June 3rd

Many apologies for such a delay since I last wrote.

School and its busyness has kept me quiet. So too has the wish to keep calm and patient.

What has happened?

• The boat has been in part repainted and resignwritten. What was done, was not quite right.

What is happening?

• The inside is being fitted out - and fitted out well.

What will happen?

• The boat is due to be finished on the 20th July. It then heads to Burton for the IWA Festival.

January 13th

Today I visited the boat as it had, only three days earlier, moved into the dry dock to be painted by Dave Bishop.

What was pleasing?

• To chat with Dave - I think he will do an excellent job.
• To learn that Dave had found some flaking - the expense of going back to bare metal had been worth it.

What was edifying?

• To see how huge the boat looked in the dry dock.
• To begin to see where £7500 was going!

It was a delight, also, to see life returning to the canal at Braunston -and to see the Gongoozlers' Rest taking on its new appearance.

31st December

I visited Braunston today.

Bob Mitchell was working on the hatch doors for Strumble 2 and we chatted over a few further details; he is very patient with me.

It was good to see progress being made on Gongoozlers' Rest. This excellent narrowboat cafe is in dock presently so that it can be refitted for the new season; its new shape will certainly surprise a few.

Elsewhere it was jolly quiet: there was a little ice-breaking, a few puffs of desultory smoke, barely even a walker.

The scene was ripe for Thomas Hardy to write a poem on it.

19th December

Though I know I will make many mistakes and overlook what I should have thought about, I am trying to get as many ideas for the new boat as I can. How? By looking at boats already built - in flesh and in magazines. Also by asking questions on Canalworld. My latest question concerns storage, particularly the storage of mooring stakes, windlasses and hammer. When I cruise, I like to have these easily to hand, yet don't like leaving them lying about. Ideas and photos are coming in - I am learning.

My next intent is to visit the boat this thursday - the 23rd. I shall take some more equipment with me and also a chair - to see if it will fit in the boat.

13th December

I have decided to start a blog. I do not know if this is a good idea. I shall see.

The blog is called Strumble 2. It concerns a boat I am having created at Braunston Marina. Presently the boat is a shell with an engine.

• The shell was built by Barry Hawkins in 2008.
• The engine is a 1952 Lister JP3 which has been made good by Tony Redshaw.
• The boat is being fitted out by Bob Mitchell.
• The boat is being painted by Dave Bishop.

All should be ready by the end of March. We shall see.