Ricardo & Joey go boating?

On Saturday we had a few burly friends around for a fairly traumatic event...taking the roof down to the boat. Yes we have a boat 'Roxane' (named after Richard's daughter). She's been a dream for a long time and is having to be finished off to a much lesser extent than either of us would have liked and sold. She is a beauty and one of the reasons I fell in love with Richard was because he was the kind of adventuresome dreamer that had such a boat. She is a 27 foot long symphony in steel, a highly unusual small size for a boat with a steel hull. Called an Akerboom and built in Holland she's a coastal cruiser so not quite ocean going but more than just a river boat. She lies at a place called Isleham on the fens in Cambridgeshire.
I have never even sailed in her. It was always hard to get the time to work on her as Saturdays were the only days we could and only the fine ones at that, which meant half the year (at least) was out because of the weather.
Here are aforementioned burly lads helping to load the roof onto our friend, 'Bladesies' truck.
and here taking down the old ply wood bits that held up the old tarpaulin...
Richard struggled manfully on but was clearly exhausted by such emotionally charged stuff. Having to ask other people to help him with this has been a hugely humbling experience.
At last the roof was up but still needs to be set in place properly.
Checking out the work that's still to be done...
here's a picture from a while ago of Ricardo of the rippling muscles. He's rebuilt the whole 'Super structure' (top part of boat for us landlubbers) immaculately.
and lined the interior so beautifully...
We couldn't have done what we did today though without the help of wonderful, wonderful friends who are willing and happy to give up their time to help. Thank you Jon-boy, Pauly, Bladesy, and Gary.

A walk in the woods

It's still freezing cold here, and even though we should be at the boat sanding and polishing on a Saturday, it was sunny and time for a long walk to try and bump up our vitamin D intake.There is always a huge display of yellow winter aconites on the way to one of our favourite spots. A carpet of spring promise and more than I've ever seen there before.
West Harling Church, stands in a field and is always peaceful and beautiful in any weather.
There are snowdrops appearing in tender spots.
this amazing fungus was growing on an old tree and bright pumpkin yellow in the sun.
After going round the Church we veered off on a path through the woods to find lots of snowdrops.
...and a slice of tree slightly older than me.
It was the middle of the day but every puddle was still frozen in a different design.
This collage of leaves and grass and frost would make a wonderful wallpaper.

Weddings galore

Ages ago Ricardo the Magnificent accepted a gig with our friend Paul to sing at a wedding. He was thrilled as Paul is a great musician and loves the same kind of Swing/country music that Richard does.
However a few weeks ago we realised that it was actually on our wedding anniversary.... I brought out the stiff upper lip and said it was fine, we'd celebrate it in a couple of weeks time when we had some more time & money, after all we've been married for 5 years now.

As the day got closer though I'm afraid I suffered the girly kind of wishing and hoping that I usually hate in girls. It looked like there wouldn't be any kind of weddingy stuff happening on the day. I went to Norwich yesterday and bought a wee pressie and a card & strengthened my resolve.
Knowing Richard as I do, I should have known all bases would be covered....I came downstairs this morning and discovered somehow he'd hidden a dozen of these in the garage.
And had somehow found the time to make this card out of a piece of veneer he had.... (five years is wood)


Then we didn't do ANY work on the boat and went out to Wyken vineyard for breakfast. Here's a really bad photo of me looking relieved. (Did I really bag this guy after waiting 43 years? How can he stand someone who wears so much concealer?)
After that we went to Ring bells for not one but two weddings. By the end of it all we were feeling suitably romantic. So here without further ado I bring you some photos of our BIG day 5 yes five years ago...







And a poem by e.e.cummings from a beautiful book that the indomitably romantic beau bought at Wyken...

'I carry your heart with me'

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

e.e. cummings (1894 - 1962)

I hope this leaves you all feeling suitably romantic...

Job done...

Today on a cold & miserable November day, after much heartache & cost. We picked up "The Motor" for the boat....it's the colour of sunny skies. Now we just have to get it in....(so to speak). Richard's face lifted about an inch on the drive home. He even let me get Macdonalds fries!!!!!

Bloke post

This week has been one of greasiness & engines.
Richard's van broke down a couple of weeks ago & we bought a new (well VERY second hand) one. It is the same as his previous one so he took a whole load of bits & pieces off the old one & put them on the new one. A very satisfying job indeed. We towed the old one to Mellors metals. An exciting scrap yard near us, where the giant claw could come down at any time & squash you like an ant. All the fun of the fair & you get paid for it by the scrap dealer's very clean daughter.

Then after our sojourn to Sunderland Point a few weeks ago and a great deal of discussion with the all knowing fishermen & women of the North West; we decided "to Hell with the expense", we would put a diesel motor into the boat. We had one that we bought from a friend where our boat lies, but it was attched to a compressor.....more rust, diesel & dirt to get it off the compressor and to take it to....
Mr Diesel' himself, Brian Greenwood.
Brian has every man's ideal job, in every boy's ideal location. He has a workshop on what's known as 'The Broads' . With a view of boats & ducks & riverland. An Arthur Ransome story is set very nearby and there is a museum of the Broads too where these photos were taken of Ricardo in his element.
Mmmmmmmmm motors'


Mmmmmm canvas covers
Here's a picture of the engine that we will replace in the boat, an Albin petrol job, a collectors item we are told.