Merry Christmas Everyone

The Christmas period on Buggerlugs is no different than it was in our cottage, however there are a few minor elements that we have had to modify. Lets just take Christmas decorations,  over the years we have collected quite a few special decoration that seem to signify and display the joy of Christmas,  However we could not possibly use the amount of decoration we had amassed for a start we only have 8 inches space above my head leaving no room for overhead decorations,  or even a proper Christmas tree. Whilst in the past five years we have come up with the idea of making the crib and the angels the main focus, with all the cards strategically placed and a few of Noreen’s old favourite making there presence felt the boat has taken on a very festive seasonal look. We are still using our 18 inch blow up Australian Christmas tree that looks great in the cratch. I have attempted to light up the garden and boat exterior with a number of lights and even though a say so myself we have everything looking very festive. The other thing that we find difficult is entertaining on a grand scale well in numbers I am afraid big parties on a narrow boat are a nightmare. It is now down to a few at a time, I find this much better as you can concentrate on the things that matter The Guests.  We have a few over and Hopefully everyone has had a good time. 
The recent storms have rocked Noreen and I to sleep on a few nights,  Buggerlugs like all the other boats has been tossed about like a cork in a bottle But we are still very much afloat  but feeling very battered and at the present time we are getting ready for another onslaught. It may seem strange but I prefer to sit out the storm sitting snugly on the boat than in a house I feel quite save and secure, we are fully self sufficient in power and energy so what ever else happens we at least will not be flooded, loose any power or have the roof blown off. Which did happen twice in the cottage. 
As soon as we have Christmas and new year over Noreen and I are off to Prague for a few days Its to celebrate Noreen’s 65th birthday which is the 14th Jan, it’s a mile stone that needs celebrating and its one place we have always wanted to go we have been around the world about three times but never to eastern Europe even though we lived in Germany for three years Lets hope for good weather.
I hope that Christmas brought you everything that you wanted and that 2014 brings you Love, Joy, Friendship and calm waters 

All the best 

Big Al 

Travel Safe

I know that the blog is not the place to vent my feelings on things that annoy me, You want to hear about the good things in life, the hilarious happenings along the tow path and of course not forgetting my little mishaps.

But I have to get rid of my frustration somewhere so here goes.

This time its cyclists! Please let me explain, I love to see a family cycling along the beautiful lanes of this county or people going about their lawful business using the bike as a sustainable mode of transport. I as a driver give great respect and care when passing any cyclist even when it requires me to almost stop, so what I am in no hurry.

BUT!!!! around this area of Lancashire  where cycling has been elevated to the status of notoriety with Bradly Wiggins living just around the corner, it has become a horrible spectacle  that we normal road users have to endure on a daily basis, these so called cyclists are a menace they are loud, rude, ignorant of all road sense, give no regard for other road users,  They seem to be of the opinion that the road was put there just for them that these local byroads are there play ground or race track, They normally ride in packs terroriing and bullying road users, They also ride in the pretense that Lycra is either a defense against 20 ton wagons and tractors. or a nice way of showing off a fat ar--. In the 1960s we were plagued with the rockers who rode on motor bikes using the same tactics to dominate the road,  just like these modern cyclists that form packs, stretch themselves across the road, to prohibit any form of  safe overtaking, race each other which is actually against the law,  go through red lights, cross junctions with no regard for themselves or others,

I have a simple solutions these that the normal cyclist would adhere to and obey.

1. All cyclist should pass a test and have a licence.

2. Police should stop and arrest cyclists that disobey the LAW. Like all other road users

3. make them pay road duty

Enough I here you cry and I agree. just be on guard these Gangs are a menace 

Travel safe 

Big Al

Getting on with Life

Hi Everyone
I have not been: Hospitalised, emigrated, deported, or been  detained at her majesties pleasure, None of them I have just been busy being Me and believe it,, that is busy!
Life on Buggerlugs carries on at a relentless pace Noreen is still doing what she loves and working a few days a week in the coffee shop and I am doing what I can for anyone who asks, It would seem that if you have reasonable Knowledge of boats and can use a screwdriver, chisel, drill, work with rope or paint a straight line you will always have company. I just love working. I have been extremely busy making Xmas presents I cannot say what as some of you might be receiving them lets just say they are novel and I have used an old craft to do Some of them.
One of my friends here on the Marina, Phil  has got a PT job with a company that give canal trips only about two hours with lunch thrown in and a few talks on the Canal, its life, its history, its people  I have helped out on a few trips; today was one of them days; its great. I get to be back on the water in someone else’s boat using their diesel chatting to people about something I love “the waterways” so far I have done three parties and loved everyone of them. The weather has been great real winter sunshine very few boats about its been like being on holiday????????
I don’t know when  I will post this because yet again I am in dispute with orange(EE) with reference to my down load use I have been with them for 5 years and never used my allowance but this month they recon I have used it all in a matter of 10 days so they have decided to put me on a very slow connection which is so slow its not worth using and can I get to talk to any one at Orange can I bloody hell I even went to the shop who informed me that they don’t deal with complaints I would have to go ON LINE to Customer Service After shouting “Moron I just Bloody Told you I can’t get on line”  I then realised I was talking to the walking dead and I was on my own. Tomorrow is another day I shall once again try and phone them ????? Wish me luck
OK I finally managed to get it touch with a human at Orange though not very conversant with English, with my splattering of Arabic and Swahili we managed to get my account sorted and I am now once again  back on line.
At the moment we are being battered with 95mph winds coming down the marina and hitting us broadside on (its rough)  that is the one disadvantage of having the best mooring or prettiest mooring it comes with the weather most other boats take protection from each other, who cares anyway it adds a bit of excitement  to the boating experience???????  I tried telling Noreen that at 3.30  when the first gusts hit the boat and woke us up; (it didn’t work)
Christmas is nearly upon us and today we are out for our first Christmas party Noreen is out again tonight Im being left at home, How did we ever find time to go to work?????

Just like the pope I will publish my Christmas message near to the Big day

God Bless All

Alan
Buggerlugs