connected !!

Web'n'walk seems to be up & running ( well more of a slow amble really) had several attempts over w/e & couldn't get pages to load. Had one last go this morning berfore phoning helpline & success!
Am using it to update blog to see if can upload okay & have managed to upload pic, albeit slowly but suppose take some getting used to a slower speed.
After being stuck in most of w/e with the dreadful weather we were determined to get out to stretch our legs yesterday so walked down the stainforth-keadby canal & apart from these two, a heron & several moorhens no one else about. Took the pic with my new phone & am suitably impressed.
Wind still bitter but had backwind on way to Keady so not too bad but cheated & got the train back as sky looked about to dump some sleet & didn't fancy struggling back to car in those conditions.
So after a w/e off it's back to the big clear out - hoping for fine sunday next w/e as really need to do carboot.

sleepless in hull

I should be sound asleep but can't turn my brain off plus his lordship is fast asleep & snoring loudly so am back downstairs to see if a bit of blogging will empty my head.
Daughter & son-in-law came today to take various items they are relieving us of & the house is slowing emptying.
We have a small shed in the garden - more like a sentry box than a shed but nevertheless son-in-law wants it for their garden & was confident it would go on the roof rack - So in the bitterly cold wind & sleet it was lifted (if you have ever heard 'right said fred' by Bernard Cribbins you will have some idea!) down the street & onto said roofrack whereon son-in-law realised that the straps to fasten it down were woefully short so plan abandoned pro tem but shed did have to be put back in garden - no doubt keeping the neighbours entertained on an otherwise dreary afternoon.
Went to Carphone warehouse yesterday & signed up for the t mobile web'n'walk - it's really slow, so slow that web pages just won't load - but sales assistant did say it could take up to 5 days for full service so shall have to be patient before I ring the help line.
Highlight of the day tomorrow could be a trip to the tip, hey its never dull in Hull...... so back to bed & hope to zzzz....

the clearout continues

To Manchester on Saturday to take some items of furniture that daughter & family can put to good use. Also able to spend a bit of time with the grandchildren who are very keen to know how soon the move will happen so they can visit us aboard. Looking like possibly mid April - WOW!

Sunday was a trip to Cheshire Oaks as daughter wanted a pair of walking boots so as to walk to work (down the Bridgewater to Sale) cheaper than the bus & healthier. Found what she wanted plus new rucksack so successful trip & after dropping them off drove back to Hull for tea & time team.

Still loads stuff to get rid of - hoping for a fine Sunday to do car boot but weather forecast for this w/e is not promising ..... cold & windy ( just for a change!) Luckily our buyer will be letting the house and is happy for us to leave items of furniture that we ( or rest of family!) don't want which make things easier.

Was going to add couple of pics but not sure how - tried clicking on the 'add image' icon but nothing happens, mmm........will see if I can figure it out meanwhile if there is anyone out there reading this who does know what to do I'd appreciate some guidance ;)

stuff, stuff & more stuff

Where does it all come from, I have been getting rid of stuff for weeks in a sort of half hearted manner but now it is in earnest & spent yesterday morning putting some stuff on ebay & most of the afternoon sorting my clothes into 'keep or carboot', methinks the 'keep' pile will still need to be reduced somewhat! Also had great delight in shredding a pile of work related papers that will no longer be needed :)

Bit of a nuisance that I have been plagued by painful tooth socket-had large back tooth removed last monday & after a couple of days was becoming more painful rather than less so suspecting an infection back to the dentist who diagnosed a 'dry socket'. I'll omit the gruesome details but suffice to say it is b****y painful!

Sellers pack arrived yesterday from our solicitors so we waded through it last night ready for sending back to day - double & treble checked to ensure done correctly as we don't want any holdups. Buyer's solicitor seems to think completion will be 1st week in May at latest - hmm, we'll see!

So todays job - attack the glory hole that is the understairs cupboard & add to the carboot pile.
Hoping to do one as soon as fine sunday - so not this w/e then!

The beginning

Well where else would I start!
Hi everybody - I'm new to this blogging lark so apologies in advance for any slipups etc.
A bit of background - I have loved canals since the early '80s when, in an attempt to get out of Brum where I then lived for some fresh air & not having a car, getting off a train in Lapworth & discovering a whole new world.
Fast forward nearly 30yrs we seem to be finally about to follow our dream of living on the canal system. Plan was to do it in 2010 (retirement age for me) & continually cruise from the start but for an assortment of reasons we have been able to bring it forward a couple of years. But as Mark will still be working for a couple of years or so needed res mooing within striking distance of Hull.
So......... house on the market & then visit to Bluewater Marina at the w/e saw new 57' liverpool bt immaculately fitted out & it was love at 1st sight-







Was going to sleep on it but you just know don't you - so on way home made phone call to say please don't sell to anyone else!
Deposit paid next day & - a real plus - offered a res mooring at the marina.

If things go according to plan - do they ever- we are looking to complete the purchase within a month & move aboard late april/early may - we were going to wait till house sold before moving aboard but hey what are estate agents for! so if not sold shall just hand them the keys to sort viewings etc.
Meanwhile the downsizing which I have made a bit of a start on now begins in earnest -

............ Wow !! just had call from est agent with offer from chap who viewed yesterday which we are accepting. Gosh bought a boat & sold ( sub to contract!!) a house all in 3 days. House has only been on market 6 days so really chuffed. Fingers & toes crossed it goes through.
Right better go and sort through some cupboards..........