The raft man at Richmond. Fire

[Forbsie]

That was a stand-in for a houseboat that sunk. It was replaced yesterday by a magnificently fitted out 2-storey purpose built houseboat and the pinnace was given to some of the guys that did the fit-out. The quality of the work was seemingly second-to-none. All doors, including cupboards were solid wood with arched tops. The company that did it do all P&O fit-outs - not cheap!!

The pinnace is currently just off the end of my pontoon.

 

[teddington_lock]

The magnificent two storey houseboat needed us to lower the level by 8 inches even with about 40 tons of water ballast on board to get it under the lock cut bridge ( 18' 6" ) !!

I thought the one they brought down ( assuming it was called ' Wheelhouse' ) looked ok ? quite smart actually ...

When they brought the houseboat down earlier in the year to be fitted out , we had to lower it even more !!

I was with Bruce watching it come up the cut , apparently over a million has been spent all in on it ?!?

 

[Forbsie]

I was with Bruce watching it come up the cut , apparently over a million has been spent all in on it ?!?

Not the Bruce with crabs, was it?

 

[Forbsie]

And a girlfriend

Not only a lovely girlfriend called Karen but a great dog, Jerry!

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

That was a stand-in for a houseboat that sunk. It was replaced yesterday by a magnificently fitted out 2-storey purpose built houseboat and the pinnace was given to some of the guys that did the fit-out. The quality of the work was seemingly second-to-none. All doors, including cupboards were solid wood with arched tops. The company that did it do all P&O fit-outs - not cheap!!

The pinnace is currently just off the end of my pontoon.

If irs still there and accessible I gather SWMBO would like some pix for the records. Inside would be good, I am told, but I suspect that's pushing it

 

[Natalie Davies]

Does anyone know the latest on the raft man? Has he started rebuilding yet?

 

[Bobby Blue]

Correction !

Not only a lovely girlfriend called Karen but a great dog, Jerry!

Think you have your wires crossed, Forbsie. Ian has had a lovely partner called Lesley for over twenty years and the dog Jerry is theirs as is Barney the old black lab.

 

[Bobby Blue]

Does anyone know the latest on the raft man? Has he started rebuilding yet?

Believe work is in progress. Looking forward to seeing him back on a new raft with Lesley and the dogs. They have been part of the scene for such a long time - hope the powers that be do not do anything to halt a re-build.

 

[Captain Coochie]

I doubt you would be saying that if the piles of burning waste set your boat on fire . Or if he had set up home at the end of your garden . I do feel for the guy loosing everything but i also remember the uproar from some very very expensive homes when he first arrived . Times have changed and now a million quid flat on Richmond hill looking at a pile of floating waste is cool but it wasnt when he first turned up I doubt they will be wanting him back .
For the record i think hes great and have already dropped some stuff off for him .

 

[Bobby Blue]

I doubt you would be saying that if the piles of burning waste set your boat on fire . Or if he had set up home at the end of your garden . I do feel for the guy loosing everything but i also remember the uproar from some very very expensive homes when he first arrived . Times have changed and now a million quid flat on Richmond hill looking at a pile of floating waste is cool but it wasnt when he first turned up I doubt they will be wanting him back .
For the record i think hes great and have already dropped some stuff off for him .

Maybe the replacement raft will be tidier - like the old one was in the early days?? Think things seemed to get a bit out of hand recently. For the record - I agree I would have been seriously unhappy if any burning debris had set fire to my boat ! However, I still hope he manages to set up home again - I think many of the residents think the same and wish him well.

 

[Richard Shead]

Hmmm

Maybe the replacement raft will be tidier - like the old one was in the early days?? Think things seemed to get a bit out of hand recently. For the record - I agree I would have been seriously unhappy if any burning debris had set fire to my boat ! However, I still hope he manages to set up home again - I think many of the residents think the same and wish him well.

There does not appear to be any significant progress so far!

In fact if I was him I would complain to Richmond Council (my favourite people in all the world) that his view of Richmond Hill is constantly being spoiled by scaffolding on most of the houses at the top......

 

[Bobby Blue]

There does not appear to be any significant progress so far!

In fact if I was him I would complain to Richmond Council (my favourite people in all the world) that his view of Richmond Hill is constantly being spoiled by scaffolding on most of the houses at the top......

Now that is an interesting thought.......... !! Wonder what the response would be??

 

[Captain Coochie]

 

[Bobby Blue]

Having seen the coverage of horrible fire near Reading recently, it came home just how lucky Ian was. At least he and his dogs are safe. The raft can be re-built. Scared the life out of me when I saw the remains of the old raft.