Only one window now requires some attention in the house, the others are undercoated and waiting for a warm day for top coat. We celebrated Advent Sunday with roast beef and Yorkshire Puddings. The gluten free batter put in a bread tin, my only option and willed to rise. It did a little but by no means rising and curling over like my Mum’s used to, it was still tasty.
Advent Sunday Roast Beef
Mid afternoon my inbox chimed to the sound of new mail arriving. The annual Happy Official Birthday email from my wonderful 90 year old God-Mum Betty. We always used to have Sunday lunch with Betty when I was a child, roast beef. This was when I received my first Christmas and more importantly my first Birthday present of the year. I then had to wait ALL those weeks before I could open them.
We’re still here
For the last couple of years we have been gradually making our way up the Oxford Canal at the start of Advent. Chippy Panto open, some Christmas shopping attempted before leaving Oxford, our progress northwards slowed by stoppages. Banbury our next port of call for the bulk of our festive shopping, a trip to London to gather the family and then on towards Braunston to pick up our bird for the big day.
Queueing for our bird in Braunston
Being in Scarborough isn’t quite the same. Looking out of the windows on a morning with the central heating going, isn’t the same as popping more coal on the stove to get it springing back into life watching the ducks and swans floating on by. But, this year is what it is.
Chilly paws
Unwrapping boxes of kitchen things, isn’t as exciting as presents, although rediscovering things you’d forgotten you owned is quite nice. But then I also know we don’t need any of these items having lived on a boat for six plus years. Their only purpose really is to fill cupboards. The only way to make use of them is to have a big party, a thing we don’t do very often, but maybe next year.
King Sutton Lock Cottage
My work rooms have now just about been reclaimed there is SOOoooo much space. I’ve gone from a table and the end of a two seater sofa to the equivalent of the whole boat plus more! Blimey I used to be a proper designer! How many paint brushes did I need?!
Loads of room
Last night I moved my model making and paint box from the boat into my work room and as the sun faded away the bluey glow came through the arched window by my tables. My first Advent window.
1st Advent window
No chocolate calendar for me this year, nor a candle. But there are other treats waiting to be opened.
There is of course the Herbie Awards for 2020, always worth keeping track of for good pubs, moorings and gadgets.
Animated Objects are showing some of their projects through the years, many wonderful glowing lanterns to cheer up the evenings.
This morning I’ve opened another window, one to book tickets for The Snow Queen at the SJT next week. Tomorrow our new hob will be installed. Another treat will be opening up a sketch book and starting work on the design for Rapunzel, opening night 17th November 2021.
Rapunzel escaping her high window
Then planning our route for next year, should we go down the Trent heading to London? Head to York to see those people we missed this year? Head back over the Pennines? Will the Figure of Three Locks be open in time? The Weaver? Middle Levels?
Firstly a big thank you to Jenn for letting me know that on the 16th November Bargain Hunt had a special bit all about Emily Blagg as this year is the 100th anniversary of The Palace Theatre. Very interesting to see Emily’s grave, not a big thing as the locals still had a problem with her demolishing the Chauntry to build the theatre. Also I’m glad the researchers didn’t manage to find a picture of her, as I spent ages trying to do the same. Here’s a link to the episode. If you are ever in Newark when the Antique Fair is on it is worth a visit, it costs to get in but is crammed full of interesting things. When we went there was a free bus from near Newark Northgate Station.
Tilly doing her best not to shred the lining before it’s on the curtains
Back in Scarborough I’ve been busy with the sewing machine. I started off small relining curtains for Oleanna, just to get myself and my machine warmed up, much bigger curtains were to follow for the house.
I’d ordered a big roll of thermal lining, enough for boat curtains as well as the bay window. The other day I’d unpicked the stitching on the dark blue curtains from the saloon and dinette areas. Doing this I’d discovered that Kim (who made the curtains in Sheffield) had used some wonderweb on the side hems. This seemed like a good idea, so before lockdown 2 was imposed I’d had a walk to Dunelm to stock up. After several washes the wonderweb had disintegrated and as I pulled the lining away I was left with a big mess to clean up.
I measured up the lining, not as much as Kim had used as I hope I can get away with having not quite so much bulk. The rectangle of lining was pinned in position, having to tug to the curtains to their full extent as no matter how much ironing they simply didn’t want to lie flat. Wonderweb held the sides in position, then I was able to pin round all sides, hopefully where they were before, then I sewed round each panel.
Well that was the plan, but on my third curtain my machine jammed! Oh B**er!! As it was late in the afternoon I called it a day. Good karma at a sewing machine usually works and maybe coming back to it another day would be a wise idea.
Filthy inside, what did I expect!
It was time to give my machine some TLC. The advantage of being in the house was that it didn’t take too long to find the oil that had come with my machine along with the original manual. This showed me how to take the bobbin and what lies behind to pieces and apply one drop of oil.
Then I removed the plate around the teeth, then the teeth themselves. Here was my main problem, fluff, lots of fluff! With all this cleared out and the one drop of oil applied I wondered if I should oil my machine anywhere else. Not according to the manual. I looked on line, no luck, then asked on Facebook after all I know quite a few wardrobe supervisors who should know. Thank you to those who made suggestions, including Dave and Chris who both suggested applying a touch of oil to anything that moves.
Gary White from All Seasons Boat Covers hunted round the internet for me and eventually found a file for my brand of machine suggesting a few more places to oil. Thank you, I promise to do this before I pack my machine away before Christmas.
I soon discovered that my machine and needles were not capable of going through all the layers in the corners, so I decided that I’d finish these off by hand. All six dark blue curtains were soon finished.
Before moving onto the bedroom curtains for Oleanna I decided to make the living room and dining room curtains for one side of the house. I’m very glad we’d not moved fully into the house as once I’d had a good tidy up, rationalisation of Franks and my tools I had a lot of floor space to play with, needed when you want to have floor to ceiling curtains round your bay window.
Are you sure you are helping?!
Rolls of fabric had arrived, first thing was to square off the end and then cut the correct lengths. Tilly decided she’d hold down the fabric for me and supervise the end of my steel ruler. I on the other hand pretended that I was cutting up dance floor for a show (a frequent job in my theatre life usually with at least one other pair of hands). Hands are much better at doing this job than paws, but I was glad of the company.
The fabric I’d chosen had a very small pattern, so not noticeable should I not quite line everything up properly on the wider curtains, although seeing some of the salvage edge peeking through wasn’t good, I revisited such areas.
Lining and curtain fabric were both hemmed, then sewn together. I’d checked that my lining was narrower so that the main fabric would fold back round the sides, but sadly once I’d turned everything the right way round I had a very narrow bit of fabric. So one side of each curtain was unpicked and a couple of inches trimmed off the lining, then everything resewn.
Helping
Curtain tape sewn onto the tops, job done. I just needed my assistant Mick to help with the hanging of them and enough hooks and runners. The bay window track had enough but the dining room track had a mixture of runners, most of which weren’t the right size! A hunt through my stash of such things, we didn’t have enough. One window elsewhere had the right ones so they were stolen.
Hooray they’re up!
Some curtain weights are required and the ends of the bay window track are leaning a touch, these may need trimming back as my curtains are partially on the floor. However these were my first ever properly made curtains, not bodged for use on stage, but proper fully lined curtains. I’m quite proud of them and have ordered more fabric for curtains in another room, but they will have to wait to be made next year.
It was back to boat curtains, bedroom curtains. A couple of years ago I’d bought some more of the original fabric in a sale, having more than enough lining now meant I could reline the original curtains and make a brand new pair too. Tilly has managed to make them look quite shabby.
This fabric however is quite slippy and slidy, not wanting to keep it’s shape and could be pulled in different directions to make it fit, but what would the end curtains look like?
The old linings were unpicked, new added and sewn in. Using wonderweb proved helpful with this fabric. Then a hole new set were cut out, sewn, ironed and all the corners hand sewn in place. In all twelve curtains finished and ready to go up at Oleannas’ windows again. I just hope they fit on the poles properly! I’ve put together a ‘just in case’ pack, should I have sewn them too tight and they need unpicking.
All finished with ‘just in case’ sewing kit
We’d been planning on a trip down to check on her as soon as lockdown was lifted. The tier in Scarborough surprisingly will be tier 2, the number of cases here shot up and at one point we were highest in the country, then they started to drop, Hull forging ahead of us. However Goole will be in tier 3, an area you can travel through, but not go and hang your curtains and give your boat the once over running the engine for an hour etc, not essential. I’m sure some are visiting their boats, some jobs are essential over winter.
They are plotting behind Mum’s nursing chair
With curtains hung in the house we could move ourselves into the living room properly, well as properly as you can when most of your furniture has gone by the wayside through the years with tenants. We moved the sofa in, side tables, plumbed the TV in and standard lamps. Then we fought with my Mum and Dad’s chairs down the tight stairs from upstairs upstairs. We’d put them up there, so they had to be able to come down! My Mum and Dad bought these chairs as wedding presents for each other. Not your average three piece suite, but I quite like it. When funds allow we’ll replace the two seater sofa with a three seater sofabed and move the smaller sofa back to the other side. But for now we have a comfy sitting room. Just pictures to hang, coal for the fire and we’re there.
It was now time to have a day off, I put my feet up and did a few hours of a thing called work!
Most theatres around the country have cancelled their pantos this year, but have been forging ahead with paired down Christmas shows in the hope that once lockdown 2 is lifted they will have a show to bring cheer to their audiences.
Chippy this year is offering A Christmas Carol, with David Bradley. The SJT here in Scarborough The Snow Queen a one woman show and an audio recording of Haunting Julia, a ghost story by Alan Ayckbourn (a great play I’ve had the pleasure of designing twice).
Thankfully these shows will be able to go on, but many other theatres who find themselves in tier 3 will not be able to open their doors. Some of these will be going on line, others mothballed for Easter next year.
A nice relaxing read
Will, the producer at Chipping Norton had been in touch, the second draft of the script for Panto was sent out and now they were ready to contract myself and others to start work, well ahead for next year. On our last visit to the boat I made sure I brought all my work things back with us, but had forgotten the plans of the theatre. I’ve now received copies and a model box. So it was time to read the script.
The last couple of days I’ve been starting to reclaim my work rooms at the top of the house. A damp problem on the chimney breast meant it needed stripping for a builder to check over.
Then I’ve started to try to make space at my model making tables and cleaned the windows. Plenty more room than I had on the boat, but I have yet to gain access to my drawing board which is still engulfed by boxes. I’ll get there.
It’s in there somewhere, no that’s Tilly
One handy tip though, don’t leave water in a hotwater bottle for six years. Not only will it have lost it’s heat but the rubber will perish!
A Beautiful day
Last week on our Sunday walk we braved a visit to the South Bay beach. A beautiful day, chilly but sunny and the beach wasn’t too busy. We marvelled at the blue sea and white light house and then decided to avoid the harbour where the footpaths are a bit too narrow for the amount of people about.
So we headed up Bland’s Cliff. This steep hill used to run up the side of the Futurist Theatre which was sadly demolished in the last couple of years after huge outcries. In it’s place is the Scarborough Eye, better views are free up near the Castle, and a crazy golf pitch!
However Blands Cliff has become very colourful. An art gallery had just opened when we left and now the surrounding walls are covered in murals and mosaics with local topics depicted. Really rather jolly.
0 locks, 0 miles, 0 visits to Oleanna, 1 cleaned sewing machine, 9 relined curtains, 3 new curtains, 2 pairs of proper house curtains, 1 living room moved into, 1 not so helpful assistant, 1 wall stripped, 0.25 work room reclaimed, 2 clean windows, 1 cat loving the views, tier 2, 1 boat in tier 3!
Where were we
2019 On the South Oxford Canal, Somerton Meadows to Kings Sutton. LINK
Sadly the list of things still to do is still long, but there is plenty of time.
All shiny again
Frank has been visiting a few times a week to work his way through various jobs for us. A thumped bedroom door is now back how it should be. The front door lock has been changed back to an old one, rejigged for new keys and I can now open the front door with ease. One window sill has been replaced, the others will be worked on in fine weather, lockdown permitting. Various items of furniture have had the top layer of stains, paint and glitter removed and are now looking much better with a few coats of Danish Oil on them.
Fabric for new curtains was ordered along with lining. Sadly Boyes in Scarborough has reduced it’s stock so this had to be ordered on line. Getting new curtains made was going to be at least another £250, so I’m just hoping my sewing machine is up to the job along with me!
Weekly veg boxes arrive on Wednesdays to keep me being creative on the cooking side and fill our tummies. Sainsburys delivers once a week and we’ve had a second delivery from Dulux with more paint to keep me going. I hopefully now have all I need to get the remainder of one side of the house finished, then we can clear one side of my work room for access to the end wall which needs some attention from builders. It’s still all go.
An early mast
Sundays we head out for a walk each week. We’ve headed inland, climbing up the hills behind Falsgrave. At Irton Moor we tip toed past the GCHQ listening station, making sure we didn’t stray from the path.
Then veered up to Seamer Beacon where we enjoyed 360 degree views, out to sea, inland towards Pickering and Malton and along the coast with Bempton Cliffs leading towards Flamborough Head. Our return route brought us down off the hills along a very muddy autumnal bridleway, past schools that have changed their names and along streets with very posh houses.
Scarbados
Another weekend saw us walking along the ridge above the A64 with fantastic views over Scarborough to the sea. It has always amazed me how certain landmarks in this town have a life of their own. The Castle and windmill move around at will whilst your back is turned always to appear in the wrong places.
We then dropped down into the valley and walked round the Mere, getting a fix of water, ducks and swans. It appears there are unwelcome otters here as fences have been erected to keep them out away from the fish.
Clerk of works keeping an eye on things
With the country looking like every area would gradually creep into Tier 3 we planned on having a trip to Oleanna, before we couldn’t. Scarborough is in Tier 1, Goole and the East Riding had just made it to Tier 2. With all none tidal routes from Goole leading to Tier 3 areas we decided that we’d have a pootle about staying within Tier 2. A week afloat for the three of us would be great, a deserved rest for Mick and myself and some towpath respite away from the urban felines for Tilly.
Have another one
On Friday hire cars and train tickets were booked along with a food shop to be delivered to Oleanna on Tuesday morning. With everything sorted we’d then head off towards the New Junction Canal, Pollington Lock and Great Heck. Not far but far enough.
Friday evening I started to remove the ripped lining from the boat curtains ready to replace it, planning to sit at the sewing machine over the weekend so that we could have some privacy again.
Before that we had tickets booked to see the brand new John Godber play at the SJT with Bridget and Storm on the Saturday. Sadly I woke up in the morning not feeling quite myself, instead of improving during the morning I went downhill requiring to be near to shore based facilities. It was not a good idea to head to a theatre feeling unwell, even though I know where all the toilets are. So Mick headed off to watch the show leaving me with Tilly as nurse maid, a duvet and the TV. Fred Astaire entertained me more than The Trump Show!
Mick Bridget and Storm enjoyed the show very much, I hope I’ll get chance to see it sometime next year when theatres can reopen again.
News had filtered through that it was looking very likely that the country would be entering another lockdown in a few days. We waited patiently and not so patiently for Boris Johnson to announce his plans. These of course were not in line with our plans which now would have to change.
Unfinished curtains
So instead of a week on board we headed to Goole on Monday in the first hire car, just Mick and myself, leaving Tilly very disappointed holding the fort at the house. She had tried to sneak into a vacuum bag of clean bedding, but had been spotted before I sucked the air out.
Living in an upside down world
The Wolds are greener than they were when we moved to the house. The stubble in the fields has gone and the earth has been turned over, new crops are starting to show their heads.
Sat patiently waiting for us
We let ourselves into the marina and pulled up close to Oleanna. There she was still tied up well to the pontoon, maybe a little bit dustier than when we’d left her, but that’s only to be expected close to the docks.
A day of boat jobs.
Eergh!
I chose to attack the shower sealant, the corners long gone black. This is a job I really do not like doing. Baths and showers in the house have been my nemesis through the years. But I was determined to get the job done, especially as Tilly wasn’t around and we wouldn’t be using the shower today.
I’d brought various tools with me. A window scraper, craft knife and a piece of wood with a blunt point to it. These all gradually worked to clear out the mangy sealant from the corners.
Meanwhile Mick did a firmware upgrade to the inverter. Hopefully he’ll still be able to remotely turn the inverter on and off. Time will tell.
Masked up
After some lunch I then set to masking off the areas that needed sealant. Originally the corners of the walls and where the shower screen met the tray had been sealed with translucent and the shower tray to the walls with white. I decided to change the tray to screen to white as even though the sealant had been okay here it had started to turn orange. White would be better.
I started with the translucent and that went on nicely. The white however had a slightly different quality to it, so it splurged a bit. I smoothed everything off doing my best to avoid making a mess then removed the masking tape.
All done
The sealant behind the galley sink had also seen better days so I’d dug this out, masked it and then applied sealant. This went on better and once the masking tape was removed I decided to smooth it off with my finger, so that it matched the rest of the galley. This worked a treat so I returned to the bathroom to smooth everything off there too. A skin had already started to form, but it was still suitably squidgy to get an okay finish to it. Infact this is possibly the best sealant job I’ve ever achieved, looks wise, time will tell if I’ve sealed it well enough.
Mick had attached a remote heat sensor to the boiler so that the thermostat wasn’t in the electrics cupboard. Our Aldi boiler can work off both gas and electric. Whilst we are hooked up it will work off the electric and Mick has set the thermostat to 9 C.
A second coat of Danish oil was applied to all the window frames, another job to do whilst Tilly isn’t about. One more left to do and that is a much bigger one, re-oiling the wooden floor. This may require an overnight stay, getting everything clean one day and oiled the next, leaving as I finish.
Everything left airing, including the sofa
Oleanna was given a quick check over. Everything winterised. All moisture traps were checked, cupboards and drawers left open, mattress and cushions left so that air can circulate and the sofa bad was opened up and left on it’s back. We don’t know when we’ll be back next due to lockdown, but if we happen to come back with Tilly she will have a field day!
Bye bye, hope to see you soon
It had long gone dark when we locked Oleanna’s back doors and climbed back into the car. A big shame not to be staying longer as originally planned, but we are glad we’ve been able to visit to check on her, run the engine and do some more jobs. She’ll be sat waiting for us to return when we can, hopefully in four weeks time, but we’ll wait and see how things go. It does mean I don’t have to rush to reline her curtains.
Pollington Visitor Moorings to Nearish the Site of No 4 Swing Bridge
Firstly I got something wrong yesterday. The occasion where Oleanna’s engine decided to empty water all over the bilges was actually when we were moored at Eynsham and Mick noticed the large amount of water where it shouldn’t be before the alarm went off. We’ve just had a discussion as whether it matters that I got it wrong, who would notice? Well possibly Paul as on that occasion it was the thermostat. But more importantly when we look back to the blog in years to come to clarify our fading memories things should be correct.
Anyhow.
Winding at Pollington
As soon as breakfast was done we rolled back the covers and pushed off, time to find better internet! With temperatures set to be high today we’d thought of seeking some shade. But on such wide waterways any trees tend to be set back from the waters edge, reducing their shade factor. Mick identified a possible location so we went to have a look.
This’ll do
The trees were tall enough to cast shade on the water but their location was not really one we’d want to be for too long. Between Crowcroft Bridge and Balne Croft Swing Bridge (which is no more) proved to be a touch too close to the Bridge cottage where the St Bernard woofer never runs out of puff! So we decided to aim for some solar power rather than shade and hopefully not too close to the shooting range.
Who is that down there?
About a quarter of a mile further on, on the north bank a stretch of bank looked quite appealing, we’d have to use spikes to moor as there was no beam to tie to. We pulled in almost halfway between the barking St Bernard and the shooting range, little footfall and plenty of friendly cover to keep Tilly amused for the rest of the day.
If it’s white it’s wet!
Time for jobs. The primer on the stern had dried fine overnight, so this now got a coat of primer filler and everyone was told to avoid the white bits on the stern. Luckily Tilly was too occupied elsewhere so it had more or less dried before she forgot!
Masked off and sanded
The front poppers on the cratch cover were undone and the whole cover pulled back away from the cratch board. I think it was a couple of years ago when I gave the frame a fresh coat of woodskin and recently I’d noticed it getting a touch thin. Time for a freshen up.
Locker lids
If I was doing the cratch board I may as well give the stern locker lids a coat and the shelf above the morse control. Areas were masked off, washed down and then sanded. Another rinse down and they were left to dry whilst we had lunch.
Stirred and ready
A coat of woodskin was applied to everything in the afternoon, the masking tape removed. The stern was by now very dry so this got a sanding back. The filler hadn’t quite brought everything up to a smooth level so another coat was applied.
Mick took the bowthruster locker lid up so that he could check on the batteries that sit below. The endoscope came out to help check the levels in the cells and all was fine. The bow deck got a clean out, the rope and chain from the anchor stowed and the pins put back to keep the anchor held tight to the front bulk head. This did mean that Mick got to see the state of the rust on the underside of the locker lid. This is already a job on my to do list, but as it and the bow locker lids are sort of inside (under the cratch cover) they can wait for another opportune time, proper outside outside jobs first.
Is that Tilly?
All the way up there!
Still rather warm in the evening we sat for as long as we dared with the doors and windows open. But sadly the hand held hoover had to come out and we sat swatting at midges hopefully before they bit us!
Checking on progress
0 locks, 1.09 miles, 1 wind, 0 trees of any use, 1 very sunny spot, 2 coats primer filler, 1st coat woodskin, 1 cratch board, 2 locker lids, 7 hours shore leave, 5, 100% internet, 1 shade seeking cat, 1 vat of chilli, 1 boat full of midges again, 2 bowls chilled medication.
Boats started coming past as we had our morning cuppa in bed with the Saturday newspaper. The second one deserved a photo, NB Mr Blue Sky, I just managed to get a picture as they disappeared out of view. This was the boat we’d shared the Rochdale locks into Manchester with last year, but the crew would have no idea who we were, Clare and Graeme being from New Zealand and most definitely not on board today. We waved anyway.
Gun fire started at 9am, we intended to move once breakfast had been consumed, no shore leave for Tilly this morning.
Covers rolled up and chains extricated from around the beam on the bank we were just about to push off when an alarm sounded! Hang on! The engine was over heating, after only about ten minutes. This is what had happened on the Thames last year when Mick and Paul (Waterway Routes) were moving Oleanna from the Kennet and Avon back onto the Oxford Canal. At least this time there was no need to deploy the anchor.
Engine off, ropes passed round the beam, time to open up the engine bay to see what was happening.
Topping up with water
The filler cap of the header tank was removed, the level in the tank was low, the temperature reading just below 100 when it normally sits at 80. Two plastic milk bottles were retrieved from the recycling and filled up, 8 pints of water required to be able to see the level again, a good glug of antifreeze was also added. Engine turned on, temperature back down.
The join below the white tape was loose
Before the engine board was lowered Mick checked the pipe that connects to the calorifier. Last time this happened an RCR chap found this to be very loose, tightened it up thinking that the problem was solved. Well on that occasion it wasn’t the main problem. Today spanners came out from the tool box and did the tightening, hopefully this time we’ll not have a load of gunk in the tank. Mick is considering having a proper look over winter, drain the system down to check that the problem from last year hasn’t recurred. At least this time we’re not trying to punch upstream against rising waters.
Winding
We pushed off winding a short distance ahead where the canal is a few feet wider. Several boats had come past that we knew had been moored at Pollington yesterday so we were likely to find space for ourselves.
Maybe there’s a match on
Sure enough there was plenty of room, only one boat left and another at the water point topping up their tank. We took the end mooring nearest the tap and Mick took our hose across to stake our claim as being next. The couple sat by the tap hoped we weren’t in a rush as it was a very slow tap. No problem.
Definitely a match
They had a dog, so despite Tilly thinking it was her right to strut her stuff on the towpath she was kept in. The washing machine was set going, a breeze and sunshine the perfect day to dry washing. We waited for the tap and waited.
Ribblesdale Blue Goats Cheese and Garlic Yarg, yum!
Lunchtime we were now wondering if the boat ahead were actually filling as we’d been here for over an hour already. We had lunch, time for that treat cheese to help while away the time. Eventually they disconnected their hose and pushed off. Our second hose was needed to reach the tap from our mooring and as Mick turned the tap the flow was completely underwhelming. Those who complain about the tap at Hillmorton have seen nothing! The trickle took around two hours to fill our tank, good job we weren’t aiming to go anywhere else today.
Yummy cheese
Tilly headed straight off to the drain that runs alongide the moorings. In the past she has ended up on the wrong side of this and had difficulty in returning, necessitating the mad cat woman walking all the way up to the swing bridge to find a suitable crossing place, which earlier in the day had been full of dogs! Luckily today this course of action was not required.
Time to do some jobs. The bubbles of paint on the stern, which I’d started to sort last year, then re-fertaned when we were near Saltaire, needed another scrape and more fertan applying. This time I’m determined to get further with it, but having a freshly painted stern means you can’t cruise anywhere and you have to be careful of white paws treading in the sticky paint.
I must get further than just priming it this time!
Next I had a go at polishing out some scratches on the cabin side. At a troublesome swing bridge on the Leeds Liverpool in the wind Oleanna had got caught against some branches, which left a good mark. Blue scratch cover has helped a little, but it is still visible.
Next the blue paint came out. The tin needing a good stir. I always like the first few turns of a stick bringing the pigment up to the top and the swirls it makes, just a shame it then takes ten times longer to be convinced that pigment is evenly distributed through the medium. A few chips of paint were touched in where there was still the underlying coats of paint visible. A couple of bad ones on the bow.
Boats came and went as the afternoon got wonderfully warm, not a cloud in the sky.
Just starting to set
The stern deck was rinsed off with the hope of getting a coat of primer on once Tilly had returned, very late in the day for paint, but hopefully it would be alright.
Despite there being quite a breeze we decided to go ahead with having a barbecue. Whilst in Doncaster we’d popped into the fish market and bought a couple of very generous salmon steaks. A comment on the blog from Marilyn a few days ago regarding the quantity of ginger we’d received and what I could use it for encouraged me to have a go.
Salmon, ginger, garlic, lemon juice and soy sauce
Each Salmon steak was laid on some foil, a thumbs worth of ginger and a small clove of garlic were grated over them, a light sprinkle of sugar, a glug of soy sauce and a small one of lemon juice. They were then wrapped up and left waiting to be cooked.
Sweetcorn for starters, then the salmon and some veg and haloumi kebabs. Our restaurant grade charcoal still pumping out plenty of heat long after everything was cooked and consumed. The sun gently going down behind the swing bridge below the lock.
A lovely evening only slightly marred by the midges arriving, so we beat a hasty retreat indoors and closed all the windows.
Ahh
Verdict on the salmon. Very very tasty. Thank you Marilyn for the inspiration, this will definitely be added to the repertoire.
Sprotbrough Visitor Moorings to Doncaster to Kirk Sandall
This morning there were things to catch up on. Earlier this week I had sent an email to Vienna wishing the theatre out there all the best for reopening. The show that followed A Regular Little Houdini had to close only days after it had opened due to the pandemic. Educating Rita has opened their autumn/winter season, playing to half their normal capacity. One of the producers had replied that it was a relief to be open again, but a constant worry that they will be able to continue all the way through their season. A few months ago I was offered their next show, if I’d have accepted, my model and technical drawings would have arrived with them this week and I would no doubt have been answering numerous questions from Vernon their Production Manager.
Winding to head downstream
Vernon also got back in touch, he feels very lucky to be back working again, but playing to a half filled auditorium all socially distanced is odd, a very different feel than playing to a small audience. He would normally be heading back to England to work on Buxton Panto, but as most pantos have been cancelled I suspect he’ll be staying in Vienna this year.
I’d also heard from Dark Horse Theatre Company, who are wanting to mount an exhibition of The Garden, my illustrations have been requested for framing to be part of it.
The SJT canopy a few weeks ago
The box office at the Stephen Joseph Theatre opened for general sale this morning for their Autumn/Winter season. As we are staying north this winter I wanted to see if tickets would be available for a couple of shows. Reaching the website I found myself in a virtual queue in sixth place, I went off to brush my teeth whilst waiting. With reduced capacity, less than a quarter of the normal audience I was keen to try to get tickets today. Having arranged to meet up with Bridget and Storm to see matinees I was glad to find tickets close together but still distanced for us all. Two groups of two with an isle or a few seats between us, perfect, well maybe not quite where I would normally choose to sit in The Round, but who knows what the staging will be like, I’m not sure Graham (the designer for one of them) knows yet either!
Putting dates in the diary to see some live theatre had lifted my spirits, now it was time to enjoy the weather and head back down stream to Doncaster.
A lovely day to be out on the river, we winded and headed back to Sprotbrough Lock. A boat had just pulled in behind us, they said it was still quite busy in Doncaster. Oh well, we’d just have to breast up if that was the case as we really could do with a stock up shop.
That is NOT his tail!
Climbing off at the lock there were a couple of sheep knocking about. One lay on the track giving some grass a second chew, whilst the other was trimming back the growth. I have to say I did a double take. Was this a ram or just a sheep with a long tail? Blimey no! A ram with wooly testicles. I never knew they grew wool down there. As I walked past I hoped rams were friendly sorts and didn’t have to display their testosterone levels like bulls do. He just looked up and gave me a look as if to say ‘It’s cool man!’ Well his nether regions certainly weren’t cool!
Blimey!
The lock was full, they automatically refill, and we were soon making our way down back onto the river. We zoomed back downstream. A passing narrowboat said that there was a Lock Keeper at Doncaster Lock. As we approached I could see someone with a life jacket on and some blue, but not as much as normal. They stood at the top panel, we could see the sluices open and as we got closer the gates started to open, all the time the light showing amber. Was this crew for another boat? Or a Lockie?
When we could see that there was no boat in the chamber we headed on in. The chap was a Lockie in training, he’s allowed in the hut, but not allowed to press any of the buttons, hence the light being amber. A few hand signals would have helped, he might have been opening the gates and letting loose half of the boats from Strawberry Island. Oh well, he did the honours, the lock dropping incredibly slowly. We thanked him and then rejoiced, there was space for Oleanna on the moorings.
Shopping time. First port of call, Scicluna, my favourite deli. I followed the one way arrows, which others didn’t and found where the masses of different sorts of flour are. I knew they’d have what I was after, but finding it took a while, I think there must be over 50 types in this shop. Then the cheese counter pulled me in, a couple of treat cheeses were added to my shopping, I made sure I paid before I could see anything else!
Pies
We had a look in the indoor market buying a pork pie for Mick and a couple of good salmon fillets for a barbecue. Next the Post Office to send off The Garden drawings recorded delivery to Huddersfield so that they can be framed for the exhibition.
South Yorkshire Cooplands make the best Chocolate Concrete
This was followed by a visit to Sainsburys. We’d already realised that the comprehensive shopping list we’d written up had been left on Oleanna so we did our best to remember everything. This we succeeded in doing but when back onboard we both realised that we’d forgotten to add batteries for the Co/Smoke detector to the list both written and mental!
It was still before 4 so for Tilly’s sake we decided to move on, hoping there might be space at Long Sandal Lock.
Very full moorings
Sadly the moorings here were even fuller this time. 48 hours had been exceeded by one boat and then Dolly Earle and it’s friend had breasted up in the other space. No choice but we had to carry on.
Going down
No Lock Keeper at the lock, so I did the honours. But where to stop for the day? We didn’t want the fly problem returning. A small ‘m’ on our map showed us where we’ve stopped before near Kirk Sandall, so we pulled up with still a couple of hours left before cat curfew, although the amount of woofers being walked didn’t go down too well!
Stocked up on flour
3 locks, 7.62 miles, 1 wind, 1 lock keeper, 1 space to shop, 2 treat cheeses, 3 bags flour, 0 space to store them! 16 drawings in the post, 1 box wine, 0 chocolate concrete, 72 hours at least! 1 blowy woofer filled mooring, 0 flies, so far, 8.
Opposite Goole Waterways Museum to Sykehouse Junction, New Junction Canal
The VHF radio was turned on this morning so we could listen in to the docks. Plenty of stuff was going on. Ships approaching Goole were having to ease their speed on their approach.
Then Little Shuva a Goole tug could be seen across the way from us. Moored up alongside the concrete plant (Goole is not the most idyllic spot on the network, but fascinating as a working port) is a large boat, not sure if it is powered or just used as a skip, but Little Shuva pushed up alongside so a chap could step off onto it. He looked down a hatch in the bow and then pulled over a large yellow rope onto the bow of Shuva. Before leaving he tightened both bow ropes and did a full circuit of the boat before stepping back onboard and returning down to the docks. The Harbour master chirping up on the radio checking that Shuva would be needed in the docks shortly.
I wonder if these big ships count how many cars they hold up?
Just when it was getting really interesting it was time to join the Geraghty’s on the weekly zoom, so sadly the big ships would be busy whilst we caught up with family. Today’s topics the Proms, Covid tests for 14 month old children, life after working in the states and Goal Keepers loosing their legs! Everyone was fine and we wished Sean good luck with work in Italy next week.
Mick cycled down for a newspaper. Our paper wasn’t available at the Co-op so he then headed to WH Smiths. This meant crossing the docks just as a ship was leaving, reversing through one of the swing bridges. I was really quite jealous at not being there.
Tilly had been allowed shore leave for a couple of hours, coming nose to nose with the German Shepherd early on. We know who’d have one should no human have interjected! Now we were all back on board it was time to fill up the tanks across the way.
Big enough space
The diesel point at Goole Boathouse seems to always be windy and the bollards are not in the right position for us to tie to Add to this a cruiser moored on the corner and the wonderful 1907 Phyllis at the other end it is quite hard to position a 58ft 6″ narrowboat in the right spot so that the hose reaches. The gap was big enough for us, we just had to overhang one boat or the other to be able to fill up. We’d considered getting a new gas bottle too, but with the bow a long way out that job can wait a while.
1907 and still with rigging
At 65p a litre Mick made sure he made the most of it. Then we moved over to the water point, a cruiser had moved out of the way for us, so we felt we had to. With all jobs done including disposing of yellow water and rubbish we were wanting some lunch. We moved up to the end of the visitor moorings and tied up where Sobriety used to live.
You’re not wanted here!
Here we were faced with numerous NO MOORING signs. There were also notes from the Liquidators for the Museum stating that no one can moor here. The moorings had been part of a long lease to the Sobriety Project and therefore are part of the liquidation process. The signs were quite curt suggesting we should move on immediately. We had our lunch and then did as we were told.
Clinging onto our hats once again we made our way back up the wide waterway. At times it is so wide we suspect even Exol Pride could wind. Boats were dotted here and there each with a good stretch of social distancing before the next moored boat.
Stinky
Going past the marina at Rawcliffe the smell from Croda was really quite pongy, it didn’t feel like it would be doing anyone any good. Apparently they make lanolin by refining wool grease, well it certainly is pongy!
So much room
At Southfield Reservoir plenty of people were out making the most of the breeze. Windsurfers and dinghys were zooming back and forth at great speed, all fine when you can cling on and lean into the wind, but a pain once you’ve fallen in!
Perfect weather for it
At the junction we turned left and joined two other boats on the moorings. I’d been wanting to tackle the starboard side windows, but the wind and our later than planned arrival meant I put the job on hold. Instead some buckwheat pasta was made for a lasagne along with a batch of rosemary and thyme sourdough crackers. The stove was lit and after several hours of being busy on the towpath Tilly made the most of it.
PS. Nantwich Veg Boxes/Clems Greengrocers, who looked after us so well during lockdown have received an award from the Nantwich Food Festival.
Our first veg box
Business Positivity Award – This category celebrates the businesses that have shown exceptional initiative and customer satisfaction during the virus. The winner is: Clem’s Traditional Greengrocers – Clem’s showed great care for their community by working many hours to deliver fruit & vegetable boxes during the pandemic and the staff were always cheerful and careful to ensure safe delivery.
Congratulations to them, I miss their veg boxes.
0 locks, 6.85 miles, 1 wind, 1 very windy day, 1 newspaper, 1 busy port, 8 on the zoom, 10 seconds! 1 left, 1 tray of crackers, 1 toasty stove, 2 outsides, 1 busy cat.
Selby Swing Bridge to Selby Basin to West Haddlesey Flood Lock
Sculpure by the swing bridge
A call from the Sainsburys delivery driver asking could he be early was welcome, he arrived quarter of an hour before our slot. We were glad to see that the plastic bags that had been compulsory during lockdown have now gone mostly. This does mean delivery takes a little bit longer, but the driver was happy for the crates to be put on the stern of Oleanna and then for us to sort our purchases before handing them back. Sadly they had sent a substitution for Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, not a good choice in my opinion so it was left on the van. Stocks of white wine should last for a while longer.
A mighty chunk of ginger
The dates on a box of eggs were a touch disappointing, but at least they arrived in recyclable cardboard rather than the plastic boxes we’ve had on the last couple of deliveries. I did have to laugh at the amount of ginger that we got too, washing peg for scale, we’ll have to have ginger and lamb with everything we eat !
Swapping at the bridge
With everything stowed we headed for the swing bridge managing to time it well with Richard and Heather bringing Isabella through. Needing to dispose of rubbish we also topped up the water tank. We’ve been seeing numerous photos of overflowing bins around the network since the Bank Holiday weekend, here in Selby there was plenty of space.
Goodbye Selby
Jobs done Mick winded Oleanna, leaving NB Gandja by the lock, they’d made it from Naburn yesterday and as we pulled away back towards the swing bridge it looked like WB Doofer was just coming into the lock from the tidal water, another escapee from York.
See you again somewhere Isabella
Through the bridge we had to keep a very keen eye on our position on the Waterway Routes map. According to our trip computer Oleanna was about to reach a mile stone. After 0.59 miles of todays journey Oleanna had reached her 4000th mile, just before Bawtry Road Bridge. There were Hoorays!!! all round.
A short distance further on a crane was in the process of lifting a weed boat into the cut. These don’t collect duck weed, but would most probably be used to cut and collect the pennywort that is taking over in parts. A touch further on we pushed past the large island we’d encountered yesterday and then we gave a reedy island a centre parting.
Weed cutter flying
Nearly two hours later we passed under Tankard’s Stone Bridge and had a choice of where to pull up at West Haddlesey. The flood lock ahead was closed which wasn’t that surprising and a short while later WB Doofer came past and worked their way through onto the River Aire.
Some cookie dough had just finished baking when two familiar heads bobbed along the top of Tankard’s Stone Bridge, we had visitors. Bridget and Storm our friends who used to own NB Blackbird had come to have a catch up whilst we were reasonably close. We all sat out on the moorings having tea and biscuits chatting away the afternoon, lots to catch up on as we haven’t seen them for around 18 months.
Doofer at the flood lock
Whilst part way through telling a story I maybe leaned forward just a touch, the contents of my pocket slide out and made a small plop noise as it hit the surface of the water and glid down to the bottom of the canal. My bloomin phone! We had a look to see if we could see it, maybe the metallic cover would glint back at us? Maybe it wouldn’t.
My Northern thug
We tried a torch, then Mick got out his endoscope, but couldn’t get it to work. So we gave up till later, it wouldn’t be going anywhere and we had guests.
The Wasp crew back together
The rain beat it’s forecast by an hour or so. We persevered sitting outside for a while, but in the end gave in a retreated to inside. Bridget and Storm are the first two people to step onboard since March other than ourselves. We did our best to keep our distances whilst we had another cuppa and finished off the cookies. A lovely afternoon with plans of another meeting in the next month or so, hopefully.
It then peed it down! Not conducive for trying to find a mobile phone at the bottom of the cut. But when it started to dry up a touch Mick got his endoscope working. He worked his way along where we’d marked the spot the surface of the water had devoured my phone. A glimpse of something, yes it was my phone. Now how to get it out?
A net that can see
The endoscope was tied onto the end of our cat landing net and this was used to try to locate it again. Sadly this meant the silt got stirred up and the water became cloudy. So we decided to wait until dark when our powerful torch might just help.
Delving into the depths
With the boat pushed out from the bank we shone the torch round. Holding it at an angle worked best as you could see where the beam hit on the canal bottom. But sadly nothing was obviously phone shaped. A trawl around with the landing net again didn’t bring anything up other then the silt. The hope of recovering my phone to possibly be able to reuse the sim card was drifting away. I’d be needing a replacement one of those as well as a phone! I really shouldn’t have mentioned about throwing my phone in the cut in yesterdays post!
Thanks Tilly for your support!
0 locks, 5.33 miles, 1 swing bridge twice, 13 cars, 7 pedestrians held up, 4000 miles! -1 box of wine, 1 large chicken, 1 larger chunk of ginger, 1 weed cutter, 1 mooring to ourselves, 2 ex-boaters, 1 pair of pants, 1pair of socks, 3 hours of chat, 4 friends, 1 sunk phone, 1 endoscope, 1 landing net, 1 sighting.
The voice of Houdini woke us at 6:20, we were up and dressed leaving Tilly to have a lie in. Cuppas were brewed and put in insulated mugs ready for the off. Yesterday Kenny (Lock Keeper) had changed the penning down time from 8am to 7:30am, not sure why. Maybe the amount of fresh water would help us on our way downstream against the incoming tide? Or because we were penning down with two cruisers heading for Goole this was a better time for all?
Happy to be on the move again
The covers were rolled back, last check of the weedhatch and we were ready to push off at 7:15. Blimey it was chilly, I was glad I’d put intermediate thermal socks on this morning and hoped that my hand warmer had some charge left in it. Our ropes being silty from the flooding, York always gives you gritty ropes, gave us muddy hands as we pulled them through the rings, the water now a good few inches lower than when we’d arrived last night.
Kenny waiting for today’s boats
Kenny stood in the misty sunlight, life jacket on awaiting the first boat, us, into the lock. As we approached I heard a chirp, then a flash of blue as a Kingfisher darted the full length of the lock, swooping up over the bottom gate and vanishing down to the river bank.
We thanked Kenny for looking after us and handed over a couple of bottles of beer. Soon we were followed into the lock by a big smoky cruiser, Richard and Heather on NB Isabella, then bringing up the rear another cruiser, these two had been sitting out the high water on the pontoon by the weir.
Dowm to tidal level, Oleanna looking a little pensive
Oleanna smiled at us as the water drained out of the lock a marked difference in height from above the lock today. The gates opened and the two cruisers headed out first, they’d be quicker than us narrowboats anyway. With our ropes back on board we pushed off heading into the incoming tide, we’d be pushing against this for a while.
Here we go again!
Tilly had made herself comfortable on one of my tops and planned on snoozing away the morning until shore leave was granted again. The dishwasher was switched on as I came through the boat, best make use of the engine working.
Four years ago the cows had been shrouded in mist
What a glorious morning. Blue skies, a chill in the air, the water higher than when we’d come upstream giving us different views all round.
Mick and Richard had discussed plans of our tidal tansit yesterday. This was to be their first experience of tidal water and Selby Lock would be their second ever lock, Naburn being their first this morning. They certainly had done their homework. We led the way for the most part and kept an ear on the VHF radio. Phone numbers had been exchanged, but for some reason Micks phone rang silently. We were pushing along at our speed but Richard was having difficulty in keeping up, Isabella’s engine a touch smaller than Oleannas. When we got the message we slowed our speed.
The River Wharf joining the Ouse
Ahead we could hear the cruisers radioing the bridge keeper at Cawood. They needed something like 5 meters plus of air draught and with the tide coming in the bridge would need to be swung for them. When they reached certain landmarks they had to radio again for the bridge keeper to open it to the river.
Cawood Swing Bridge
Mick rang the keeper to check we had enough head height. We almost certainly would, but we should check again when we were closer. As we went under there must have been another meter spare above our heads. Just a shame we didn’t get to see the bridge swing.
Isabella following
We zoomed past where the large tree trunk had been on our way up, no sign of it today. Maybe it was submerged or had been washed away downstream by the flood water. There were fewer trees to negotiate today, infact I think we only passed a couple of branches.
Beautiful
Ahead we could hear the cruisers approaching Selby. Air draughts checked, the bridges would need to swing. In Selby there is the Toll Bridge and the Rail Bridge. So not just a case of opening when the boats were close, there were trains to consider too. The Rail Bridge Keeper had to check with the signal box, there would be a train in 9 minutes then a window of 10. We’re not sure if this meant the cruisers needed to speed up or slow down. More messages between boats and the two bridges, hopefully the following boat would catch the first one up. The last we heard was that Selby Rail bridge was open to the river!
We called Selby Lock as we passed the Turnhead Reach sign. No need for us to check with the bridges, high water had passed we’d have plenty of room. Mick explained that Isabella would head for the lock first and that it was their first time, we would hold back and stem the tide. Once round the big bend to the north of Barlby we slowed right down. This was so that Richard and Heather could overtake us and head to the lock before us.
The reason for this was they would then have the lock to themselves, no trying to negotiate around another boat and with more experience of both tidal waters and our boat we’d be more confident at holding our position and keeping out of the way.
Another call to the Lock Keeper when we reached the long straight before the last bend and bridges, he asked if we had a radio, he’d contact us by this when Isabella was in the lock.
At the final bend we could see Richard zoom out of view, the current round here has been a touch fierce before and then you have to negotiate the bridges. All we could do was wish them luck around the bend.
Selby Toll and Rail Bridges
Straightening up for us took a bit of umph, but we cleared both bridges fine.
Up ahead we could see Isabella quite far over to the south bank. Had they gone past the lock? Yes they had. Mick slowed right down. I moved to the bow before we made any manoeuvre ourselves. Once Mick could see I was in the well deck he pushed the tiller over, the tide pushing us sideways until Oleanna got the better of the current and faced upstream into the out going tide.
Meanwhile Richard had successfully managed to swing Isabella round and we could see them heading for the lock. They they vanished behind the bushes.
Drifting back to the lock
We took our time gradually drifting backwards to the lock. Our manoeuvre had been early giving Richard as much space as he might need. So it took a while for us to drift backwards to the lock. The Lockie chirped up on the radio that we were good to go and that Isabella was on the port side of the lock. Time for me to sort my rope to the right side in the well deck as we carried on drifting back.
Lockie on hand to give advice
Once in a good position we headed for the lock, making sure we didn’t cut the corner, the Lockie signalling when to go for it in towards the lock. Mick swung us in at speed, avoiding the stern being pushed towards the port side, tucked us in next to Isabella without touching a thing. Phew!
Smiles all round. Only their second ever lock and one of the hardest to get into. With ropes carefully round risers we rose up to the Selby Canal. Job done, we’d escaped, time for breakfast.
After a bowl of cereal and a cuppa we pushed off again with the aim of finding somewhere suitable for Tilly. We waved goodbye to Richard and Heather, we’ll most probably see them in a couple of days time when we return for a supermarket delivery.
Film crew
Under one of the bridges there was a group of young people filming something. When they spotted us they quickly changed their angle, those being filmed sat on railings so as to have us going past in the background. Wonder if we’ll be on telly?
It’s empty!
The first mooring we came across at Burn Bridge was empty, should we stop or carry on? Tilly had been patient for ever such a long time, time to stop. We pulled in, tucked the bow under the willow tree and opened the doors.
With tail held high we had a happy cat again. She got busy very quickly.
With the sun being out I thought hard to see what we could stick on the barbecue. A pack of turkey sausages and some veg halloumi kebabs. I just hoped the sausages would defrost in time! A batch of gf bread rolls were made, cycling watched and Mick got a grade three haircut. A productive afternoon.
Is that cat kebab, no just halloumi
I had to make up for lost time. A friend for each day I’d been STUCK inside. Then a couple to celebrate the outside being tied up correctly again.
2 happy boaters
It turns out that four years ago we’d moored in the same spot with Alison and Laura from NB Large Marge. A barbecue had been enjoyed then too.
4 happy boaters
2 locks, 16.62 miles, 1 swing bridge, 6 cars 7 pedestrians held up, 3 bridges swung out of view, 1 kingfisher, 2 bottles beer, 1 mooring to ourselves, 7 hours shore leave, 8 friends, 1 over full cat, 0 otters, 4 kebabs, 4 sausages too many, 2 boaters escaped from the Ouse. Just a big shame we hardly did anything we’d wanted to do whilst there, we’ll just have to go back soon.
PS We won’t be setting a course for intermediate.thermal.socks as it’s in the North of Peru. We don’t think we’d be allowed passage through the Panama Canal, our C&RT licence doesn’t cover South America.
Overnight the river had continued to fall. Here in Naburn when we woke the mooring bollards were above water again, a good sign, but it was raining and due to continue raining for most of the day. A look at the Viking recorder level and the forecast levels showed that in York the river had just started to level out before it would rise again. We’d guessed as much, but the predicted levels were high again.
The levels recorded below Naburn Lock were starting to show the influence of the tides again, would there be enough fresh going downstream to make it possible to escape during the afternoon and not have to wait for the tide? This was a question to ask the Lockie when we saw him next.
Bollards!
A look at the weir was needed, it was more audible than it’s been in the last few days. The difference of levels on the tidal and none tidal river were visible again, hence the weir making a lot more noise. The downstream pontoon no longer level with the island, still a lot of water crashing around though.
A height difference
The Lock Keeper was hanging around when we returned. We asked what the possibilities were of heading downstream this afternoon a bit earlier than with the tide before the next rise in water really got going. He wasn’t keen on the idea, fare enough.
Rafted boats at the lock
He did say that if the levels remained more or less as they were now then he’d be on duty for the morning tide and be able to pen us down at 6:30am in return for a bacon butty. Well we already knew that the levels would rise again, a carrot dangled then drowned again!
Moreby Hall visible downstream
A wet day followed as the levels gradually rose again.
Tilly is finding it hard here. Being cabin bound is one thing, she kind of copes when in places like Paddington or BUMingham. But here there is nothing to watch through the windows, being hemmed in on both sides isn’t helping her deal with things. Her incessant pleading at the back doors is not helping our mental health either!
Mick popped back to see the Lockie later on. He’d still pen us down if we wanted in the morning, however he wouldn’t recommend it. We already knew this. If we were to go boats would have to move round. Jo is on the outside of us all and is waiting for a friend to help her on the Tidal Ouse. It would be her first time and on a new to her widebeam, so totally understandable. No need to play do-ci-do then.
Watching the film
Mick lit the stove as it was getting chilly. I made a round of mustard and cheddar crackers and then we all settled down to watch The Sence of Ending, a gentle English mystery. Jim Broadbent plays Tony, who receives a letter from the estate of the mother of his 1960’s university girlfriend. He has been left some money and a diary. Who’s diary was it and why won’t his ex-girlfriend, Charlotte Rampling, hand it over to him. What happened after they split up and where have their lives taken them since. An enjoyable wet days viewing.
A lock lampost
The weather forecast is looking up and hopefully we will have several dry days. Fingers crossed the levels start to go down and stay down long enough for us to get to Selby and maybe across the River Aire to Knottingley.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 wet day, 1 missing boater found, 1 stern gland tightened, 1 greaser filled, 1 red dot boring now, 1 cat climbing the walls, 1 bacon butty passage, 2 boaters staying put, 1.22m minimum, 1.54m at midnight, 1 river on the rise, 2 boaters using shore based facilities, 2 boaters hoping to still have a cat in the days to come, wonder what feline steak tastes like, at least she’d be quiet and we’d have a varied diet.