Waiting in vain

You're not going to believe this but we still haven't completed on the house purchase... I know, I know, it couldn't happen to anyone else! I'm really starting to believe Jeff (the worlds worst pessimist) when he says if something can go wrong it will go wrong!  Of our dilemma, I asked our solicitor "does this happen often" to which he replied no, it's very rare... Well, he's making a blinking fortune out of us. 3rd Time lucky thought I but it's starting to look increasingly unlikely to go through again.  For one reason or another the vendor cannot complete so I've given them a deadline of Friday to sign or we're pulling-out!

I naively thought the UK house buying process was going to be straight forward but no, the first property that we had an offer accepted on we were strung along by the vendor for about 10 days only for them to 'change their mind' about selling and remove it from sale without even telling us or with any explanation.   The next we got a little further along in the process, 3 months  to be precise when we pulled out after the vendor tried to pull a fast one.  We were about 7 or 8 weeks down the line with this house purchase when I discovered  that the seller no longer has to provide the HIPs here in the UK, I thought this was still the law but apparently it was suspended in May 2010 and now generally considered scrapped.  No wonder then that people can just put their property for sale on a whim only to 'change their mind' when serious buyers come along! The financial costs are really starting to mount-up now with solicitors fees (over £1500 so far) and storage costs (at £55 per week.  Which is where I ask myself again...Why have we got 2 containers worth of crap when I thought I'd sold everything in France?).  I'll add it all up eventually but don't even want to go there at the moment. So, here we are 3rd time (not) lucky and it's all starting to go Pete Tong again. Oh well, Friday is crunch day!!!

Pointless sitting around twiddling our thumbs so to try to take the pressure off a little we've taken some time out and gone for a short cruise to Fazeley this last week. The weather's been dry and sunny but with a bitter wind blowing just to take the shine off.

All quiet on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

Working boat with tug

Not surprisingly therefore the waterways were fairly quiet with just a few passing boaters and most of those were 'working boats'.

At Fazeley Junction, a fellow moorer and CC'er (nb Elaine) who we got chatting to was singing the praises of these 'fuel boats'.  It got me thinking 'how do boaters keep track and locate these boats' so I got digging I've discovered a useful site listing quite a number of them... http://lock13.co.uk/boats/coaldiesel.htm it's good to see some of them are taking advantage of Social Networking sites: FaceBook and Twitter.  What would be even better is if they could all use a GPS tracking system like that on WaterExplorer so that they can be tracked in real time! The guy on nb Elaine (should have got his name) was happy to hang around for a week waiting for a fuel boat but I can't imagine everyone doing that. Talking of Twitter I've created a list of Tweeters uniquely for #LifeOnTheCanals that you may like to follow for all things boaty!

Oh, whilst on our return journey I snapped a few shots of the latest marina being built of our local canals at Huddlesford. Still early days but progress is definitely being made on the '130 berth marina' although I'm not sure what the proposed opening date will be. Contact number for information is 01865 873900!

 


We arrived at Fradley Junction late Wednesday afternoon and moored up for the night before heading back to Barton Marina tomorrow!

Fradley Junction Swing Bridge

Fradley Junction

Living on the boat

We've been living on the boat since 22nd December 2012 and I can honestly say I'm loving it.

Barton Marina, Christmas 2012

Cosy Salon

It may be winter and freezing outside but we're all cosy and comfy aboard 'The Cat'... It's just so relaxing, totally 'away from it all' and just think, if we like it now, how much are we going to enjoy cruising and life aboard in the warmer months. It's just what we all needed after the stress of the last few months.

Galley Kitchen

Life in Barton Marina is very laid back with plenty going-on right on your doorstep.  Well thought-out and beautifully landscaped with scenic walks around the many lakes it has all the usual marina facilities plus more to make life easier for the boaters.  There is also 'The Waterfront Pub' which although quite new has a nice cosy atmosphere.  They have live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night and although we haven't actually been yet (we get too comfy in the Captains chairs) we can't hear anything from where we're moored at the far side of the marina.

Moored-up in the Marina

There's also a new Thai restaurant called 'Nipa' which looks very nice (we're due to dine there next Saturday night with friends) and various 'artisan' shops including an excellent butchers. The lovely 'unspoilt' village of Barton Under Needwood is a pleasant 10 minute stroll away and is well served with lots of services too.

Cruising the T&M

Although we like it in the marina we can't wait to get out on the cut.  Last weekend we managed to escape it's confines and had a little trip down the Trent and Mersey to Alrewas (about 2.5 miles).

 Mooring at Alrewas

Entering the Lock

We hadn't started 'The Cat' since arriving at the marina but I'm pleased to report that she started first time.  Such a relief after all the hassle we had with my dad's old boat... No messing about spraying the engine with 'Cold Start' and all that nonsense. ;-)  The photos I've posted here were taken with my new iPhone (a recent treat to myself), my friend Jean spotted them after I'd posted them to my Facebook profile and joined us for the journey back on the Sunday... I think she enjoyed her first ever Narrowboat trip looking at her face!

Jean at the bow

Talking about the phone, I'm really pleased with my new gadget, I've spent hours discovering all it can do and having it hooked-up to the internet with The One Plan from Three is absolutely brilliant, all you can eat data, tethering and no worrying about topping-up.  Perfect for when we really get cruising. It's great to be finally catching up with the 21st Century.

On the home front... We'll soon be the proud new owners of a nice little semi that backs on to the Wyrley and Essington Canal if all goes to plan.  It has a decent size garden for Ruben, a great outlook onto open fields at the rear and once we've settled in we'll be contacting CaRT to re-establish an end-of-garden mooring for The Cat... Watch this space!

Ps I may have cussed my dads boat earlier but 'Norwind' will always have a place in my heart (as it did in his) and I'm truly pleased to still be in touch (via Facebook) with the gentleman who is now the owner of
it. He wrote earlier this month to let me know that he and his wife spent boxing day aboard the boat and appears to still be really pleased with the old thing... The boat not the wife that is :-)

That's it for now... Hopefully next time I post we'll be 'in the house'!