Bonnie of Clyde

Floored (Well Sort Of!)

2012-01-28T14:33:00.000Z

Nope, Pete and I haven't had a major fight resulting in me laying him out on deck! This is what Pete has been working at this week. He has finished preparing the floor and is now laying the floor joists at the aft end of the boat. Now this bit is where the companionway steps (staircase!) are going and to the left is the heads (bathroom!). Behind the ladder is where the workshop and walk in pantry are going. (Sorry Mel, don't know the nautical terms for those!) Now, call me an old cycnic, but I find it a little predictable that the bit of floor and bulkheads that seem to be going in first are for Pete's workshop. He swears that it is so that he can get the heads in so that I can have a washing machine to use (he's so kind to me!) Mind you, with all that black tar stuff that he has used on the floor, his clothes and himself, a shower and washing machine for him to use are probably a good idea!

Tortilla Cake

2012-01-21T13:32:00.000Z

I adapted this recipe from one of those free recipe cards from Sainsbury's and it is absolutely delicious, even that carnivore, Pete, agreed. As always, very simple to make and looks stunning. It makes enough for four people.

Ingredients:
1 onion (chopped)
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground coriander
2 garlic gloves
1 x can of mixed beans
1 can chopped tomatoes
100 ml veg stock
1 bunch spring onions (chopped)
1 can sweetcorn
4 tortilla wraps
100g cheese

Gently fry onion until soft, add chilli, cumin, coriander and garlic and fry for further minute. Add beans, tomatoes, spring onions, sweet corn and stock and simmer for approx 15 mins until sauce is thicker.
Put 1 x tortilla wrap in greased baking dish, put quarter of sauce on top and sprinkle with quarter of the cheese. Repeat 3 times, finishing with the cheese and bake at 200C for 25 minutes. Enjoy!!!

Ouch!

2012-01-16T18:28:00.000Z

No picture today, just reporting what I have been up to. I seriously ache having put in a session at the gym today. What idiot decided that exercise was good for you!! But I have discovered that I quite like the rowing machine, must be because of my love of the water! However, I really don't like the treadmill. I have to take the iPod as the tv is permanently on MTV, which drives me nuts!!! I need to keep this up and lose some weight, so expect some more moaning from me soon!

Please.....

2012-01-13T16:27:00.000Z

.......can we go and play ball?

This Beautiful Life

2012-01-12T19:34:00.000Z

I have had a fairly stressful day at work, we are being Ofsteded (okay I know, not good English for an English teacher!). So far it is going well, but the proof will be in the feedback session tomorrow. I was on my way home, crossing the reservoir when I had to stop the car and take this photo. The sunset was so beautiful that it literally took my breath away. It struck me how beautiful the world is around us and how we take it so much for granted. Sometimes we need to just stop and look.

Allotment Update

2012-01-11T18:03:00.000Z

It has been a while since I gave you an allotment update, so here we go.... We are still eating from the allotment - kale, brussels (and tops) cabbages, romanesco, parsnips, carrots, swede and this beauty is one of my favourites .....

....purple sprouting broccoli.

I am also getting ready for the next season, so I have broad beans thriving in pots and the following picture is of the garlic and shallots that I planted last November. I think I will plant a few more of these in the spring as we need plenty for next winter.

I have potatoes chitting on the windowsill and will sow the celeriac very shortly. I love that we can eat all year round from the allotment. Last year we put all the infrastructure in place, which was quite expensive, but this year we should really start reaping the rewards.

With A Little Help.....

2012-01-09T17:19:00.000Z

I put out a call for help yesterday to all my boys. Pete had a load of wood delivered on Friday and needed help moving it to the barge. All three answered, offering their help. Phil worked last night so couldn't get here til the afternoon, but the other two boys turned up at 1030am ready to work, some feat considering the hangover that Stuart had!

Having shifted the pile of wood, they then helped with a large sheet of ply that was destined for the roof of the 'aft deck companionway'!

I am lucky with all the men in my life!

New Toy

2012-01-08T10:16:00.000Z

As you probably know, I have been having problems getting a signal recently and it was getting very frustrating. I like to come home from work, have dinner and settle down to read my favourite blogs and surf for new ones (I am a bit of a blog tart!). With no signal I have been condemned to black and white war movies, programmes about WW2 and other really obscure programmes (Pete's choice!). It was time to tackle the problem once and for all. So I bought myself a new toy......

My phone was due for an upgrade and, with my discount, the iphone and ipad package was about the same as I had been paying previously. I am not really up with technology, but what a piece of kit this is. I am so impressed and can see that it is definitely the way forward for the future. It is easy to use and clear to read (especially when the eyesight is beginning to fade!), although I do find it spooky that my phone, computer and tablet can all talk to one another! It can also be used like a Kindle and I have been downloading several free books, not just fiction, but recipe books etc. I am now revisiting Little Women, which I adored as a child and has not lost its charm now I am a little older. Hopefully now I can blog a bit more often and comment on all my blogging friends posts. Well, I have to sign off now as I have to go and play!

Wind and Work

2012-01-07T10:43:00.000Z

Along with the rest of the country, we have had some serious winds. There was a mini tornado that whistled through the village causing destruction - starting in the Marina by dumping a brand new 30' Etap into the chandlery and ripping off roller doors from the shed, moving on to the flats and placing a shed on to a car and then a couple of factory roofs wrote off a couple more cars and so on up the village. I have just been up to the allotment and discovered that my greenhouse is no more. The damage has actually come from the neighbour's shed that was not secured down properly - very annoying since it was entirely preventable.

The wind stopped work on the extention for a couple of days, but Pete is back to it now and this is how it is looking right now ...

Hopefully, weather permitting, we should have a roof and walls by the end of the day.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T06:15:00.000Z

Okay, I know I am a bit late with the Merry Christmas bit, but this is the first time I have had a signal in over a week. I hope you all had a great time. I certainly did, spending both Christmas and Boxing days with all my family, you know the score - eating too much, laughing at things that only families can laugh at, playing silly games, remembering Christmases past and those not with us any more etc etc - great times. However, boys if you are reading this, I'd quite like some grandchildren to spoil next Christmas!!!

Pete has been really busy over the holiday period building the extension!

This is what we fondly are calling the back porch (what on earth would you call it on a boat?!!). The extension will have double doors and cupboards for coats and shoes. The reason for this is so that we can bring the staircase right back to maximise the illusion of space below. Today (if it stops raining) Pete will be building the wooden frame - more pictures to follow.

I would like to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR and hope that all your dreams come true xxx

For Carla

2011-11-30T12:18:00.000Z

I am sorry that I haven't posted for some time but I haven't been able to get a signal and although I can read your blogs at work and comment on some, I can't actually post on my own blog from there. My cyber friend, Carla Yvonne ( http://anthonetta.blogspot.com/ ) who lives on a Dutch barge with her husband and travels around The Netherlands, asked to see a picture of the shape of the barge. So here it is. It is very much a 'work in progress', there is a back porch to go on yet and we intend to break up the line of the upper front deck with some sort of railings. We will eventually have a 'lid' over the entire aft deck, as, in the UK, it is either too hot in the summer or chucking it down with rain! With a lid, we can use the deck all summer. We have been given two lovely great big portholes and are trying to decide where we are going to put them. Any suggestions?

Mushroom and Cashew Stroganoff

2011-11-04T04:57:00.000Z

I seem to have a thing about mushrooms at the moment, I can't get enough of them! As I type, I am waiting for some stuffed mushrooms that are cooking in the oven for my dinner. This is another of my very quick, cheap and healthy mid week specials.

250g mushrooms
150g unsalted cashews
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp paprika
200 ml veg stock
100 ml low fat creme fraiche

'Toast' the cashews for a few minutes in a dry frying pan, remove from pan. Fry the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft, add mushrooms and cook for 5 mins. Add paprika and stock and simmer for another 5 mins. Add creme fraiche and cashews and simmer for a further 3 minutes. Serve with tagliatelle or rice.

No picture I'm afraid, so you will have to trust me that it is delicious xxx

Mast off - Season Finished

2011-11-01T18:58:00.000Z

This is Moana, the boat that Pete sailed at the weekend. Today Mouse took her out of the water, took the mast off and laid her up in the Sailing Club car park. When the car park is full of yachts that's when I know that summer is definitely over. Still, we have the Laying Up Supper to look forward to in a couple of weeks. Will have to dig out the posh frock!

Looks Like Windows!

2011-10-30T10:43:00.000Z

From a distance it looks like Pete has cut the windows out, but don't be fooled, he has just blacked them in so that he can paint round them! It did give us an idea of what it will look like with the windows in and we have decided that we need another one (to the left of the bottom picture) as otherwise it will look odd.

Pete had a great birthday. He was adamant that he didn't want a surprise party, so we just had dinner with a few close friends and it was a lovely evening. Yesterday he went out sailing for the first time this year with Chris and Wendy, (see, I do let him have the day off occasionally, as long as he doesn't get too used to it!) and came back a happy man. Back to work now Churchie!!

Look Who's 60 - But You Wouldn't Know It!

2011-10-28T16:40:00.000+01:00

He might have got his bus pass now, but he couldn't resist a paddle in an exceptionally high tide. The water went over his wellies and had to be poured out. Did I laugh at the twit.....of course I did!!!!

Pete has been a life long Arsenal supporter, so my boys treated him to a day at the Emirates ( including going round to Highbury to kiss the sacred ground!). Luckily the Arsenal won 3-1, so they all came home happy with sore throats from shouting and singing.

He spends a lot more time these days having a quick kip! (We were at a great party, but you wouldn't think it!)

He might think that dirty laundry lives on the floor, watches old black and white war films on tv at every opportunity, talks rubbish when he's had a drink, be known as 'One for the Road Pete' and can never, ever see the mess that he's made. But he's my Pete. My world changed for the better when I met him. We have been through good times and bad. He puts up with my hormonal mood swings, often cooks me dinner, buys me chocolate, gives me a cuddle when I need one and is always there for me. He will always help anyone if he can and is generous to a fault. He is working very, very hard to make my dream come true and I don't think I tell him often enough how much I appreciate it. In fact Pete, I don't think I tell you often enough how much I love you and that you are my best friend. Have a great birthday and rest assured I think you are as sexy and as gorgeous as the day I met you, 15 years ago!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE

Dried Mushroom Curry

2011-10-22T18:24:00.000+01:00

I have just cooked this .....

The recipe came from Lisa's Kitchen Blog It is absolutely delicious and very quick and easy. I didn't actually have any dried mushrooms, so I used fresh but it still tasted amazing. Thanks Lisa x

Fibreglassing and Storing Produce

2011-10-22T15:54:00.001+01:00

Ib asked what we have been up to on the barge. Well, Pete has been taking advantage of the sunshine to fibreglass all the wood. He has been out there day after day, putting on mesh, giving it a coat of resin, grinding it, more resin and more grinding (excuse me if I haven't got that the right way round, any technical questions I will pass on to Pete).

Hopefully he is almost there, so far he has thrown away three pairs of jeans and several tee-shirts that have become rigid with the resin, he is fast running out of old clothes and anymore and he will be going out naked! But he assures me that we are going to be completely watertight by winter. I hope so, because look what I am using the wheelhouse for.......

.....storing squashes, garlic, haricot beans and hazelnuts and lots more to come yet. Have a good weekend everyone x

Saving Water

2011-10-15T15:24:00.000+01:00

We have to be very careful with water. Not for financial reasons, as our water costs are included in our mooring fees. Not for 'green' reasons either (although I would like to spout off about saving the world!) but because of this.........

We have to move the fridge, take up the floor and run a hose from a tap, across the barge and down the hatch! To be honest it is a pain in the neck and something to be done only when we have too. When we don't have quite so much work to do, we will fix the water cap on deck, that at the moment steadfastly refuses to move!

Alfie

2011-10-13T19:25:00.000+01:00

People quite often ask how Alfie is on the boat. Well, he always runs aboard ahead of us, he takes over our bunks whenever possible, he guards it with a verocity that belies his size and most of all he loves that we are there with him. Does this look like an unhappy, uncomfortable dog?...........

Mind you, it's not the most dignified way to sleep!!!!!

Tutak Goes North

2011-10-04T20:18:00.003+01:00

You will recall our friend Billy who set off up the East Coast of England, went right round Scotland and came back down the East Coast. Well, he has put together a blog of his voyage and since he so blatantly advertised it in the comments of my last post, I thought I better have a look! Even though he is a friend so I have to say nice things about it, it really is worth a visit. His journey is told in a sometimes dramatic, sometimes comical/ironic and very interesting narrative and is accompanied by some wonderful pictures. It shows pictures of Britain that you wouldn't find in a guide book, the sort of things that gives Britain its unique character. Go take a look by clicking here.

This is the Harbour Master's Office in Brightlingsea, just up the road to us.

Some caves up the coast, picture taken from the sea.

The most northern point of Great Britain.

Enjoy!

Post post note : He has now put some great posts on there about France and Holland x

Smack Race

2011-10-01T21:49:00.000+01:00

What a glorious day we have had, the temperature hit 81 degrees, which is just ridiculous for this time of the year. But I am not complaining, I have had a lovely day out on the river as part of the committee boat for the club's annual smack race. Here are a few photos from the day :

How many people can you get in a dinghy (yes they did make it to their smack safely!)

Here are some of the girls from the committee boat - we were plastering sun cream on like there was no tomorrow - first time this year! The wine hadn't appeared yet, well it was only ten o'clock!

Sorry about the quality of the picture, but here are some smacks all hustling for the lead.

Just a couple of smacks, they are just magnificent when they have all their sails up.

And there is always the free beer and wine on the hard as an added bonus!

Look at these Handsome Devils!!!!

2011-09-29T19:44:00.000+01:00

I was playing around with my eldest son's iPad when I found this picture that I hadn't seen before. So I emailed it to myself (I'm only being flash about my use of modern technology!!!) and I thought I would share it with you. When they were all little, the eldest two boys, Philip and Stuart, used to gang up on Rob and I always told them to watch out as one day he would be bigger than them and I was right! Don't they all look alike? In fact Stuart passed in me in his car today and I had to look twice as I thought it was Philip! They may look alike but they are certainly all very different characters. The thing that I love is that they are the best of friends and enjoy each other's company. Their girlfriends are also very good friends. They are always there for each other and have a very special brotherly bond. They also always look out for their poor, old mum! xxx

A Day in France

2011-09-28T19:47:00.000+01:00

We were supposed to meet Mum and Dad, who were on their way home from a six week holiday in Spain. However, on Sunday we got a phone call to say they wouldn't be meeting us as they had been involved in an accident and had written off both the car and the caravan. Thankfully they are both okay and the Caravan Club have been great and have arranged a chaffeur driven car to get them home. I have told them that I think I am going to book them into a 'Home' so that I know where they are, what they are doing and that they are safe. Also holidays are now confined to a day trip to the seaside!! I won't tell you what their reply was, but I think I have been disinherited!!!!

Anyway, once we had established that they were okay, we decided not to waste the ferry and have a day in Calais, 'we' being my favourite eldest son and my brother and his wife. The weather was glorious and the crossing was so smooth. We had a wander around old Calais and then found a lovely restaurant on the beach to have lunch.

How French is this? We headed off to Cite Europe to stock up on some wine, beer and food from Carrefour. I haven't been there for a couple of years and I was quite shocked by the way prices have risen. But at least the booze was still cheaper. We had some time before the ferry home and the sun was still very warm, so we headed back down to the beach for the obligatory frites and mayonnaise. So much for my diet!

It was a great day out and such a shame that Mum and Dad couldn't join us, but we have saved them the bill for the lunch, so that'll teach 'em!

P.S. To Mike (mum's brother) - I assure you they are okay and didn't want us to go down and get them or help in any other way. They will be back Friday.

Stocking Up

2011-09-25T07:44:00.001+01:00

As I insinuated in my last post, I take after my Mum and Grandmother in that I like to feed people. Even if you arrived at my Grandmother's house just after having had a huge dinner you still had to eat. She was a fantastic cook, and I can still taste her steak and kidney pudding (even though I am now veggie) and apple pie, but her standby meal was homemade chips (mmmmm), corned beef and peas. She always had all the ingredients and it could be knocked up very quickly. My Mum and I are a bit more adventurous and like to have a variety of things in so that we can get a meal together very quickly for any amount of diners. To that end, I like to have a well stocked store cupboard, even on the boat. I miss my freezer, especially at the moment when I am harvesting like crazy up at the allotment (still, all my neighbours are benefitting from the excess produce - can't promise the same next year guys!). I have been making pasta sauce, jam and jelly for the store cupboard (I cheated and did it at Mum and Dad's, which was great because they got all the washing up!). On the barge I am going to have a proper walk-in larder, fully tiled with its own sink, something I have always wanted.
I had to buy a small table top fridge for Carpe Diem as we didn't have any proper refridgeration of any kind. We have always made do with cool boxes, ice packs and the bilges (areas under the floor and below the water line for those that don't know, keeps the beer and white wine lovely and cool). It is amazing how much you can put in such a small space......

.......but I can't wait until I can get my big American style fridge back!

Cooking

2011-09-24T07:25:00.000+01:00

Pete and I are well known for entertaining, especially on a large scale. We quite often organise a dinner party or BBQ for six and it ends up with twenty or more guests. We have entertained many times on Carpe Diem and are used to knocking up a roast dinner for eight or an impromptu supper for anyone who drops by. I insisted that I didn't want plastic on the boat, so we have china and glass which, touch wood, has survived crossing the North Sea and the Channel several times. So it was Sod's Law that when we moved on to the boat full time that the door of the oven would drop off!

We are reluctant to buy a new cooker at the moment, so the oven has become extra storage space. Luckily we had an electric oven to hand and that came on the boat with us.

It has proved somewhat of a Godsend. We cannot use the rings and the oven together because of the wattage, so I use the electric oven and the gas rings. On the barge we are going to have a Rayburn which will be fuelled by solid fuel. Not only will it do the cooking, but it will provide all our hot water and heating in the winter. We have decided to buy a brand new Rayburn, as the modern ones are very efficient and hopefully will outlast us! But for now normal service with entertaining has been resumed, so feel free to drop round and have a bite to eat.