One Thing After Another...

Well, after a lot of delays - irritating ones at that, we finally got away from Stretford Marina this morning. It wasn't a triumphant journey, nor did we have anything to feel pleased about really despite the engine having been fully re-mounted. Here are the new engine mounts - x4 at £50 a piece! Whilst the engine has been fixed into place and is working, we are aware now of the exhaust silencer having a split in it - apparently where the engine moved forward during it's divorce from the base plate, and has slightly torn away from the main exhaust pipe. This is going to cost us a further £250 ++ on top of what we have already paid - it's seriously depressing. The work in progress - engine disconnected from exhaust and propellor shaft: Not only that, but of course we also had to pay Stretford Marina for the pleasure of mooring there for the last 8 or 9 days. The whole thing has been a nightmare - and the boat still looks like it's in pieces. There's...

It's not great being in Stretford - the marina and surroundings are nice but the place in general isn't that great at all - it's making me feel really depressed! Every day now I've come into the city centre just to get away from it all - the boat, the problems and Stretford. Not only that but we only have shoreline on during the day which is switched off at 4:30PM so I'm also trying to reserve electricity where I can, so if I come into Manchester and get a coffee from Costa, I can bring the iPad and phone here to charge them as well as do a blog post! I'm hoping that the guy from RCR comes tomorrow to complete the work and we can be on our way, but I've just got a funny feeling we'll have a call telling us he can't come and it's likely to be later on in the week.... My gut feelings are usually spot on, but I really hope not this time. I just want it done and sorted now! There's nothing like being in limbo is there?! I have a list of job...

Yesterday, Malcolm from Stretford Marine had managed to get hold of a guy that works for RCR who said he would be coming this morning - we thought he'd be here just after 9 so were up quite early to get breakfast out of the way and get tidied up in time. I think the shock of it all had finally worn off by morning as last night we both just felt completely numb. Not upset, angry or anything else, but just numb. So many things have gone wrong this last month, it's unbelievable! People say it would be the same in a house, but I'm not so sure. I've never had so many things going wrong in the house or apartment in 10 years of home ownership all at the time same, like on the boat! However, I suppose I'm starting to feel a little more positive. After all, everything that could possibly go wrong, really has by now. So, clean slate, right?! I suppose the only other thing that could go wrong is a flood or the place sinks - perhaps I shouldn't jest - knowing us, t...

Yesterday was our final day in Dunham Massey before we had to head back and the day started at 5:30AM! I woke up first at that time to the sound of heavy rain and the side of the boat "crunching" against the towpath - usually a sign that the ropes aren't tight enough. Anyway, after waking-up fully, I could heard the sound of strong wind (it wasn't Pav!) but like it was high above, rather than affecting us directly. Things soon progressed and before we knew it, the boat was moving around like a really turbulent plane flight! That made the crunching/banging even worse so we had no choice but to head outside to re-tie the boat. We decided to cut the ropes completely and move the boat forward along the towpath a little bit as there was more of a bank there for us to gain a bit of protection from - the wind was horrendous! Seriously eery too as we were the only ones moored there and it was absolutely pitch black, with the high-pitched whistle of the wind made only mor...