This is the blog of Norwyn & Sheila aboard their narrowboat Shell Bell.
Leaving Beccles around 08:30 i set off for Willington a journey that normally takes just over three hours. Today was to be no different it was a good trip up to Derbyshire with lovely weather not warm but bright and dry. On arrival at Mercia Marina it was a bit overcast but still not cold. I went to the office to collect our new key for the gates they have all been updated while we have been away, i also bought an electric card to top up for our hook up. Once on board and the general inspection over it was time to unload the car of the new cushions and put in position on the new shape dinette.
The new cushions
After sorting out the cushions i checked the water system and started the engine, all was well Shell Bell has wintered well so far with no issues as yet. Tomorrow river canal rescue are on board to service the engine and give us an electrical check.
We had a quiet weekend, Saturday we just chilled and Sunday we went for a walk of around five miles through Dingle marshes near Walberswick. Today I have sorted out some stuff to take back onto Shell bell. I plan to go on board tomorrow for a couple of days, so it was nice to hear that the weather is going to warm up a bit.
Today I have taken the car in for a check, the throttle has been sticking slightly at times so hopefully the guys at Goodswens will sort it out. Apart from that we haven’t done too much since our return but at least the weather is warming up a little, although the weather man did say it will cool down again Sunday. Ben has fitted a spam filter to this site which has helped in stopping the flood of spam that had started to arrive. It was interesting that as we left Oceana on Sunday another Narrow boat blogger Sue from nb No Problem joined her for the cruise to the canaries.
We arrived home from our 5 week P&O cruise on board Oceana on Sunday,We had a wonderful time and for the most part great weather. Well its now time to start getting Shell Bell ready as we hope to start our travels around the canals again March.We have had some new cushions made for our new dinette and we picked those up yesterday. I am going to the boat for a couple of days next week, so will post some pics of the new cushions on the dinette.Whilst on board I plan to have the engine serviced and clean out the fresh water tank, as yet I don’t know the best method for this but hopefully somebody will tell me.The next thing will be planning and doing the re-painting of Shellbell hopefully this can be done very early in March.
Firstly let me wish you all a very Happy New Year.
Well that’s Christmas over for another year. We had a very nice Christmas. We had Christmas diner at Sheila’s sister Wendy’s and tea was spent with her other sister Gail and most of the family. Ben and Claire arrived boxing day from visiting Claire’s parents near Southend. We spent the time mainly loafing around eating and of course the odd tipple. The more energetic children, grandchildren and nieces (also nan) spent fun time on the wii, competing against each other. We dragged Ben and Claire on a nice walk around Thorpness and Aldeburgh. It was bright but very windy. We did get them to check out the Scallop shell sculpture on the beach. It has been there for around 10 years but it still seems to cause a lot of discussion – some love it, others hate it.
Scollape shell Alburgh beach
Ben and Claire went back before New year so we had a nice new years eve meal with Pete and Wendy stopped of at theirs on the way home for a night cap then called in on Sim and Belinda and there gang for another night cap then eventually home to bed.
Adele Banks has finished the last modifications onboard Shell Bell the last item was the rear door linings and very fine they look we have today ordered the new cushions for the dinette and they should be ready by mid February
new rear door linings
We are nearly packed ready for our 5 week cruise aboard the P&O ship Oceana going to the Caribbean New Orleans and theFlorida keys we sail on Sunday 8th January so we are going to Bens tomorrow and staying at his for the night before making our way to Southampton on Sunday when we sail at 6pm.
I am hoping to blog whilst travelling i have put a link on the left hand side of the home page OCEANA CRUISE hopefully we will get some of our adventures on there
Oceana our home for the next 5 weeks
I thought it was about time for an update, (Andy Lawrence keeps telling me off). Well, we are missing life aboard shell bell but I guess it is going to be around early March 2012 before we start cruising again. Adele Banks has now finished the new floor and all the shelf units etc. We are so pleased, she has done a fantastic job. So that only leaves the re-lining of the back doors to do,(Adele has ordered the wood) and we will be ship shape. We are now settled in the bungalow and enjoying life in Beccles. It was nice to meet up at the local indian restaurant with my old work mates from Clays ltd (book printers inc harry potter). We had a really nice evening catching up with all their news and it was pleasing to hear that they are busy. Good news in this economic climate. Christmas is now very close and I think we are ready (nice one Sheila). we are going to Sheila’s sister Wendy’s for xmas dinner and her other sister Gail’s for tea. Boxing day will be spent at home with all the kids popping in for eats and drinks so all in all should make for a very pleasant couple of days. Hopefully I will get some fishing in before we depart on January 8th for our cruise on a bigger ship than Shell Bell. I will blog more info nearer the time. Pictures today are of the quay at Beccles on the wonderful river Waveney. Hope all of you out there have a very merry xmas and prosperous new year.
Beccles Quay
Beccles on the Waveney
Time is certainly flying we are now into December and christmas is fast approaching. The weather remains relatively good with very little rain to speak of and temperatures above the seasonal average, although I fear winters grip is closing in. So what news is there. Well, we have really settled into the bungalow and Beccles is a nice town with plenty of shops and other amenities and of course it is on the Norfolk Broads so plenty of good fishing available. The new furniture we ordered should arrive tomorrow so that will be nice. Adele Banks has been on board Shell Bell and has laid the new floor and started boxing in the pipework so apart from the rear door linings all the modifications are complete. We are planning to repaint Shell Bell in the spring, a daunting task but one that has to be done. We have been invited out by Norwyn’s ex work mates next Friday for a meal, it will be good to catch up with all the news from Clays Ltd. Talking of eating, my brother in law Pete has given us some honey from his brother’s bees (brightwell bees) fantastic it is too. I will put up a link to their web site.
Shell Bell's new floor thanks again Adele
As the heading says busy times indeed. We are still settling into the Bungalow although most boxes are now unpacked, with those left unpacked destined for the loft, I suspect. Shell Bell’s new floor has been delayed as Adele had not finished her previous contract, but as usual she kept us fully informed and she should be starting next week. Norwyn went up to Willington on Wednesday as the replacement Battery charger was going to be fitted by Stuart Fletcher (Fletcher marine services) on Thursday morning. Whilst onboard it was nice to catch up with John and Nancy (NB Perfect Harmony). Stuart arrived Thursday and had the charger, a Victron 60 amp was fitted in what seemed no time at all. So Shell bell can charge her batteries again whilst on the shore electric hook up. Thanks Stuart, another first rate job. Norwyn got back to suffolk around 4pm Thursday afternoon so it was a very quick visit.
The new charger before installation
The charger installed and working
early evening at Mercia Marina
Finally we have moved from Bungay to Beccles at distance of about 6 miles. The move happened last Friday and it went swimmingly well, we had plenty of help from family and friends and much appreciated it was too. The past week has been spent sorting boxes and hanging pictures and of course sorting out the garage for the fishing gear (what else would you put in a garage). Adele Banks has been in touch and plans to go on-board Shell Bell Monday to relay the floor with laminate so once that’s done most of the alterations will be completed apart from the re-paint planned for the spring. As mentioned in the last blog the combi inverter has stopped charging the batteries so we looked at the options available and the most sensible seems to be installing a separate charger to run in tandem with the inverter as it still works as an inverter. Hopefully this will be installed in about two weeks time. Well it’s a busy weekend ahead with Ben and Claire coming down to Suffolk as we are all going to Amanda’s (Scott’s wife) 40th birthday bash on Saturday. It will be nice to have everyone together if only for one evening.
Our Bungalow in Beccles
It is a week since I last blogged but it has been busy. We went back to Mercia Marina last Wednesday and had a couple of days onboard Shell Bell. During our stay we went into Bakewell and had a very enjoyable day. During our time in Mercia Norwyn bumped into Bruce and Sheila Napier (Sanity Again). It was nice to meet face to face after following the Sanity blog for over three years. Whilst onboard we met up with Adele Banks to finalise the details of the new flooring and replacement of the wood on the back doors. Also it was good to see the new table and partly finished shelf unit that Adele is doing. We did have one mishap though. On our second night we suddenly lost battery power (not the poor, spoilt batteries!!!!!). After a check around it appeared that the combi inverter was not charging the batteries so we had to run the engine for an hour at 8pm- not good for the neighbours (sorry!), but bless them they never complained. Early the next morning at 8am I put out a call to Stuart Fletcher (fletcher marine services) to see if he could pop and check out the inverter. It was urgent as we needed to return to Suffolk at lunchtime. Stuart was onboard within 45mins. Super service but the news was not good. The inverter was old and would need replacing or, because it still does the inverting, we could have a seperate charger. Stuart will give us the costs for all options. Well, as the heading says, we move house on Friday. It has only taken 6 months and has been quite stressful at times but hey ho we are there now. Hopefully will update the blog about the move on Sunday or Monday.
Bakewell
new table with shelf unit partly finished beyond
