Gas Street, BCN

More trees lost to the canal around Birmingham.  The NIA has been denuded too.  Notice, though, they have not cut down the ones on the corner which can actually be a nuisance - yet!

David set off at 0630, I stayed in bed with a cup of tea.

We were back by for 10 and kicked the squatters off the mooring.

I really enjoyed my weekend out.  Can't see us getting away again until September at least.  Still, we have a grandson to look forward too.

One reason why we came back early was that Pete, our neighbour, celebrates his 83rd birthday today and there was a party and boat trip for him.

I went with a skateboarder theme, for no reason, just thought he might like it.  The card was made with a blue card blank, a brown panel matted onto silver card and the sentiment and name picked out in silver peel-offs.  The two skateboarders were stickers which I mounted onto card and cut out. 

The bottle tag was made with white card and I matted some patterned paper onto silver card and stuck it down on the front, then I cut out a white panel which went on the top and added the peel-off sentiment and name and the skateboarder was added to the bottom.

Hopwood, Worcester and Birmingham Canal

 This mooring is up for auction!  Is there a prettier spot?  It is at Lower Bittel Reservoir on the Worcester and Birmingham.  Not many utilities, electricity, water and rubbish (I think), but nothing else, and you'd need a car.

 We set off for Alvechurch and finally caught up with the others just before Tardebigge tunnel.  There was no room for us to join them as the bank was too shallow, so we winded and came back here.

Lunch at the Hopwood Arms and a quiet afternoon in the sunshine.

Cathy (a fellow moorer) always managed to pose a challenge when she needs a card.  She handed me a badly photocopied photo of her grandchildren with the Simpsons.  Could I make a card for the Grandson, and Smudge (the dog) needs to be there too.

This is what I did.  I cut an aperture into the front of a tent fold card and added a strip of peel-off around the edge.  I scanned the picture and David twiddled with it to enhance it a bit and I had a copy made at Snappy Snaps.  It is not too good, but better than the original.  I matted this onto silver card and stuck it to the back of the card blank through the aperture.

I found a clip of the Simpsons and printed it off onto card, and also the sentiment and name which I cut out by hand and die cut using black "dots" to looks like brads.  Smudge was cut out and added to the bottom of the aperture to look like she is peeking out.

Hopwood, Worcester and Birmingham Canal

 The first Saturday that we had sunshine and the stag parties were jumping the lock and swarming over passing boats as they negotiated the narrows.  I think the police must have had a word with the owner of the Canalside Cafe because several signs have appeared (though only one seems to remain at the moment).

We have actually taken the boat out of the basin (apart from pump outs).  We visited Sherborne Wharf to get the windows finished and sealed off and then set off down the Worcester and Birmingham.

Hopwood is about the first decent moorings a good run from Birmingham so we moored up by the bridge.

Three fellow moorers passed on their way to Alvechurch and we arranged to meet them tomorrow.

It was so nice to be out.  I have missed so much of Spring this year.  We saw ducklings and moorhen chicks, lots of butterflies and dragonflies, roses, foxgloves, meadow-sweet and the last of the yellow flags.  And best of all, the sun shone all day!

Poor Richard at Sherborne Wharf had the joyous job of fixing our toilet.  I managed to drop a wet wipe down (though I have no recollection of doing so!)  Consequently the macerator came to a grinding halt.

This is the third time that he has had to play with our outpourings.  I made this card as a small thank you.

I printed off the stamp about 4 times, coloured them in with pencils and markers, then decoupaged them using sticky fixers.  I was really proud of myself as I managed to get the pig to peek out of the door.  I did this by sticking the hinge end of the door directly to the shed with double sided tape, cut a flap at the side of the pig and stuck him behind the door with sticky fixers.

The sentiment was done on the computer and I matted both onto gold and green pearl card.

This is a side view showing how the pig peeks out of the door.

Gas Street Moorings, BCN

Two more Canada geese goslings.  Still looking cute, but not for long.

The adults are particularly annoying at the moment, honking all night.

It was back to Sherborne Wharf today to get two of the three leaky windows fixed.  Of course, the weather turned cloudy and chilly again - especially with no windows!

Three new baby cards all made with the "bobble" of a hair decoration and a feather.

Gas Street Basin, BCN

 Last night I perpetrated the ultimate sin on a boat.  I managed to drop a "wet-wipe" down the toiled bowl.  Consequently the macerator died a death.

So it was round to Sherborne Wharf and to beg Richard to fix it for us.

Bless him, he managed to fix it for now, but we need a new toilet.  So yet more expense!

Coming back from the boatyard we saw that the bridge at Brindleyplace is being repainted from the contraption slung from the railings.

To say "thank you" and "sorry" to Richard, I made him this card.

I printed out the pig in the Khazie four times and coloured them with pencils and markers.  I then decoupaged them, using sticky fixers and glue (I glued the hinge side of the door down and used the sticky fixers on the open edge.  I then cut out the pig with a tab on the left hand side and stuck the tab to the door with double sided and then sticky fixers on the right hand side.  The topper was then matted onto gold and green pearlised card.  I was really pleased with the result.

The sentiment was matted and stuck down with sticky fixers too.

Inside I grovelled my apologies!

A side view of the card showing the layers.

Gas Street Basin, BCN

 Remind me again, what is the date?  Apparently it is the coldest Spring for 30 years.  You're telling me. 

We are not exactly fine weather boaters, but we are waiting for a bit of better weather before we set off.  It would be nice to be able to spend a couple of hours on the move without getting wet and/or cold.

Lots of visitors passing through Birmingham.  Not everyone is as timid as we are, obviously.

I made about 40 cards using this stamp.  Here are the pink ones.  Promise I won't publish any more for a bit.

Used die cut labels etc and embossing folders, ribbons, flowers, gems and feathers on these.

The pink one at the top left hand corner was made from card taken from a bag that once held a bunch of flowers.  Don't throw anything away if I can find a use for it.

Gas Street, BCN

 You never know quite what is going to happen in Gas Street.  We have had a week of visitors and David going off to a couple of CRT meetings .  Then this evening, after a lovely sunny day spent sat out on the moorings there was a commotion.  Some idiot drunk was swimming in the canal and lots of people on the balcony of the Walkabout shouting and howling; and there were over 12 policeman standing around watching him.

He was eventually coaxed into the hatch of a visiting boat and the ambulance took him off to hospital to pump the canal water out of him.

The Police were very effective.  No plan, no one in charge, couldn't lift stuff out of the canal 'cos it was dirty.  Just when did they become such wusses?

And yet another card for the spa.  I stamped out the toppers onto white card and ran the towels and gown through the Cuttlebug to give it some texture.

The gown was matted onto a white square with sticky fixers and then matted again onto a pink scallop square.  This was stuck to a dark blue card blank.

Two flowers were added to the towels and the pot of cream.