Never a dull moment!

We went back to Kantara on Tuesday, to get the jobs finished. It was rather windy, but not too chilly, so we hauled the boat across to the next berth to use that pontoon to wash the other side, and varnish the Roses and Castles. We started to wax using new product, but this was appallingly smeary, despite its claims not to be. We'll take it back to Midland Swindlers if we get the opportunity. We couldn't find a source of the fabulous carnauba wax we've been using for the past three years, so I emailed John Barnard, who'd given it to us.

He doesn't sell it. Back on the interweb, we finally found  a company who did, and ordered it for next day delivery. We did a tiny bit more waxing with the weeny bit remaining in the tub, then more washing and preparation for work the next day.

It arrived the next day, and we finished!

The following day, the sun broke through and gave us the perfect opportunity to take Kantara for a short trip to test the engine after her injector overhaul. It certainly made a difference! The engine was quieter, smoother and far less exhausty. We took her down to Crick, where we had lunch in The Moorings, and did a bit of shopping at the Co-Op. Then we sailed back. An afternoon well spent.

On Saturday evening, cold, damp and windy, there was a Halloween disco/karaoke/social event in the marina. Despite the cold - everyone was wearing coats, hats, scarves and so on -  it was a good evening. We spent our time with a couple of couples we'd not met before - it's always good to exchange boating tales with new acquaintances - and enjoyed a tasty, hot meal prepared entirely by the wife of one of the owners of the marina. Wine and beer at fabulously low prices flowed steadily. Karaoke was... interesting, and the dancing amusing. But all great fun!

We winterised on Sunday, and drove back to the house. We'd intended to visit Ikea and John Lewis in Milton Keynes on the way back, but gave up because of the huge numbers of cars trying to get into the car parks. So, here we are. Decorating to be finished, Christmas to prepare for. Never a dull moment!

Spring cleaning?

The good weather has encouraged us to do some spring-cleaning. OK, so it's autumn, but it sure feels like spring-cleaning we're doing. Washing, cleaning, repairing. Grace is sanding down the inside window-frames, and re-staining and varnishing them. I've washed and waxed both sides of the boat, with only the very front and back left to do. It's all in preparation for next year, done before winter sets in. Come spring, there'll be no time for it. We'll be off on the cut!

Moving into Emma-Jane's berth gave me easy access to the starboard side.

 It didn't take long to produce a mirror-like shine.

Like last year, I used the carnauba wax that came as part of the clean, care and touch-up kit John Barnard gave us when he repainted Kantara. 

It's best applied, very thinly, by hand, and buffed with a soft cloth before the wax can dry. And it leaves an amazing shine on the boat, and gives me clean, soft hands!

The whole job uses very little wax. You only need apply it once each year, so this one small pot's going to last me at least another four years, I should think.

The Arrens from NB Cream Cracker next-door - Karen and Darren - went to Stowe Gardens on Sunday, and loved it. Then Stowe appeared on TV Monday night. Today, we're going there. Today's weather is set to be the best of the week, so blow the work! That can wait!

photo - National Trust

Perfect timing!

Yesterday. First of all, it was Darren's timing. In the morning, when the wind wasn't too bad and the sky was only cloudy, he took Cream Cracker off to Foxton Locks, his intended overnight mooring on the way to Debdale Wharf to have the hull zinc plated.

Then, perfect timing, the sun came out and the wind dropped significantly, so we put the finishing touches to the waxing of the starboard side of the hull. We'd not done the tunnel stripes at the back or the bowflashes (at the front!). Having finished those, we pulled Kantara across into Cream Cracker's space and tied her up there. The port side of the cabin had been at least in part in full sunlight from the moment the sun had shown itself, and I was amazed how hot it was to the touch. Nonetheless, applying the wax in such a low air temperature wasn't as easy as I'd hoped. I applied the wax with my bare hands, and they soon began to feel like slabs of ice. Grace came along behind with cloths to buff where I had waxed. That job was slower, too, but we finished the whole job before the weather changed. There had been huge, black clouds forming, and a few moments of fine drizzle. But we'd finished. We went in for lunch, and to warm ourselves in the heat of the Bubble stove.

Just in time! It rained! Poured! Blew up a gale, too. But by the time we'd finished lunch, it had all cleared, and the sun shone in a friendly, blue sky.

Now we can be confident that the paintwork will be well protected from the worst of the weather over the winter. We're really impressed with the carnauba wax. A couple of applications each year should be more than adequate, we think.

There have been so many good films on offer at the cinema recently. So many, that we're never going to get to see them all on the big screen, and several titles have been added to my "buy the DVD from zoverstocks" list. But we did get to see The lady in the van the other day. The story is described as "mostly true".

"In 1974, the homeless Miss Shepherd moved her broken down van into Alan Bennett's garden. Deeply eccentric and stubborn to her bones, Miss Shepherd was not an easy tenant. And Bennett, despite inviting her in the first place, was a reluctant landlord. And yet she lived there for fifteen years."

I think it goes without saying that it was immensely enjoyable.