Gosh its Christmas

Just really want to thank anyone who is following this random effort of a blog, I hope you all have a lovely and cosy time this Christmas and a jolly good New Year.

And here she was and I remember it well. Yes it was very warm and cosy on Wild Rose in the winter despite the ice on the canal. It was a delight to see the Canada Geese and resident swans tapping on the windows whilst walking past on the ice hoping to be fed, and they always were.....Jims motto >>> if it moves, feed it ... ha

We even went to the pub at Old Hill on the Sunday..It was a beautiful sunny crisp day. I hung on at the front with the pole breaking the ice as we chugged through, the pub had a roaring fire and the beer tasted good. The canal had frozen over by the time we left the pub and so it had to be done all the way back to Bumble Hole. Still Sunday dinner was ready to dish out when we moored up and what a good day that was.

Wild Rose Revealed

In the sunshine its not so bad ! ! at least I will have a clean sweep and start from scratch, or rather have a mop n bilge and start with an anglegrinding ha ha.

Am beginning to remember lots of discussions about possible layouts. Its a very small space, but I do like a challenge...good job too.

Faded but proud !

I am being very good and wearing safety glasses, proper H & S of course.

Where's the angle grinder ???

Rust removal is the first job on the roof. Where did I leave the safety glasses ?????

The tarpaulin has had it and is coming off as soon as a replacement can be uncovered.

But despite all the gunge and rust she is still sound.

And on a lovely sunny day, tarpaulin rolled off and much work revealed but she looks real happy.

Ah what memories ... more travels coming up soon

Getting Down & Dirty

Wots down here then ! ! or rather wots not ? .......

the engine for one thing, and if its to go back this has to be done !

this is yukky stuff and ah the smell of diesel......

This is a bit grim .... but not phased at all, its a good chance to redesigne the interior from scratch and hoping I can afford some mod cons ! !

The flash wasnt on ! and you cant see the 4" of water throughout, but can just make out the battery perched above the water with bilge pump clamped to it....

Three days in and I am still moping out the bilges ! the rust is coming off a treat ! ! and pleased to note that there aint any holes in the bottom.... phew!

I think she needs a new fuel tank ! !

Will have some interiors tomorrow, am hoping to pull back the tarpaulin and let in the light.

Travels with Rosie & Jim

Under the motorway, either the M5 or M6, I will have to investigate and update when I find out.
Here we stayed overnight at the Black Country Museum .... no charge and a free pint in the pub ...... how good is that eh ha.

The Main Man

My Jim .... my hero.... the man who put the Jim into Rosie & Jim ...... .
Here he is dressed in style for a gathering of narrowboats at Titford Pools.
Wild Rose is the blue one on the right .. ooops left.....

In the late 80's and early 90's I remember the water level fluctuated considerably and many times when we were out, the level was some 12 or more inches lower than it appears to be now. Anyway Wild Rose, having a very shallow draft, was often able to get to and from places that others with deeper drafts couldn't. Titford pools was one of these times, as Wild Rose and a couple of unladen working boats were the only ones able to get out easily. As its the highest point on the midlands canal system (well thats what I wuz told!) it did seem a bit daft to encourage loads of boats up through the locks when levels were already low !.

This I think is on our way back from Birmingham to Netherton. We often stayed near to Gas Street Basin for New Year, that was when Brindley Place was being developed and all the high cranes had Xmas decs and xmas trees all covered with coloured lights. Pity no pics as it was quite a delight high in the sky. I could put a roast dinner in the cooker when leaving Brum and be doing the gravy coming through the Netherton Tunnel, with yummy nosh all ready on mooring up at Bumble Hole. Blooming marvelous.

I have now worked out how to get my non digital pics on to the site, so more of these to come.

phut phut and away she goes ...

well here it is, the first sounds of the engine.........

and she kept on going........

how good is that eh!!!

A Bit at a Time eh!

well here we go ......at first proper inspection she appears to have weathered well, its probably 15 years since her last coat of paint !

Not sure how effective this wire brush will be though harumph harumph ha ! !

however from first efforts, I think she will brush up a treat ...

next bit next time eh

Isn't the internet brilliant

The engine is new ! ! well new to the Wild Rose at least.

All I know is that it is a Petter 2 cylinder air cooled stationary engine. So with that I logged on and wonderful Google found me lots to delve into and several possible contacts.

The Stationary Engine Company suggested that it is a BA2 ??? and now have a manual on its way from a most helpful Hydrolic Plant Supplies Ltd....and realdiesels.com --> isnt that just brilliant.

Looks like a lot of work, but its lovely and clean and well oiled inside. Starter motor attached and gearbox, variable speed - 900 - 2500 r/min. and provides up to 20hp ? ? well I dont know but am sure somebody does.

Also found out that the fuel pump part number is FAOANO75B0520.............anybody got one ???

marvelous eh!

Crossing my fingers that I have got it right ! !

On the road again

Whats this parked next to me....oh yes its the Wild Rose parked waiting for the transport to arrive.

Drive past at Bumble hole, the drivers were ace.

Chucking a left at the lights to avoid roadworks

Its gonna be a bit tight getting in here......almost took the speed camera ha.

No problem backing her in

She swings into place......

"another 6 inches to the right" shouts the shouting man.......

and down she goes.

The wild Rose has landed ha.......

The work is yet to begin ! ! now where is the wirebrush ! !

Tight manouvers or what !

Tight manouvers or what ! !

Of course its raining steadily and heavily ! !

The drivers were brilliant ... Top Banana fellers Thank you.

But with Wildrose balanced on a forklift truck...with ballast on the forklift ! ! ha ha.

Not long now and then .......
Back on the road, again .......

I'm holding my breath

as she rises from her blocks.



Getting round a tight corner ! !

On the road again ! !

Today Wildrose started her next journey with the aid of 2 hefty forklifts, a several gas bottles (used as rollers ! ! but very successful ha ha). She now sits in the car park at Bumble Hole awaiting her low loader arriving tomora at 9:am, to drive her to The Delph where she will be refurbished just as planned.

More pics and, with a bit of luck, a video or two ooooh

Back tomora

engineering excellence

in a piece of art ! , well here are the pics of the 2 certainly excellently engineered pieces that thoroughly deserve recognition.
Tom Pugh's chair (shame my pic is not so good and taken through the window ! I must get to grips with this photography lark ). Anyway the chair is super and with its
delightful streamlines, I am sure Tom will do well in the world of automotives.


The other piece is not just a table, its a technically brilliantly constructed table by Simon Locke- Wheaton.
And what a creative piece it is. Glass topped sitting on 4 bicycle sadles, held together with precision engineering. This is a remarkably brilliant design and superbly made creation.


Well done Simon and Tom I am sure you will go on to do some very interesting things.

And well done everybody.

My photos don't do them justice.


Some of the other things I was able to capture with my basic camera skills :-

I will get better at this........ the students work is fab and the end of year show is a must to visit.

On my way to work

A lovely thing happened on my way to work today. I went to see the Stourbridge College Art end of year show. Saw some really super creations and constructions, the culmination of much thought and work for some really tallented young people. The purpose of todays visit was to see the work of the 2 students who will get the Jim Waite prize for excellence in engineering in their art/construction work. This comemorates the time when Jim ran the 3D design workshops.

He was renown for his tea drinking and 'jims cafe' where the movers and shakers met to cook beans and potatoes in the kiln and bacon etc on the forge with a welding torch for toast. He also facilitated a hub of excellence and creativity, bringing his engineering skills into the world of art. A creative man himself, never short of an idea to modify, enhance or invent even, he thrilled at the work of the students and would find ways to adapt the strictness of engineering processes in order to create the effects that the students were striving for....how many ways can you splatter with a welder sort of stuff.
He was in his element and he will be proud to know that his influence is still there. The 2 winners have produced truly excellent pieces of work......hopefully pics to follow.....

Getting Ready to Roll

Well the date has been set for the move of the Wildrose from her home at Bumble Hole to her R&R. Just 5 miles down the road, but a good place to work on her as she will be undercover and in a very safe place. Low Loader and crane are booked for 30th July so a lot of work to clear the spaces. 35ft long and 7 tons heavy is a bit of a load so its gonna be a bit interesting. Am learning how to use Jim's camera so I hope to be proficient by then ! !

Shedders

Jim was a shedder.......he loved his sheds ....(pics to follow shortly). The first one was built on the canal bank. It housed 2 computers and a printer, a radio and a portable heater. The electricity was metered ! ! We dived into the Open University prospectus and loved every minute of the courses we attacked eagerly, thirst for knowledge and all that stuff. What fun eh ......


The second shed is more of a conservatory. Constructed from the discarded window frames of a posh house going double glazed ! ! a pair of ex pub doors and a roof strong enough to stand an elephant on ha ha, overengineering was the norm and thank goodness for that. Anyway it was such a delight in the summer surrounded by garden that we lived in it regularly.


The third shed is more of an observatory. One story up on the terrace and houses the treasured telescope that is poised and waiting for me to find out how to plug it in and connect to all that GPS stuff. He taught me much about astronomy and I am determined to get to grips with the equipment a least.

I am about to paint a smiley face on the roof of the Terrace Shed. Had thought of it sometime ago and when tempted, was banned from putting roof turf on if (cos the roof has to be lifted orf for the scope to see the sky), so was considering a big yellow smileyface and just not got round to it (but thats another story .. this is meant to be a positive and will stay so).


Anyway, this morning on the radio I heard something about Google Earth doing a picture sweep of the West Midlands / Black Country, West to East, on Wednesday morning at 8.57, and they are suggesting that if everybody in Birmingham gets on to the street at that time and everybody wave at the sky .... dont know for how long though??? well the bloke on the radio recons that we could look like the happiest and friendliest place on the planet.....what a cracking idea I thought to myself, I'll paint that smiley face on the terrace shed.... now where's the paint ! ! and is it waterproof ??? ! !



Ah yes that looks jes purfec .......



Of course it was an April Fool and excellent fun for many according to My Space and You Tube reports. The shed roof face however will be there whenever Google Earth does next do its picture sweep of the Black Country.

Wonder when that will be ? ? ? Am in no hurry, at the moment Jim's car is parked out front and I am very happy with that.

First things first

Not sure yet whether I have bitten off more than I can chew ! ! the WILD ROSE has certainly been at the mercy of neglect over the past few years but she has been out of the water and sheeted up ........ she was overengineered when built......... one of a pair, the last boats to be built at Bumble Hole..... so she should be sound enough. Went over to see her last weekend and took lots of pics and already remembering the delights of living on water.



Note to anyone reading this >>> I will get more pictures on here when I get the hang of it ...... its taken me over a week to get back into this blog and I really have no idea what I am doing (ha, nothing new there then ) ... am already following myself ??? how did that happen ???









Although after taking a peek inside it looks like its going to be more than a repaint and cleanup ... harump harumph ! ! !

Rose on Wildrose

After several years of waiting, the WILDROSE is about to be moved for her very own R&R (refit & refurb).

She was home to myself and my Jim (Rosie & Jim ..... geddit?) for over 12 years of our 20ish years together. Dry docked whilst we worked our socks orf to get financially stable, with the plan to get her back on the water for future travels.

As plans go it was a goodun, until the terrible cancer took its toll for Jim last year. Today on his birthday, this blog is being started to commemorate his life, cyberfile our Travels On a Narrowboat and document my own and the WILDROSE's recovery.