Narrowboat: The Green Man.

Did Someone Mention Snow?

2010-01-06T09:34:00.001Z

Here are a few photographs taken on my phone this morning (and the snow pig I made last night… it looks more like Winne the Pooh)

Walking home from work.

It’s still snowing. 7inches so far!

A driver had a lucky escape. Tyre prints leading across a junction and into the crash barrier beside the river.

Luckily the snow hasn’t diminished my reading skills so I could still find my way home in all the whiteness!

The marina

And the road leading to it.

Glad I didn’t cycle to work.

My garden.

The boat.

The view from my boat.

Thankfully not my boat. I wouldn’t like to fight my way into that!

I like the bouys…

This is beginning to make me feel cold…

Cats not too sure about this…

The “snowpig”

Winter Photos Taken This Morning

2010-01-04T10:53:00.001Z

It’s fair to say that it is a little cold. It was –5C this morning. The ice isn’t quite thick enough around the boat to walk on… not that we would even consider doing such a thing as irresponsible as that…

Losing Power

2009-11-23T14:09:00.001Z

I came home from work yesterday to find our electricity cutting out. The inverter screamed at me for a while so I thought I better investigate before it exploded and the hubby told me off for allowing it to explode. After wandering up and down the boat for a time and turning off all electrical appliances and scratching my head in a rather clueless manner it was decided that the most sensible thing to do, and perhaps the most obvious, was to plug in each appliance individually and see which one was causing the problem.

Everything seemed to work fine when plugged in individually so I started to switch on different appliances at the same time. This probably wouldn’t take very long normally, but on our boat we have a multitude of “essential” appliances… chest freezer… fridge… microwave…toaster…tumble dryer… washing machine… the list seemed endless.

I eventually massed the courage to switch them all on together. The inverter didn’t like that and started screaming at me again. I really didn’t understand what could be wrong. We haven’t bought anything new… everything used to work perfectly fine when all plugged in together.

As a last resort I thought I’d try unplugging the shoreline power and reattaching it again.

As I pulled out the plug something fell out… and stared at me in a very dazed manner:

It was a very large house spider. I’m not sure how it survived in the plug socket, but it did and seemed a little bit upset about being removed.

I reattached the shoreline power and… hey presto! Everything works fine again. The spider eventually wandered off. I think it has now taken up residence in the cat flap.

The Old Gravel Pits

2009-11-15T14:57:00.001Z

Our mooring used to be an old gravel pit before a channel was dug to join it to the Thames. There are a number of disused gravel pits here. They are mainly used for fishing and soon the new Wilts and Berks canal will cut few one or two of them.

But for now they are peaceful and used mainly by waterfowl.

Samhain

2009-11-15T14:35:00.001Z

We like Samhain. It is, I think, my favourite festival to mark from the old calendar. Every year we invite some friends (mainly boaters) to join us for a meal.

With the help of these friends we decorate the boat:

And Rob and I carve some pumpkins. From here on the photographs are a bit shaky as the main photographer for the evening became very drunk (and passed out rather early).

We crammed the narrow boat full of as many people as we could and fed and watered them (though technically no water was drunk). We also set aside a place for those who could not be with us.

I Know When It's Breakfast Time

2009-06-09T16:48:00.001+01:00

My neighbour tells me so. We eat our toast together.

Hitching A Ride.

2009-06-08T19:25:00.001+01:00

Will We Flood?

2009-06-07T14:16:00.001+01:00

Any more rain and our little Boater's Garden will be underwater! There are lots of vegetables growing and I don't want to lose them to floods again...must run off now and perform a sun dance!

2009-05-29T19:04:00.001+01:00

Birthday!

2009-05-29T19:02:00.001+01:00

My friends have decorated the tin can to mark my birthday. They are also cooking me and the hubby dinner before we return to the boat for drinks. What lovely boaty neighbours and friends I have. The hubby is even going to bake me some apple turnovers...my favourite. I have already had such a lovely day with my folks and hubby...here's to a lovely evening too. :)

What Boaters Do Best!

2009-05-24T20:23:00.001+01:00

Boating, booze and bbqs. It has been a beautiful Sunday so a few of us boaters got together on the Wilts & Berks canal for a bit of a social. The cats were not impressed that dogs were present and spent the evening curled up in the bedroom. The hubby took charge of the cooking and spent the evening in charge of 4 bbqs.

Scrappy.

2009-05-21T23:27:00.001+01:00

My friend's dog. I need to find another willing volunteer who wants their pet drawn so I can keep up the practise.

And Another Mr Hemming's Photo...

2009-05-09T14:47:00.001+01:00

Sorry about the separate posts but my mobile won't let me add multiple photos to one post.

My Morris Dancing Hubby

2009-05-09T14:41:00.001+01:00

Today is Mr Hemming's Day Of Dance in Abingdon. Lots of morris sides and belly dancers too!

Second Attempt At Dog Portrait.

2009-05-05T10:18:00.001+01:00

It's for my boating neighbour so I hope she likes it!

Sunset

2009-05-03T12:05:00.001+01:00

Over the old gravel pits, Abingdon. The new Wilts And Berks Canal will one day cut through these pits and this basin will be full of boats and human activity. Until then the mist and waterfowl have the evening peace to themselves.

The Other Current Project.

2009-04-26T13:35:00.001+01:00

Pet portraits. My friend has asked me to sketch her two dogs for her. I've never drawn a dog before. It seems to be going so horribly wrong! I'm going to take a break and come back to it later when I've mustered the energy to correct and continue with it. In the mean time...woodburnings are calling out to be varnished.

Current Project.

2009-04-23T14:51:00.001+01:00

A sign for a barn or field for a family friend.

Risk?

2009-04-04T23:32:00.001+01:00

Mum and dad C are teaching me how to play The Lord Of The Rings Risk this evening whilst the hubby is Morrising. I seem to be leading a diminishing band of elves...

Oops!

2009-03-26T20:38:00.001Z

Note to self: See what happens when you're clumsy and heavy handed? Must work on not being such a numpty! And replace glass.

On Sale Now!

2009-03-14T21:35:00.001Z

Local Roots in Abingdon are selling some of my wood burnings! I'm rather excited about this, though am trying to remain calm as they have only just gone on sale and noone has bought one yet!

Didcot Power Station.

2009-03-07T18:13:00.001Z

From the top of the pill box.

A Mini Adventure...

2009-03-07T18:11:00.001Z

On a mini boat. I joined the boys on an trip down stream to Culham where we found a pill box and underground bunker from World War II. I got to address my fear of heights as we descended into the darkness of the bunker. I also spent a little while dangling off the side of the pill box as Rob attempted to lower me to the ground. We are currently locking through Culham on our way home for tea.

Wood Burning.

2009-03-06T14:14:00.001Z

Whitewater chose a celtic cross to adorn the futon which Whyte Swallow has been making him. We turned our friend's boat into a little studio whilst we are decorating it. Actually, Whyte Swallow is doing most of the work. I just keep her company to keep the ghosties away and every now and again I'm allowed to wield a paint brush. Anyway, this is a photo of me hard at work with Whitewater's celtic design.

Painting The Tin Can.

2009-03-05T13:02:00.001Z

As the weather is not favourable for giving the beast an exterior face lift we have decided to pimp the inside instead. The aft cabin doors are now green. English Mist green, or something fancy sounding. I will wood burn two plaques of the green man (the leafy variety as opposed to the boat) to place on each side of the door. It might be a while before I get round to this though as Whyte Swallow managed to persuade Local Roots in Abingdon to sell some of my wood burnings! I need to make some for the shop, friends and family before I can concentrate on the boat ones. Right, only the hatch and bedroom doors to sand,prime and paint...