Retirement with No Problem

This week – Arrived at Devizes to collect No Problem

Back from Christmas…

Here the girls not long after discovering Father Christmas did manage to squeeze down the chimney.. although Tilly the lab and Lucy, to the delight of Niamh in the foreground, both wanted to get involved with the general opening of pressies, Daddy on the other hand was trying to relax at such an early hour on Christmas Morning!

And a piccy from Boxing day, when most of the family turned up to share the traditional buffet.. yet another super job done by Wendie and Jennie between them..

And it was with thanks and a wave to Bob on NB Decision Maid, who looked after No Problem and made sure her pins stayed in the bank while we were away, before turning west again to meet up with our new No Problem waiting at Devizes Marina for us to return from the Christmas break.

So now No Problem is strapped firmly to the side of No Problem Mk1 and there she will stay for a bit while we hammer and bang at her inside and wrestle with bits of wood.. keep this bit, throw out that bit etc.. It amazes me how past owners have managed to put aboard some items that are now not needed by us.. turn it this way, no that way.. ah just get it wet and hope it shrinks to get it off the narrowboat!!

But we have had a good day today, and the old galley has disappeared, soon to be the raised dinnette, along with a wardrobe and table and chairs in the next cabin which will be the new galley.

Over the Christmas period I took a couple of visits to the local B & Q and sorted out the galley units that I wanted, and checked and double checked the measurements. I will have a bit more room in this galley.. whooooopeee!.. Hey all of another 40cm!!!

But hey you landlubbers, 40cm is a massive difference on a narrowboat.. it actually means that I can have a whole set of drawers, AND 40cm more workspace!!

We will go off to Swindon on Monday to B & Q and order all the stuff there for delivery to Devizes Boatyard. 20% off in their sale, and that ends on Monday.. Oh and the door fronts for the galley are half price too!

For the flooring we have decided to go for real wood, oak in fact. In Mk1 we have laminated flooring.. it’s good there is no doubt about that, and Lucy running up and down has not scratched it one bit, but we decided to upgrade this time to a proper wooden floor. In the ‘wet’ areas we will have tile effect laminate, that’s the galley, utility room and bathroom.

Our first visitor today to No Problem was Paul Balmer. He had just been to see how his new boat was coming along and popped in on the way home to see us. The design he has for his bunk room I might just pinch… I have had my own thoughts, but will look at that..

Also for the dinnette we might take up the design on Balmaha.. thanks Mo and Ness for the pics on that one.

So all busy for us over the next few weeks, and plenty to write about on the blog no doubt.

Christmas and the New Year seem a long time ago now, and tomorrow we will welcome Wendie and the family to Devizes and their first view of No Problem.. I do hope the two grandchildren like it!