Category Archives: Family

Pumping It Up. 13th June

Padnal Fen GOBA mooring to Prickwillow EA Mooring

Around a bend and a kink of the River Lark lies Prickwillow. A water point and two EA moorings, both empty when we arrived. We pulled in at the end furthest away from the road and got both hoses out to fill up on water. We were soon joined by a narrowboat that had breasted up to us in Ely on Saturday at the services, they were heading to the same place as us, Prickwillow Drainage Engine Museum.

Housed in the old pump house the museum covers the history of the Fens, the drainage of them and as suggested by it’s name has a collection of engines that used to pump the water up from the land into the rivers.

A very enthusiastic chap greeted us at the door and took our entrance fee. He then spent time explaining about the exhibits, how to access more information on items, which way to walk round the museum and then sat us down to watch a ten minute film about the Fens and their drainage.

We heard about the Fens, stilt walking, how peat when drained can shrink the height of a man in the life time of a man, which explains how the rivers ended up being so much higher than the surrounding land. The 1947 floods. Vermuyden and his plans, sluices, redirecting rivers, the Relief Channel, the Cut Off Channel and then about the engines that worked the pumps.

Sadly the steam engines that used to do the work were all replaced by diesel engines before anyone had the idea to form a collection and then a museum. Several engines stand in the engine sheds, their green paint complimented by reds and blues. From two cylinder to four cylinder engines, the smell of ingrained oil hangs in the air.

For those who love the sound of old engines there are buttons you can press to hear them in action. On certain days of the year they have them all up and running, but sadly for us today wasn’t one of them. I suspect the place would have been a lot busier.

Collections of items fill any spare space left by the engines. Each item logged with a number that you can look up on their website. From obvious spades of all different shapes and sizes to eel catching tools. Pressure cookers to ice skates (there was even a pair that would fit your feet Frank). Mole traps, bread paddles, potato folks, psygrometer which measures relative humidity in the air but resembles a football rattle.

Then lots of photographs regarding the floods in 1947. It was these that brought about the current drainage channels all quite closely based on the plans that Vermuyden had had back in the 1650’s. People clung to the flood banks the surrounding areas covered in water. The army were brought in to help raise the flood banks, one chap in the photos the spitting image of a friend Michael who I used to work with in Scarborough.

A very informative afternoon. A well laid out museum run by enthusiastic volunteers with so much information to hand should you want it. Well worth a visit, but beware they are only open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

We then had a walk around the village. We’d spotted the church as we’d pulled in. The grounds were very over grown, lights were on inside and a car parked beside it. Should we look in through the open door, was it now a private house? I sneaked a photo of what looked like a figure, it turned out to be what looked like a set of armour, home made leaning against the wall. After hunting round on the internet I found an article regarding St Peter’s Church. It was bought by a couple two years ago to be turned into an arts centre/studio space with two apartments in the north and south transepts. I suspect there is still a LOT of work to be done.

**Plenty of shelves with not much on them**

Further along the road is a house set back which is totally engulfed in ivy apart from it’s wheelie bin. The old school house, a Baptist church which is currently under offer to be converted into a house. On the parish notice board there were invites to a wine and book club, a plant and seed swap in the village phone box. We peeked in to see what might be on offer in the phone box only to find two dried out twigs!

A long overdue catch up with the London Leckenbys was had during the afternoon, Josh is in the thick of his GCSE’s, Andrew is busy with work and Jac was full of her recent trip back to Melbourne to see her family.

0 locks, 1.5 miles, 1 load washing, 1 full water tank, 1 mardy cat, 1 museum, 8 big engines, 36786 exhibits, 1 Michael, 1 transgender Einstein, 2 repurposed churches, 2 twigs, 2 more weeks of exams.

Academy Award Winning! 4th 5th June

Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen EA Mooring

Our mooring had been chosen so as to be as close to Kings Lynn as possible and on Saturday morning Mick was picked up by Enterprise, at last we had been quoted a reasonable price for a hire car by them. He returned in time for us to join in with the end of the Saturday morning Geraghty zoom.

The car was packed. Biscuit bowl filled and the magic food bowl primed. Tilly was left in charge with instructions not to wind Freddie up too much whilst we were away.

Then we were off heading across country, avoiding motorways, crossing bridges over rivers we’ve been under years ago and others we’ve yet to navigate under. The biggest bridge of course being the Humber Bridge. We paused at Willerby Waitrose for a wee break and something for lunch, we also bought ourselves something for the evening.

We then took the scenic route over the Wolds via Wetwang so that we could have a look at the Scarecrow Festival. Our favourites Freddie Mercury outside the chip shop and the Queen with her corgies where we joined the road taking us to Sledmere.

A trip back to the house was for several purposes, one to add to the compost bins, two to check the house over before the next lodger moves in and to go to a party.

Our friends Dawn and Lee (Animated Objects) were having a joint fancy dress 50th Birthday party. The theme for the evening was the Oscars. You were asked to dress as a famous movie star or be dressed for a night at the Oscars.

Well we don’t exactly have a huge wardrobe to rummage through to make up a costume. We just about manage to dress up smart, but we certainly don’t have ballgowns and tuxedos on board, or at the house! Expanding our wardrobe for one evening would be extravagant. Mick had thought of going as a Billy, the telephone engineer from Little Voice, we still have his old work t-shirts. But I came up with a better idea.

My model making skills were put to use. A rigid Alice band bought for me. With Mick having a bigger head he needed a stretchy head band. Then over the last couple of weeks I’ve been cutting out foamcor and card. Wires attached. Carving into it. A layer or two of tissue paper and pva. A couple of layers of filler which was then sanded. Paint, a touch more filler, then more paint. Wires threaded through head bands. Fittings, a layer of thin foam. Hey presto we had our own Academy Award Winners to wear.

Wallace, Gromit and Feathers McGraw from The Wrong Trousers.

It was a lovely evening meeting up with old friends we’d not see in years and our Scarborough theatre family. There were a few people who couldn’t make it including Duncan and Jaye who sadly had got the lurgy. Hope you are both feeling better very soon.

The costumes were stunning. Dawn as Slimer and Lee as a Ghost Buster. Fleur and Ruth as Dick Tracey and Breathless Mahoney. Dawn did a quick change for the awards ceremony. There were several categories and blow me down we won the Cobbled Together Award!

A statuette, some wine gums and an assortment of LX tape, always handy to have either on a boat or on stage.

Sunday morning and it was time to make up the last bed in the house, cut the grass, do a bit of weeding and give the big shower a good scrub down. In the process we were spotted by our neighbours who came over to give us the latest news on the street, someone having just moved in a few doors down.

Sadly we didn’t get chance, yet again to give the back garden a good sort out, but green shoots were spotted on the boat Christmas tree. There is hope for it yet, if the weeds don’t choke it before we’re back next! I also found a small pile of post that had been put high on a shelf by someone, not with the rest that had been left on the dining room table. What was in that pile? Our postal votes! Grrr!!! Those lodgers have now lost another half point!

Thankfully the traffic leaving Scarborough wasn’t too bad, it can be horrendous most Bank Holidays, which was just as well as when we stopped to pick up something for our dinner Mick remembered that he hadn’t locked the front door! Back into town again.

We had a pit stop over looking the Humber Bridge in Hessle where Mick’s Mum’s ashes were scattered, it’s nice to say hello to her every now and again.

The drive back wasn’t too pleasant with rain for most of the way.

Tilly had held the fort well although she could have turned the heating on before we got back! The stove was soon lit and a pizza each popped in the oven. Freddie came to say hello too, much to Tilly’s disgust!

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 hire car, 2 buckets of compost, 2 head bands, 2 boaters ironed smartly, 50th birthdays, 1 Oscar, 1 Scarborough family, 2 many faces from way back when, 2 many chums missing, 1 lovely evening, 1 cut cable, 2 postal votes, 1 house all ready, 1 locked door, 2 sets of keys, 1 wave to Ruth, 1 wet journey, 1 happy cat, 1 sniffing imbecile!

Peter Geraghty. 3rd June 1922 – 13th September 2002

Hello all. Mick here today writing this one.

My father Peter Geraghty was born 100 years ago. Today would have been his 100th birthday, I think we would have had a party!

Born in Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire. His mother was Olive Geraghty (nee Wright) and his father Tom Geraghty. His father, after serving as an officer in the East Riding Regiment during WWI, was a journalist for the Hull Daily Mail and he ended up as Editor. Olive, as was the norm for the time, looked after the family and home. Peter had an older sister Joan and a younger brother Mark.

Peter went to school in Hull at the St Charles Borromeo School and often told us stories from his childhood of him turning up to school without any shoes or socks! I’m not sure of the accuracy of this and think it was probably his sense of humour coming through.

Before WWII the family moved from Hull to the village of Hessle just to the west of the city. They lived on Boothferry Road next door to the Darley’s Arms. At 17, Peter started work in the office of the Hull firm Spillers, known to all as Spillers the Millers (now part of the Rank Hovis group whose logo is “Rank Hovis the Millers” which doesn’t have quite the same ring to it!). He was working here when war broke out in 1939. The office was moved out to Ferriby where it was considered a safer place to be than in the city centre.

Joan, Tom, Peter, Olive and Mark at the back door of 314 Boothferry Road

At age 18 in 1940, he volunteered for service in the RAF. He had to go to Lords cricket ground in London to sign up and so his flying career started. He did some of his training in North America and on completion was assigned to Bomber Command. After various roles he became a Flight Lieutenant at RAF Pocklington in East Yorkshire flying Halifax bombers. After a tour of 40 operations from Pocklington, he carried out further flying duties training pilots on Lancasters.

On the back. The sensor must have let it through.

Captain and crew at RAF Pocklington. PG in the centre

When the war ended he was demobbed and went back to Hessle. A company was obliged to employ people that had worked for them before the war but Peter was very sure that an office life with Spillers in Hull was not for him and he declined the guaranteed offer of employment. Instead he applied for a job as a pilot with the fledgling British European Airways (BEA). This would mean being based at Northolt airport on the outskirts of London.

For a long time he had been “seeing” Ruth Chignell, also from Hessle and when the war finished he proposed, the proposal was accepted. They were married in May 1947 and with his new job they moved to a house near Northolt Airport.

His flying job meant irregular hours and sometimes being away from home overnight. However BEA only flew to Europe so he was never away long. I suspect this is why he chose BEA rather than the long-haul BOAC. Their first child Christine was born in 1948 followed by Marion in 1950 and Anne in 1952.

They needed a bigger house so moved to Ealing in 1952. Ealing was chosen as a new primary school St Gregory’s was being built there which was thought to be a “very good school”. It also coincided with BEA moving their operation to London Airport, now known as Heathrow.

I came along in 1958 and my younger sister Kathryn in 1966. All us children went to St Gregory’s and my mother ended up being a Governor. Peter was always a family man, every Saturday morning, if he wasn’t working, he would take all of us children to the local library in Ealing to swap books, followed by hot chocolate and a biscuit in a café on the High Street. And if his flying roster allowed every Sunday morning after church we would go to Kew Gardens (I remember it costing 1d) and back home in time for Sunday Lunch. There were often visits to the museums in South Kensington, my favourite being the Science Museum but sometimes my sisters made us go to one of the others!

Another favourite outing of mine was a visit to the cricket. Often he would take me up to Lords to watch the final session of a Middlesex game, as an MCC member there was free entry. We would sometimes go to a Saturday of the Lords Test Match which was a great day out. He also used to play cricket for Northolt Cricket Club.

We lived a couple of miles from the Hanwell flight on the Grand Union. A regular walk was to visit what we called “The Six Locks”. Working narrowboats were still in operation (mid 1960s) some of them towed by little towpath tractors. I vividly remember one occasion when we had gongoozled a pair of boats down the flight. At the bottom one of the boaters asked if we wanted a ride to Brentford? Well you can imagine a 7 year old’s excitement at this prospect. But my dad came over all practical and said we had to get home in time for tea! But the seed of interest in canals and boating had been planted. It was about 50 years later that we first took our own boat down the flight and carried on to Brentford.

As I grew older Dad would sometimes, during school holidays, take me to work. We would drive into Heathrow and go into the BEA crew room office. I’d be shown the preparations for flying off somewhere, weather charts, route maps, loading weights, how much fuel to have on board etc.

I would then head off on my own to the spectator viewing area (a thing of the past now) and with my VHF air band radio tuned to the ground or tower frequencies I’d watch him take off. If he wasn’t going far (maybe a return trip to Paris) I would wait 2 or 3 hours for him to return then meet him at the car park and get a lift home. If he was going further afield (perhaps a “night stop” Nicosia) I would stay watching aeroplanes all day and then get the bus home.

As a family we would sometimes, but not very often, fly off on foreign holidays. I remember one time we all flew to Germany for a family holiday. When the plane was sitting on the runway preparing for take off our Dad (a Captain with the airline who had indeed captained this very aircraft many times) leant across the aisle and shook all his children by the hand and said “Well, it’s been nice knowing you all”. His sense of humour.

His career with BEA lasted from 1946 until his retirement in 1977, by which time BEA and BOAC had merged to form British Airways. It was policy then that pilots had to retire at 55, it may still be the case. He started off flying DC3s and Vickers Vikings for BEA, then the Airspeed Ambassador (known in BEA as the Elizabethan because the Queen had just come to the throne!), followed by Vickers Viscounts and Vanguards and ending up as a senior training Captain on the Hawker Siddeley Trident.

His family back in Hull had always been staunch Catholics and Peter was the same. He played a big part in the local parish community at Ealing Abbey, always organising things, on various parish committees and for a while was chairman of the Parish Centre. He also played a big part in the running of the parish Youth Club. His religion didn’t get passed on to me though. I think I rebelled at all the religion in my childhood.

In retirement he had more time for his beloved golf, at one time getting his handicap down to single figures. He played at West Middlesex Golf Club then Ealing Golf Club. He left Ealing GC when they introduced a rule that you had to spend a certain amount of money in the bar per year and if you didn’t they would take the money anyway! He wanted to play golf not drink in the bar.

My mother finally persuaded him that they could make use of the concessionary travel that British Airways allowed him. But he never travelled extensively for leisure. He was a big worrier and there would have been too much worry that as staff passengers they would be the first to be off loaded should the flight become full.

There was also football to be watched and supported. Hull City as a youngster but on moving to West London it was Queens Park Rangers, holding a season ticket there once he retired.

Peter and Christine on their way to Wembley to watch QPR

In his later life he fell ill with Parkinson’s disease, a disease which was also to affect my mother. He accepted his illness stoically for a number of years but eventually in September 2002 he suffered a stroke and passed away. A big funeral was held at Ealing Abbey with many old family friends there. British Airways sent a representative to his funeral which I thought was a lovely thing for them to do.

Happy 100th birthday Dad. Shame we are not celebrating it with you but you can be sure that we are definitely celebrating!

Thank you to John and Kath for helping collect together all the photographs.

Quick! Before The Cows Cut Us Off! 28th May

New Fen Mooring

Yesterday when we pulled up we decided that we’d be staying put today, such a lovely mooring in the middle of nowhere on our own, Tilly could have a field day!

So when the front blinds were rolled up we were surprised to see another narrowboat moored up, at least they were at the other end of the moorings, so neither of us would disturb each other.

All day we saw two walkers, the narrowboat ahead moved off and another came past us heading to Brandon and then returned a couple of hours later. Other than that we’ve had bird song to listen to.

Tilly started the morning by watching the damselflies in the reeds alongside the boat. I was then given 9 and a half hours to explore! But I had to show myself at least ten times during the day which I think I managed quite well.

Despite the incredibly slow internet here we just about managed to join in with the Geraghty zoom this morning, we froze and went silent on several occasions. Topics included the Fens, bunting and even vampires.

There’s lots of grass to tuck yourself away in and sandy mounds, She said she hoped they weren’t ants nests because I’d spend the day being looney loopy if they were. I only managed an hour of looney loops though.

She got on with her project. It gets hidden away when She’s not doing it. Tom sat outside for sometime in his coat. He says he was listening to the birdies with his eyes closed, but I’m not so sure!

Late afternoon I realised I hadn’t even stepped of the boat, so it was time to head for a bit of a walk. With Tilly in tow I climbed onto the flood bank and walked back towards the Great Ouse. Having a cat in tow would mean I wouldn’t be walking miles, but we covered quite a distance until I saw that the next field had cows. So we turned and started to walk back, Tilly only distracted a couple of times so she managed to keep up in her springy way charging ahead to buy her more distraction time.

However on our return our pace had to become a touch quicker. Up ahead I could see quite a lot of cows, all white with black ears. They were very interested in us! Would we make it back in time not to be cut off from the boat by them? I made the decision to get back to the boat with Tilly and shore leave would be over for the day, I really didn’t want her stranded on the other side of inquisitive cows.

With a Moussaka on the cards this evening, I spread the preparation out through the day. Potatoes were boiled and left to cool. Aubergine sliced, salted to get rid of any bitterness, then fried and left to cool. The mince was prepared and everything layered up with the final layer of cheese and egg sauce popped on top. Each bit done whilst things on my project had time to dry off.

I now need some filler for the next phase. Back at the house I have the ideal filler in powder form, but I’ve not seen that kind in shops in years. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some cheap Polyfilla that I can thin down a touch to achieve the same effect when we reach Brandon.

Despite patches of sunshine today the temperature has dropped, so Mick lit the fire this evening. Only a small one as we didn’t want to overheat, but just enough for us not to need blankets on our knees and hopefully keep the boat warm overnight.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 moving boats, 2 walkers, 2 beads, 1 project fitted and ready for the next stage, 1 box of filler required, 1 aubergine, 1 bag sprouting potatoes, 250grams mince, 0 parmesan, 1 recipe next time, 9.5 hours, 1 field day, 1 km cat walk, 1 stove, 1 heard cows who couldn’t be bothered with us in the end! 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval

Watched Over By William H. 25th May

Lavender Green to The Swan on the River Moorings

Blimey the wind was going for it, luckily not a head wind, it was coming from the stern!

We made our way downstream. A couple of eights came towards us along the straight that was used for the Boat Race last year. These were novice crew, but who knows some of them may end up rowing for their University in years to come.

Behind us huge black clouds loomed over our wake, the engine revs higher today keeping our momentum on a straight course. We timed ourselves again, 42 seconds today, still not speeding.

Was this boat quite so low in the water when we’d passed a couple of days ago? Checking back on photos (right), no it wasn’t. Was it down to the thunder storms that had passed over yesterday?

After the long straight we could see our intended mooring for the day, outside The Swan On The River. Here there are two EA 48hour moorings along with a patron mooring outside the pub. £10 a night with electric or free if you go in for a meal.

Ahead looked bright, but behind was a different story!

We pulled up on the EA moorings, but close enough to the last electric hook up for us to plug in. As I did a cat Health and Safety check regarding the proximity of the railway, Mick went to chat to staff at the pub about plugging in. They were fine about this as we’d a table booked for six.

Early evening a face popped into view, Christine, everyone had arrived! Christine, Paul, Marion and John have been staying nearby for a few days walking, sight seeing and bird watching.

A photograph of William Henry Chignall was handed over to Marion and John to go on their wall of relatives, he’d been keeping an eye on our house in a back room and it was time he was reunited with family. This evening he was positioned at the end of the table to keep an eye on his great grand children.

The food was okay. I only had three choices and decided on a steak, which arrived devoid of any rareness that I’d requested. However the very gooey warm chocolate brownie more than made up for my grey steak.

As we left the pub the sun was just casting colours across the sky. It was lovely having an evening in the company of family, hope they enjoy the cathedral tomorrow.

0 locks, 4.85 miles, 1 windy cruise, 5 storm clouds avoided, 0 shore leave today, 1 cowpat covered footpath, 1 boat hooked up, 1 load washing, 2 loads tumble dried, 1 report, 6 for dinner, 4 pairs of socks, 1 great grandfather, 3 bottles beer, 1 lovely evening.

https://goo.gl/maps/rf4FzxuGaUjp6hGz8

All About Grebes. 23rd May

Ten Mile Bank GOBA Mooring to Lavender Green, Ely

Across the way all of a sudden there was a big gushing sloshing noise. What the….? It was as if the hull of a submarine had been breached and water was rushing in through corridors and we should be preparing to close the air tight doors. We were actually across the way from a pumping station, water being pumped up from the lower fields. The sound of it when it starts up and the gushing explosive nature of it quite alarming until you know what it is.

Mick spotted a Grebe with a fish in it’s mouth, almost as thick as the Grebe’s neck. This catch was going to take quite a lot of swallowing! Gradually the fins were coaxed past its beak and then with several large gulps the fish was squeezed into it’s throat. Several gulps of water were needed to help it down the hatch, the Grebe’s neck now twice as thick as it was before. That would keep him going for a while today!

When Tilly came in we closed the doors and made ready to push off, coats were required with the chilly breeze. The river wiggles a bit as it approaches Brandon Creek, we’d not be turning down there today, maybe in a couple of days. The banks were high, only the occasional roof tops visible and pylons. These pylons were the end of the long long straight stretch of power lines we’d seen the other day. Once over the river north of Littleport they change direction at last.

The first mooring in Littleport was fenced off, some remedial works have happened here and grass seed is waiting to take hold. Then a choice of two more moorings along with one outside the Swan on the River. We made note, but continued onwards. We were looking for a reasonably safe mooring, close to a station to leave Oleanna for a night. These would do, but was there somewhere better in Ely.

A long long straight follows, the railway running close alongside. The tops of Ely Cathedral towers showing in the distance.

We were passed by flocks of Greylag Geese, Canada Geese with their babies, a River Patrol boat. We timed ourselves at the speed check, 52 seconds, not speeding.

Then there was a Grebe with their chicks. Hang on, one was hitching a ride! We’ve seen swans do this before, but not Grebes. My photos had to be hasty before the rider got off and swam of for themselves.

Ely moorings are extensive, last Friday we’d heard that they were full, Paul the boat mover had had to breast up to go shopping and then move out of town to moor up for the night. Today there was lots of room. Mick had called the marinas ahead to see if anyone might have space for us. One said they could accommodate us for £15 a night. We pootled through our eyes set on a GOBA mooring through the other side for the night, we’d then return in the morning to our booked mooring. But as we passed the marina we concluded that we’d more than likely be moored on the towpath, not within the marina, so no more secure than just being moored on the towpath for free. With spaces behind us we winded and returned to moor up on Lavender Green, Tilly might like it, or she might not.

First impressions were bad! Yes there were trees, but woofers and runners kept coming past. Then I discovered that willow trees are really rather satisfying to climb, especially ones that have grown out of the comb over phase.

Our mooring was perfectly positioned to wave at passing trains. We made sure we were outside for one particular train heading for Littleport. As we waved Christine (Mick’s sister) and Paul waved back at us. Family arriving.

You can get really rather high in these trees without spindly branches under your paws. Only downside was the gulls and crows shouting at me. I know they were impressed with my climbing skills but they needn’t have been so noisy about it.

One tree required several leaps to get higher, over hanging branches not possible to scale normally. Lots of calculations were required but I succeeded in getting to the top, it was brilliant. No idea why She didn’t think I’d like it here!

After a while I thought I could hear Tilly meowing, so came out to see what the fuss was about. She can be quite vocal whilst out but in such public places she’s that bit quieter. High up above there she was, calculations were on going trying to plot a route down the tree which involved getting even higher! Numpty! She got herself up there and I wasn’t about to go climbing or call the fire brigade!

Backwards, remember backwards! But she’d got herself into a tizzy and forgot. Front paw claws twisting in the bark, grip lost and she came tumbling down the tree to the ground.

A quick pat down was all I was allowed to do as she scurried back to the boat. Hopefully all was well.

We went for a little wander around, dropping some cards in a post box and picking up something for us to eat tonight. Ely sits on a hill, yes we do just about remember those. Some very pretty streets, the Cathedral, Oliver Cromwell’s house and lots and lots of yarn bombing by the local WI for the Jubilee.

An information board explained how the river sits high above the drained land. The land had been peat and when drained it obviously dried out. It dried out so much that the land shrank away leaving the rivers proud. There’s more to the history of this, but that’s for another time.

Back at the boat I had a catch up chat with David. Today he started having counselling sessions through the NBTA who have just been awarded funds through the National Lottery to help boat dwellers with mental health needs.

There will be more photos of this building in weeks to come.

0 locks, 10.46 miles, 1 wind, 1 large fish, 357 babies, 1 hitching a ride, 1 cathedral, 5782 jubilee pompoms, 1 yarn bombed eel, 1 deer, 3 trees conquered, 18ft dropped, 1 slightly bruised cat, 20 sessions.

https://goo.gl/maps/rSPAPUu58kkkEfAP9

24hrs In Bricks And Mortar. 17th 18th April

Scarborough

Easter Sunday, time for a trip to Scarborough. Our lodger from the last six weeks was moving out and new lodgers arriving on Monday, so we needed to do a turn around of the house and cut the grass etc. Before the dates for Thorne Lock changed we’d have still been in Yorkshire, so a much easier turnaround.

Tilly was left in charge of Oleanna with her magic food bowl and we filled the car boot up with a couple of buckets from our composting toilet to add to that which is already composting back at the house. Mick had managed to find the nearest car parking space to Oleanna so we’d only one lock to walk down with our stuff.

We retraced our route into Birmingham this time by road, it’s funny seeing things from higher up and knowing what lies beneath the concrete. A comfort break at Doncaster services, this is where we realised that we were missing out on Easter, we’d forgotten our Easter eggs, good job there was an M&S so we could get a treat each.

I can highly recommend the Salted Caramel Millionaire

Our route took us over the Aire and Calder Navigation, was that WB Lullabelle moored up before breach bend? Then over the Wolds the masses of daffodils just past their best but still a sight we were glad to have caught.

Zoe had left a couple of hours before we arrived, one lot of bedclothes whizzing around in the washing machine, soon to be followed by several other loads as she’d had family members to stay. Soon we had a knock on the door and were joined by Mick’s nephew Richard. He’d been up to see the show last night as he is an old friend of Zoes, a small world. We had chance for a catch up with a cuppa and hot paw bun before he needed to head for a train back south.

The rest of the day was taken over with chores. Washing, priming some woodwork I should have primed last year, dusting, ironing, cutting the grass, all things that needed doing. Very sadly our boat Christmas tree hasn’t done too well. Maybe we should have asked Zoe to water it, or maybe being a fulltime outdoor tree was too much for it. We’re thinking we might try and grown some Blackthorn in it’s place, we’ll see.

Fish and chips was the obvious choice for food, mostly as it wouldn’t require cooking or too much washing up. All washed down with a bottle of wine.

Monday we continued with the chores, more ironing, cleaning the showers, putting things back where we prefer them and giving the house a good hoover. Three beds were made up with fresh linen, keys exchanged with Andy next door ready for the next lodgers to collect later in the afternoon.

Sadly we discovered a problem with one of the boilers had returned that we’d had in the winter meaning there was plenty of hot water but not that much heat! Not so good when the whole house would be occupied soon. It being Easter weekend we wouldn’t be able to get a plumber out to fix it, so a journey back will be needed, hopefully timed when our lodgers are out at work.

By 1pm the car was loaded again, the iron and hoover put back in their cupboards. Only one job I’d have liked to have got done was not achieved, a coat of undercoat on the primer. That will have to be next time.

We called in at Morrisons for some food in their café. Jacket potatoes were available but no hot drinks!

Then we were on our way back to Birmingham spotting the canals as we went. The factory over the canal near Salford Junction now empty and a touch derelict.

Tilly was happy to see us as we were her. We were also pleased to see our Easter Eggs which had been tucked away in a cupboard several weeks ago when we were in Thorne.

0 locks, 0 miles, 24 hours exactly in the house, 1 family out, 3 actors in, 1 pouch surprise, 1 troublesome boiler, 4 beds made up, 2 of each, 1 clean and tidy house, 1 cuddly Tilly, 2 eggs, 1 quieter pub tonight.

Chocolate Box. 11th April

Shobnall Fields to Fradley Swing Bridge, Coventry Canal

More news came through yesterday from my cousin in Ukraine. They have managed to visit their home in Chernihiv to board up windows and doors and sift through to see what the looters might have left. Not much really other than heavy items of furniture which leaves them with the two suitcases they had packed when they fled. The house had triple glazing most of which is now shattered across what is left of their lawn, a lot of shards to pick up before their dogs can play out again. There is still no power or gas and very little in the shops, so it will be sometime before they can return to rebuild their home.

“Hopefully things don’t deteriorate again but when will it all end?”

Here in Burton we pushed off and made our way to Shobnall Basin, thankfully there was nobody already filling with diesel so Mick swung Oleanna round and reversed in through the narrow entrance. He managed this without touching the sides, an audience and wind! He was quite smug about it too.

At £1.20 a litre we wanted to leave with the tank full and we were surprised that the tank was full after only 81 litres considering we’d been pushing upstream for several days. A new bottle of gas too, the price of which had just gone up, but today they would charge us the old price. In the shop we looked round for some Marine 16, here there was a large bottle at about the same price we’d have got half the amount for in Nottingham. Glad we waited.

Time to move on. There are more new houses in view near Branston Lock. Looking one way it is still quite green, the other way and huge distribution warehouses are going up.

Next Tattenhill Lock, the chocolate box lock. It always looks so pretty in the sunlight the cottage a B&B. What a different place this must have been when the cottage was first built, no builders merchants along the way where huge clouds of dust blew across the canal, pile driving noises and the constant road noise from the A38.

We held our breath going through bridge 36. I sent a photo to David, his boat would certainly not make it through such tight bridge holes, it wouldn’t make it through the narrow locks either.

The moorings were full below Barton Turn Lock so we had to ascend it before stopping for lunch. The end of a beam is now painted red and at some time the handle has been moved so that it is over solid ground and not just air!

Now the mile and a half where the A38 clings to the side of the canal. We always wave to lorries along here. At first today it seemed like everyone was miserable, but then we got our first wave back, then a beep beep, even a flash of lights from one driver.

Wychnor Lock we caught up with a boat that must have come out from the marina. The lady was a novice learning the ropes, the chap an old hand. Mick came up to lend a hand setting the lock once they’d gone.

Now we were on the stretch with the River Trent, the navigation more windy than before. The boats moored here have rings that can slide up and down on scaff poles for the changing height of the river. There is a weir and several bridges to help keep the towpath from getting flooded.

Alrewas was semi busy, we’d have found space for ourselves, but wanted to get further today, catching up with our schedule. A new boat is aptly named on the off side mooring where the canal narrows.

At Bagnall Lock Mick held the gates closed with the aid of the boat hook, one of them naturally wants to open itself but thankfully I only had to return to close it one extra time.

Now the locks up into Fradley, passing the new marina which now has a few boats in residence. Late afternoon meant there would be no volunteers, they may not have started back yet anyway. But it did mean I got to work all the locks myself, which is why I love boating.

Between Keeper’s Lock and Junction Lock there was only one space free, each boat socially distancing themselves and not one shared mooring ring. We planned to ascend all the locks today so carried on. NB Freespirit was the second boat in line. Mick said hello as he passed as did I from the towpath, but no reply came back, Bridgerton must have been very captivating.

Entering the top lock was a shiny new hire boat, the maximum length for these locks, with six on board it would be a cosy week. We swapped and ascended our last lock of the day as a giant teddy walked down the road.

Last chance to change our mind on route. We turned left keeping to the quicker plan. I swung the bridge and we pulled in to the first space available, the water point already commandeered by an ex-hire boat. It was late so despite her protestations Tilly was not granted any shore leave, instead she had to sit and watch me make up a chicken pie.

10 locks, 9.35 miles, 1 windy reverse, 81 litres, 13kg gas, 1 chocolate box, 1 narrowboat holding it’s breath, 18 waves, 10 horns, 1 lights flash, 0 queues, 1 maximum length boat, 0 shore leave, 1 narrowboat topped pie.

https://goo.gl/maps/e4eqJur8JkwAVTeC8

LAL. 13th April

Lillian Alice Heseltine was born on the 14th October 1927 in Thornton near Bradford.

Her Mother, Margaret had trained as a midwife on Anlaby Road in Hull and worked as a nurse. Her Father, Horace had first been a minor at a pit near Pontefract, but after meeting Margaret they moved to Thornton where Horace (more commonly known in the Leckenby family as Pompom) worked in a wood sawmill.

She’s in there somewhere at the May Day Festival, Thornton Parish School 1934

Lil’s early years are not as well remembered as my Dad’s, not so many stories relayed to me and my brother of her upbringing in West Yorkshire. She grew up going to the local school in Thornton, not many photos exist of her and her sister Audrey from their childhood as not many people had cameras.

Jerry and his gang. Lillian middle row second from right

I believe that Lil would come home from school and be looked after by a neighbour who was known as Nanny Fee, she baked THE best apple pies, Granny (Margaret) did her very best to replicate them, crisp sugar topped shortcrust pastry with just slightly tart apples inside, the bottom pastry in the shallow dish had to be just that little bit soggy with the apple juice. These pies were known as Papa Pie Fee, after Nanny Fee.

Lil may have worked in an ammunitions factory for a while. She had a boy friend Stan Ellis who at the time was in the forces, he later became known as the man who identified Wearside Jack’s (the Yorkshire Ripper hoax) accent as coming from Castletown in Wearside.

She must have done well at school as she gained a place at the Leeds School of Architecture. Lil was always outspoken, few disagreed with her in later life. At the LSA she became the secretary of the Students Union. When a new head of school refused the students permission to study modern 1950’s architectural styles insisting they concentrated on classical architecture the students complained. Lil almost certainly spoke up about the matter, for this she was rewarded with a fail for that year.

Before she left she did however meet a chap two years her senior, recently demobbed and back to continue his studies at the LSA. This was David Leckenby. They had trips away with friends where they all seemed to take their T squares.

Attended fancy dress parties, one where Lil was a little perplexed that David knew how to tie a sari, he’d been posted in India at the end of WW2.

Great friendships were made and David and Lil courted, he proposed on a trip to Rievaulx Abbey where his final project was based.

They were married in Thornton, Bradford in 1952.

Lil and David just off centre to right central row

Lil worked in the architects office at Rowntrees in York, looking after colour schemes around the factory and offices. She also worked for Bellerbys a local decorators, files of paint numbers were found when we emptied the family house. As part of her work at Rowntrees she designed a scene dock for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre the factorys own venue.

The Rowntree Players became a very large part of her life. From 1954 till the late 1980’s she would design the layout of the sets, the decorators in the factory doing the painting on stock flats. She also acted in many a play, her full six foot commanding the stage.

One of the last photos we have of her is from the 90th anniversary celebration in 2002.

In 1961 Andrew came along, they moved into our family home a year and a half later, then the family became four when I was born in 1966.

Her trade mark beehive hair first appeared around about 1963/4 adding a few extra inches to her height. It stayed with her until a few years before she died.

Lil was interested in reading cookery books, the likes of Jane Grigson and Elizabeth David and when an advert was placed for a cook at the University of York she applied and got the job. This was the start of her catering business.

From gymkhanas, Midland Bank boardroom lunches, outside catering, holding cook classes for friends. She then took over the restaurant at York Theatre Royal which she ran for several years. In 1976 she was running the restaurant and cafe at the theatre along with providing food for the York Festival Club. Then followed a much smaller enterprise of the Regency Rooms on Micklegate all whilst she continued working with friends doing outside catering.

Clive, Neville, Judy, Lil, Buddy, Iraine

Friends were very important. Judy, Buddy and Betty amongst many others. Holidays with the Snowden, Parkinson and Nash families. Every trip recorded by meals around tables, visits to markets and shrimp nets on the beaches.

Parties filled the house, childrens birthdays, garden parties, Rowntree Players after show parties had people queueing for food around the kitchen and sitting on the open staircase to tuck in, any excuse for a party!

She became a Governor at Fulford School where a display cabinet is still dedicated to her.

It would be wrong not to mention that vascular dementia took it’s toll on the forthright, six foot woman I called Mum.

It would also be wrong to skip over her love of Gordons gin and Schweppes Tonic along with how she kept certain tobacco companies in business for decades. She sadly missed her 75th birthday and golden wedding anniversary. But thankfully time has brought back many a memory of who she was.

Lillian Leckenby 14th October 1927 to 13th April 2002.

Here’s a link to a post I wrote about my Dad a couple of years ago.

Braving The Elements. 6th April

Newark to Stoke Lock, River Trent

Today we had to move on, there are appointments and places we need to be in the next few weeks. We got ourselves together, topped up with water, bought milk and some gluten free bread flour from Waitrose (I’ve not been able to find it elsewhere).

Time to check on David. He’d not slept well. We offered to make phone calls so that people knew that he’d moved yesterday and that C&RT were informed so hopefully if he needed to overstay he wouldn’t be hassled by the enforcement officer adding to his woes, we also requested that the Welfare Officer was informed. We’re not sure if they can help, but it was worth a try.

We loaded bags of rubbish into our well deck to dispose of at the next bins. Gave David a box of lateral flow tests and said our goodbyes. Hopefully we’ve been able to help a bit, there is a long way to go, but hopefully the next time we see him he’ll be back to the David we met last year. He needs company and conversation, a boat can be a very lonely place. I’ll be keeping in touch with him over the next few weeks. He may write a piece about his experience trying to get help with his mental health which I’ve said I will post. If it helps just one person then it will be worth it.

NB Chance came past, a quick opportunity for Mick to say hello to Richard whom we’d cruised the Tidal Thames from Limehouse to Brentford with last summer.

Easter weekend you won’t be able to get a space here

We started to untie just as NB No Rush came into view, so we held on for a while until they had pulled in. With the forecast not being so good for the next couple of days they planned on staying put, where as we were going to brave the elements and try to tick some miles and locks off heading southwards.

We made our way to Town Lock, Mick dropping me off at the low wall. The volunteer Lockies start back next week, so we’d be working the locks ourselves. The lock is a public right of way with access over the lock gates, so an annoying woman repeats ‘Please keep clear of the lock gate area’ as soon as you turn your key to open the panel. Having said that the lady at the top gate did get bored of her own voice a couple of times as I took my time filling the lock.

We pulled in just before the next bridge to dispose of rubbish, thankfully the Biffa bin was empty and not full. The high walls on the Trent don’t make such things too easy on a narrowboat.

Soon we were on our way. Soon it started to rain. Soon it started to blow a hoolie at us!

Not the most pleasant cruising weather, maybe if we’d been on David’s boat inside with the windscreen wipers going it would have been more bearable. I was able to stand with my back to the prevailing wind and rain, watching the way ahead with the reflection in Mick’s glasses!

Past Newark Marina, we could do with some coal but the thought of pulling in to find they hadn’t any put us off. Then the big Averham Weir and Staythorpe Power Station, not too many cormorants drying themselves today. Farndon and Fiskerton visitor moorings came and went. Since leaving the tidal river we’d only seen two moored boats, Newark had been empty, just where is everyone?

Hazelford Lock came into view, we needed a break, time for lunch. We pulled in to the only space available, and placed ourselves slap bang in the middle of the moorings, no-one here either. Were we the only ones on the river?

After lunch we regrouped, Windy suggested the wind was now even stronger than it had been before, but it should ease after a couple of hours. So we stayed put on our mooring waiting for the weather to abate.

Three hours after we arrived we pushed off again. The controls for the lock a little frustrating again, this time the open button remaining constant at the top gates, but that meant I could lift the sluices as we required them, until all of a sudden the light started to flash at me. That was it until the water was level.

Sunshine! And wind! Clouds scooting across the sky.

This reach of the river and the next are our favourites. Low banks (or cliffs as Mick referred to them today!) of red sand, hills covered in trees many with blossom, geese and ducks all trying to chart a flying course but getting blown in the opposite direction. The only downside with our favourite bit is the lock that lies in the middle, Gunthorpe Lock!

The lock landing below the lock is really frustrating as it is on the weir side. So you approach it to drop crew off, with the force of water coming from the weir pushing you away from the pontoon. This meant we couldn’t get close enough to drop me off from the stern. I ended up having to jump off the bow, sensible but how would a single hander manage it? Maybe we could have pulled up on the otherside of the pontoon, but then Oleanna would have been pinned against it by the flow coming from the weir.

Then there is the other reason, this is where I lost my little finger in 2015. I’m happier being up top operating the lock than having to face those blue risers, but I still hate it with a passion!

As we cruised in the decreasing sunlight, rain clouds swept overhead, rainbows arced high above us, wind made our cheeks ruddy, little lambs ganged up with each other to go running about. We passed Burton Joyce where Tilly came from and waved to the lovely ladies who’d rescued her.

The remains of the stew from a few nights ago had some sausages added to it and was left to carry on cooking on the stove top as we cruised our way to Stoke Lock. Last year as we approached there was a boat below the lock that had grounded on a sandbank. The river had been dredged so we hoped after Mick had dropped me off that he’d still be able to get into the lock. This was all fine and we locked up the pretty lock with a couple of families gongoozling.

We had now reached our destination. With the winds set to be even higher tomorrow we planned on staying put on the low wall mooring. Here Tilly could have some shore leave once again whilst we avoided the stronger winds for the day. We just hoped our chosen mooring would be safe as there are quite a lot of trees around!

Over the last week I have managed to make contact with my cousin’s son to see if there was any news from Ukraine. Messages have gone back and forth and yesterday evening I got an email from Tim. Saying he is safe is all relative, he is far safer than a lot of people in Ukraine.

The house he’d bought two months ago is still standing, but without doors or windows, his car and garage are ruined. Looters moved through and all their possessions have gone. This is all from reports from those who are still in Chernihiv where there is no water, gas, electricity, little food. Tim and his wife are living with her mother some distance away. Despite the Invaders retreating they don’t know when they will be able to return, all the bridges have been blown up and there are reports that the roads are mined.

‘Hard to believe this is 2022! With no road or village signs and blackout curtains required at night, it is like Dad’s Army and would be funny if not so tragic.’ It is hard to know what to say, other than I’m relieved that they are still with us.

4 locks, 17.99 miles, 1 goodbye until next time, get well, 1 windy rainy day, 3 hour lunch break, 0 shore leave again! 1 beautiful stretch, 3 approaches, 1 b**tard lock, 9.75 digits still, 0 clone, 1 broken zip, 1 double rainbow, 1 river just to ourselves.

https://goo.gl/maps/MTwq5zhYaBMfPW2R8

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna