The previous visit was last Thursday 21st June, the longest (but not quite the wettest) day!  Our task was to deliver to fireplace tiles which we'd picked up the day before from near Henley.  These have Delft style galleons on plus similar style Archangel/mermaids created by Nicola's imaginings.  They look just perfect, and we only went into the saloon that day to go over with the tiler-man how they could be laid out, the fit, and how to ensure the stove didn't hide the best pictures.  It was harder than we thought, but the result is great, as you may be able to see (imagine a little black stove in front of the plainer ones!):

You can see the larger portholes, open on the right, and the lamp (without glass) in centre, also the TV and HiFi unit below.  The bookshelves above the fireplace will have some doors with brass grid in to stop them falling out (no glass) in nautical style!  Next the side cabin:

Here there's a large bookcase (doors to come), a smaller porthole and a sidelight you can't see!  The wardrobe is on the right (doorless).  It's cosy, but all space is useful!
So what does the saloon look like?

Yes, you're right, it's still work in progress, but not as much of a mess as our own house (in process of sorting, storing, painting, packing, etc.).  The little black stove on the left goes on the right in that little corner of tiles which we grandly call a fireplace!  The central corridor is, well, in the centre.  I've said enough on the obvious.  Next the master bedroom (!):

The Tiffany wall lights would be nicer lit, but they look good to me.  The bow window is pretty and quite small considering it is our escape route in case of emergency!  The centre shelves double as the exit steps.  I'd like to show you the "wet room" but none of my pix were much good (it is small!) and Nik's were sideways on.  I'll try tho':

I told you it was small, but bijou.  That's quite enough for now.  The outside doesn't look too great yet because the cabin walls are covered in brown paper to protect them from the blue painting of the hull.   But it will look great, we had a peek and the portholes look soooo good from outside too!  We're up again on Thursday 28th June, then staying the weekend in the boatbuilder's yard (odd, or what!) to test out most things (not the engine or steering they say) and give them any tasks needed before it is transported on Tuesday night and 'launched' into the Thames on Independence Day (that's a coincidence right?)

Wow, a lot has changed since the last visit.  We've been twice in quick succession, but first I'll try a picture as the last time I tried it failed to insert it!  Here goes:

So you can see the wheelhouse is now in place and the steel is painted shiny Flag Blue, just awaiting a white line above the rubbing strip.  This was how it looked yesterday (Monday 25th June) when we visited;  we went to meet the signwriter, to ask him to make it like Marius's design (font and letter A).  I'd attach his Photoshop image (which looks lovely) but it's a bit large and might just not load!  The deck is blue now, but it will be done in non-slip grey.  The oak floor in the wheelhouse is good, so we have to keep it that way.  I'll post this now, but just add a picture of the inside of the wheelhouse, from the outside!

Our visit on 13th June to view Archangel was also to bring up the bathroom flooring, and the sound & TV system for installation;  these last helped clear a little bit of space in our crowded and confused house!  We were again very pleased with the lovely work they have done to realise our dream.  The pictures a bit messy because of lighting (big fluorescent tubes!) and all the parts, wires, etc., but I hope you can see through that to the beautiful interior emerging:

The portholes are not in place yet, but just look at the lovely wood colour and how it goes with the white panelling!  It keeps looking better.  This is our bedroom;  the other way is a bit less tidy and I had to put my hand in the way of the light tube!

The saloon is harder to see, but the view from the side-cabin gives an idea of how much move feeling of space is given by Tad's idea of opening it up into the saloon-galley:

and the view the other way, from the galley, is a bit better, showing two of the bookcases in place (but awaiting doors):

The engine and generator are now in place, which is comforting!:

The outside is similar to before, with a bit of wood inside it;  the hinges for the fold-down wooden wheelhouse are there.  They have fitted it apparently, but keeping it apart keeps it from harm while there are so many trades on the boat in the last minute rush.  It is supposed to launch at Caversham on Independence Day, 4th July, assuming all is done.  We have to inspect it before and are supposed even to spend a weekend 'aboard' in the boatbuilders back yard (not on water) which would be very odd.  That way they can deal with all the snagging issues in their workshop rather than a long way off!  Good idea when you put it like that.  Watch this space!

Our next visit was on 29th May, as the builder needed the wall lights we'd bought.  The inside has advanced, as you can see:

Not very sharp, but you can see the bookcase they've nicely built above the steel oil tank;  it will have nice doors on it later.  Then here's some work done on the seating which pulls out to make the side cabin's double bed.

The engine is not installed yet so not a lot more to see of interest to publish;  we took lots of pictures of engineering details like the bow thruster and cupboards.

We visited the boatbuilder on 14th May to view progress;  the outside looks similar but a lot has changed inside, as you can see:

We really like the wood grain and colour;  the little nook in the corner is our bijou wet-room (shower, sink, loo!)  Then there's lounge, sorry Saloon:

I'm at the end of the corridor leading to the bedroom, passing the main bathroom on the right.  The big opening on the left is into the Side-Cabin which will have folding doors so they can be opened when no-one's using it as a second bedroom, so it can be used as living space.  Nice idea from Tad.  The big white-edged pink thing to my left is the diesel tank for our coal-effect fire/stove.  I should mention that our portholes are not really made of paper!  Then behind the camera is the next view:

So we have stairs from the Wheelhouse, then on the right is the space for the fridge-freezer with a microwave on top, eventually. I looked for the engine in the engine room, but found it at the front, in its box:

Just a couple more pix, because (I suppose I should be pleased) I just found that some pix Nik took on her less fancy camera are rather better than mine, bother!

So here they are without any commentary (you'll be pleased to know!):

Tho' I should point out the trapdoor in the "driver's position" in case the helmsman does anything stupid.  I actually think it's what they drop the engine through, and remove it if it doesn't work.

Yes, that distant figure is me, amazing how the lens distorts.

Another month, another visit.  We would have gone sooner but finishing the re-wiring, moving piles for different destinations about the house and from garage to garage, and starting gas safety all took lots of time and effort!  Also our builder was on shut-down for the Bank Holiday week.  So we went up on Wednesday 18th April to see Archangel for the first time in her primer coat and sited in the Woodworking shed.  The pix won't be much different to those before, but WE took them, so we're there for scale.  And a few more.  So here's how she looked to us.  The boat wasn't moving (it's pretty crisp) so I guess Nik was just moving due to sea legs (we'd did our VHF course on Sunday to allow us to legally operate our ship's radio, and the course is on the floating barge of Commodore Yachting at Gosport).  Then another view

Here you see a high-lift forklift loaded with a lot of bricks they'll use as ballast.  They started unloading these on the afternoon we were there.  That task and adding all the spray foam insulation are next on their list.  Then a view from the highest woodworking platform, which makes her look quite small:

Then for those of you interested in details, here is the back end showing the big steel platey thing meant to help us steer it:

You may just notice that there's something missing, the finny thing that goes round & round.  Well that's because the big noisy thing that eats diesel isn't there yet, and that's a whole new stage.  I can prove it's not there:

See!  That's where I think it goes, and we can see the place they keep the weed (the "Weed Hatch") at the end, the oblong box, tho' why we'd want weed in a box I don't know.  Nice and clean and lots of space, but this area will be pretty full by the end, but still very neat and accessible.  I've not been down there yet, I just risked losing my glasses by leaning over, then point & shoot!
Just in case I was looking the wrong place, I checked the other half too:

Not there!  I expect you're wondering what's that thing half way down on the right?  Yes?  Me too.  I only just noticed it.  It seems to be about where the wall separating the loo and the saloon is.  Ah, I have it, this must be the steel tank for holding the diesel used in the diesel stove.  So the stove sits this side, and the loo in the main bathroom goes the other.  That's cosy, just as well diesel isn't explosive (i.e. backing onto a Thunderbox).  Now in case you were thinking this is really quite a small boat (which in many ways it is) here's a rubbish view from the bow;  it's rubbish because I was balancing and nearly fell off taking it!

You're looking over our bedroom, with the first 'hole' being the skylight (Houdini hatch) lighting the corridor, then the big hole being the pigeon box over the saloon, and the next small hole being the skylight over the galley.  The last big hole is where the wooden superstructure of the wheelhouse will be built, and where we'll probably spend most of our time.
What should follow now is a picture of the really beautiful and yet brand new bronze portholes from Trinity Marine, but guess what?  I forgot to take a picture, so next time I will.  So we spent most of the day going over most of the internal design details with Mark, who's in charge of all that;  he now has Marius's photoshop imagination-led impression of what we'd like, and we've agreed to pay a bit more for some more panelling on the end wall of the saloon, to make it complete.  Lots still to decide, and we dropped into a nearby supplier and picked the materials for the seat cushions in the wheelhouse and in the Side Cabin (small bedroom).  Well, until next time....