Moat House Bridge 74 to Autherley Junction

Apologies that this is becoming a bit more of a diary at the moment rather than a boating blog. The blog has always been a way of recording our life afloat which includes all that goes on in our lives. I hope there is currently enough to keep boaters interested, but life events happen to us all and it would feel wrong to not mention current events.

I called Frank before we were out of bed this morning, he was waiting for his breakfast, still in A&E but was feeling quite positive. Then I got a message from the panto set builder, could he chat to me about the carousel? I could give him ten minutes now. As ever with Chippy scenery, you want height, but bases are restricted in depth, so stability is always an issue. Jamie’d been giving it some thought over the weekend and had some suggestions. Our conversation finished at 09:01.

With cuppa in hand I headed out to sit under the pram cover for the best possible phone signal to call Social Services. My job today was to try to get to talk to the team who had been looking after Frank, get a name of a social worker so that when he’s discharged from hospital things could be in place for him to move straight into a nursing home.

I don’t know how many times I’ve now told the receptionist everything. I’m not Frank’s next of kin so they won’t put me through to the team. Have to say the chap was good, took down everything. Our main concern was that Frank should not go back to his house, the care he was receiving for whatever reason was not working for him, and his attitude won’t change, plus his house really isn’t suitable for someone to spend their last days.

In Scarborough a team were making phone calls, then calling through to me. Time to make a quick call to the panto lighting designer. What next? Back on the phone to social services, a possible place found for Frank, but he’d need an assessment, could they do this today? The system does not make this easy. I could get to talk to someone who doesn’t know Frank’s case. Then they can’t do anything until they know he’s being discharged. The doctors had said they wouldn’t discharge him until we knew there was a room for him somewhere. Round in circles. Phone calls, messages. Data Protection stopping me from talking to someone who knows his case. So frustrating!

Should we stay put for the day and set off early tomorrow? I got to the point where there was nothing else I could do and panto questions had calmed down too. We pushed off. Then my phone rang again. This time it was a social worker who I think had been to Frank’s house. We talked about the care he’d been getting and how carers don’t understand gas ovens, I also think Home Economics isn’t taught as it used to be in my day, plus carers don’t have enough time to cook you pork chops every day! At least she seemed willing to talk to me, but before I could just do a quick recap of the important things she had to go. Gosh my brain was mashed by now!

We pootled on through the narrows, thankfully not meeting anyone coming the other way. Would there be space for us at Autherley Junction? It looked pretty full. A boat was coming towards us. They carried on, one space left, would we fit. Yes easily! Hang on that green boat ahead looks kind of familiar, the bow and welldeck certainly does, but the last time we’d seen it it had been dark blue. A ladies head bobbed up from where she was sitting, could that be Cheryl? Once we’d moored up I went to check. I was right, NB Firecrest.

Time for a late lunch. Then Mick headed out to do a touch of shopping, walking there with Cheryl from next door. I on the other hand did a touch of shopping for panto. Jelly moulds, baubles, cake tins.

News came through from Scarborough, a possible room had been found. People went to see it, it was good. I tried calling the social worker I’d talked to earlier. No answer, three more times I tried her, still none of the calls answered. I left a message. Maybe data protection was stopping me from getting through here now! I so hope tomorrow won’t be as stressful. Time to give up for the day, my attention turned to something very sweet, some lock fuel, some apple flapjack!

0 locks, 4.7 miles, 27 phone calls, 1 green boat, 31 messages, 1 frustrating day, 1 big tin of flapjack, 1 frustrated cat, 0 brisk walking, 1 plan hopefully coming together.