Rhyddid - live the questions now

This is excellent news

Excellent news about the Freesat service reported on the BBC News site this lunchtime. The project has been approved so that is TV and radio sorted for the boat! It also means I can buy my self-seeking satellite dish.

In Memory of Dad

Today is the 1st anniversary of Dads death.
During the last few years I have come to realise what a truly special person he was. Those of you who know me will know what has happened over the last few years and throughout all of it Dad was there for me. I know my sexuality made him uncomfortable because of his faith, but at no time did he allow it to show. He stood by me despite what people might think of my past actions and always encouraged me in my new plans. He would have loved the boat and it will always be a regret that he will not see the finished thing. I have some really good memories of him and I know that he is in the thoughts of all the family today and everyday.
Dad I will always miss you.

Floor and windows!

Saturday saw the last two windows fitted and the floor finished. It all took a bit longer than hoped but as I have said earlier I have fixed the floor so I can remove panels easily for things like the shower and checking the bilge. The Thinsulate insulation is ordered from Diverse Marine Solutions who offer excellent service. So finalise the electrical plan this week and start the insulation next Saturday.

Windows in!

Well it's taken longer than I hoped, but I managed to get four windows fitted last evening. I had intended to start on Tuesday, but they didn't quite fit! Steve had to do some tweaking on the corners, much better to small than to big or I would have had a problem. Hopefully I will get a couple more in tonight.

Good weekend on the boat

Got off to a slow start on Sunday. The landlord locked the gate saying people shouldn't be working on a Sunday! Steve arrived at 10 and sorted things out so I only lost half an hour. My next two Sundays are taken up with other things so hopefully it will have been sorted properly by then.
As can been seen by the recent pictures things on the outside are progressing and even better, things are moving inside at last. I did rather overdo things on Saturday, not with the beer, but I hadn't realised how dehydrated I had got and later on Saturday evening I felt very odd. Anyway lots of water over a hour or so and health was restored and I didn't make the same mistake on Sunday. As I said things got off too a slow start but when we got in I pressed on and the floor is getting on. I have cut the panels to allow access to the blocks as I want to ensure the bilge is dry and I still am planning my wine cellar! I also will need to locate the shower pump under the floor. I must say a big thanks to Joe who came over Sunday to assist, a big help. The plan is to get the battens for the window fixing cut tonight and then stop by the yard one evening, landlord permitting and maybe get a window or two in place. We will see.

Good day on the boat

Well Saturday and I am relaxing with a pint of Bumble Bee Fairtrade honey ale. Very good it is too. I felt I owed myself a beer after a very successful day on the boat laying the floor, well to be more accurate starting to lay the floor. So early night tonight and more floor tomorrow. Pictures on Monday.

3 tonnes of ballast

So Thursday dawned bright, so I arrived at the boat yard just after the blocks to ballast the boat. 3 neat stacks each weighting a tonne. Now being someone who works sitting at a desk and who's main exercise is walking into Reading at lunch time this was a slightly daunting sight! Anyway taking things easy too start with and moving ten at a time I gradually filled the bottom of the boat. By mid Thursday afternoon I had moved half the pile, so I called it quits for the day and made my way home as I was entertaining friends for the evening. Anyway back at the boat on Friday for another fun filled day moving concrete! All finished by jut after lunch so to finish the day I gave the hull another coat of blacking, you can't have to much blacking you know!

So the floor is on order and should go in next weekend so long as it stays dry for the week.

Budget windows!

Well more boat progress, as you have seen in the pictures the engine is in, I have also put plastic over the windows to try and keep the inside dry until the real thing goes in, but as a cheap alternative the double glazed plastic might catch on! This week will hopefully see the rear door started and when Ian has finished the engine fit, Steve will start on the rear deck. Thursday should see me starting to install a large number of concrete slabs as ballast!