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Updates are becoming less and less frequent as the weather gets more wintry. A lot of the progress I want to make is dependent on getting the outside painted and this is becoming increasingly difficult to do. Time is as short as ever. Money... well there isn't any. The plus side is that it's salary review time... at least, I hope that's a plus!

This is my first welding ever. Not perfect but it's strong. It's the front doorsill where I've welded it to the door aperture.

Here's the finished sill before painting. Note the 10mm square section along the top - that's the doorstop. I've used some P38 to create a nice tight bead along the front of the doorstop. The lintel mirrors this.

Access! This is the lock for the front doors. I used a standard household lock for a wooden door with a few modifications. The dark spots are where the frame for the lock barrel is welded to the door. At last I can use my front doors as the main entrance. No more inching along the gunwales in darkness on stormy nights to get to the side door! There is no handle - much like many land based front doors.

This is the inside view. Nearest the camera is the knob that unlocks the doors from the inside - no need to fumble around for keys in case of an emergency. I had to take the lock apart to get the lever arm in. That was fun. You'll know what I mean if you've ever dismantled a lock barrel - all springs and pins and ball bearings. When the door is lined, only the knob will be visible. The steel rods on the lever arm go into the door sill and lintel. Simple, secure, easy. As it's my home, I wanted it to be as secure as I could make it - hence welded fittings. None of the lock system components are attached to wooden linings that a simple crowbar could defeat. No multiple fiddly slide bolts and mortice locks like most boats with double doors either.

Here's a detail of the steel rod where it goes through the lintel. Note how it passes on the inner side of the doorstop.

This is my first layer of gloss over the undercoat on the roof. It's a polyurethane enamel. After I applied it, it rained (d'oh!), hence the marks that are visible. It's not the topcoat so it doesn't matter. What it does show is the lack of brush marks - excellent brush, excellent paint. The topcoat will be a mirror finish.

This is as much as I've been able to get done so far. The topcoat will have to be done all in one go. Note continued lack of rooflights...

...although here is one of the frames for supporting them. As soon as the painting is done, they can go in.

This is my solid fuel stove as rescued from skip. It just needs slight restoration (new bolts, paint, firebricks, fibreglass tape) and then it'll be as good as new. The door needed repairing but that's welded up well and I have the new glass. As shown, it is missing several of the cosmetic outer panels but I have these - just a matter of re-assembly. When it's done, Uisce will be nice and cosy. At the moment, I have no heating other than some halogen lamps, a fan heater, and an electric blanket!!

That's all for now! I'm not going to tell you about how I fell in the river for the first time on Sunday... and the second time a few hours later...