Having had the new helm seats installed yesterday, partly painted, it was my task today to complete the job. Well, coat one of two.

However, in true comedy sketch style everything I painted ended up tainted as I foolishly leaned on it or brushed against it.

I don’t think I’ve uttered as many ‘doh!’ remarks as I have today :lol:

British Racing Green arms aren’t something I would recommend as it’s not that fetching really.  However, undeterred I proceeded to rub down and renew the varnished cratch board and bow doors together with the wooded seat pads of the new helm chairs.

I’m so pleased with the cratch board repair; you can’t tell that it was injured at all!  Mind you, balancing on the small area at the front was a tad acrobatic at times and the sun had heated up the metal so that I was performing River Dance toward the end of the job :lol:

May get round to giving the galley partition wall (bulkhead?) a going over tomorrow too! :ermm:

There’s a lot of water-staining to the wood so it’s not that even looking but at least now they’re afforded an amount of protection for the coming Winter.

Whilst taking a break I had a wee chat with two British Waterway’s employees who were checking that we all had boat licences.  A really nice pair who chatted about the forseeable sale of BA, the overzealousness of parking ticket attendants and the possibility that BA will go the same way if privatised.  They were really only interested in ticketing those they knew could pay as opposed to those less fortunate than ourselves who really couldn’t afford anything.  I thought that was really nice and caring.

Yes, somewhere at last to rest my weary

I’d been given the name and number of Brian Greaves (07968 019203) a few months ago from a fellow boater who’d been happy with their helm seating. Several ‘Queens’ notes later and I’m the proud owner of a set myself!

Can’t wait to test them out but before I do I need to get out my paintbrush and sand paper!

There are a couple of other area’s of the boat that could do with a little attention so whilst the paintbrush is loaded, I’ll attend to them also.

Thank you Brian; top job!

Hopefully they’re dry in time for the weekend; should be in the glorious weather we’re experiencing right now! I’ve told my ‘nighter’ mates that we’ll take a short cruise on Sunday morning so will get some Champers in and let Lottie be Captain :lol:

Yes, tonight, after a short spell of midge-free enjoyment I’ve been the subject of repeat attack.

No less than 9 citronella candles light up my cratch with an eerie ambiance of self preservation.  7 in a pre-divorce, 20 year old, designer Danish glass dish (get me!) and two in hanging glass vases…  but still they come!

I’m not worried as I can scratch, moan and burp, like the rest of you… but don’t you just hate them flying in your face! WAR!

That aside, I spent a fabulous day in Bournemouth, my home Town, today with my two bestest girlfriends ever.  We enjoyed a decadent luncheon at Alcatraz with laughter, pizza and sideways glances at the Italian Waiter’s bum :lol:

My evening was spent, yet again, watching everyone else coming and going; I sat here thinking ‘what a lot of fuss’ as I casually laid back against the back wall of my cratch, sipping chilled wine and sucking on my electronic cigarette :w00t:

Now this particular photo was amazing.  I promise you that I’ve not edited it in any way other than to crop it.  L!  It’s a sign! LOTTIE

It’s amazing just how much goes on from the end of a boat without actually moving it.  I am, however, concious that you’re all getting a bit bored of my idiomaticness style right now… I promise I wont bore you with such obvious, blatant and worn-out  observations for ever!

As you can see, Rosie & Jim still rule the roost, the famous SB Collinda visited our Marina today, and the ducks still prove a fascination for me!