FIRST TIME SELLING CHEESES FROM THE ER II !

I think it is probably with a great deal of relief and a bit of 'finally', that the ERII was put to the use she was built for - namely being one of the best darn Cheese Boats on the Canal System!

Here is David's amazing photography, giving us a look at what where they are and what they do.

Arrival at Fradley Junction

ER II in the early morning light.
The most picturesque junction (Fradley) in the entire canal system

Setting Up Shop

Our first time selling cheese from the boat.
Helen and a young customer

More Fradley Junction shots

(the Prettiest..Have to agree with you David on that one!)

ER II at Fradley Junction
Fradley Junction,with The Swan (known by the locals as the 'Mucky Duck')
Elizabeth Rose II with The Swan in the background Lock Keepers Cottage Fradley Junction
Now then, who wants to buy some cheese?
Remember you can 'try before you buy'.
Seasons Blessings of Christmasy Cheeses

First ER II Video! Work In Progress

Cinque Terre Sojourn

One of the advantages of living in this part of the world is, that when you get tired of hammering and a 'bangering and glueing and dealing with eejits, you can just put down your tools and go away for a nice holiday.

So off to Italy, Helen and David went, and they got to see (lucky things!) Cinque Terre!
Enjoy.

By the wearin' of the Blue...

The Elizabeth Rose II gets her first coat of Brilliant Blue Paint.

Now when they came down to Canada, scarcely half a year
She's married this bold captain who called her his dear
She's dressed in silks and satins now, and she cuts a gallant show
She's the finest of the ladies down Canadee-I-O

Come you fair and tender girls wheresoever you may be
I'll have you to follow your own true love, when he goes out on the sea
For if the sailors prove false to you, well the captain he might prove true
You see the honour that I have gained by the wearing of the blue

Helen's Pride and Joy - the GALLEY!
David's Amazing Example of Finishing Work -
Boatiful Blessings!
Shanti

The Current: News and Views of the ER II - Aug-Sep 09

Hi Guys, Just a quick note I know I owe you a phone call and proper email. But we are run ragged right now we are in the middle of the two cheese selling weekends. At the same time we trying to work on the boat. I will have some new pics up real soon. In fact I think there is some there now. All is well with us hope it is the same for you. Talk soon!

Talk about FEAST! Thanks David!
One of the 'fun' things about living at Yeatsall Farm, is that the Farm boasts its own flying field.
On August 31, they had an Open House Fly In and anyone who could still manage to putter, zoom and squeeze into those WWI or WWII outfits (including the planes!) were welcome.
Here is the latest from Helen who gives us more info about The Day at The Farm:
As an added bonus, we had what the owner of the farm called 'Fun Day' on August 31st. It was an event he and his family host every year to raise funds for the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue people. We thought there would be a few planes flying in (Yeatsall Farm has it's own airfield and hangars, it's such a cool place!) and a BBQ - turned out to be a huge deal: many, many planes flying in and out, including a Russian Antinov (very scary), over 200 vintage cars and motorbikes (Frank, we thought of you immediately!), huge radio-controlled models of tanks running around the farm followed by kids, fire and rescue demonstrations (the kids loved that part, setting cars on fire and putting them out), an entertainment stage with singers, etc.. all day long, a steam-powered tractor pulling a gypsy caravan (took them 4 hours to get here from 6 miles away!) plus all the food/drink was by donation only, recommended amount being a pound for everything, including pints of ale! We know quite a few of the pilots here now and I was lucky enough to go up with one of them - in no short time, we were up flying over the beautiful Peak District, what an experience! I believe David has included a shot of me in the plane (it's a Luscombe, to those of you in the know)
* Since I had so many wonderful shots to share, I thought the best thing to do was put them in slide show format on here.
If you find it's moving too fast for you to view, then move your cursor to the bottom right and you can pause, back up or fast forward.
Enjoy! I know we did.

September 09 - ERII Interior Shots - More Work

Helen writes:
"On the boat front, things are coming along nicely, we are taking a lot more time to finish this boat out to a higher standard than last time (yes, those of you who were lucky enough to see her will wonder about that, but trust me - this boat is WAY nicer!) so progress isn't quite as fast as last time. However, we moved onto a half-finished boat then and are determined not to move onto ER II until she's completely done! Having said that, apparently your boat is never finished until you sell it...:

Hiking the Yorkshire Dales - Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

Helen writes:
"The following Monday was the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance (Google it!), one of the stops always being here at Yeatsall Farm. This event has been going on since the 13th century, very ancient and not just a little a bit weird.! David and I got roped into doing the horn dance by the owner, Richard, and his son, Greg - let me tell you, those horns are heavy!! Unfortunately, because we were dancing, there are no pictures of us - but you'll get the general idea from some of David's shots.

We did a lovely hike in the Yorkshire Dales with Heather and Jamie a couple of weeks ago, one of those 'Let's make up our own walk' type of thing, started out rainy and misty but broke out into the most glorious afternoon sunshine, as you will see from David's pictures. Just a perfect afternoon and we finished off with a pint at the pub in Appletreewick, a charming village in the Dales."

The Current: News and Views of the ER II

August 17-2009

Last we heard, our stalwart Helen and David were still 'fighting the good fight' with knuckleheads who :
a) installed the wrong Tiller Bar (the ER II is a 'cruise stern' Narrowboat and the tiller these eejits installed was for a Traditional one - TOO DAMN HIGH!)
Which means You Can't Sit Down To Steer.

b) the brand spanking newly designed windows (do I hear an oh oh?) LEAK!
The response from the guy who designed them?
'O I actually don't like those windows anyway!'
Then why the hell would you sell them?

We just shake our head over here and are heartily sorry that Helen and David have to put up with such loons.

Never mind - here are some shots of the interior work and a bit of a Hike around the area as well.

Stairs In Place, Hot Water Tank InstalledNorth American Plumbing with Drain OversideBiggest Sink on the Canals

Oot and Aboot;

Even Vertically Challenged Helen had to Duck for This OneRipening Fields of Barley, Alrewas StaffordshireOrgreave Hall, Staffordshire Blessings on all who view these

Current News From ER II - August 05 2009

"Progress is good, particularly when David and I work on the boat. We still have some issues that the boatbuilder needs to fix (replace the prop that screams like a 'banshee', install the bilge pump..) but, considering that our stuff from Canada doesn't come until today, it's quite amazing what David has managed to do with a toolbox the size of a loaf of bread, a couple of power tools purchased here and a borrowed hammer and saw: the boat is fully lined and varnished, all dc and ac wiring installed, plumbing and toilet wiring roughed in and he's started on his electrical 'room' (being a narrowboat, this room is the size of a small cupboard!).

But, our stuff comes today - Yeah! We will unpack everything and it will be like Christmas - I'll have all my lovely pots, pans and utensils and David can't wait to get his tools back!

It has been a busy and fun couple of weeks on other fronts - we had family visiting the weekend before last (Tara, Cliff and Heather) and we all had a gay old time! Lots of laughs, good food, pubs and just enjoying our time together. This past weekend, Heather and Jamie came down from Leeds, we had a lovely dinner with my brother and family on Saturday and on Sunday (my birthday), we had a fabulous hike in the Peak district at Chrome Hill (google it!), a hike David and I have always wanted to do. We finished up with dinner at The Mermaid Inn on the moors - all in all a spectacular day!

So, waiting for the call from the moving company - they will, almost certainly, not be able to find us and we'll have to lead them in! We'll keep you all posted!

Love, Helen & David

Taking A WELL DESERVED Break! - Hiking Chrome Hill - Peak District

Taking advantage of the fitful sun and being true blue Canadians (it is OUR holiday Long Weekend after all!); Helen and David hiked the Peak District with daughter Heather and son in law Jamie.

Lining Out - Part 2 - She's Coming Along Nicely!

Helen and David have been 'taking advantage' (so they tell us) of the Washed Out Summer that the UK is experiencing.
This has proven to be a good thing, as working in the narrow confines of a Narrowboat in sweltering temperatures is NOT a pleasant experience!

First Walls: Wiring and InsulationLooking Aft Towards the GalleyLooking Forward From the Galley

July 21-2009 ER II CURRENT NEWS

While we are waiting for more pictures to come our way, I thought I would post the most recent email from Helen and David.

July 21. 2009
We have decided not to take the boat to Wales for those two festivals in September. Too much to get done and its 100 miles away (canal miles).
If the organizers approve we might still set up a stall and sell cheese.

We were down in Cosgrove outside Milton Keynes this weekend with Mike and Geraldine (Cheese Boat 1).
Helen tried out her selling skills.
Even though it was chucking it down (David's wonderful words for UK Rain) and the crowds were sparse, she still sold 400 GBPs (approx 800 CAD) worth of cheese in five hours.
She is a natural!
***
J says: I will second that! from my experience at the Clearing Out and Getting Rid Of Stuff from our late father-in-law's place in CR.
They held a 2 day garage sale and all that was left, was the dust on the driveway as they drove off, after locking the place up for the last time.

What are 2 Canadians doing in the UK 'fitting out' a 2nd Narrowboat?

Good Question!
However, if you click on the 'Cheese board' on the right, it will take you to the Cheese Boat link.
What in the world is a Cheese Boat?
Glad you asked.
It's a Narrowboat that sells cheeses at local canalside Festivals, and Events.

Helen and David's ER II will be Cheese Boat II and as you can see from the Diary 2009, they have to 'get their skates on' so that the boat will be ready for the two events listed in ....ready for this?

SEPTEMBER!

This means at present, that the two of them (yes it is only the TWO of them) work literally from dawn to dusk, fitting out the ER II's hull, so they can be ready to sell cheeses out of the side hatch that had been specifically made for that very purpose.

As more photos of the ongoing work come in, I will put them up here for folks to enjoy.

Have fun with clicking on the links on the sidebar....look at the wonderful 'truckles' (cheeses) for sale (makes your mouth water doesn't it?) and wish them along with us, blessings and luck!

I'm sure they would appreciate it as currently, they are winning the TOO DAM BUSY Award!
LN

Roughing In Begins and Hiking the Roaches

Starting to Rough In 12 Volt Wiring
(That's Helen in the back, and the 'Miracle Aerodec Honda parked outside on the right)Wires Installed Waiting Overhead Plywood PanelsFirst Overhead Panel, 9mm Oak Plywood
All Overhead Panels in PlaceOne Side of the Boat Lined OutTwo Thirds of the Line Out Complete
TAKING A BREAK - Hiking the Roaches (Local Hills)

Flash,the highest village in The Peak District. (Flash was noted as the centre for counterfeiting money, which became known as 'flash' from its place of origin.)Climbing The RoachesAs Soon As We Are Finished the Boat,This Is Our Next Project!Flowers on the Side of Five Clouds,Peak DistrictThe Cloud, Seen From The Roaches