Living?
I've created a bit of a space in the middle of the boat when I got it, by removing the old bed. This areas has largely served as a storage area while I worked on the rest of the boat. I've been pondering what to do with it and had several ideas about fixed settees etc. and other such things, but in the end decided to go for some movable items.

I got two futon cube things and a wooden chest. The futon cubes make useful seats and can also open out into sleeping mattresses, should guests find themselves stranded. The fact that all this stuff is movable means that the combinations are endless. Here is one option....



And another.....



erm... thats it actually, so not so endless after all. I guess the whole lot could be moved out of the way if there was some sort of hoe-down going on. We'll see.

Currently in the US at a conference, this post has been brought to you courtesy of Steven's laptop, as I left mine at home. :)

Snow!

Quite excited today, as it had snowed overnight. I'd got up early to do some work (note to colleagues here - really, was reviewing a Statement of Work!) and it was all winter wonderland. For a while. Its now started to melt, shame.

Ah well, here is a picture taken before the sun came up, but you get the idea. A boat. With snow on it. :)

The smallest room

Here are the interim toilet facillities on IRIS. Note the advanced 'anti-splashback' features (sponges).

Normal (and improved!) service to be resumed soon. I do hope so, I can't hold on much longer.



Todays post is for my two nephews, William and Thomas, who will no doubt find it hillarious and insist that my sister installs similar facillities for them.

Pretty windy out there today, there are waves big enough to surf on rolling across the lake. One of the times when I'm reminded that I'm on a boat, as its constantly moving about in weather like this. Found one minor leak from one of the portholes I need to fix, but not in this weather.... ;-)

Got some more of my NZ wood to make a table from, so that'll keep me amused for a few evenings. Should make using the laptop easier, at the moment its perched on the corner of the chest of drawers.

My orignal plans for the alcove I created have changed. I've bought a couple of these futon cube things for seating. They can also unfold to be used as mattresess should anyone be foolish enough to venture out onto the river with me.




Speaking of which, I must admit I have become obsessed with the river and the water level. Its flowing incredibly fast at the moment, so my vague plans for a half term trip with my girlfriend are looking a bit shaky. As Clint said, 'A man's got to know his lmitations'. (I'll wait for Mat to correct me on that quote as I always get it slightly wrong)

So, just to remind me of summer, here I am going up the Thames. :)

2007?
Since coming back from holiday, I've not done much on IRIS at all. I think I've put up one light fitting, which hardly seems worth going on about.

Then I thought I'd write about what I say to people when they ask 'why do you want to live on a boat' - except no one does ask. Perhaps rather tellingly, people that know me well are not suprised, and everyone else isn't that bothered, as long as they're not roped into the whole scheme. The answer is, I want to. I've thought about living on a boat for ages. I remember trying to buy a 40ft catamaran when I was in my mid-twenties and even trying to engage in a spot of boat sitting around that time. Probably like many choices I've made in recent years, its been spurred on by the thought that I'm not getting any younger, so 'why not'? (lets not be coy, who can say 'mid-life crisis' first)

Anyhoo, here is a picture of IRIS I took yesterday. :)