Category Archives: Architecture

Freda’s Garden. 9th May

A Much Needed Refill. 29th April

Museum Gardens to Naburn Lock

Tuesday and the world was that bit quieter. This morning the rowers were from the older end of the spectrum, grey haired and not quite so feisty with their strokes. I was also not so feisty about anything, a sore throat I’d hoped was hay fever was turning into a cold. This meant cancelling our morning coffee meet up with a friend.

Several boats left the moorings, Mick headed off to stock up on Lemsips for me and also pick up a fresh box of tissues. I then set off to pop two pairs of socks in the post. Being just across the river from the main sorting office in York should have made it easy to drop the parcel off, but I stuck to the river bank instead of walking down a path at the back of the building, so ended up walking all the way round under the bar walls, along the road that had been worked on last night to find the post box.

I then headed to have a look at the old station and The Grand Hotel with it’s fab weather vane on top. Round the corner seems to be a small Chinese area, several restaurants and supermarkets. We’d run out of rice paper to make spring rolls so I was keen to replace them. Job done I walked back round the other side of the river to get back to Oleanna.

A supermarket delivery arrived at the bottom of Marygate for us, items stowed a bite to eat for lunch. There was no reason to stay put in York for another day so we rolled up the covers, waited for day boats to pass, then pushed off, winding and heading down stream.

As we approached the University Rowing Club moorings we could see that Philli’s smaller boat was end out into the river. Had someone untied it? Well yes, Philli! She was turning it round , so another chance to say hello, have the boat pointed out that we should be able to breast up against when we’re next in York so that we can enjoy a glass or two of wine on Sabrina W.

Another pause to see our house then on past numerous young people who’d been swimming. Archbishops Palace where the flag had returned to the top of it’s flag pole. What a lovely day to be on the river cruising.

We pulled down the lock cut at Naburn, the floating pontoon by the weir was full. Straight to the water point to fill up and put a load of washing on. We’d survived a full week on one tank of water so really needed a refill.

Whilst at New Walk, Oleanna had got seriously dripped on by trees, she’d become so sticky. Then with all the silty sand that gets blown about along with bird deposits she needed a wash. Well she didn’t get the full works but a rinse off with river water, twice to get rid of the worst of it, the windows will need a touch more attention when the bank is at a better height.

We moved back along the moorings, other boats pulling up for water or to await the lock tomorrow. Time for some quality shore leave for Tilly.

0 locks, 6 miles, 2 winds, 1 pack of papers, 1 bottle soy sauce, 2 pairs socks posted, 1 pair ends woven in, 1 Earnest, 10 lemsips, 1 box tissues, 3.28 miles walked, 34 minutes briskly, 1 owl for company.

https://what3words.com/soups.scowls.caked

Still There. 22nd April

Naburn Lock to New Walk, River Ouse

Anyone who has ever visited York by boat will be aware of how bad the boaters facilities are in the city. So before we left Naburn we wanted to have a full water tank. After breakfast we got ready to reverse to the water point, but we’d just been beaten to it by the boat behind us. We pulled back anyway, they weren’t using the water point and our two hoses would reach our bow. They pulled off soon after we arrived so we tucked up closer to the tap.

Mick rang York Marina in Naburn this morning to see if they could accommodate us for a few days, this would make plan 6C work for us. However unless we were willing to sign up for a full year they weren’t interested, our three days not enough. Time to work out plan 7A. I walked over the lock island to check on the pontoon there, 48 hours and empty today, but would it be when we want it to be?!

Tank full and a booking to return to Selby made we were ready for the off, and thankfully the sun was shining.

The river is far more interesting lots of moored boats to look at. A pontoon we’d not seen before which is reserved for York Marina despite being quite a distance away. The River Bus has various stops along the way to pick up campers and take them into York.

Then the slightly more shanty town moorings, steep walkways to interesting boats, some of which archaeologists would have a field day on their roofs. A small cruiser with sails was slowly making it’s way upstream, we passed as did a day boat.

Archbishops Palace. The opposite bank was what at the age of six, was a long walk from our house, but a good landmark for turning around plus the dogs used to like swimming there.

The A64 bypass bridge. Fulford Hall on the bend. Is that where the bench seat was that my Dad Fatso used to walk Bramble his dog to? The undergrowth and possibly a fence blocking the view. Would that be the case a little further on?

**There she is! The pan tiles belong to next door.**

The willow trees are starting to get thick with leaves would there still be that gap in them that lines up with the grid on our map? It’s been five years since these sight lines were checked and the river then was that bit higher. We slowed as we approached the grid line. The big house just visible, then the roof of the house behind. Then the trees parted for a very good view of my family home, the house that Fatso built, the house where I was born. We know the new owner has done some building work and replaced the wood cladding to the front of the house, this used to be dark marrying in with the trees surrounding it. The new cladding thankfully isn’t as bright as it was in photos we’ve seen, it has silvered, a different wood from that it was clad with in the early 60s. But she is still there, the glimpse from the river the same.

**Might have to visit if they still go to near Millennium Bridge**

Now past the York Motor Club Moorings, would they be able to accommodate us? We suspected not. The University Rowing Club Moorings, I’ve still not quite finished off a pair of socks that need to be delivered here, the hope of being able to moor alongside obviously not possible, so a visit by land will need to be arranged. The Chilled Medication boats were followed by Millennium Bridge.

We now started to look for somewhere to moor up, a little bit further would suit our needs best, but with some solar a bonus. Chain swags line the river wall, would we be able to moor to those. We slowed and had a go as day boats came past, a trip boat winding up stream of us, at least they know their horn signals. Thin rope was used to tie through the eyes that hold the chain, an old soft shackle from our centre line was used too. There’s a ledge just catching Oleanna’s base plate, so we deployed the Shroppie Tyre fenders. Brilliant, we are moored somewhere Tilly can have some shore leave too. Maybe York will be York to her and not Yurk!!!

**This used to be Thomas C Godfrey’s a Blackwell’s Bookshop**

After lunch I set off with the intention of finding some Almond flour, finer than ground almonds and a touch harder to find. This gave me a reason to have a good walk around the city, spotting favourite old places including the old bookshop I used to sell maps in, currently selling things made by local artists.

I went here there and nearly everywhere. The obligatory visit to Barnitts. Today I wanted new rope for the stove door and some glue. Barnitts never disappoints, there is always a selection. Just how many shoe laces and flasks could anyone want!

I was also on the hunt for views of York to paint. I’d like to do a painting for my brothers holiday let in York. Not of the usual views. I love the Snickleways, maybe Lady Peckett’s Yard? We’ll see what else I find in the next few days.

Back at the boat our quiet evening was disturbed by the rowers from the University, they seem to start and end their training where we are moored. The boats are not too bad despite their wake, but their coach is very VERY LOUD!!!

In flotilla news all boats are back on the move continuing towards London. However tonight we’ve seen that there is a stoppage at Denham Deep Lock on the Grand Union Canal and the lock gates are padlocked shut! This stoppage stands between lots of boats and Cavalcade! Here’s hoping its not a lengthy fix. Petition link.

0 locks, 5.1 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 roof line, 1 new mooring to try out, 500grams almond flour, 2m stove rope, 1 bottle glue, 5.2 miles, 47 minutes briskly, 7 possible paintings, 1 man shouting 2 loudly!

https://what3words.com/valve.trap.line

Happy 100th Fatso! 25th April 2025

Today would have been my Daddy Fatso’s 100th Birthday. Sadly he’s not still with us, but that is no excuse not to celebrate the day. We’ve headed to York with that purpose in mind, to hold a birthday party for him with my brother and his family.

So apologies for sharing this post that I wrote during Lockdown in 2020, but today it really couldn’t be about anyone or anything else. I’ll tell you about the party in a few days time.

David Anthony Leckenby was born on the 25th April 1925 in Acomb, York. His Dad was Cecil an architect, known to my generation for his bushy eyebrows and ability to watch football on a very fuzzy TV.

His Mum was Mildred, a house wife who passed away when I was about 18 months old, and there was Peter his elder brother, who grew up to be a telecoms engineer, living in Trinidad for a number of years.

David attended Archbishop Holgates School just outside the bar walls of York. The fine building now houses part of St John’s College.

During his school days he was interested in architecture and planes. His diaries from this time (the only ones we have) always mention the planes flying over. Maybe one of the Lancaster bombers that flew low over Acomb on the 1st of September 1943 was piloted by Mick’s Dad.

**His plane sketches improved through his teenage years**

Whenever an old plane flew over our house he would say what it was and then rush out to check he was correct, he inevitably was. I’m sure lots of people who grew up during WW2 could do the same.

Once he’d left school he commuted by train to Leeds where he attended Leeds School of Architecture. He used to tell tales of riding his bike carrying a drawing board as he peddled to and from stations. I was lucky enough to find his diaries from these days a few years ago when sorting through the family house. Sadly there are gaps in them and he certainly got a bit too obsessed with a young lady called Peggy!

His college days were of course interrupted when he was called up, by October 1943 he was writing from the platoon hut in number 7 company lines at Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow.

Over the next year he moved around, June 1944 he was at the 175 class, 140 OCTURE, Ure Bank Camp in Ripon and by December 1944 he was posted to France, then Brugges. Sadly there are gaps in his diaries so I don’t know where he was for VE day. Maybe my brother remembers a tale or two that I don’t.

He never shoot his gun in combat, but was around Europe for the final push.

There are mentions of German mine fields and a tale of picking items up that could have been booby trapped, but luckily for him they weren’t.

**Sat on the front row just off centre to the left**

In September 1945 he waved farewell to the shores of England and set sail for India. Here with the Sappers he mended bridges, and I believe ended up being one of the last Brits in Hyderabad. Here he did shoot his gun when a snake came out of the overflow on his bath.

We are very lucky to have many of his wonderful sketches of India. Some architectural others of men with cows and landscapes.

Sadly his diaries stop whilst in India. So with the information to hand I don’t know quite when he left and headed home. I do know that he managed to jump ships and come home via Germany where he wanted to meet up with Peggy. She however had shacked up with a Canadian soldier (if he’d looked back at his diary he’d have seen it coming), Dad’s trip a heart breaking waste of effort.

**Middle row just to the right of centre**

Back home he returned to Leeds School of Architecture. His year was now a mixture of those who had been demobbed and those a few years younger. Stood in a queue one day he spotted a tall young lady, Lillian Heseltine!

They courted, Dad had to sell his prized motorbike to buy an engagement ring.

Proposing on a trip to Rievaulx Abbey where his final project for college was based, they got married in Thornton, Bradford in 1952.

They lived in York, with Dad working in his fathers architectural practice where he became a partner.

**He won awards for the Marine Biology building in Robin Hoods Bay.**

Many buildings and shop fronts around York were designed by him, he also looked after churches around the city and built our family home in Fulford, which was just still visible from the River Ouse when we last passed.

He loved his walking. Climbing most of the Lake District peeks with Worthington.

**Those little legs up all those peeks**

Gliding was another love, but he was given an ultimatum by Mum to chose flying or his family. He wisely chose us. For his 80th birthday we bought him a trip up in a glider from Sutton Bank, the club house his design.

**A touch different from his earlier flying days**

He took up windsurfing instead and got his daughter hooked for a few years too.

**Gravity did cause him problems though**

If Mum and Dad could think of an excuse for a party, then the house would be filled with people. In fact I think the house was built with parties in mind!

Dad loved his dancing and his record collection, often seen kneeling on the floor with a head torch on so that he didn’t play the shadow of the next record.

Holidays in foreign parts, where food and the local wines were always sampled. Most holiday photos are of people sat around tables.

The beard was grown in 1976 when he became very ill and ended up in a plaster cast from the top of his head to his waist for most of the drought filled summer months. Gradually the white hair crept from his chin and took over his full head of hair.

He got to watch his Grandson Josh grow and became known as Daddy Daddy.

Lots and lots of happy memories.

David Anthony Leckenby 25th April 1925 to 18th September 2012

My Daddy Fatso. xxx

Easter Oranges. 20th April

Selby Swing Bridge

A lazy start with the Saturday newspaper in bed, listening to the Abbey bells. We were up in time to join the Geraghty zoom, breakfast had to wait for later though. Subjects covered, empathy, sheep with hankies, sponsored relay cruising and a walkie talkie lunch.

**We forgot to defrost some sausages, just as well really**

Yesterday we’d found some gf black pudding so that was added to our egg, tomatoes and mushrooms. Tasty.

A walk down to the lock to see if a Keeper might be about. The door to the little hut was open and Nigel was sat relaxing, he’d had an early start checking the levels up on the Ripon Canal this morning. We checked that we were still booked in for tomorrow and heard that there were five or six cruisers headed from Naburn this afternoon. That would be worth coming back to watch, we headed into town to see if we could find the Easter Bunny.

We’d missed all the fun by the market cross. The Abbey was setting up tables for something later today. Not many people about. We had a good wander around.

Houses for sale, this nice looking little terraced house down Rupert Street, wiped clean of any interior detail. Mr C’s Chippy, now when did we have 2 of each from here? Did we have a car at the time? It turns out it was when we were waiting for the River Ouse to come down on our escape from Goole in 2021, Tuesday night is GF night.

Down a side street towards St James the Apostle Church. A row of rather fine terraced houses, one of which is prime for some TLC, filled with original features. But would you keep the avocado sink and toilet?

We made our way back past the station and my favourite door in Selby. It used to roll to the sides and has had some remedial work at some time. But the tarmac on the pavement restricts any possible movement along with brackets at the top, possibly holding it now to the building.

Back at the lock the first of the cruisers was coming up off the river. Just as Nigel was dropping the water for the following boats they arrived. One winding to face the tide, the gates just opening in time. The other winded a little further down stream and then made their way back to the lock and entered before Nigel had given the go ahead. Nigel wasn’t too happy with this.

**The Lockies Key of Powerful Powerness!**

Several gongoozlers watched on, crew from the first boat came to help, but all were very much kept in check by Nigel, looking out for everyone’s safety. Ropes round bollards and risers these two boats were penned up. The boats had all timed their arrivals with penning up in mind, good gaps between them.

The next arrived winded and had to stem the tide for a bit as the lock emptied. The next and final boat came past the lock, winding further down stream. Would they both fit in the lock together? The lead boat was nudged right up to the top gates. Tail end Charlie waved in to join them, directed by the Lockie, instructions relayed by the crew to the skipper inside the cabin. A perfect entrance to the lock, the skippers first time turning into Selby and their first time on a river!

Close to Oleanna was a newly arrived boat. We stopped to say hello thinking they might be joining us tomorrow. But the crew despite having boated for well over fifteen years and been just about everywhere, they have never gone on tidal water. They’d come and watch tomorrow and give it some more thought.

I was short on my walking for the day, so carried on past Oleanna to see if I could find Staynor Hall which looked like it was surrounded by a new Persimmon development. I walked round into the houses. Looked for what I thought would be an old building but could see nothing but a green modern school building at the back of some playing fields. It may still be there somewhere, but disguised in a plain modern building.

I tried to find a path back towards an older housing estate, but found it fenced off, so had to return through the land of little boxes. The road arched round to Denison Road which brought me back to the Swing Bridge. Time to put that joint of Pork in the oven.

The flotilla appears to have now split into three. Two crews having headed back to their houses for Easter, another two in Hemel and I’m not sure where the lead boats are now. Happy Easter to them all. Just incase you haven’t signed it yet, here’s a link to the Fund Britain’s Waterways petition

0 locks, 0 miles, 8:45 start at the tip, 4 slices black pudding between us, 1 slow walk, 5 cruisers, 0 space in the basin, 5.36 miles walked, 48 brisk minutes, 1 joint of pork, 2 beers, 4 glasses wine, 1 quiet evening, 0 Easter eggs, 2 chocolate oranges left from Christmas.

Nothing To See Here, Or Here, Or There. 17th April

Whitley Lock to West Haddlesey, Selby Canal

Sunshine!!! Not much wind, a much better day for cruising.

We pushed over to the other side to fill with water and empty the wee tank. Jobs done I headed to the lock with the key of power to empty it ready for Oleanna. Today no glitches in the system, last year there had been a power cut so the panel hadn’t worked for quite sometime and the lock had been temperamental too.

A little chat with Richard from NB Isabella who were now moored above the lock. I wonder where we’ll see them next?

Today we wanted to make up for not moving yesterday, so at least 2 hours cruising required. We passed quite a few familiar boats from these parts. A pylon caught our eye as it has three sets of arms. Then a Leeds Liverpool Short Boat Mersey, looked like it had recently been blacked.

Past the huge slag heap to the south, a new distribution centre to the north, the solar farm and then the rubble which is still Kellingley Colliery, one day it will show signs of progress, one day.

At Bank Dole Junction we turned the tight right towards the lock. It’s been five years since we’ve cruised this way, would Bank Dole Lock work without problem. In the past it’s been an extreamly slow filler, in fact we once had to go away and come back the following day after C&RT had to remove silt from around the bottom gates so that the lock could make a level.

As I started to fill the lock a car drove up, a gongoozler ready to lend a hand with the gates. He’d never seen a boat come through the lock before and because there were a few weeds in the top gates he’s assumed it wasn’t used anymore. If he saw some lock gates around the system with their fully grown gardens he’d have quite a shock!

**An interesting level marker, possibly EA**

The gates are heavy, the paddles endlessly turn, but it all worked fine and we were down onto the River Aire with it’s twists and turns.

I used to enjoy the river, meandering back and forth, three power stations to spot, Drax, Ferrybridge and Eggborough. The first of Eggborough’s cooling towers were demolished in August 2021. Ferrybridge started to be demolished in 2019, the last of the cooling towers detonated in March 2022. Now only the most distant power station still stands, Drax, only occasionally visible above the banks. So there’s nothing to see here, or here, or there! The river is now just brown, green banks and sky.

As we were getting close to Beal Lock Mick had a phone call from his friend Chris from The Pink Narrowboat. Chris is currently walking from Lands End to John O’Groats raising funds for Hope and Homes for Children. It’s his 70th birthday this year and he’s hoping to raise £70,000. But being Chris he’s not only walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats but back again too! He’s currently posting a video on his channel every day, today being Day 15 on the Somerset Levels and along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

At Beal Lock we paused for lunch. This is where Houdini our first second mate discovered she could swim! Tilly wasn’t allowed shore leave, we wanted to carry on and we’re not too keen on her going out on pontoons. The lock cut has recently been given a tidy up, very little growth between the pontoon and the bank, I wonder if all the Himalayan Balsam will return later in the year?

The lock only has a small drop. Today I didn’t even bother checking the level boards as back at Bank Dole the river wasn’t even in the green! Below back on the river there was quite a bit of noise. This next stretch can sometimes have speed boats with water skiers in tow. Today however the boat that was speeding around was a touch too small to pull a skier along, it just went round and round in circles far quicker than Oleanna ever could! The chap came up to lend a hand with the heavy gates, he then said he’d race us to the next lock.

Tighter twists and turns. One day, will a flood end up creating more Oxbow lakes or do we now manage water too much to allow such things to happen? Still no power stations, oh well!

We’d heard of a boat having been in trouble along this stretch in some floods this winter. Alistair from Goole had been called out to the boat, but there was nothing he could do to help in the conditions. We thought it had been a widebeam, but today the only boat out of the water was a narrowboat.

**Through the flood lock that protects the Selby Canal**

West Haddlesey Flood Lock was open to us, no need to operate paddles or the very big gates today, we just sailed straight through and pulled up on the mooring.

Our location noted, I took a quick look at the OS map, plotted a route to see the weir and back through some fields and headed off so that five minutes later Tilly could have her shore leave without following me.

Along the river bank, I kept my eyes open in case I could see a widebeam on the bank. Nothing to be seen. Then into Chapel Haddlesey with the hope of crossing the river on the A19 to then join a footpath to the weir. But there was no footpath along the road, it’s a busy road, so I wasn’t going to risk it. Instead I carried on walking towards St John’s The Baptist, it had caught my eye because of it’s Rapunzel like tower. Rebuilt completely in 1836 and extended a couple of times, with tower and spire erected in 1891. Sadly the door was locked, a quick check in the graveyard for any access to the river bank, none obvious but I did spot George Best’s grave stone, from 1934.

**George, wonder if he was a good footballer**

Back the way I’d come, then across fields towards Paper House Farm where a track crosses the canal. No footpath shown on my OS map and no towpath shown on Waterway Routes, I chose to carry on along the footpath, across fields of Rapeseed and down into the village. An interesting looking Indian Restaurant where there was once a pub. On reaching Tankards Bridge I noticed that there was a path alongside the canal towards Selby. When we come back I may investigate further.

**Footpath through a hedge near Paperhouse Bridge**

Tilly had had shore leave, but wasn’t impressed by the young lads fishing Can’t they read the signs! Even I’m not allowed to fish! A pot of chilli was put on to cook.

Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla news. Some boats had a day exploring Bletchley Park, we can highly recommend it too. Others stocked up at Tesco and Aldi in Leighton Buzzard continuing on southwards. Link to petition

4 locks, 1 a flood lock, 10.6 miles, 3 waterways, 1 right, 1 left, 15th Day, 1 speeding boat, 2 donkeys, 1 tower, 4.49 miles walked, 63 minutes briskly, 2 outsides, 1 vat of chilli.

https://what3words.com/seasick.appealing.cowering

Kate and Ada. 9th April

Cooper’s Bridge 80 to Basin Bridge, Stockwith

Another misty start to the day, glad we wouldn’t be out on the river this morning. Instead we walked into the village to pick up a few bits and bobs.

Queen Elizabeth II now looks very faded covering up one of the windows of the Victoria Institute. Quite a lot seems to be happening here, a new roof and woodwork stripped back, hopefully it will have a new life sometime soon.

**We’ll be stopping here later in the year**

A look inside the butchers. I decided not to purchase two lamb steaks to make some Misterton Lamb, that can wait for when we’re back later in the year. Mick however purchased a pork pie to have for lunch over the next few days. Next a call into the Co-op. Cheap bananas perfectly ripe for us, the one’s onboard Oleanna can ripen a touch more, if we’ve too many I’ll find a banana and oat loaf recipe that hopefully won’t be too fattening.

We sauntered up the road a little more to the Methodist Chapel, it’s iron gates were in memory of the local blacksmith. The local dancing school have taken over what we thought had most probably been the original Co-op. Was the carved stonework familiar from other Co-ops? I’ve had a quick look back through photos of Macclesfield and Saxilby thinking that might be where we’ve seen them before, but no.

Back to Oleanna and it was time to make a move back towards West Stockwith. I walked ahead to set the locks, the top one empty the bottom half full, we’d had a boat come past us earlier today, but they must have been moored above the locks last night as the sides were bone dry. We dropped down them trying to avoid jamming reeds behind the gates.

Mick headed onwards to pull up on a different length of armco to keep Tilly guessing whilst I closed up the lock and had a catch up chat with our friend Frank back in Scarborough.

Yep this outside looks suitable. Lots of sideways trees, trees to climb and plenty of friendly cover to keep me busy for AGES!! Tilly was happy, and that’s all that mattered.

I’d not managed to do all my walking for the day, so plotted a route round on the River Idle. I first checked the visitor mooring in the basin. If it was free, once evening dingding had been rung we’d move up to fill with water and be closer to the lock for the morning, another earlyish start. But NB Airbourne was in the space we’d hoped for, we’d have to fill up somewhere else tomorrow instead.

The River Idle Flood Gate was open by a few feet as I passed looking for the footpath on the northern bank of the river. However it looked to be going through someone’s garden so I opted for the southern bank instead. But before that I had a look inside St Mary the Virgin Church, a Georgian church perched on the river bank built in 1722 by the trustees of William Huntington on the site of his old shipyard. It has been restored several times and has recently had a new roof courtesy of the village, this summer there will be a celebration of the completion of the latest restoration.

**A small pretty church, just don’t lick the walls there may be traces of arsenic in the green paint!**

I followed the river bank, past the two flood gates to the Pump House. Here either side of the Mother Drain stand two pump houses which were used to drain the surrounding land, they were the first steam powered pumps to be used outside the Fens. The first was built in 1828 and was known as Kate after the engine it housed. The one engine couldn’t cope with all the water it had to move so a second pump house was built, called Ada in 1839. They both became redundant in 1941 when the drainage system was reorganised to go to Gringley.

The buildings were derelict for many years until in the 1990’s they were converted into a dwelling. Now you can stay in either the Pumphouse Forge or the Pumphouse Artists Studio. My walk then returned to the canal and back to Oleanna.

Part of the Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla ascended Foxton Locks today, the other part enjoyed cake with the volunteers at Kilby Bridge. Down to one boat in a lock at a time.

In other news , our friends Paul and Christine Balmer have reluctantly put their narrowboat Waterway Routes up for sale with ABNB this week. Paul will still be producing his very detailed maps, but no longer travelling the waterways on their own boat. I strongly suspect they will have kept a windlass each and may appear as if by magic like the shop keeper in Mr Ben and help at the occasional lock flight given half the chance, especially if there’s some apple flapjack on offer!

2 locks, 1.3 miles, 1 cat fooled into having a new outside, 1 pork pie, 6 bananas, 1 loaf bread, 5.56 miles walked, 49 minutes briskly, 0 water, 2 pumphouses, 4 chickpea chapatis, 2 dollops dhal, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval, 1 much loved boat for sale.

https://what3words.com/expecting.jaunts.amount

Sad Gits Frites. 5th April

Kiln Pontoon to Cromwell Lock Pontoon

After breakfast we both headed to see if there was anything to buy with yellow labels. Mick headed to Waitrose, a pint of milk and a Saturday newspaper, plus a look around to see what might have yellow stickers on that could go in the freezer for another day.

I headed to the other side of the river to M&S, here I was greeted with quite a few yellow stickers. It seems the morning is best at M&S, evening best at Waitrose. I scanned loaves of bread, spicy Spanish rice. Not many things either took my fancy or I could eat. However a box of Frites and a gf Tiger loaf of bread jumped in my basket. Once back at Oleanna the former was split into two and the loaf sliced up and all popped into the freezer.

**A blue world down on the river today**

We pushed off heading down stream. Mick radioed ahead incase there was a Lock Keeper on duty at Nether Lock, again Cromwell Lock replied that there was no-one there today. The key of power would be needed. Since coming through Nether Lock the last time the buttons seem to have been made more sensible. The lock resets itself to being full, in the past I’ve had to press the OPEN button as if the lock was empty, waiting for the flashing to stop before doing it again despite the sluices already being open. Today the gates just opened and I could call Mick to bring Oleanna straight in.

At the bottom end things also seemed to be quicker, the periods between button presses much shorter than I remembered, however it took forever for the lock to realise it was now empty, stop it’s flashing light and let me open the gates.

Down on the river it was breezy, white horses, lumpy water. Thank goodness we’ve opted to keep the stove ticking over inside.

Approaching Cromwell pontoon we could see a widebeam was moored up. Would there be room for us on the outside? Or would we opt to wind and reverse into the upstream inside? The widebeam was right in the middle of the outside, two spare mooring cleats in front, one behind, enough room for us if they nudged up. We winded and headed for the inside, at least we’d have a view from our bedroom window. Later on we found out that when they’d arrived it had been so windy they were relieved to just get moored up to the pontoon.

Lunch then a walk up the river bank, back to North Muskham. About a 10/15 minute walk you come across a tea room at a farm, Lil Maggies and the Secret Barn, laid out in (surprise surprise) a barn with a tent and caravans about. It was too late for me to sample their vitals, but maybe when we come back this way later we’ll see what’s on offer.

**St Wilfred’s of North Muskham, not to be confused with St Wilfred’s of South Muskham**

I walked up to St Wilfred’s Church, the very well worn door obliged in being unlocked. Inside was far smaller than I’d expected, chairs rather than pews. Parts of the church date back to 1190 and it contains what are probably the earliest octagonal piers in the county. The chancel and north aisle were rebuilt in 1530, funded by J Barton of Holme, the family coat of arms appears around the church. The Tudor oak rude screen is very impressive for such a little church. They have developed a very canny way of avoiding molten wax from dripping on peoples heads.

I looked for a slightly different route back to the boat avoiding the A1. This took me through the village past a totem pole and around a large lake surrounded by a housing estate and then back onto the river bank. A rather blustery walk.

The pontoons here have electric posts. Mick went to see if he could get one of them to work. They used to work with the old CRT pump out cards that you could buy on line or at Locks. These are supposedly being phased out at pump outs and chip and pin readers installed. There was a time when you could trade your old cards in, we never got round to doing this so had a couple on board. The second card Mick tried worked, it had one unit left, the post sprang into life. The unit lasted two wash cycles, a second tank of hot water and some tumble drying before it stopped working.

This evening we’ve enjoyed half of our yellow stickered ‘sad gits’ frites with some salmon, very nice it was. We’ve also raised a glass or two to being boat owners for 11 years, having picked NB Lillyanne up from her previous owners in 2014.

The Fund Britain’s Waterways Campaign Cruise reached The Soar Boat Club at Normanton on Soar today. If you haven’t already done so please sign the petition, the link is at the top right hand side of this page.

1 lock, 5 miles, 2 yellow labels, 1 pint, 1 newspaper, 0 shore leave again for Tilly, 5.02 miles walked, 73 minutes briskly, 11 years of floating our own boat.

https://what3words.com/mouse.reservoir.highs

The Last Art Shop. 4th April

Kiln Pontoon, Newark

With a few days before the next suitable tide for us to return downstream from Cromwell we have some spare time around Newark. Ten years ago we spent the winter months here so got to know it pretty well.

This morning there was a prescription to collect from Boots, grub screws to be hunted out as we’ve lost one from the handle of the front door. I’d come across mention of an artisan gluten free bakers, that had to be worth a visit and maybe even a suspension of my current avoidance of baked goods.

We set off individually, I headed to the bins by the flood lock trying to clock up brisk walking minutes and then into town crossing over Town Lock and up to near the castle where there is this house for sale.

Round the shops and the Friday market. No bakers in Chain Lane sadly, just cuddly toy pastries, pies and cakes in one window.

The market wasn’t half the size we remembered it to be and just where was that really good tool and hardware stall, nowhere to be seen. Maybe this was the wrong day for them. Some clothes, plants, a glutenfilled bakers and what seemed to be a cauliflower stall, the white heads piled up and very few other veg visible.

Into Boyes, would they have grub screws, nope! A walk down the other end of town where Wilkos used to be, some new development going up there. With none of the smaller items on my list found I then walked up Barnby Gate to find Hills the art shop.

But where was it? It’s always further than I think, but I was certain the shop front I stood in front of used to be the side with all the racks of paper and card. Next door thankfully showed signs of artist equipment. I went in.

I was after some heavy weight watercolour paper in an A3 pad and some mount board. I chatted to the assistant. They have had to let out part of the shop to keep going, their main business picture framing, the sale of the odd tube of white paint wouldn’t keep them going. We discussed watercolour paper pads, only one quite costly option, then mount board which was £10 a sheet! Flipping heck it’s been a while since I bought some. When the assistant returned with two very large sheets of mount I was told that they were £10 for A0, they could cut them in half, but half a sheet would still be £10. I chose to take all the sheet, but if they could cut them in half that would be far easier to store on Oleanna.

Before I left with my big package under my arm I made sure I thanked them for still existing, finding a good art shop is getting harder and harder and certainly one with stock that you can look at and feel near impossible. I may even have said we’d come to Newark specifically for me to visit them, only half a lie.

Back at Oleanna we had lunch, Mick had succeeded in buying a pork pie. I wrote some more blog, quite a bit to catch up on and getting on for 700 photos from two days of the Fund Britain’s Waterways Cruise to edit.

**Squeezed into the drawing board slot**

The Brompton then accompanied us back into town, our chosen supermarket was to be Morrisons, here we hoped to find everything we’d want under one roof at a reasonable price. After an hour we headed back to Oleanna the Brompton earning it’s keep once again as a sherpa.

Mick also spent some of today trying to get tidal locks booked. The West Stockwith phone number was on answerphone and suggested to call the main CRT number, which he did. They said you should be able to book on the number he’d called, but try Keadby.

Times and dates were discussed with Mark at Keadby. Our original plan had been to head to Torksey, wait for the level to be right to go up the lock for Tilly to have some shore leave for a day, before making our way onto West Stockwith, then should the tides be right we’d carry on to Keadby the following day. However we’re now into neep tides and the likelihood of being able to get over the cill at Torksey was slim. Our message would be passed on to West Stockwith.

**The Sonning no longer moored below the castle, now sold and possibly in Hull**

Later the Lockie from West Stockwith called, he’d had a missed call. Times, dates and tides were discussed. We changed our plans. Up to Torksey, no point in waiting to see if there’d be enough water to go top side. Instead we’d head onwards to West Stockwith the following day and have a couple of days on the Chesterfield canal before carrying on to Yorkshire. We were booked in at all relevant locks, three more tidal days. However Mark at Keadby had mentioned that Vazon Sliding Bridge was currently out of action! This would mean we’d only be able to get to Keadby and not onwards to Thorne. We left our bookings as they were, there was no official stoppage notice from CRT. Should we need to find a different route in a weeks time then we’d look into going round Trent Falls/End as we have somewhere to be. Hopefully by then the bridge will be sorted and our original plan will still work.

The Campaign Cruise made it to Nottingham County Hall steps yesterday, today they all cruised through Nottingham, some carrying on to the Soar, other stopping at Trent Lock where the Erewash, Soar and Trent all meet at one big cross roads.

Various photos and bits of footage have been gathering, so I thought I’d share them with you. Thank you to people who have taken photos of us on Oleanna, a rare thing as I’m usually the one behind the camera.

31st March

The flotilla turning out of Keadby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-F9NNCTv9Y

On BBC Look North 1st April https://www.facebook.com/767692647/videos/8980739002031183/

Going through Gainsborough https://www.facebook.com/1284892766/videos/586352897755148/

On BBC East Midlands 2nd April. https://www.facebook.com/767692647/videos/869484491969642

**Thank you Sue O’Hare, just before we passed West Stockwith Lock**

**Thank you Jo Sharples, Oleanna in Town Lock after storming the castle**

0 locks, 0 miles, 5.37 miles walked, 46 minutes briskly, 0 grub screws, 1 pork pie, 2 A0 sheets mount, 1 A1 foamcor, 1 A2 black, 12 sheets watercolour paper, 4 bags full of shopping, 2 boxes wine, 1 art shop still surviving, 11 years of being boat owners.

The Last Of Her Generation. 25th March

Dullcaster. North Ferriby. Rowley, Matlock.

Today we were all to do different things.

Tilly would do a lot of sleeping and wondering when her next meal would arrive, whilst Mick and I climbed onto to trains to head in different directions.

My train took me to Sheffield where I caught a bus to Chatsworth House, a very beautiful journey through serious countryside that I’ve done once before. I opted to stay on the bus to Bakewell where I had time to inhale Bakewell Puddings and Tarts that tourists were queuing up to purchase. Another bus got me to Rowley where I diced with death crossing the road to the Level Centre.

**An art installation at Level Centre that you could add to**

Here I was joining a group of people, actors, a composer, director, writer and several producers all associated with Separate Doors. A lovely welcome from the staff, a pack up lunch, then we all gathered to discuss how to promote integrated theatre for general audiences. We had tasks, we had discussions, we learnt a song with sign language.

We retired to the Premier Inn in Matlock. I took advantage of an hour’s break to go walking. Along a ridge behind the hotel, down into the valley and back along the River Derwent, managing to expand my 2 minutes brisk walking into 40. Back just in time to walk with everyone back into Matlock for food at Ostello Lounge which had the biggest gluten free menu. Lots of good company and conversation about our favourite crisp flavours.

Meanwhile Mick got a train heading northwards, joining two of his sisters, Kath and Christine. Alighting at North Ferriby they joined Anne and Alasdair, Marion and John. All siblings in one place to mark the passing of the last member of the generation above them, the wonderful Auntie Gill.

Mick here. My auntie, Gill Chignell, was married to my mother’s brother, Uncle Henry. All my four siblings have extremely fond memories of Auntie Gill. Many of our family summer holidays were spent with the Chignell family, their four children and us five made up a great party and many happy summers were spent with our cousins. They had a caravan and we would rent a holiday home somewhere, often on the South Coast. Good times. I am still in good contact with most of them.

My four sisters and I all made the trip to Ferriby in East Yorkshire and although it was a funeral it was great to see everyone and have a good chat. It wasn’t really a sad event: Gill has been suffering from dementia for a number of years and in a care home for 5 years. She was 94 when she died. In many ways it was a relief.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 buses, 3 trains, 1 lazy cat, 1 symposium, 5.84 miles walked, 56 minutes briskly, 1st burger of the year, 5 siblings, 1 celebration, only 1 Aunty Gill.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna