Thames meet 26-28 Aug 2017

This is getting complicated, l didn't do name tags for

                          TWO PIERO GIANNI's

                                  .    


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We have some blanks though...thanks for that Derek
I didn't check if you added the II for Daves boat 

Well folks, it looks like I've got myself a holiday.  Piero Gianni II has had all the necessary inoculations to survive the Thames and is now with TTB, enroute to Lechlade

weed strainer !!!!!!!  Thames at cookham is like the sargasso sea.

Hi all.
Just had a slap from Chris Meyers, to say that I haven't posted anything recently on the forum. Since buying our new 1964 mk11 22, it has been non stop. We had her delivered by Tony and them put straight onto hard standing. for the work to start. I thought I would allow myself 4 weeks to get  all the exterior tarted up, as the boat had been stood for many months with out anything being done on her and the outside had gone flat, and dull. so Tony pleaded with me not to paint her. and advised me to compound her and polish. never did I think that this would take so much hard work. Brought Myself a proper various speed polisher and all the mops and compound that I thought I needed. the weather at that point was very hot and working on the top, and constantly spraying water on the boat whilst compounding the water was evapourating, so off to Halfords to get a gazebo and B&Q for lengths of plastic tubing to extend the legs, so I could work without getting heat exhaustion, and the mop constantly drying up.  I had taken everything off the top, including the plugs , so I had a nice clean area. I probably took off and on 2 weeks to get this completed , and even though I dare not compound it anymore, it looks alot cleaner but not really what I expected, but maybe my expectations where too high. then I compounded and polished the sides and rear.. Next job was to jet wash the underside and anti-foul the underside, and also paint on a 2 inch dark blue line just above the red anti foul. that took time, messing about masking off, but all looked good when completed. The hood was a greeny blue colour, and thinking how to get this clean, I decided after wasting my time scrubbing, was to jet wash it ,and it came up a treat. after my next door neighbour who also has a boat, said that this was not a good idea. Anyway it doesn't leak and one day I will fabseal it. Next job was to replace all the metal work, and hand rails which I had refurbished in my garage, rubbed the handrails down to base teak, and applied 8 coats of varnish. mast got the same treatment. all new plugs, and new horn. started to replace the wedge section around the windows, as the existing has gone yellow, but thats a right bugger of a job, and now I am in the water, don't think I will be doing any more this year, even with the correct tools its like fighting a tiger. The inside is in fabulous condition, and my wife has made up new curtains which are brill. So as you can see I have been a busy Boy, and  we are looking forward to our maiden voyage up the thames to the meet this weekend. we are going to be taking it very easy, as unfortunately my wife the other day slipped on wet grass whilst holding a fold up table under here arm. she has either fractured a rib or torn a musle, but she can barely lift her left arm, so I think I will be a one man band going into the locks.  We are very new to the freeman world , and appreciate all the help, when we have to stern park the boat, something I am dreading. I have done it on the broards once , but then there where no other boats present. Our Boat is called IN HARMONY. And we hope be get there about midday on saturday.  one thing I meant to say, as we have this Gazebo, is it worth bringing along, just in case, never can trell what the weather will be like.. see u there.

aw cmonnnnn not a slap. merely an observation, you were far more active before you got her, look forward to seeing you, Bee and in harmony at the meet

forecast rubbish, bring any cover

Bring the gazebo by all means 
I'm more of an optimist than Chris, it'll be useful to keep the sun off 

According to accuweather  does not look that bad or has Pat says look on the bright side

Have to admit when I posted BBC weather was showing heavy rain sat and sun, hmmmmm unlike british forecasters to get it wrong/change their minds.

Chris i never use bbc weather it is always doom and gloom always use accuweather average predictions are pretty good

I don't think we'll be complaining too much about the weather if this is right  

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcpjxj1hq#?date=2017-08-29

Hi, we're going to try and come (by road) on the Sunday afternoon, be lovely to see you all

Hi Olive

It'll be great to see you too

The Thames gathering seems it will be blessed with good weather, l think you can thank Pat for that.
l understand he sacrificed a vi**in to make sure, a bit late, but he had a job to find one .

Well everyone have a great time, l' m sure you will . and see most of you at Beccles next year

I say old chap, this is Oxfordshire not bleedin Essex 

Hi pat, hopefully ken will have appraised you by now, the gate by the slip is blocked and virtually hidden by a tree that's come down, when we dropped a car off this morning we first thought it was a dead end. Probably get through on foot but parking will be difficult

I believe it's all sorted Chris

Thank you from all on Aquarius V for making us welcome and thank you all for the tips we received on looking after our Freeman. We really enjoyed the gathering and look forward to meeting up again.
James and Marie
PS thanks for the sausage sandwich mooring next door but one!!

It was our pleasure. It was nice to have someone so new to boating and Freemans show up. Your stern on mooring  (you probably won't get to practice that again until your next meet) put some of the old timers to shame  

For those that weren't there, we were joined by a family that had bought their boat on the Thursday, responded to TTB shouting at them on the river and came to a meet on the Saturday

What can I say, we had a fabulous weekend. 12 boats showed up and some extra crews by car. The weather was fabulous (told you Chris  ), the company was fantastic, all in all we had a great weekend. 

However, I'm very sad to have to report a huge dampener on the proceedings. Byron Alexander, our host passed away during the early hours of Sunday morning. Those of you that attended last year, but couldn't this year will know what a fantastic host and true gentleman he was. We considered cancelling the rest of the weekend, but I was assured (by mutual friends) that he'd want us to push on and have a good time. Needless to say, our ensigns went to half mast and we raised a glass in his honour before we retired. A great loss to the Thames community

A huge thanks to everyone that attended, they made a great event.
Also, thanks to everyone for contributing to the whip round in Byrons memory.

I'm very happy to report the Byrons wife asked me if we'd like to come back next year, obviously I said that we'd love to.

Some pictures will follow when I get back to civilisation

What a terrible thing to happen during the meet,
l didn't know the gentleman personally ,but had the previlege of meeting him last year, a true gentleman who will be sadly missed by all that knew him. A wonderful gesture that his wife was happy to ask that the group return next year.

Thank you Pat for the respect he was given,  no doubt by your instigation.

I can't take credit Derek, half masting had started before I'd taken the covers off the windows. 

Everyone who spoke to him had a story to tell

A few photos from this weekends proceedings

In no particular order 

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RESPECT, last photo