More on Millicent

More on that Narrow Boat we found at the Iron Wharf boat yard, Millicent Maud. Her normal home is Tring on the Grand Union Canal, but the owner lives in Boughton, just down the road. He has her in the boat yard at present for some major structural stuff which he is well into at this stage.

When he bought her she had doors half way along the sides, none at the front end, and a tiny little front deck without sufficient room to sit and enjoy the view, which Mrs and Mr S, and Mum will attest to being the nicest bit, well away from the smoke and engine noise.

So what he's doing is to cut away 3 feet of the cabin front to fabricate a nice seating area, and creating a bulkhead with door into the first room. This would have effectively shortenend the bedroom by 3 feet, which is nobody's idea of a good thing to do, so he's had to do some jiggery pokery inside the boat to give himself back a sensible layout.

He and Dad chatted for what seemed like an hour, when all we wanted to do was get on with the walk!

Men!
Deefski

Millicent Maud

Well lookee here!

What do we find when we are walking around our own local boat yard, but this young lady more used to the canals and waterways of Sowerby Bridge, where we do our own narrow-boating. Yes, I appreciate that there are nearer canals, but heh!

Just now I cannot for the moment imagine what brings her to our town.... some kind of refit or repair for which we are uniquely skilled? Or possibly the owner is a resident of these parts and he/she chose to bring the boat "home" for repair, rather than keep making the journey to the lady's normal moorings. Anyway, Millicent Maud, it's nice to see you and you give us that little excited tingle of holidays to come this Summer.

Meanwhile in bitter winds, we are getting some nice walks in, and meeting some of our good friends - Luca the Lurcher with his games of "tennis" behind the Bowls Pavilion (and Luca's Mum is getting me quite good at catching the bounces too!), Ben, Skiboo, Patch, Smudge and Barney, Bailey the Setter. We are back into those medium length days where everyone walks their dogs in daylight, so gets squeezed into the gap between about half three and half five. Soon the clocks will change and the squeeze will be less, and the walkers more spread out.

For us, meanwhile, another short week work for Dad, and a nice long weekend, using up his 2009 holidays, so some good explorations. Meanwhile Diamond is back in hospital for the moment - her own choice, it suits her for now. Look after yourself, Di.

Deefski