Bluebell April 2006 update

During the last two months great progress has been made. The work tops have been fitted on both sides, the sink and taps have been installed on the starboard side, the wash hand basin and taps have been installed in the loo - no door yet, though! I did suggest a bead curtain for the loo door but this was not well received.  The ledges (also known as tables) have been put up on  both sides but not quite up to the front. On the port side, the gas hob and grill has been installed and the gas piping and fittings in the gas locker in the bows has been done (by Davie, a Corgi registered gas fitter) . The next stage in this area is to construct a sliding (or similar) door in front of the water talk and make a new set of steps with handrails.

Moving forward in the boat, as I said in my last report, Ian and Bill couldn't install the ledges and finishes up to the front bulkhead till we get work done in that area. I am pleased to report that we are now making progress! Gordon from Belzona very kindly came along one Saturday and grit blasted the front well deck (it had been under floor boards and was a bit rusty). Gordon arranged for Speedy Hire in Livingston to donate the hire of the compressor for the day for Gordon to do the work - many thanks again, Gordon, you are a star! and thanks too to Graham of  Speedy Hire for the compressor. Gordon also donated "stuff" to put on  the newly grit blasted floor and to seal it afterwards.

With this work done, ballast of paving slabs and old bricks (from the BW stock) was put in the front well deck to bring the level down a bit and get the anodes under water. When this was achieved, Andy and Bill laid the new floor and what a good job they made of it!  I was just sorry that I didn't have my camera that day to get a photo of it before it gets muddy footprints on it.

Billy from BW has kindly agreed to weld the front door surrounds for us - we took them off to get them properly sanded and treated, and the construction of the front door can than start.

A group of volunteers from B Sky B are coming to paint Bluebell for us later this month and in preparation for that, the roof has been sanded and undercoated. this was done last year but with the boat being left over the winter without a top coat, parts needed doing again.

I will try to get down to take some more photos soon as there is a lot to record since I took the last lot.

While all this was going on, We have also been working on Roseann getting her ready for a trip to foreign parts. We are taking her down to the Lancaster canal to do trips as part of the IWA trail Boat Festival. She has been completely repainted, seat supports replaced and welded and rather smart fendering applied to both ides to protect the canopy when she comes in to moor. The fendering was made from very old mahogany and rubber escalator railing (thanks Andy).

Some photos taken later