By the time we were up this morning the river was well on it’s way down, our tyre fenders were doing a good job of keeping us away from catching on anything on the bank. We’d survived the rising river as we thought we would.
Green base
Today was going to be more about trying to keep cool than river levels. First thing the sun was managing to shine at us between houses, but that soon stopped and we managed to stay in the shade until late afternoon. This served us well, I was able to keep model making without scalpels slipping , some panto floristry required today.
The costume designer had been in touch, so after lunch we did a bit of show and tell, just to make sure her frocks wouldn’t disapear into my set colours but also so that we were coming from the same place colourwise.
2 shades of green leaves
Tilly came and went in the morning, Mick sat out on the path listening to Yorkshire playing cricket up the road in Clifton. If it hadn’t been so hot he’d have gone to watch, but the shade from our tree was far more appealing.
Bead roses added
At 4pm it was time for a break from work and a little stroll was required. This year we’ve been extremely reserved on the chilled medication front (unlike some new live aboard boaters!). We’ve been moored close to both floating medication suppliers for a number of weeks this year, today would be our last chance to sample their wares. We walked down to the ice cream boat by Millennium Bridge, only one person in front of us, a suitable amount of time to choose our flavour of medication.
Quality chilled medication
Mint Choc Chip for Mick and Lemon Curd for me. Mick’s came in a cone rather than with one added to a tub this time. We stood in the shade of the trees and enjoyed our treat.
Panto floristry completed
The temperature inside Oleanna reached 30.1C late afternoon, thankfully it hadn’t been that all day. Our evening meal was a couscous salad which only required the electric kettle to be boiled.
Viking Recorder at 7pm
Episode 11 of Traitors NZ 2 was watched. Oh blimey! This season has had some really good twists to it. It was too late and too hot to watch the finale, we’ll save that for tomorrow when we’ll be away from the noisy loitering boats!
0 locks, 0 miles, 12 minutes colour chat, 2 hot for cats, 143 for 3, 1 model nearly nearly finished, 30.1C, 2 very yummy scoops well deserved, 5 left, 0 wellies required.
With temperatures set to rise over the next couple of days we needed to find a shady spot, we knew where to head. Tilly had some shore leave whilst we talked to Kath and Sean on the Geraghty weekly zoom. Hygenists, NHS and noisy boats were todays topics. Kenny the Lock Keeper was out mowing the grass at the top of the bank and the river bus arrived to pick up passenegers from the campsite, it was all quite busy for a while and I did wonder if Tilly might have ventured further away. But when I went out to call for her she appeared from behind the hedge and came running straight away, a good if noisy morning.
As we moved up to the water point we could see that the river had come up, no longer a step up onto the bank and across they way the timber on the side of the cut was at least half submerged.
New hose with some old hose
The new hose was reeled out and given a thorough flushing through before it started to fill our tank. Kenny came over to confirm the time of our departure in a few days time. Topped we were on our way back into town. I got on with work, pausing to wave to my family home and Philli’s boat as we passed. At New Walk Mick was pulling in, time to help.
He’d pulled up a little further along, hoping to put more space between us and the cruiser Orchid that was moored by Millenium Bridge. But the tree we were under was a willow, they have a tendancy to crack in the heat and the over hanging branches wouldn’t give us quite the shade we were after, so we pulled back to where we’d been last time. Here we could see how much the river had come up, the eyes that we’ve been using to tie to were half submerged. We needed to check the levels!
0.56m at 2pm
Viking Recorder gauge was on the rise. I tried to remember how high the river had to be before the bank started to go under water (a calculation I’d made when we were here in 2020), I think it was 0.9m. The prediction was close to that, we might require wellies.
So where was all this water coming from? It’s not rained in York. Well the catchment area for the River Ouse is up in the Yorkshire Dales where it must have been raining a couple of days ago, too much for the land to just soak it straight up.
I worked away the afternoon as the sun came out and heated up the world around us. We noticed on the Strawberry Fools group that Brian and Jo after the Wash crossing had headed home to York for a few weeks, but when they return to NB That’s It they were planning on heading onto the Middle Level. I sent Jo a message asking if they’d like to borrow our Middle Level windlass and key, saving them £23 for a windlass they’d use once maybe twice. I gave them our location and how long we’d be here for.
The first blue lining, the rest will wait for a canal mooring
As the afternoon continued the river carried on rising, the rings now below the water level. This is why on a river you should always tie off back to your boat, so you still have access to them to slacken them. We hoped someone would loosen the ropes on the cruiser down in Naburn that had been left last night.
Brian’s voice could be heard on the bank, they’d come to pick up the windlass. Lots of tales of the Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla cruise southwards from where we left them, the Thames, upper and lower, then the Wash crossing. They’ll be making their way back northwards in about a months time after bagging another silver propellor location, well that’s if one of the locks on the River Nene reopens before then! If it doesn’t there will be quite a few boats doing the reverse journey across the Wash.
Just you be careful out there!
As we stood chatting the big loitering cruiser came past, Orchid had gone past earlier. The chap shouted from his cabin ‘The river’s coming up!’ Yes we did know and were keeping an eye on levels along with predicted levels. Predictions were around 0.9m still over 2ft below where there’d be danger of Oleanna coming over the bank.
During the evening we kept an eye on our ropes, slackening them off quite a bit. Gradually the river looked as if it was peaking and upstream levels were starting to fall. We know what the river in York can do, I grew up watching it rise and fall flooding the land infront of our house several times a year, it’s not unusual in York. If the predicted level was going to be much higher or for a prolonged period we’d have headed back to Naburn as we did in 2020. The noisy boats were more than likely heading to the end of Marygate where the bank is higher and they could tie off to mooring rings.
By the time we went to bed the river had peaked and the bank hadn’t gone under water, no need to dig the wellies out and we’d have our shady mooring for tomorrow.
0 locks, 4.9 miles, 1 wind, 1 full water tank, 1 booking confirmed, 2 waves, 1 very shady tree, 1 river rising, 55cm in 24 hours, 10pm peek, 0.81 meters, 1 windlass and key, 1st blue lining ready for florestry.
A Friday and Saturday night would most likely be as noisy as last night, maybe even noisier! We decided to make a move away from the city centre after purchasing a fresh pint of milk.
Looking towards Stonegate rather than the Minster
We winded and headed down stream, a bin required, our food waste caddy now just overflowing. There are bins at Linton Lock, but not much mooring so it was back to Naburn for us. Mick was at the helm whilst I busied myself painting more bits of model and inventing things.
Inventing the inventions
Nothing seemed different on the river, but in the early hours of this morning there had been a rescue operation launched as two people had entered the water. By 8:30 the body of a man had been found and a 19 year old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assault.
Spikey and stingy things
Down in Naburn we had the whole stretch of moorings in the lock cut to choose from. We pulled into the space we’d been in last where we knew shade would appear later in the day. As the day progressed several cruisers joined us and sat themselves up on the bank. Tilly headed out, and once she’d remembered where she was, she headed over to the field to see who was about.
I went out for a bit of a walk, but my shorts meant I turned round on the path up to Naburn, too many nettles!
Himalayan Balsam
Saturday morning, I wanted to post my 100th pair of Sockathon socks. So with long trousers on I took to the riverside footpath. Last time I walked this route was maybe six weeks ago and the going was easy. Today however the Himalayan Balsam has totally taken over, very few flowers as yet but the plants were approaching shoulder height and making the path very narrow. I was glad of my trousers to protect from nettles and thistles.
No one out sailing today
I passed a couple walking the same way as me, they were taking it far slower, I’d see them on my way back. Round the fields and onto the main road, into Naburn to find the post box. Boats sat on the sailing club slipway, the pub was quiet.
Cottage
The village has all the cottages you could imagine, Fishermans, Rosehips, River, Blacksmiths. The Village shop seemed to be closed, a shame as I’d have liked a look round. The socks went in the post box, headed to Sally, this is her third pair of socks and this time she also donated her own yarn that she’d wanted to have a go at knittng socks, but had chickened out. Thank you Sally for your continued support.
Pair 100!
Mick had headed off to buy a newspaper, a bus ride away. I got on with my model painting then checked in with my brother who’s birthday it was today.
Moo!
More boats arrived, were they just out for the weekend. A cruiser pulled in behind us, they’d come from Boroughbridge today and it looked like they were packing up to head home. The chap was very chatty and had tales of pies at the pub in the village that were a touch on the soupy side.
Too bold?
Another quiet evening. The noisiest neighbours being the geese and Kenny’s cockeril, thankfully no sign of Orchid.
0 locks, 4.9 miles, 1 far quieter mooring, 100th pair of dementia socks posted, 101 to be thought about, 2 more days model making, 1 happier cat, 1 bus for a newspaper, 6.13 miles walked, 80 briskly, over 2 days, 1 pair of trousers essential.
Time to get down to some serious work. Mick was up early and did a very good job of giving me a day on my own. He headed off to Headingley to watch the England versus India test match. During the morning he posted pictures of the ground just as an old school friend did the same from the other end. So at lunchtime Mick and Jeremy met up for a catch up before settling down to watch the afternoons play.
Jeremy and Mick at Headingly
Back on board, Tilly came and went, then she stayed for most of the remainder of the day, tucked up in her escape pod.
Lots of cutting out to do today. Then I realised that having some spray mount would be advantageous. The turquoise paper I’d used for the back ground was likely to distort itself if being stuck down with pva which is something I wanted to avoid. No spray mount in my stocks, so I combined my walk with hunting round York for some.
I tried several stationers, no art shops in the middle of town any more. Then I visited Barnitts, their glue wasn’t repositionable and £1 more than elsewhere, admitedly for a bigger can. I opted for the repositionable brand from Rymans. I also popped into M&S for some lunch things.
Blue backing
I got all the backgrounds stuck down and did some extra painting here and there and popped a big vat of Yaxni on to cook using some of the chicken stock I’d made when I jointed a chicken the other day. Very nice it was and a good way to use up old potatoes and bits and bobs.
Chris in his faded hat
Chris the Pink Hat Man today completed the 82nd day of his walk from Lands End to John O’Groats to Lands End! Today he reached John O’Groats where he enjoyed some chilled medication despite it being a touch chilly to celebrate him turning around to return southwards. Chris is heading back by a different route which will take him along quite a few canals, so once he’s back in England keep an eye open for his hat, you can’t miss it!Here’s his video from today, with awards for his best room with a view, meals etc. His walk is in aid of Hope and Homes for Children. Well done Chris.
The staircase in what used to be Habitat
Tuesday, as much as Mick really wanted to go back to Headingly it wasn’t a suitable thing to do as he had a phone appointment with a nurse at the GP’s in the afternoon. It turned out that he made the right descission as the match was very exciting at 6:30 when his phone call was due to happen!
Instead, to keep out of my way he caught a train over to Scarborough to do a turn around. Last week we’d had Alex and Angie of Heroica Theatre Company stay with us. We don’t normaly do single weeks as it’s not that cost effective for us, but we knew the house would be immaculate after their visit, which it was. Just the bed to change, pop fresh towels out and cut the grass before waiting for his phone call. All good just a slight change of medication.
Portals nearly there
On Oleanna I finished off the cloths and portals for my model, carefully alligning coloured paper so joins wouldn’t be horrible when enlarged by 25. I then chose which scene to start painting the scenery for. I opted to start in the kitchen, yellow green and fuchia pink, it is panto afterall! Still a bit to do, but a good start.
0 locks, 0 miles, 4 trains, 1 can spray mount, 1 day walking, 2.95 miles walked, 42 minutes briskly, 2 portals, 2 cloths, 1 dresser, 2 ground rows, 1 door, 1 cat who has given up!
Around 10am a black van came past, headed down towards the lock, came back and pulled into the passing place close to us. Sean from SPL Covers was on his way to Barnsley and had stopped off to measure up for a new side panel for our pram hood. A template was made and the canvas samples looked at, the closest chosen. Hopefully we’ll have a new side within a couple of weeks. Much easier than me making a template from brown paper and sticking it in the post to Gary. Sean also showed us how they do the front panel of pram covers so that you can open your rear hatch fully. When Oleanna is repainted we’re thinking of gettng smart new covers too, if budget allows and being able to open the hatch more would be a bonus, something to think about.
Selby Basin
As I added a colour to my panto portals Mick pulled us forward to the water point to top up the water tank, next yellow water was dealt with. It was nearing midday and a breasted up pair had arrived ready to head to York. The ladies onboard the pair had hired someone to accompany them up to York to give them some confidence on their first tidal water. He certainly was knowledgable of moving a pair.
We shared the first locking down with NB Poppy, another couple doing their first tidal water, they’d hired a pilot to assist them too. We felt slightly left out it just being the two of us, Hey what about me! I’m an invaluble help. From your nest on the bed!
That sand bar gave us a little bump
Freya passed our centre line round a bollard to see us down, ‘whilst I’m in training it all has to be just so’ she said. The lock dropped, the gates opened and we waited for the go ahead from Freya, a gap in any passing debrise found. We opted to lead the way and out we came, dipping to the side as the flow caught us, then we straightened up and were zooming along with the flow again as if we’d not had a night in the basin.
NB Poppy’s owners first tidal water
Behind us NB Poppy turned out onto the river, the lock gates closed ready to be reset for the breasted up pair.
Mending Selby Toll Swing Bridge
Under the bridges and round the bend, the exciting bit of the trip over quite quickly. When we came to a longish straight I headed below to put lunch together for us, hoping I’d be back up top by the time we reached the first tight bend in the river.
On previous journeys there have been numerous Kingfishers, today not one to be seen, but how many Egrets? Or was it just the one flying off ahead and reappearing round the next bend.
Sheep and cows on the banks moo’d and baaa’d back at me when I said hello.
More tidal water! This is getting boring now!
Soon the push of the tide wained, it really didn’t feel like there was much push anymore, had we outrun the tide? Possible as we’d been let out as soon as we could bump our way over the silt build up outside the lock. It was quite odd compared to yesterday rushing along with little effort on Oleanna’s part.
It’s a hard life!
The bridge keeper at Cawood waved from his sunny seat outside his hut. As NB Poppy came into view the keeper popped into the hut, possibly to let Naburn know we’d just passed.
So low, the speed boats would have a job being launched today
Just where had all the wood gone? When we returned from our last visit to York the next stretch of the river was filled with trees, today there was the odd one, but nowhere near as much as there’d been then. Was it all behind us coming in on the tide? Or had the last lot of Spring tides swept it all out to sea?
Moreby Hall
At the 3km marker Mick radioed ahead to Naburn. A very garbled message came back, hmm what had Kenny just said? Well at least he knew we were nearly there.
Naburn Weir and a narrowboat coming towards us
As we rounded the last bend a narrowboat came into view heading towards us, maybe Kenny’d been telling us they were on the way. At the lock we were asked to pull as far ahead as possible, NB Poppy would come in behind us. He asked the crew behind us how far behind the breasted up pair were, ‘they’ll be miles behind’. Kenny opted to penn us up,we’d expected to wait for the others. Once we’d risen a foot a horn could be heard down on the river. Kenny got on the radio and was surprised to get a reply from them, they’d have to wait now.
Rising up
I chatted with Kenny about our reason for returning to York so soon. I also asked him if he had any eggs for sale, Kenny keeps hens, the cockeril will wake you in the morning. Sadly he’d sold the last of his eggs this morning, but there may be more tomorrow.
Once up we pulled over to the visitor mooring bagging the shadiest patch, oh that was nice and cool. What3words noted, then the doors could be opened for Tilly whilst Mick hung up the washing we’d done whilst on the river. Time to catch up with news on Frank and be his PA for a while. Mick had a towpath haircut. A chicken was jointed, most of it popped in the freezer, one lot made into chicken taglitelli which normally has peas in it, but today it was brocolli, not quite the same, tasty all the same.
That’s better!
2 locks, 14.1 miles, 1 load washing, 3 narrowboats, 1 butty, 2 pilots, 1 cat, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 9 egrets, 3 herons, 0 kingfishers, 2 hours shore leave, 4 messages, 1 crackly phone, 5 potential meals from 1 chicken, 1 plan formulated for our return.
Shore leave permitted for an hour whilst we had breakfast and got ourselves ready for the day. Our chosen route back to York had been because we wanted to top the diesel tank up before setting forth on the tidal river again, so a return to Goole was needed. Then we plan to head out through Ocean Lock and turn left heading up stream on the Ouse.
ABP operate Ocean Lock at Goole, you can pay to go through at a chosen time, but passage is possible for free at certain times of the tide, for us it’s 2.5 hours before high tide. The other day Mick had called to make a booking, the ABP keeper doesn’t give advice as to journey times, when to lock out as C&RT Lock Keepers do. My question to Mick, was there enough time with the tide to reach Naburn? He’d booked that lock the other day but the person who answered the phone didn’t have the knowledge to give advice, they could just book us in.
Green fields around here
For reassuance he tried giving Naburn a call, just the answer phone. Maybe someone would be on duty at Selby Lock, there was. The keeper, checked a couple of things and said we should be fine. Mick asked if there would be anyone at Selby should we need to pull off the river, yes there would be someone on duty. However quarter of an hour later they called us back, saying if there were no bookings for the lock then no-one would be there.
A stoppage notice came through. Selby Swing Bridge has a fault and is closed to boat traffic, looks like we’d decided on a good route to avoid the closed bridge. But it also means there is even less likely to be a Lock Keeper on duty in Selby when we pass.
Blue skies and water today
Just as we were about to push off Gary from All Seasons Covers rang about our pram cover. Sadly he didn’t have a template for our covers still, but I could possibly use the other side panel to see if they might have matched. Or he suggested as I was a creative person I’d be able to make a template, if I could find something large enough to use. With the wind being as it is round here this is unlikely to happen soon.
We pushed off, the sun shining down, should have put sun cream on but didn’t think about it until my arms felt a little bit hot! At Whitley Lock there was a volunteer on duty, Mick had the VHF radio on and had heard some conversation between a CRT boat and Off Roader at Pollington. A boat was coming up in Whitley Lock, a single hander who had closed the gates behind him and then was clinging onto his lines for dear life as his boat rose after the volunteer had set the sluices going. The lock fills from the lock island side, so where his boat was positioned the water was bouncing back off the wall where he was trying to hold his boat. If he’d got on his boat before the volunteer had pushed any buttons it would have all been so much easier.
The volunteer worked the lock for us along with a widebeam that had arrived whilst we were waiting. No mention that Off Roader was on its way.
A long sleeved top was now required to cover pink arms. I own a couple of nice linen shirts, but they have been packed away in a suitcase at the house for eleven years! As we reached the maintenance yard at Great Heck we could see the approach of a very heavily laiden Off Roader, sat much deeper in the water than I’ve seen her of late at Lemonroyd. We made sure we held back some to give her enough room to come past all the work boats. As it came towards us the wheel house rose up having just come under a bridge.
Pollington Lock with it’s bottom gate open
Would there be a Lockie at Pollington? No just a single hander who I rushed to assist saving him some effort by working the lock to bring them up. Down we went, the bywash below not quite as strong as it has been recently, but enough force to keep the body of a deer pinned to the bank, the second one we’d seen today.
Not so green on this side of the canal
I had planned on roasting half a squash and a big bag of carrots this morning, but only remembered now. The aim had been to do the cooking whilst the world was still cool then be able to cool the boat down before it got too hot. I peeled and chopped the veg and set the oven going. Opened every window, side hatch with mesh in it, trying to create enough breeze through the boat without aiding a cat to escape.
One boat moored by the reservoir at Sykehouse Junction, but no-one on the 2 day mooring. We pulled in and took up our preffered place, not too close to the aqueduct but on the T studs. Shore leave rules were recited and the doors left wide open for Tilly to enjoy the outside and the boat to hopefully cool down with a breeze blowing through. After about half an hour all the doors were closed as Tilly had returned with a friend! Itcs dwaed godod herere, she said with her mouth full!
Watching and listening
The afternoon was spent doing colour samples for panto. Should the twisty bits be golden, cream, yellow, bright green or dark green? Should the background be a solid colour or sprayed out to the edges? Then what should the front cloth look like in comparison? Far too many decisions and too many colours on my samples to really make up my mind. I’d look again in the morning. I did however decide how I should paint the roses, an Art Nouveau style rather than a boaty roses and castles style.
Every brush stroke will be blown up to 25 times bigger
Over lunch we decided to change our cruise up to York. Going all the way from Goole to Naburn is possible, but it’s a long time to be stood at the back of your boat, but would we be able to change our lock bookings? Mick tried calling Selby and left a message. You need to give them 48 hours notice, this was only 46. He then rang Naburn to change our booking to the following day, left a message there too. Kenny called back within the hour, booking changed. We still needed to hear back from Selby though.
Just a touch tired
It was hot out there, so when Tilly returned with still twenty minutes of shore leave to go we opted to close the doors and keep her in, dingding time a touch early today, at least the wet food would help to hydrate her. But I hadn’t finished, I had buisness to attend to! Don’t you know this is a three stamp of approval outside!! She wasn’t happy, but thankfully she soon fell asleep exhausted.
2 locks, 8.2 miles, 1 right, 2 outsides, 1 heavily loaded Off Roader, 1 very sunny day, 2 pink arms, 1 designer who can’t make her mind up 2 many colours, 7 pink roses, 1 air brush required, 1 cuckoo, 24 yellow hammers, 4 hours shore leave, 1 booking moved, 1 to make, 1 friend at least, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approvel, that’s the third one, it’s an award winning mooring!
Granary Wharf to below Fishponds Lock, Aire and Calder Navigation
As we had breakfast we could hear the gulper pump over on Lady Teal the hotel boat in almost constant use. We wondered how big their water tank must be and how big their califorier to be able to have enough hot water first thing for four showers one after another. It was then obvious that they were filling with water. The official tap is just above Office Lock but where Lady Teal was moored is where restaurant boats used to be, there must be a tap in one of the little boxes there. When they pulled out Mick asked the lady at the helm about the water point, yep it’s there behind the closed, unlocked door.
Waiting for the tank to fill
We rolled up the covers and pushed over, set the water filling and did a Briar Rose, got a load of washing going. Having been in water conservation mode for a while we’ve a lot of washing to catch up on. The tap had good pressure and our tank was soon full, I headed to the lock as Mick pushed off and winded Oleanna, the wind today not being too much of a problem as it can be here in the middle of Leeds.
Winding at Granary Wharf
I tried unlocking both ground paddles and giving them a turn as we’ve spotted other people using them this week. But try as I could I just couldn’t get them to turn more than twice, maybe that’s all anyone can manage, or maybe I’ve lost my umph power. A family stood and watched as I filled the lock, using just the gate paddles takes some time and they’d wandered off. But as soon as I started to push open a gate I could hear running feet approaching, we’d have an audience and assistance with the gates once the lock was empty.
River Lock
Time to say Ciao and thank you to the city, hopefully next time we visit the Leeds Liverpool will have sufficient water to make a passage easier across the Pennines.
Back on the river, under the numerous bridges and down stream to the Armouries. A beep of our horn to warn those who might be turning out from the basin. Key of power to work the gates and sluices, then we were on our way again.
City Bridges
Paul Balmer had asked us to double check a couple of things as we left Leeds. One was how long, if at all you could moor on the pontoon near the services for, the next mooring in towards Leeds had changed from 3 to 2 days. As we passed the pontoon we could tell there used to be signs on the posts, but someone has removed them. Whether that be CRT or a boater who knows, also what they used to say is impossible to know. The services here have been hit time and again by mis-use, the elsan being mended what felt like weekly for months on end, so it’s not impossible for CRT to have removed signs regarding mooring.
Two signs instead of one
At Knostrop Lock I let Mick know that there were rowers below the lock about to set off on the river. I counted three boats, more being made ready to set off. We kept our eyes open for rowers and the next bridge. Thwaite Mills Bridge used to be number 3, but new CRT blue signs now have it as 3D and Thwaite Mill Bridge, another thing checked for Paul, who’d only caught a glimpse of the signs from his bike. We wondered where bridges 3A, B, and C might be, the next bridge downstream being 6!
Being followed
Round a few bends we caught up with the rowers. Then more boats headed towards us, boat after boat after boat, far more than the three I’d counted. Fortunately we were spotted by them all, so collision courses were avoided.
Coming towards us
Fishpond Lock had had a grass cut, four chaps laid on the ground by the tower, hi-vis Community Payback on their backs. It must have been their lunch break. Once back on board we spotted a nice sunny stretch of bank, the solar could help with more washing and the whirligig could be put out to make the most of a drying wind, we pulled in, tied up and Tilly was given her shore leave rules and four and a half hours. See ya! Tilly made some use of her shore leave, but then stayed pretty close waiting for the ding ding bell to ring.
I can smell freedom!
After lunch, I opened up the latest draft of the panto script, John has worked the scene changes into it now, plus there are all the lyrics for the songs, which usually means lots of added props! Time to take notes to start putting together a props list and check we were on the same page as each other with regards to the scene changes. Act 1 then a walk around the block, followed by Act 2. I’d missed one thing, but it’s an easy addition to a propy bit of set.
4 locks, 5.1 miles, 1 full water tank, 2 Briar Rose washes, 1 wind, 3D not 3, 2 days not 3, 3 signs not 2, acts 1 and 2 read, 4.5 hours shore leave, 1.5 taken off the boat, 2.84 miles walked, 34 minutes briskly.
Back to model making today and listening to Tilly who would like to go out, her throne not an option on our current mooring due to cat health and safety legislation imposed on Oleanna. Meanies!!!!
Old and new versions
Today Mick had to relinquish the far end of the dinette table. I can confine myself to a small area, but that just means it takes a lot longer to do what I’m needing to do. Arches were remade, slight alterations to dimensions and a translucent layer added to them. For this I needed the model box out of the box and on view to see what worked best. The one scene took me most of the day, but it should now be ready for painting and explain more to those looking at the model how I would like the scenery to be built.
Now in the model box
Mick made himself scarce during the afternoon. A walk into town to look at the cathedral, Leeds Museum and the Art Gallery. The museum didn’t take long, an old fashioned informative place. The Cathedral even less time if any! Then the art gallery which held him for a while.
It could be a lily?
By the end of the day I’d finished off my model notes for panto. Time for a stretch of my legs. I decided to walk downstream along the river, then back through town. However not that far into my walk my calf hit back at me, a slower hobble required to get anywhere. This is now tedious as I want to be striding out as I was doing, but that is simply far too painful. I cut my walk short still managing to see some sights.
A giant multicoloured flower. A donkey. Some very good street art and some lovely old back streets.
Open wide!
Back to Oleanna for some chicken pasta, using things up and to finish off sock 199!
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 gallery, 1 museum, 0 catholic cathedral, 3 new arches, 1 rose table,1 bench extension, 2 chandeliers, 1.45 miles walked, 21 minutes briskly, 1 calf needing a rest, 2000+ likes for a cat sat on a throne photo, 1 cat needing some shore leave! I’m sure my 2000+ fans on facebook would agree you should let me out!
A silly timed alarm clock for us onboard today. I was up breakfasted, butty made and on my way into the station at 7am, Mick stayed in bed, Tilly stayed curled up. Today I would be heading to Chipping Norton for the white card model meetng for Panto. Mick would be heading to Scarborough to do things he’d forgotten to do with a pint of milk and a key. Tilly would be snoozing a lot, but looking after the boat, a very important job.
Perfect, a seat for the model
First train took me to Doncaster, I had two seats to myself, so one for me the other for the model box which had only just squeezed into an Ikea bag yesterday for ease of carrying. Next train was from an adjacent platform, this would take me to Birmingham New Street, I had several tickets to cover me for this part of the journey which meant changing reserved seats. Instead I opted to pop the model box on the top of the luggage rack and sit opposite it on an available seat so that I could keep a close eye on it.
A very close eye required now
Next was a change at New Street and a wait, glad not to be rushing to change trains. The train would get me to Banbury, but my split ticketing (to save at least £100) had me moving seats several times. Blimey the train was chocka! Could I be bothered in fighting to reach my first reserved seat and then hope I wouldn’t have to move for someone else? The answer was no, instead an hour of standing protecting the model box as bets I could, moving out of the way for doors opening. I’m so glad I don’t have to do this as often as I used to when I lived in London, and the models then tended to be far bigger.
Hello Chippy! It’s nice to be back
Hello Banbury, no aroma today! The familiarly coloured roof of John’s car/truck came into view, I had a lift rather than catching the bus out to Chippy. Time to catch up on lots of stuff during the drive, who had left the theatre since I was last there and who was new.
All set up in order and ready to show the model
We set ourselves up on the stage, all black tabs (curtains) and lots of speakers about the place. A table, angle poise, note books, laptop, everything to hand apart from a cuppa. The two of us were straight into working our way through the show with the model. A useful time. Should that move there, or here? The next scene change would be harder if we did that. How to transition between this and that, a few bits of writing required, it’s handy the director also being the writer.
All quiet out front now!
A sheet of notes for me to address once home, one scene just nudged about a touch and a bit of model adjusting required for it, but generally all was good. We had eight minutes left before others would join us, time to finally make a cuppa and grab a few bites of chicken sandwich before we started.
Not so neat and tidy after going through it twice
Paul joined us (Technical and Facilities Manager) and a new lady who I think works in develepment and fundraising. Gemma (Production Manager) joined via zoom, sadly she’d not been able to join us in person. We worked through the model in a more practical way as John and I’d already done the arty bits. An hour and a bit later we’d got through the show, no indictation on how we were in regards to the budget though. Some chat about trying to get ahead more this year. Last year this had had to happen as their designer wasn’t hands on like me. So we need to find a balance between the two, enough to keep me occupied and far enough ahead to reduce hours during rehearsals.
Time to head back to Leeds. I had several possible trains I could get with my tickets and luckily Paul and his wife Helen gave me a lift back to Banbury so I managed to avoid the bus again.
Oh!
Unfortunatly there had been a tree fall on the line which had held my train up by half an hour. On the southbound platform it was worse as there was a trespasser on the line further south, so all trains were being held at stations until the line was clear.
Knee location
Time to go into guarding mode again, the train packed with people trying to get somewhere, anywhere. I stood in the vestibule, but thankfully after a couple of stops I spotted a spare seat. Time to sit with the model on my knee. Another change in Birmingham, another busy train, my journey now an hour later than planned, another seat with the model on my knee. Thankfully at Sheffield the train thinned out and I got the seat next to me for the model box, no need to watch everyone going past anymore. Finally I could get my knitting out and do a few rows, toe 199 coming along nicely.
Toe 199!
Arriving back in Leeds just gone 9pm I was glad all I had to do was walk down to the South Entrance and back to the boat, only 2 minutes of brisk walking done today. Mick had been warned of my lateness, so he’d bought in pies and baked some potatoes, all accompanied by a much needed glass of wine.
Mick had traveled to Scarborough by the Coastliner from Leeds, so his bus pass came in handy, swapping buses in York meant he got a comfort break too. He did the few things at the house that were needed and tip toed around avoiding getting anything dirty. Then had caught a train back to Leeds using up a spare ticket he still had.
Hitching a ride
Tilly, what had she done? Well she’d watched the local swans swimming about showing off their cygnets and had a good old snooze for much of the day. It’s a hard life!
0 locks, 0 miles, 6 trains, 2 buses, 2 lifts, 5:50 alarm, 1 full on solid day, 3 bite lunch break, 1 warm welcome back to Chippy, A4 sheet of notes, 0 major, -1 pint milk, 1 shed door locked, 2.23 miles walked, 2 minutes briskly! 3 cygnets.
Woodlesford Visitor Moorings, Aire and Calder Navigation
After breakfast we started to make ready to push off. It was a little damp in the air, but we really now needed to fill the water tank and to improve the internet as that had become seriously dull.
Ahh, don’t they look lovely!
Outside the rowers were heading up stream then returning. The local swan family that process about with their seven cygnets were about. Dad really was not happy with the rowers! He would take off, wings flapping to speed to the chosen boat, landing just by their stern. Screams came from young teenage coxes. Then the next boat actually got collided with, the cob landing just behind the end rower in their boat! The trainers tried to get the rowers to keep moving, but they were all concerned and wanted to know if the end rower was okay. They did need to get shifting before the cob had sorted itself out again and aimed itself at them again. We pulled out and got totally ignored by all.
The poor girl in the end seat
I walked to Woodlesford Lock, the only walking I’d get done today. Up we rose with the help from a volunteer, he pointed out where the bottom gates had been biffed this week by ‘a Commercial boat’. Yellow tape marked where the two walkways now didn’t quite line up.
Up we go
Straight onto the water point above the lock. With clean water filling the tank, we dealt with yellow water and then I gave the bathroom a good clean, followed by a wonderfully hot long shower for myself, no need to conserve water now.
You could almost hear Oleanna’s sigh of relief
We pushed over to the spot we’d vacated a couple of weeks ago. Tilly was granted shore leave, then was ushered inside as we wanted to head back to The Spud Boat moored by the lock to get some lunch. Two tuna crunch potatoes, very tasty they were too and she certainly didn’t scrimp on the butter, just the perfect amount.
Very tasty
The drawing board came back onto the dinette table and I worked through the remainder of the pieces of model whilst MIck headed to Lidl for some supplies and a Saturday newspaper. On his return the only place he could sit was on the sofa, so he watched an episode of Narrow Escapes. We’re a bit out of sync with television programs at the moment, that will need to sort itself out as I’m not so good at watching things twice in quick sucession.
All drawings were completed, one empty box, another full. One job left to do, to have a rehearsal for my model showing, make sure everything is there and pack ready for my trip to Chippy.
Tomorrow I really must pull out some yarn to get some socks on my needles again, as I really can’t just sit and watch tv without something to do. Here’s hoping I have enough time as tomorrow we’re going cruising!
1 lock, 0.9 miles, 1 mardy swan, 2 totally freeked teenagers, 1.5 miles walked, 14 minutes briskly, 1 clean bathroom, 1 clean Pip, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 1 panto ready for a meeting, 1 evening off!
