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Started my new project refurbishing a canal boat

Posted on by billyarthurwalden

Wanted to do this for a while, but the weather has been so bad it has not really been worth starting, but now the nights are getting lighter I have started and going to get on with it.  This is the start of my story refurbishing my first canal boat.

We had looked at quite a few boats but even the cheapest were thousands of pounds and we just could not afford.  We saw one we fell in love with and it had a number in the window, we rang them up and it was a man that dealt in boats he told us it was £36,000!!!!  We put the telephone down, £36,000 was far out of the reach of our pocket, we just thought it was something we would have to save up more for and thought nothing more of it, then a few weeks later the same man rang us back and said he had an old boat that needed loads of work and it was stuck in a harbour and needed to go as it was costing in harbour fee’s,  we drove on to the harbour and their she was old and tired but we immediately fell in love with MatildaJayne!

As you can see Matilda got pretty excited also!!!!!

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Getting her ready for lifting and then on the back of the transporter

This is the video of her being lifted out for replating, I have put this on because, it was one of the things that really put my mum off buying a boat if they were for e.g in dry dock as she  thought it would be a major job to move them.  This vid shows actually what a easy hassle free job it is.

First thing I did was strip all the old MDF out of the boat, it was very old and badly put together, i have never seen so much sealant! I made a frame for Matilda’s room and here she is after I put the first piece of plywood on.

 

Moored in Hestbank and setting off.

Moored before Hestbank
Coming into Hestbank

On our way to Carnforth, the outside is still tatty, but its something I cannot start until the weather gets better and I get a few good days.  Carrying on with the frames for the bedrooms tomorrow hopefully going to get a full day on it so will upload some pics.

Charity’s I support

Posted on by billyarthurwalden

Great support for the campaign for victims failed by the Judicial system.   #CSAreview

This powerful poem that was written for #CSAreview is a must read

https://bettyhopeless.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/csareview-and-my-poem/

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Please watch the vid thanks

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Closest I could get, but it’s the vid of my mum at Goodison Park, watched it with Danny who came as moral support in case she backed out!

 

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Please can everyone read this amazing ladies journey and her support of @DevonRapeCrisis and their support of victims/survivors, Please if you can manage to donate do, even a pound would help, many £’s add up! Thanks for reading x

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=MichaelaRobinson2&pageUrl=1 …

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Anybody who cares about a fair justice system can they please sign and share our important petition

Posted on by billyarthurwalden

 

Some of our younger supporters lol

 

Yay more support for the petition please take a look at this blog thanks

https://j4mb.org.uk/2018/01/31/establish-an-independent-board-that-investigates-complaints-against-the-police/

Please read the petition update the share thanks

https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-establish-an-independent-board-that-investigates-complaints-against-the-police/u/22320474

It is becoming increasingly clear from reading numerous stories in the media and responses to such stories on social media platforms, that there is dissatisfaction from the general public regarding the lack of action from police forces after a crime has been reported. It is also apparent from social media that when police forces do act, they do so inefficiently or demonstrate corruption by committing acts of crime themselves or acting favourably towards an abuser over the victim.
Complaints regarding police action or inaction are usually dealt with by The Professional Standards Department who are also members of the police force, themselves. They, like the police, have guidelines to follow (PACE) but consistently don’t. I have had cases where the PSD stall responses and exasperate the complainant in the hope they will ‘give in’.
When with the police occur, the police do not pay for their legal representation and are paid to respond to you. In difference, the majority of the public are not even entitled to legal aid and have to find time, money and resources to respond to the catalogue of police correspondence they receive which often contains pointless information that is either unrelated or avoids the issues completely. The police also have the capacity to simply refuse to investigate a case, regardless if this does or does not adhere to the PACE guidelines.
Police rarely report themselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and every case I have ever sent to the IPCC has then been referred back to the Professional Standards Department.  Now renamed the IOPC it still does not address the problems within the PSD and it again is not truely independent nor has civilian oversight and again is only for the most serious crimes.  The police complaints system is not fit for purpose.
I propose the following: every county needs to have its own board that investigates complaints from people regarding the police. The board would be fully independent and should consist of a police misconduct solicitor who only works on the side of the victim; a barrister; a social worker; a medical profession; and a member of the public. Each member would need to have zero connection to the police and would only serve the board for a maximum of 3 years.
Currently, the only way to hold the police accountable for inaction or insufficient action is to take your own case to judicial review. This is exhausting, stressful and impossible without the costly help of a barrister which is an impossibility for most.
Many have lost faith in the police; gone are the days where the local Bobby was the most highly respected and trusted member of any community. We must force the government to change and ensure an independent investigating panel that the police are answerable to regardless of the size of the case, regardless of how badly it might damage the reputation of the force and regardless of however irrelevant the police deem it to be. If complaints are not investigated in conjunction with the PACE guidelines, the panel could be drafted to hold the police accountable, corruption and inefficiency free.
We must act now for victims of crime who have been let down by the police as well as for future victims of crime. Sign this petition, no matter what your circumstance; the outcome of this very petition could affect you in the future and it is time we live in a fairer country where justice is done. Thank you for reading and sign now!

 

https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-establish-an-independent-board-that-investigates-complaints-against-the-policeDMQkbu7XUAA0eux.jpg poster

The Jayne Walden Photography Collection.

Posted on by billyarthurwalden

Sunset over Lancashire taken in April of this year 2018

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Stunning sight of birds swarming like bee’s over the M6

Jayne was asked to photograph the lovely Jenny Powell today, Ambassador for Shatterboys Recovery UK

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granada reports chose to use one of Jayne’s  pictures, you can see many of her fabulous pictures at Lancaster library for the whole of February. All the photographs are as they have been taken and are not edited or tampered with.

ShatterBoys Recovery chose to use one of Jaynes Pictures for their Twitter page:  Some of the lads with the Shatterboys  Ambassador Jenny Powell.

When you purchase a photograph from The Jayne Walden collection, you will receive a printed photograph from the original, the prices are for 10″ by 8″ and these are framed in a border, they are clear and crisp and of outstanding quality.   They are at the moment the amazing price of only £9.99, this incredible offer is only introductory to launch the website and will soon increase.  All photographs can be posted for £4.99 or delivered/collected locally.  If you would like a quote for larger sizes i.e for restaurant walls etc, please email me on matilda12@live.co.uk for a quote, thank you.

Picture of this incredible sun rise with the Bird of prey silhouette soaring over, as seen on ITV television, grab your copy at this lowered price for only £9.99.

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Lancaster Canal, or what remains of it! On the way to Kendal, dry after been severed by the building of the M6 motorway .  Only £9.99

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Morecambe Bay

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Outstanding picture of the mysterious Loch Ness taken at night fall.  Look deeply into it and do you see the liitle child! only £9.99.

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This intriguing pictures capturing a range of textures and shades, is only £9.99 for a 10″ by 8″ framed,  It draws the eye to look at it again and again!

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Gorgeous picture taken in the summer time, when the weather was fine!

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All about my refurbishment from start to finish of our beloved VW LT 35: Veronica!!!!!!!!

Posted on by billyarthurwalden

Yay my mum got a  retweet of the lovely Veronica by @Fuzztownshend Fuzz is mega talented and car sos  http://www.channel4.com/programmes/car-sos is one of my favourite programmes.

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My sister being interviewed at a rally keeping her cleaning tactics secret!

This is how Veronica started out and old smelly horse box, with mouldy poo and old hay inside.  I lovingly restored her to how she looks today.

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The first job I did was strip all the back out and remove the ramp.

I then stripped the floor and insulated the floor and walls and added all the wiring.  Veronica charges the battery as she runs and is also backed up by solar power.

I then fitted the windows I sourced these off a caravan that was going for scrap, they are vintage ones.

Then it was adding the toilet, kitchen, oven etc, my mum did the furnishings and made the curtains.

Veronica was in supriseingly good condition for her age on the outside, her paintwork was very tatty, but there was no rot and very little rust.  I sanded her down, applied primer and borrowed a friends garage to spray her in, she was too big for the spray booth!

And this is the finished product below, my mum and sister with Veronica at Scarborough.

Thanks to The lancasterguardian.co.uk/ for my write up in todays paper 19th Jan 2017

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Made this bird table for a customer

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