Fit Out - August/September 2004
Two weeks into the fit out stage and on 14 August we were back up on the boat, to find that our beautiful walnut floor was down, the back cabin was taking shape, the bathroom handbasin was fitted and the shower cubicle was erected. We needed to revist the kitchen layout as we had not been able to track down a right hand hinged microwave - they are all left handed and this would not work properly in the position we had planned. By turning one of the kitchen cabinets through 90 degrees, we overcame the access problem.
The tiler was due to go in at the end of the next week but Darren was going to take a week's holiday, so our next trip is planned for 4 September when we hope to see more progress.
Click on a thumbnail to see a larger picture
4 September - unfortunately the tiler had a family bereavement so hasn't been, but is due next week. Although Darren has been on holiday we now have a bed base and the shell of the wardobes is up ready for doors and drawers. Work on connecting the engine up has begun, there are definitely more 'bits' attached to it.
Finding a paint slot is proving a bit problematic, as we missed the original one due to the late arrival of the shell. Hopefully, Darren has managed to get a slot for the end of October - which may give me the chance to have some reversing lessons before the boat gets painted!!
18 September
was a happy day boatwise, even though 
the
week got off to a dubious start - with Ian having to make two trips
to the boat to sort out tiles. When the tiler opened the box of listellos,
he found that they were not the same as the unboxed (correct) ones we
had bought. So a trip to Rugby to pick up the wrong tiles, return them
to the tile warehouse who have none of the correct ones in stock. Trip
to Hemel Hempstead to the importers to get the correct ones and then
back up to Rugby where the tiler was waiting to put them on the wall.
These are what caused all the problems
Fast 
forward
to Saturday and what a difference a fortnight makes. The cooker and
breakfast bar are in, the bathroom and 'downstairs loo' are tiled, the
mushrooms have gone in plus we've refined the kitchen sink side of the
galley, chosen the kitchen taps, sorted the exterior paint colours and
pattern, designed the cratch area and had our first family visitors.
Kirsty, Steve & Toby came up to see the boat and gave it the thumbs
up - well, they must have liked what they saw as we spent Sunday morning
planning the route of their maiden voyage.
The boat has had some other visitors - two couples came up on Saturday to see Darren's work. And a visitor to this site who lives abroad has also contacted Darren to talk boat building when they are in the country this December.
