On the move today

Campbell Park, Milton Keynes 0 miles, 0 locks

Well, it's a big day today. We are on the move later! The mooring at Campbell Park we have been using is only a winter mooring. These can usually be used from October until March. Our time is up here, so for now, we are moving a few miles north to Giffard Park. I walked there with Minnie yesterday and it looks quite nice. There is a big field for the dogs, several shops, a point for water etc, and oh yes I nearly forgot, a pub which is less than 1 minutes walk away!

This will be the first time we have moved the boat, so it will be an exiting day. We have arranged to follow Paul and Valerie in the boat nest to us, who are also going to Giffard Park. They have been great to us offering help and advice each day.

First though, I need to turn the boat round this morning,  put two new fenders onto one side of the boat (these are plastic or rope things that hang over the side of the boat to protect the sides). I will also need to fill up with water before we leave.

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of our first journey and new resting place.

The weekend and more

Weekends at Campbell Park are busy with visitors. Brumpoolie is moored beside the car park and we have a bench seat right outside. This means that a lot of the visitors pass our boat, and use the seat. Lots of people to talk to and lots of doggies for our trio to socialise with.

There were 10 dogs here altogether. Two are behind the lady on the seat and Minnie is out of view somewhere. The dogs had a great time, and owners too. The dog in the centre of the picture was very clever. His owner told him to sit, he then held an acorn in the air above his dogs head and said"dance". The dog would then stand on his two back legs are go around in circles, dancing! They could be on Britain's Got Talent.

Monday brought sunshine, but some jobs needed to be done. The boat needed water, gas and diesel, plus the loo and our rubbish needed emptying. Brumpoolie is moored too far from the water point to fill up, so I got chatting to one of my neighbours Bill on Narrowboat "Our Lucy". He was about to fill his boat with water, along with Collete from Narrowboat " Paris" so I tagged along so I could use their long hosepipe. After we filled up all three boats, we all trooped off (in two cars) to the local boatyard. It was very kind of Bill and Collette to show me the ropes as it were. This is all very new to me.You can read up about these things as much as you like, but the only way to really learn is to get on with it!

Jobs done, and time to enjoy some sunshine and, Mmm,well ok a beer or two as well.

While Lynne relaxed by sitting on the grass with Minnie who looked very content.

I couldn't help but think. If we were still working what would we be doing now, it certainly wouldn't be enjoying today's sunshine. I can't wait for tomorrow.....

Our new life begins...

Well, we've done it!

On Thursday morning we packed the last of our belongings into the car. A few things had to be taken to Lynne's mam's house for storage and a few things had to be binned. This included some of my books and the electric blanket. But the car was just SO full, with every possible space filled up. Lynne had to climb into the tiniest space possible in the back with 2 of the dogs. Louis if course was in the front next to me! We also had to leave a few things at the cottage, including the iron, an electric heater and a few other bits and pieces. We do have a travel iron with us, this will have to do for now. Part of the reason for leaving some electrical things was also to do with the boats electical systems not being compatible. But that's a story for another day.

We arrived at the boat, late afternoon. The excitement mounted as Brumpoolie came into view. Lynne's face was a picture as she saw the boat for the first time. She loved it!
 
The dogs do not like travelling by car, so they were well wound up by the time I pulled up into the car park. So a walk was required first, then aboard Brumpoolie. Lots of  excitement as everyone had a good look around. We spent the rest of Thursday and all day Friday unpacking and emptying the car. But it was so nice to have breaks and look out accross the canal yesterday as the sun was brightly shining. It was the most lovely day. The dogs were outside most of the day, in particular Minnie. She is most definately a boating dog.

We have met some of our boating neighbours who have all been lovely to us offering all kinds of help. Paul in the boat next to us has been particuarly helpful offering good advice, plus the lend of his long hosepipe!. Unfortunetely it was still too short to reach the water point. We have enough water for a few days yet though.

I have not had too much time yet to take many photo's, but here is one I managed of Minnie onboard Brumpoolie. There will be more photo's the next time.

Last trip to Milton Keynes before moving onboard, then Crawley

A couple of questions I have been tormented with for a while now are, what size van do I need and what size storage unit do we need? It been difficult to know as we have boxes all over the cottage. Add into the mix,how much more can we fit onto the boat? What we cannot fit onto boat,will either have to be stored at Lynne's mam's house, given away or most likely, taken to the skip! It can be quite a brutal process deciding what to keep and what we cannot keep, but it must be done. I should just explain that as our daughter Joanne lives in Crawley, her posessions are being put into a storage unit beside where she lives.

On Thursday of last week I hired a transit van to take the last of our things to the boat, the first question was answered, YES eveything did fit into the van (phew)

 

So it was off to Brumpoolie in Milton Keynes. I arrived at about 4pm and was greeted by Paul our new neighbour. After chatting to Paul for a while I managed to get the balance of our things onto Brumpoolie. Incredibly I got everything into the storage spaces, with space to spare! (we might get those
Christmas decorations in yet Lynne!) What we don't want is to have things stored in the passageways. There is not too much space on a Narrowboat to start with, but stacking things will make it worse. After a quick chili con carne and a couple of bottles of beer, it was time for an early night.

Next day it was off to Crawley with Joanne's things. Everything was in order, except I forgot to take my id. They would not let me use the unit without this - argh. I thought I had left my passport at Milton Keynes, and was about to go back (4 hour round trip) before I realised it was back at the cottage. A frantic call to Lynne and the documents were found. Lynne does not drive, but luckily her friend Lorna had just arrived, so she was able to take Lynne to Staples where she was able to photocopy and fax the documents through to the storage company! Everything was timed for this to be done on Friday afternoon (van had to go back, hotel booked, train tickets booked for return journey) so a big problem was averted (thanks Lorna)

Well, that sorted, the second question was about to be answered. Would all Joanne's things fit into the unit. As you can see from the pictures, the answer was another YES!

The storage now sorted, I had to return the van before 6pm. Got this done with an hour to spare, then walked the 4 miles to my hotel for the night (I needed some fresh air) I stayed at the Holiday Express Inn at Crawley and was very impressed with the Hotel. After a meal and a couple of pints another early night was in order.

The next morning I met up with my lovely Daughter Joanne for breakfast. Full English,with hash bowns and a pot of tea, lovely. It was so nice to see Joanne and catch up. She seemed so happy and bright as usual. After breakfast, we went to get Joanne's fruit and veg from Crawley's outdoor market. So much cheaper and fresher than the usual supermarkets. Then it was time for our farewells and my journey home.

I needed to get the 12.30 train from Crawley, which came on time, but was then delayed. This meant I missed my connection at Kings Cross by 1 minute!! But, because of the delay, I was given a free ticket for the next train, phew.

The next journey I make will be on Thursday morning with Lynne and the doggies. This is the trip I am most looking forward to. I have tried to make the boat look nice for Lynne. As she has not been able to see Brumpoolie at first hand, I hope she likes her, I know she will.

First Post

Well, this is the first ever post to the Brumpoolie blog, welcome.

Before we actually owned Brumpoolie, Lynne and myself thought it might be tempting fate to post to the blog about a boat we did not actually own. Well, now we do own Brumpoolie, so here goes! If you are interested in our journey on how we got here (some journey believe me) then I will be adding this little tale beside my profile sometime over the next few days.

I arrived yesterday to bring what is, hopefully most of our stuff (great word stuff, works for all kinds of things) Seeing the boat as I arrived was lovely. We are really proud of her. It was a relief to see the boat was actually still here and was in one piece!! What I mean is, I have never left a narrowboat before and after leaving her last week on completing the sale, I kept thinking have I checked everything, will the boat be ok, well it was ok!

It took me most of yesterday afternoon to get things from the car to the boat and start unpacking everything. I am sure Lynne thinks we have bought a Tardis and not a narrowboat with all these things! But hey ho, we'll somehow find a home for everything.

Last night after I stopped work I went to get a Chinese takeaway from the Dragon Boat here in Milton Keynes. It was really nice, Lemon chicken - yummy. As the boat is moored at the beautiful Campbell Park in Milton Keynes until the end of March, we are spoilt for choice for shops of any kind. Campbell park is lovely, Lynne and the three doggies will love it here.

The plan at the moment is,I will travel back to the North East this afternoon, bring more things down next week. And then the week after I will be bringing the whole crew of Brumpoolie down to start our new life. We are all so excited.