Early Winter This and That 2014

A Selection of Early Winter Activities 2014

'Winter' activities have included sorting out our pump-out toilet.
We decided to go back to a cassette system, using the Thetford China Bowl one.

Out with the old soil tank - it was retro-fitted anyway so came out OK

Off to the skip with the old toilet!

New shower room floor and Thetford China Toilet

I arranged for Garry of Spruced Up Stoves to sort out the Boatman's Cabin Stove.

He did a great job of cleaning out the flue and re-sealing the chimney

Nice and cosy for the winter!

This year - for the first time - we attended the Allen Register Autumn Social, held here at the Pump House at Titford Locks on the Birmingham Canal Navigation

This photo shows us with John Allen and his wife, Alice.

John and his brother Bob built the hull and fitted the original engine (a Lister ST3) at their Valencia Yard in Oldbury way back in 1977

We celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary at Stratford upon Avon

In early December, our daughter came over from Lisbon, Portugal to stop with us for a long weekend - here with her mother

And with a proud Dad!

As Xmas approaches, the lights go up on the boat

One more boat job though! Changing the oil!

Our Lister JP2 has a 'dry sump' - so the oil is in the green oil tank (seen here being filled)

It takes 25 litres of best Morris SAE30 oil !

Job done for another year!

I've been out walking on the hills a quite lot since back in the marina.

Here walking in grand weather with the Audlem Village Ramblers - on top of the Wrekin (407m 1335ft) in Shropshire

 

Taking lunch in the winter sun in the churchyard at Little Wenlock

 

Here with East Cheshire Ramblers on Mam Tor (517m 1696ft) in Derbyshire in the rain!

Looking south west over the marina

Christmas is a great time for our Rode Hall Silver Band to play - here at the Carol Service in the United Reformed Church in Congleton.

At the moment I'm playing 3rd or 4th man with the Front Row Cornets as we get ready for next year's NW Area Contest in Blackpool

 

A trip to the Mid Hants Heritage Railway at Alton, Hampshire.

Here the Santa Special is headed by 9F No. 92212

Grandma and our Granddaugther

Three generations of the Woollies - Granddad's happy, he's on a steam train!

Festive Ropley Station

Our Granddaughter was told she had to believe - so we could all go on the Santa Special!

 

Festive Happy Christmas to all Blog Readers for 2014!