a lot.  Again, it's something I will have to read up on.

During one of my more leisurely moments with my feet up in the short-lived sun and reading the Railway Man by Eric Lomax...'Now a Major Motion Picture...' and highly recommended if you like real stories about how some people can withstand the worst of man's brutality, I got chatting to an elderly couple from near Orford.

He was a retired doctor and psychologist (think quickly - better watch what I say!).  He was a keen boater in his younger days and was very interested to know more about narrowboats and how they compared with his experience of sailing boats. I regret not inviting him in when his wife went off to look at the shops as I'm sure he would have enjoyed seeing inside Skylark. Perhaps next time? Anyway, he was a very nice man and I enjoyed our chat.

I had another nice chat with the lady who runs The Eel Catcher's Daughter in Ely High Street. Having taken the plunge 6 months ago, her new shop seems to be doing well selling high quality gifts and other 'homely' things. Reminder: I must take Lady Saga there when she next has an outing on the boat.

Italian Flag?

During my latest catch up call with one of my sons, he mentioned the colours of  my new tiller matches the Italian Flag. Do you know, while I was painting it, I had a strange inkling I'd seen it somewhere before but I couldn't put my finger on it!

Anyway Matt, it got me thinking, you'll be pleased to know, I haven't got anything for or against Italy. I'm sure they are all very nice people who make lovely Neapolitan ice cream and sing great songs in Italian but, to be truthful, I can take them or leave them. 'Phew', I hear you say. 

But then I haven't anything for or against any of the other countries with red, white and green flags like Algeria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burundi, Hungary, Iran, Ingushetia, Italy, Lebanon, Madagascar, Maldives, Mexico, Oman or our own lovely little Principality of Wales. 

As a person born and bred in England I would have gone for our own national colours of red, white and blue, if I'd got some blue paint, but I didn't, so it had to be red, white and green. I just mention all that in case there is any misunderstanding about my motives.

Btw, as I'm talking territories here and Scotland are about to vote whether to stay in the UK, I'll just take this opportunity to say I do quite like Scotland, especially the Cairngorm Mountains, and hope the Scots don't go swanning off on their own. 

I dread to think, if we carry on like this, the Cornwallians will want independence next! Where would it all end?

Anyway, here's a question for you: Why can't the English, Welsh and Northern Irish vote on the Scotland issue? Arn't we old enough?

(Matt, Good luck with the new job. I know it's all a bit top secret at the moment but hope you will soon know what it involves! Just let me know when the diplomatic car will be picking me up for a visit. I'll stock up on the Ferrero Rocher Chocolates.)

Rollers, brushes and paint

I had an interesting chat with a trader at my local CBS. While I chose my selection of rollers and brushes to continue painting Skylark, he explained how difficult it is for him to find good quality goods from his usual suppliers. The ranges and quality are reducing, the costs are increasing and his margins are being squeezed. This is not surprising I suppose as we're not out of the economic recession woods yet and everyone is trying to get as much out of their products as they can but it also means you have to be very careful what you buy, where and for how much.

It's easy to pay 'top dollar' in the High Street and Out of Town but there are still bargains out there if you're willing to find them but it's getting harder all the time.

Also, while I can understand traders will always try to get the sympathy vote, it was obvious to me this man is a genuine sort of chap and it was really proving difficult to find the products he likes selling at a reasonable price. I suppose it's the same for all small independent traders; all the more reason for us to search them out and support them.