I know wot you dun last summer - part 34

Hello ma pals! I fort I give you a summin up of 2012 and get you in da mood for 2013 when we'll be doin more work on Atlantis again! Yes, I know is 2013 already but we gots to wait for Spring before commencin wiv any of dat!

We didn't get as much done on our lady as we ad oped, mainly because of her still bein stuck in the middle of the river! Well, all that has changed now and we has a new moorin up-river where we can get on and off wifout too much trubble now.

Mum an dad decided not much to be done so we spent most time on board gettin the engine in tip top shape for the move and sprucin her up a bit wif some paint!  Here's a pic of the starboard main deck wiv a nice coat of erm ... well .. battleship grey! 

Bein on the uvva side of the river wif no real piles to moor up again (ooh err obviously) so sometimes we was avin a bit of an angle goin on! As you can see dad demonstratin very well ere:

Hmm more lovely paintin by the mum .. on the port side this time. Err sooooo ... more battleship grey then! 

Oooo ere's mum undercoating ... wif .. yes you guess it, battleship grey, wiv a top coat of battleship grey!! Heehee, maybe she tryin to match her hair colour *runs under table*.

Course there's nuffink like a sunbathe on the deck. Even I managed to get involved wiv the paintin! Yep, you guessed it! Battleship Grey is the new look for Borders! heehee.

It is me or is it hot our there! I fink I'll just close my eyes and fink about how much I love battleship grey paint! Av you seen the mess in ere mum!!? Do you like my dog flap?

Looks like someone found the white and blue paint then! Makes a nice change ;).

Because it's a challenge to get on and off Atlantis, we were spending weekends on board. This mum's little stock cupboard (coz we ain't got no galley - aka kitchen - yet) but that is on da list for 2013! Mum very excited about that! Ahhh bless, look at her little cupboard heehee.

Looks like mum is tryin to sneak off downstairs probably for a lay down! I'm watchin er!

When the tide goes out, it really goes! Then we is on board for da night. Even if we wanted to get off we cuddnt. So best not run out of ma dog food or there be trububble!

Hmmmm our lovely cosy (half finished) bedroom. Nice place to relax. It's below decks too so nice and cool in the summer. Room for all free of us heehee.

Relaxin as night falls over the river. I'm cosy on my sofa thank you! We as a little radio wot we can play for entertainment and dad has rigged up batteries so we as some power to run the lights. 

Well, that's a little update on our Summer last year. More about our trip to Scotland and a few pics in our new moorin next time. Bye!

Chain, chain, chain!!!! - part 25

Hello!! Last time I was tellin you bowt how we decided to move to a new mooring. Well before that cud appen dad had to sort out some chain and anchors in case we had to stop any time during the trip! As you may remembers, Atlantis never had no chain or anchor, mainly coz when she was a fishing vessel she used her fishing gear and nets when she stopped. Well that and she probably never stopped much!

Mum and dad had already stripped out the galley so that dad could get to the front wall. This would get him access to the bow which is where the first step wud appen. Installation of the chain locker! There is a lot of chain to be stored! This the wall wot will be cut away.

Next dad cut two holes in the roof of the bow which where the two chains would come down from the bow. He wud also cut holes in the bow but that wud come later coz he had to work out the right angle for the chain. Ere dus be the first hole:

Ere's the uvva hole! One for each chain. we have put some chain frew to make sure it fits and can slide in an out wivout too much trubble. That chain dus be heavy and mum an dad had to knock all the rust off wit hammers first! Talk about popeye-arms and that's just mum! heehee.

Dad starts by building the locker for the chain. He dus be using steel from the walls that he had already taken down from the galley! Good recycling eh? Here's the first of the walls on the right. He also used some old scaffoldin we had holdin up the bow roof (no longer needed I hasten to add) to make the frame for the locker.

He starts welding up plate into any areas where there are holes. This locker has got to be strong and well built to keep the chain in its place. 

Here are some further walls added. The holes are above so the chain will come into the locker when the winch operates (ooohh!!) - all electronically of course ;).

Now, we dus go all well posh and dun a video! Ere's dad dussin some weldin (warning: contains bald head and some flashin stuff).

Dad plated over an old out-of-use hatch too. He as asked me to point out his very neat welding! Ok dad - here is some very neat welding please take note:

I have decided to pay a visit and inspect proceedins as is my right as ship's dog! Yes ... all seems in order, carry on dad, carry on.

Welding sparks! Ohhhh pretty!

And, coz I bin such a good doggie and dad was gettin a bit stir crazy in his little locker, a trip to Old Felixstowe for some fun on the beach!

Next time, more chain, more holes and ..... anchors!!! hurray!

Bob errr I mean Dad the builder - part 19

Hello ma pals. Ow fings? In ma last post I did forget to tell you dat we is now seeing what went on in 2009. Mainly buildin the new wheelhouse as you will see! Once da weather was gettin bit warmerer dad decide is time to build the new wheelhouse! We also heard some worrin rumours bout the marina where we woz moored and fort was time to get wheelhouse done or we wuddnt be able to move Atlantis if we needed to.

First dad did work out ow much steel we needed to be able to build wheelhouse. Here be da first delivery from our pals wot dus av steel fabrication workshop nearby.

Dad also had a load of box steel delivered too that dus be a steel toob type fing wot dus be used to build the frame dat the steel gets welded to.  Dese is da steel sheets close up wot will became da walls and roof of da wheelhouse. Dem wooden blocks is there so is easy to get da crane hook under da plate and lift em up - clever eh?

I won't bore you wiv more cranin pics there's been enuff of dem already! So, once everyfink safely craned on board, time to start building! First, dad dun lot of measuring and checkin and measure and checkin to work out where da back wall will go so he cud use dat as the reference point (hey I am gettin quite technical these days ;)). Here is the first frame up! Was horrible day as well, rainin and cold brrrrr.

In case you dos be wonderin wot dat chimney-lookin fing is ... is a chimney! hee-hee.

Next fing was to get all the frame built all the way up to where the front of the wheelhouse wud evenshully be. There was lots of measurin goin on coz is impawtant to get the wheelhouse on straight. Wuddn't want a wonky one wod we? So da routine .... measure, build, weld .. next frame, measure, build, weld .. next frame and so on! You get da piccha!

Dis took dat bout a week to complete. Was still early in the year so quite damp and frosty. Even though we had lots of sunny days, dad wud have to wait until the frost was gone and the sun had dried out the roof enuff so he cud weld.

He was also weldin angle iron on da sides of where the uprights and crossbeams meet to add extra strengf and also keep the structure from bucklin. You can also see the angle he welded on about halfway up to make sure each upright was in line wiv da last.

As you will of course recall, this mirrors exactly how he build the main deck structure too hee-hee dussnt worry pals, dis aint a test. If you dun wanted to see dat, you can go ere: http://dogstoyevsky.blogspot.com/2010/04/lexie-discovers-bbq-sausages-part-6.html.

Frame is comin along nicely I fink you dus agree! As usual, me an mum in awe of dad and wot he dus - he go vishun dat for sure cos we dus be avin trubble seein a wheelhouse! Not that we tells im dat, it be our little sekrit shhhhh!!

See you nex time ma pals when walls and roofsies start bein built! Believe it or not, I dus be in one of dese picchas. Can you tell which one ... Spot Da Lexie! First correct answer on a postcard wins a sossidge ;).

Winter settles in - time to move inside - part 18

Well hello ma pals! I expect you fort I was never gonna blog about Atlantis again. Well you was wrong. We is still doin catch-up but are getting closer and closer of bein up-to-date. The next few bloggies dus be about getting frew da winter and plannin the building of the brand new wheelhouse wot dad designed himselfs using some software wot he dus tell me is called Autocad.

Any road up, where was I? Oh yeah, so as you know, last time I dun a bloggy I telled you bout how the wheelhouse was gone and we was battenin down the atches for da winter. Well, let me tell ya, those silly humans had taken out the heatin during the summer so they could complete some engineerin works.

Course, they dussnt av fur like me, so they froze their wotsits off during the winter this time! In an amusin attempt to try to reduce the condensation that comes off cold steel durin winter, dad went all foamy-tastic!  He spray-foamed the whole of the saloon, new galley (wot isn't there yet - the more discerning reader will have spied) and dinin area. ere dus be pictcha of a newly sprayed area. I fink he fort he was build a new Santa's grotto or somfink.

Any geeks in da audience might like to enjoy some stastititics. The foam is sprayed to a depth of about 2 inches, deadens sound, stops condensation and reduces (if not removes) the potential for rust. Fire resistant but not fire retardant. There that's the science bit ova wif! heehee. As you can see dad also placed battens on da walls which he will later use to apply da erm ... wot do you call it .... oh yeah ... walls!!

Winter does be a tough time - outside work can be almost impossible and welding? Forget it! So mum and dad try to occupy demselfs wiv internal works wot need doing. Dad wanted bit of privacy when workin inside so mum cunninly fashioned some curtains out of bin bags wot she lovingly cut up into hand window sized drapes ;). Hey - don't knock it - it will be all da rage now we as let our secret out on da bloggy heehee.

But Lexie! I hear you ask. What is all dem wooden fings in da photo? Well, I will tell you ma pals. Is da base for the custom built corner sofa unit. Is gonna be massive! Lots of lounging for da Lexie I fink, hurrah! Again, annuva design by Dad of Atlantis. Mum has started callin im Mr Tefalhead coz he seems to be quite clever at doin lots of fings wot neiva of us had any idea he could do. Ere dus be annuva shot of said sofa unit, As you can see, they may have to refink the lengf near the door. I dussnt want no interferin wiv ma me personal door!

Mum also wondered (secretly at first of course) whether her feet wud be able to touch the ground as it goes back a long way. Dad advised that sofa had a back as well, and by the time cushuns was on there it would be fine (me an dad rolled our eyes at each uvva -- tsk even a dog like me cud figure that out - mum so silly).  Mum took this photo from the galley door - we fink it shows how long the main deck really is and how well the grotto approach works!

Time for a little break and a nice long winter walk around a country park up da road. Lots of great space to run around in and hillls to climb so we dus get fit. Look like I'm about ot take off!

Next time see the wheelhouse appear before your very eyes - like magic! Fanx for readin ma pals.

Mum an dad has a holibobs - part 17

Well pals we move on to  November 2008 and mum an dad goes on they holibobs. I can't be too annoyed wif dem because:

a) they is goin to dad's uncle's weddin wiv all his famby and
b) this the first holibob they had since they buyed Atlantis and dad needs a big rest

Our friends wot dus be Len and Julie did look after me while they was away for 10 whole days! I did miss dem somfink awful and mum did ring up all da time to find out if I was ok (which I was)! They had a great time I fink. Ere is some photos of wot they dun:

Dis be da otel wot they stayed in wot as got a pool! Was very warm for da time of year happarently so they did some swimmin in it! Dat buildin in da background dus be 18th century castle and dis where dad's uncle got married!

Course first fing dad wanted to do was find some boats an look at moorings for da future! First they went to a place called Marsaxlokk (pronunced marshaslock) and did find lots of boats. Made dad very appy!

They went for trip to Valetta too and saw some more fishin boats (mum say dad finds boats wiv his spidysense). They was like mini-Atlantis's! Not that they was missin er or anyfink ;)).

And annuva one! Busman's holiday! Mum wonder if dad was gonna go and get some weldin gear and hop on board!

Dad avin kittens over a dry dock in Malta wot would make Atlantis look tiny!

Annuva Atlantis!

Grand Harbour, Valetta - where Atlantis gonna live one day (and us of course)

Now some time for sightseein (wifout boats!)

Ok well one boat (they was in this one) for a trip to da Blue Grotto Caves

Ere dus be one of da caves inside

Oh and a final boat (in case you was wondrin if they saw any more!)

Do you fink mum and dad might like boats a tiny bit? Heehee. Time to come ome now please! Atlantis and me wos save an sound you be pleased to know. Now time for da next phase - Operation New Wheelhouse! Oh no, it's winter again! And no heating now coz we had to take it out to get da wheelhouse off brrrrr it's gonna be a cold one. Still that fing moored next to us gave us a bit of extra protectchun.

It looks ok but let me tell you is freezin in dere! I am getting ma winter coat fanx dogness!

Next time on da Atlantis story ..... dad goes spray-foam crazy and opens new Santa's Grotto heehee! Mum gets chicken-wire on da ramp for safety.

It must be frew da ... round window - part 10

Well hello furriends! Is still 2007 - was a very busy year you know? Dad, never content wiv one or two fings on da go at once, decides to buy the drydock where we was living at the workin wharf.

Before he know where he at, he's workin on Atlantis, Auldyn River, anovva houseboat build and boats comin in and out da drydock. Here he is stick weldin on some fingamabobbies wot is called anodes on a boat in dere. Dat his old weldin elmet he did arsk me to point out! (dog knows why!!)

They decides is time to take on more peoples and dad starts a small boat buildin business. Headin up da team dus be ma favouritest person Jared! We also has is bruvva workin for us he has long hair wot dus be called dreadlocks an he likes to run after me in da yard tryin to steal ma ball! We also has annova couple called Fry and Leela  (like from da futurama - dat is not they real names but wot we called dem for fun). They dus let me eat some of dey samwuches but we dussnt tell mum bout dat! Dat is just between us ok???

Mum dus be workin from ome quite a bit an has set up her office in da galley (kitchen). We is quite cozy in dere although sometime she get wet from da hole in da roof where dad is cuttin away old metal ready to make it easier to remove da wheelhouse. She has to wear her cagule. There be lots of noise goin on too but she dussnt mind, she all fixed up wif appropriate cloavin as you an see! Is dark in there so she has to squint ;)).

When mum is at ome I dus make maself comftibles in da galley as well. Is nice and warm in dere most of da time. We turns the cooker on for extra warmf if it get too cold. Mum make sure she sorts me out wif ma comfy cushion next to her in da galley as well!

Course as we knows, before dad cud take off da wheelhouse, he had to build da bedroom and before he cud do that, he had to finish off da back structure (wot we calls da saloon). Oh, I forgot, fings were made a lot easier wif dad's latest purchase - a big crane! Here he is sittin in da cab.

Dad also used da crane to build the two-storey wooden structure wot would go on top of da lighter he was buildin as a houseboat for a customer. Dey builded da structure on da land by da wharf and then wud use da crane to move it onto da lighter which was moored next to Atlantis. Ere dus be da wooden structure. Dem windows is from China!

Meanwhile back on Atlantis, Dad and Jared was workin on preparing da back structure for da windows. First of all they dun painted da structure so it would be easier to mark out da windows. Then they use a template made of some stuff wot is called MDF and cutout all da steel to form da windows. Here dus be a before and da after shot - can you see dem differences?

Before:

After:

Here's da view from da inside after dey had blasted and painted it.

Maybe you dus remember dat it looked like dis at da start back in 2003 and mum is standin in roughly da same place for boaf photos!

I fink 2007 was their hardest year. They worked really hard and achieved a lot dat year. I hasn't even telled you bout all da ovva fings yet! So I leave it there for now with a lovely sunset over da river.

Bye for now pals fanx for readin ... in da next episode ..... mum and dad get a bedroom complete wiv bed!