Down by the canal.

Went to Nottingham to judge the Midlands beer competition.  I had a wander into town on the night before, and it was rag week, so it was like walking through a fancy dress.
 I had a drinkable pint in the spoons, then headed off to the Blue Bell.  Unfortunately Elvis was in there, destroying the sound waves so I quickly left.

I wandered into the Fellows Moore & Clayton, and found my boats namesake next to the pubs namesake.

At the festival the following day Dancing duck brewery had a great bar, covered in grass, with little ponds on top for the ducks.  They won a few prizes as well.



Got an afternoon on the boat!!!

I had a trial fit of the water pump and accumulator under the bottom step.  They seem fine there, now I need some fixings.

I started lining out the port side below the gunwhales.  The port side is where most of the wiring and all of the plumbing will be, so that was the best side to start with.


 I marked the positions of the battens on the ply as I went along. I reached the back, and split the ply to cover the start of the swim.

 

It was no getting dark.  I need to get the lights up then I can work later (or I should have got here over summer when it was light...).

Trains and Beer.

Had a day out in York by booking first class special offers on east coast.  We arrived at 11:00, so I decided to go to the Railway Museum first.
The others were a bit sceptical until we got in to the main arena.

 This is Real engineering from when Britain had real Engineers.

Quite a discussion with the Dark Lord over the phase shifting going on within the valve gear of the Evening Star.

A good engineering discussion usually calls for a couple of beers to wash it down with.  So we adjourned to the Maltings for a pint or three.

From the maltings we went around the corner to York brewery, where I was barred from entering their "design a beer" competition.  Obviously scared of the superior Lancashire intellect from the civilised side of the pennines.
A wander into town got us a decent pint in the Golden Fleece, Yorks most haunted pub.
Went into the Guy Fawkes and had the most fantastic steak pie.  Lovely thick pastry, and tender chunky steak.  MMMMM!

Music Mad...

Stopped at the Pied Bull in Chester to see Mark Radcliffe and the Big Figures playing at Alexanders.  Had a couple of pints in the Bull, and nearly got embroiled in the pub quiz.  Went over to Alexanders, which is a great, semi open air venue.  The band were great, but I missed half the second half because I was busy talking to Jock "Mahone" outside.

 Then it was off to Hitchin Folk Club at the Sun to see Richard Digance. He had Doug Morter and Gerry Donahue playing a couple of songs. It seems Doug Morter was at school with Richard.

Stopped in the Sun, where you can get the best breakfast I have found to date in Hertfordshire.

 Wednesday and I was off to the Putney Half moon to see the Accoustic Gathering. Being accoustic there was no Clive Bunker, who I consider the worlds most entertaining drummer, But Doug Morter, Ray Jackson and Gerry Donahue performed a brilliant evening of music, including some of my favourite Lindisfarne songs.

Friday, and it was back to the Met to see the Stumble.  Fantastic Blues, and fantastic show.

  Its hard work taking a hot when the lead singer is wearing white though!

Last outing, went to see Lau at Camridge.  The Junction is a great little venue just 5 mins walk from the train station.

 I was sat next to Martin Greens Baby sitter!  I presume from when he was young...