Hi Everone

Get ready for  checking the blog,, as Thursday of this week we are off on another epic journey around the waterways of Britain
First across to Scarsbrick Marina so we can get Buggerlugs out of the water nd get her bottom blacked then off to Liverpool for a few days sight seeing???? After that we will do the whole length of the Leeds and Liverpool canal all 127 miles I have not even looked at ate the amount of locks but as we are going from sea level to over the and across the Pennines then I gather there will be plenty

Keep Smiling

Big AL 

Hi Everyone

I know I have said it before but live on the marina and therefore our life is very varied and unpredictable. In fact its very similar to the bl----- weather, have you all dried out yet, this is one winter I am glad I didn’t spend in a house, at least on the boat I have no fear of waking up without my roof, we have sat here night after night being tossed about like a cork in a bottle but really relaxed and calm about the whole thing. It’s now the end of February and the days are getting longer so the jobs are getting more numerous and diverse. Throughout February I have done everything from saving the next-door neighbours boat from floating away in 80mph winds,  gardening, painting and decorating the coffee shop, finishing a few commissions of canal art, made ten walking sticks and prepared another 12, assisted a friend with his scamp (mini moke) I am in charge of making it look good?? With Hospital appointments, diabetic clinics, and that’s just one day.

I can honestly say that I don’t know how I ever found the time to go to work. Its fantastic its almost as varied and exciting as service life you never know what is happening next.

That may sound very chaotic but its not really everything is well ordered well and well organised Noreen sees to that.

Just a few pics to let you all know that we are still alive and kicking after that awful weather and now looking forward to the spring, getting buggerlugs out of the water giving her a good clean and paint job ready for her next voyage.

Please comment on the blog even if its just bugger off it always nice to know someone is reading it

Love to All

Moving a Butty (House Boat)

My new work of Art

Traveling without the Boat 

seems quite strange

Hi 

We are back from our little break celebrating Noreen’s Big Birtyhday in Prague .

The flight was nice, This was our first time on a short haul “cheap flight” I must admit hearing some of the terrible tales on Tele I was expecting something awful but we were pleasantly surprise, OK it was extra for the baggage but we were told exactly how much and nothing came as a surprise (no Hidden Extra’s) everything with the air travel was really on the ball, except for arriving back in Manchester; where on touch down the pilot managed to get lost and parked in the wrong place??? This meant a 20 min delay whilst they summoned up busses to transport a plane load of weary travellers’ back to the correct terminal where we were hoping our baggage would be IT WAS.

I have been in many cities throughout this wonderful world we live on, not a lot I would return to but Prague is one that I would. It is steeped in so much history. The city is on both sides of the River Vitava. As you walk around the city you notice the multi layers of occupation and influence the Roman Empire, the Hapsburg empire then lots of others until you get to the Nazi and then the Communist Now the Czech republic is a thriving state again under its own rule, Every corner you turn has its own spectre of Roman, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance , Rocco, Art Nouveau, even Cubism its an architects wonder-world.  We really wanted to see the churches which there are hundreds. Though now very few Czechs go to church, however the ones we did get into were more spectacular and ornate than in Malta so you can imagine just how stunning they are, Mass is only practiced in a few most are used by the state as theatre and places of classical music At least they have found a use for them and not demolished them.  All that makes Prague well worth a visit The history plus the fact that two can dine out for £25.00 (as long as you go local) that three courses beer and Coffee. We always eat with the locals and Prague is a great place for doing just that, the food is plentiful and they just love meat I was in seventh heaven. At first I thought what a miserable load of buggers they are, in shops they a very dower and say very little, people on trams are very quiet BUT! From 6.00pm when they finish  work and get in the pub they go mad everyone speaks English and want you to join in the revelries.????? We walked everywhere its so easy the main places to visit are all within 3.5 sqa miles the tram system is very very good. 

That’s enough of the Travel log. Now we are back in the swing of things on Buggerlugs pump out today in gale force winds I had to take two attempts at getting away from the mooring but made it eventually! Now the car needs tender loving hands the front suspension is playing up looks like another £350, I am looking for a job to pay for all this rash spending.

Now that we have got the little excursion out of the way we can concentrate all our efforts into getting buggerlugs ship shape for the next episode of travel 

God Bless 

Buggerlugs

Beautiful red roofs of Prague 

Noreen feeling the cold on Charles Bridge

Two of the many tremendous Bronze Plaques 

depicting the life of the river

Charming Prague by night 

Two weary walkers looking down on what we have just walk UP

Just an enchanting place to go 

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

Back at Fettlers Wharf

Hi everyone 

That’s it! We arrived back at Fettlers Wharf  at lunch time Wednesday with a great sigh of  relief  we had made it with very few mishaps and ourselves and Buggerlugs all in one piece. Whilst in Manchester we were visited by Julie, Amanda and Rachael for a great day. Mat and Lorraine came over with Thomas as Thomas was staying with us and helping us take the Buggerlugs back to Rufford, He is now a very good hand he manoeuvres the boat very well and has a very light touch on the throttle if he could just see over the top he would be a good skipper.  

The trip back home was very easy even the Wigan locks worked we left Monday morning and was in Fettlers by Weds lunch but as I said we had Thomas as a chief engineer 

While Manchester we got time to see the Gay Pride carnival, being in Castlefield it would have been difficult to miss it. I always think it’s a wonderful happy occasion, and really what the hell enjoy life, God loves us all

Above I said it was an Epic voyage, that sounds as if it was arduous, it wasn’t this is from the boats log and I think explains why it was Epic:

Miles                    732

Locks                   378

Canals                   10

Rivers                      5

Ditches                     2

Tunnels                  12

Swing bridges        28

Canals :

Rufford, Leeds and Liverpool, Bridgewater, Trent & Mersey, Coventry, Coventry Arm, Ashby, Oxford, BCN, Grand Union, Northampton Arm.

Rivers:

Nene, Ouse, Old River Nene, Old West, Twenty foot drain,

Ditches:

Whitley Dyke, Well Creek

An epic journey by any standard, I am not really one for statistics that’s why I cannot say how much diesel I used I never keep a record of the important things? All I do know is we had a great time. My idea of cruising is start early, do not have a definite destination, if you see something on the map you fancy go and have a look by boat, Bus (using the Bus Pass) or on foot. You get some great surprises??

Two visits that stand out are Coventry Cathedral and the National Arboretum the Arboretum will get another visit by car as you really need a full day to appreciate it.

But we must not forget the other wonderful places we have visited; the things we have seen and experiences, the people we have met: Doctors, Nurses, (we cannot cruised without visiting at least two Hospitals) lock keepers, CRT volunteers, Hoteliers and Inn keepers who always made us welcome, and not forgetting the wonderful people who make the waterway their home and those who holiday on it everyone involved with the waterways enjoying one of this countries greatest assets.

Of course this year we were blessed with the weather I personally believe that this year was compensation for the past three years of awful weather, we both now look as if we have just returned from the Caribbean as my skin is weather-beaten Noreen’s is  a nutty brown (Nutty is term I use a lot with Noreen)

Its now back to the grind of getting buggerlugs ready for the next trip, today I have booked her in for a blacking and some major repairs that can only be done when she is out of the water that will be in the spring prior to our next voyage of discovery. I have some commission work (paintings) to catch up on and try to get some more work in for the winter; Noreen is back at work next week. So everything is now getting back to normal (what ever that is )

Thanks for reading the blog. I am still not sure if I am writing what you want to hear? I just write it as it is, let me know if the content is right??

 Buggerlugs

The Last two pics of the three days we had in Manchester before returning to Fettlers

Manchester Castlefield mooring by Night

A Bevvy of Beauties visiting Buggerlugs