Category Archives: Medical

Ronnie, Tinkerbell And The Queen. 19th July

Aylesbury Basin to above Broughton Lock 14

A big pill after breakfast, hopefully the effect of it would kick in by the time I’d written the blog as there was someone I wanted to say hello to.

Sat in front of Aylesbury Waterfront Theatre is Fletcher, Norman Stanley Fletcher, well Ronnie Baker in his costume from Porridge. He sits hands in his armpits looking up towards the theatre, as if he’s about to say something to Mr Barrowcliffe.

Ronnie first performed professionally in 1948 at the old County Theatre in Market Square Aylesbury, good on the person who gave him his first job.

Around the entrance to the theatre has been painted for Christmas. Peter Pan a good guess for their panto, but it’s actually The Further Adventures of Peter Pan. It’s a shame Tinkerbell looks a little bit chubby cheeked.

With walking pole at hand and the pain killer starting to kick in Mick and I had a wander around Waitrose looking for yellow labels and enough provisions to keep us going for a few days. This I simply wouldn’t have been able to do a couple of days ago.

Mick had topped us up with water whilst we had breakfast linking our hoses together from a tap by the gate to the pontoons. Some bins had been mentioned by another boater so Mick went off to find them, check they were official C&RT bins (they were), noted their location and disposed of our rubbish.

As the temperature was set to rise to around 30C today we really didn’t want to be sitting in bright sunshine, Tilly for one would be complaining about it, ALL the time! We’d spotted somewhere on our way down that, if there was space for us, would be a nice shady mooring. It would have been nice to venture further afield in Aylesbury than we’d been before but that wasn’t to be this time.

We pushed off and slowly made our way back up the canal. Depth and weed slowing our progress. The first lock had both it’s bottom gates open waiting for us, plus a paddle up. I stayed at the helm and Mick did the honours with windlass and gates.

Blimey it was getting hot, blue skies, we were thankful for the shady trees for some of the way. We passed a downhill boat that we remembered from a couple of days ago, hopefully they’d come from where we wanted to be. Another two locks uphill and we reached the line of moored boats. A fisherman sat in shade, then a couple of boats in dappled sunshine. A space, would the shade last the rest of the day? We pulled in, it certainly looked like we’d not be baking all afternoon.

Tilly was given 4 hours shore leave, we sat down for lunch, she came and went for a while, then went for quite some time. Here had self catering potential.

Mick listened to the cricket and I filled out a request for a doctors appointment with my surgery in Scarborough. The things the practitioner had said to me yesterday were all put on the form, I needed to make a good case. I clicked the button to submit it. On recent form from the surgery I didn’t expect to hear back for a few days, however within 5 minutes my phone rang! The doctor wanted me to see a Physio (expected first line of action), could I make an appointment this afternoon? Blimey!!! I was being offered an appointment within 45 minutes of submitting my request! Obviously this was impossible. I was offered the next available appointment which I snapped up when it coincided with appointments that Mick has back in Scarborough.

Now we just need to sort logistics. A phone call to one marina to see if we could leave Tilly in charge there. He was so ambiguous, could we call back next week, not sure if there was space, we decided we’d try elsewhere instead.

The shady towpath called us both outside for the rest of the afternoon. Tilly came and joined us. Sitting on the top of the pram cover a good spot when in shade. Climbing the big tree next to us also good, apart from when coming down and trying to use some dead ivy which gave way under her paws. A nice quiet afternoon of cricket and finishing off sock pair 29.

3 locks, 1.4 miles, 1 big pill, 0 co-codamol, 1 Ronnie, 1 Tinkerbell, 1 queen of the pram cover, 1 hot day in the shade.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pjDk26DWVi7eXL9e8

A Butty In Wycombe. 18th July

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Aylesbury Basin

A new boat sneaked in next to us last night. I’d heard what I thought might be an engine, but they were very quiet about mooring up. Still one space free.

As we had breakfast the sun rose above the buildings surrounding the basin, with temperatures set to actually go high today we hoped Oleanna wouldn’t get too hot. Tomorrow it’s meant to get hotter, we considered moving to the bank by the service block where trees might give us some shade, but that can wait for tomorrow if needs be.

Buses were checked and more importantly the location of bus stops, the nearer the better. Just behind the University building was a bus stop that would serve our needs with two buses heading to High Wycombe. The X9 came first and my £2 fare gave a tour of Stoke Mandeville, Prince’s Risborough, lots of thatched cottages, tall hollyhocks and the rolling Chiltern Hills.

At High Wycombe bus station we waited for another bus, only one stop taking us to the hospital and the Urgent Treatment Centre. Form filled out, confirmation of which knee my problem was with. A ten minute wait and I was triaged and sent back to wait my turn. The waiting room not too busy, but there were people turning up who had appointments so we had no idea how long the wait might be.

Mick decided to head off to find us something other than crisps or chocolate for lunch whilst I sat and waited. Time to catch up on boating blogs, I also tried to hunt down a newish one I’d come across a few days ago, Narrowboat Umbrellas, I think. But I wasn’t successful. Mick returned after a visit to Tescos back near the bus station with a sandwich each. What a nice day out with lunch, chicken and bacon for me whilst the waiting room chairs got harder and more clammy as the time went on.

**dzzzerp, dzzzerp, phwip, frrt, dzzerp**

That chap needed seeing well before me, chest pains. Another with a nebulizer sat in a wheel chair. Our main entertainment the sound effects coming from a bottled drink machine. Was this the noise it actually made? Or was there a sound card inside to make it sound like a 1980s Dr Who robotic entity?

My name was called. A lovely practitioner sat me down, glanced at my knee. ‘You’ll need an MRI scan for that and we don’t do them here, I’m really sorry.‘ She gave my knee a little prod. After walking further today than the last few days my knee had obliged and swollen up. I needed to see my GP who would more than likely refer me first for physio and if that didn’t work then I’d be referred for an MRI followed by …. I explained that my GP was 210 miles away, hence me sitting in front of her today. She could give me pain killers to help get me walking again, but sadly that was all she could do.

**High Wycombe known for it’s chair making looked lovely**

My prescription was zapped off to a chemists in Aylesbury and we headed to find a bus stop for our return 2.5 hours after arriving. Thank goodness it hadn’t been as long as our wait in A&E a few months ago for Mick which was 8 hours! Unfortunately there was no returning bus for ages so we walked slowly back to the bus station. Mick checked in charity shops as we went for a walking stick, no luck. But then we passed a Blacks. £9 later I had a trekking stick which made walking a touch easier on my knee.

A quicker bus journey back to Aylesbury. Our entertainment for the journey was supplied by a lady who suddenly asked peoples opinions on an HS2 bridge we’d just gone under. She then claimed that she had been a journalist for ITV news and could have been a news reader. The person whom her questioning eyes had fallen on then claimed to be foreign and not able to speak English. Well the journalist could speak 7 languages and proceeded to say Bus in all seven of them. She decided that the person was Italian and sprouted forth words such as Bambino, ciao, bellissima, then something that I didn’t catch but she kindly translated for all to hear ‘That’s a block of Cheddar cheese’!

Back to Oleanna, thankfully she’d not got too hot during the day and one side was now in the shade so we could open windows and hatches to freshen her up.

Mick collected my prescription. Some strong Co-codamol and Naproxen which last longer than Ibuprofen. I’m not used to getting prescriptions and expected to have all instructions written on the labels. 60 Co-codamol! 28 of the other, I thought she’d only said to take those for 10 days, or had she? Two co-codamol were taken early evening. Blimey they were far stronger than the ones I’ve been taking for migraines! My knee stopped hurting as I walked, but I’ll try one tablet next time as I felt a little bit out of this world on two.

**The best medication is served chilled**

I tried filling in an on line request for a doctors appointment but had missed the daily deadline, that will now have to wait for tomorrow. Discussions on what to do. We could sit still in Aylesbury, it would be nice to look a bit further afield than we did ten years ago. Today we’d been past two National Trust properties. But unless I was about to be rendered pain free we wouldn’t be visiting such places. Tomorrow after some shopping we’ll seek out some shade and then continue back up to the Grand Union and continue northwards slowly.

0 locks, 0 miles, 3 buses, 1 trekkers pole, 2 sad sandwiches, 2.5 hours wait, 1 lovely lady, 88 pills! 1 extreamly bored cat, 0 doctors appointment, 1 pot of chilled medication for the freezer.

Beware Of Black Jack. 16th July

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Tring Reservoirs to Wilstone Visitor Moorings, Aylesbury Arm

Tilly was allowed some shore leave whilst we had breakfast, we reckoned she’d not venture far as the grassy bank alongside Oleanna had plenty to keep her occupied. After an hour or so she came in for some Dreamies and the doors were closed behind her, time to make a move.

**The Goat Boat. Click the photo for details**

Volunteers could be seen arriving to work the flight this morning, a single hander helped down through the lock behind us, but that’s as far as they ventured. As we got ready to push off I could see someone lifting paddles and setting the lock, maybe we’d have a locking partner for the last lock on the flight. As soon as we’d pushed off the lady walked along the towpath, she was obviously the advanced crew. When she caught us up at the bottom lock we were informed of there being two boats coming down, we were on our own.

Mick was wielding the windlass again today and I stayed at the helm. Trying to give my knee as much rest as possible whilst still moving.

**Mick closing the bottom gate on the Marsworth flight**

A left at Marsworth Junction, here we’d not be able to share as the Aylesbury Arm is narrow. We’ve not been down here since early 2015, so it was time Oleanna and Tilly ventured down the arm. The top two locks are a staircase, one locks bottom gates are the next locks top gates. Mick set them, top lock full, bottom empty, then we dropped down from one chamber to the other. No bridges over the bottom of the locks so a walk round required to cross over the top gates each time.

The next pound was high, it had just had two locks worth of water added to it from the staircase. The Aylesbury Arm doesn’t have bywashes, instead the locks fill themselves ahead of you. The top gate is lower then the bottom gates so excess water in the pound flows over the top and fills up the lock, we’d remembered this from last time. At lock 3 the water was at least a foot higher than the top gate, I kept Oleanna away from the incoming water so as not to get a wet stern.

Black Jack’s lock 4. Pretty with it’s lock cottage alongside it but back in 2015 it left a scar on NB Lillyanne and has affected our cruising preparation ever since. During the winter stoppages at the end of 2014 this lock had been given brand new gates. The handrails on the top gate had been attached, the brackets with a nice design but the bottom part pointy. As we’d come up the lock a gust of wind pushed Lillian against the open gate and as Mick brought her out of the lock the pointy bracket chiselled it’s way along her gunnel and ripped the cratch cover. Ever since we have always avoided having the cratch cover down when cruising unless we know we’re entering a very leaky lock and the deflection of water is important.

Today the lock gate has had extra timber added to it, the chiseled point has been moved along too, keeping it well away from anyone’s paintwork or covers, the date plate now slightly green and slimey. Down we dropped, no problem.

Well until I came to leave the lock, Oleanna wasn’t moving as she would normally, a blast of reverse to clear the prop. Only the next pound was filled with weed, so more wrapped it’s way round the prop. Progress was exceedingly slow, blasts of reverse not helping much, I seem to remember there being weed before. Oleanna limped into the next lock, Mick took off his jumper and lifted the weed hatch. My bad knee and lack of long arms means the weed hatch is a blue job, a handful of weed extricated we could carry on.

Showers came and went. How far should we go today? A couple on a walk stopped to watch, ‘It’s very narrow, will your boat fit?’ One of those questions like ‘Does your cat come back when you let her out?’ ‘No never, we have to get a new cat every day!’

A road bridge was being closed to traffic, blocks being moved into position by a fork lift, scaffolding holding the structure up over the canal. Not much further to reach Wilstone Footbridge and the moorings there. Would there be enough room for us, yes loads! Tilly was allowed out, not convinced at first but when the woofers gave her some time things improved, not worthy of a Mrs Tilly stamp but the best she’s likely to get for a few days.

I filled out questions on NHS111 online regarding my knee. I was referred to my GP or an Urgent Treatment Centre. Our current location suggested Hemel Hempstead, further on High Wycombe. Obviously seeing my GP would be good, but distance and the likelihood of getting an appointment I could make not so easy. The jury is still out.

Today is Lizzie’s actual birthday and after a fraught morning with rain water she got round to opening some cards, ours being one of them. I can now show you what I was painting last week. Lizzie grew up along the Basingstoke Canal, teenage years spent driving a tug during the renovation of the canal. I’d had my spies trying to find out exactly where this had been. Fleet, Farnborough area. Sadly I didn’t have many photos worthy of painting in that area. So instead I chose one of the lock on the St John’s flight, Lock 8.

9 locks, 2 a staircase, 1.4 miles, 1 left, 0 rips in covers, 1 chisel bracket protected, 1 boat up the flight, 2 many woofers, 1 lost ball, 1 sock finished, 2nd one started, 1 birthday card, 8 Oxford sausages tonight with wedges.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yL8Q6wyGFD7S6hJS6

Lunch Break. 15th July

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Cowroast Marina to Tring Reservoirs, Marsworth

Car returned, water filled, Tilly’s pooh box had a refresh, more loads of washing and drying done, we did manage to break into our £5 credit, but have left a generous amount for the next visiting boat. Push back was a little late, after midday and it took a little bit of time to get out from our mooring and wind to face the entrance/exit back out onto the Grand Union to do a right to head north.

Long lines of boats to pass. Then into the summit cutting. Big puddles on the towpath would require wellies to pass through and the brambles were still all in flower, sun doesn’t get into the cutting much.

**Outside number 1, just for lunch though**

It started to rain and we wanted a break before arriving at the top of the Marsworth flight so we pulled in. If the Wendover Arm was navigable to the winding hole we’d have headed there for some much needed shore leave for Tilly, but stop planks mean a long reverse when you come to leave at the moment, so we opted for the cutting. Tilly checked the lay of the land, TREES! Friendly cover! Can I ? Can I??? We consulted with each other, ‘An hour Tilly, it’s only a lunch break’. If she got busy it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we stayed put for the day, it would just be quite dark.

She did get busy for about an hour and a half, so when she returned the doors were closed so we could carry on. As we pushed off a boat could be seen approaching. Would we have a locking partner? I hoped so.

More boats were moored towards Bulbourne, three in the winding hole! The breasted up pair would be very popular of you were wanting to turn a 70fter!

**Wonder how long the white tiles will stay so bright**

The building works at the old workshop/yard have now been completed, plenty of garden furniture about the place. The row of new houses at the rear have a monobrow look to them, but on the hole it all looks rather nice.

**No-one following and no volunteers sadly**

As I hobbled up to fill the lock a dog walker came past, ‘They’re all empty apart from one!’ The lock took a while to fill, all the time we watched over our shoulder to see if we’d have a locking partner, but no one arrived, we’d be on our own.

Normally here I’d set a lock, open it and Mick would bring Oleanna in closing the gate behind him, then he’d lift a paddle to start emptying it whilst I walked on ahead to lift a paddle at the next lock down, returning to open and close gates for him. This was not going to be possible today, it was to be one lock at a time due to my knee.

Mick closed the offside paddle for me and then we progressed down to the next lock. I took the walk slowly, but when crossing the gates to lift the offside paddle a twinge that’s been developing in the calf on my bad leg decided to escalate itself into a seriously big OW! No choice now I’d have to be at the helm. Actually I should have been there from the start of the flight, but I’m stupidly stubborn like that.

Mick took over with the windlass and we worked one lock at a time down hill, a different view from onboard. Rain showers came and went, the locks gradually filling themselves as we worked our way down. There are several lock beams that have had the temporary fix done to them, wonder if they will be replaced during winter this year?

Quite a few boats were moored alongside the lakes, there was a big gap, white signs on posts putting people off mooring. I zoomed in, a fishing day on the 20th we could pull in. So we tucked ourselves in behind the Toblerhome boat (one of my favourites). Mick spent a while trying to find somewhere not too stonelike to hammer the spikes into and Tilly was given an hour and a quarter shore leave.

The bank was good, good friendly cover. A pounce within two minutes. A few too many woofer walkers, the roof was handy at times. A touch of self catering was achieved, when I returned for some ‘Thank you for coming home’ Dreamies Tom closed the door, I’d apparently had enough and he didn’t ‘want to have to wash the floor like She had the other day!’

A rainy night. The TV volume required turning up a LOT. Rain bounced in through the mushroom vents and a trickle of water appeared down the inside of the stove flue, it’s not done that since it was moored up in Goole for winter. The first episode of The Jetty was watched, we had to pause it so as to identify which lock Jenna Coleman lived alongside. Lob Mill Lock 16 on the Rochdale where we were accompanied by two cocky ducklings earlier this year.

6 locks, 3.6 miles, 1 car returned, 1 wind, 1 right, 1 full water tank, 1 clean pooh box, 2 outsides, 2 more DofE groups, 1 very troublesome leg, 1 solution required, 1 sock nearly finished, 1 very HEAVY rain STORM! 2 Mrs Tilly stamps of approval, 0 thumbs required, the internet is quite pants though!

After a request from Mike on NB Duxllandyn we shall be keeping the thumbs up for TV signal. There will also be, if I remember, an ‘i‘ to indicate how good the internet is at each mooring. Upright, good. Side ways, slow. Upside down, rubbish or none existent (we’re unlikely to be stopping here in future!). These of course are valid for our set up with our aerial and router on the EE network. Other networks may differ in signal.

Early Start, Early Finish. 25th June

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Footbridge 207A to Hanwell Moorings

YAWN!!! The alarm clock went off at 5am. Today our aim was to get moving before breakfast and work our way up Clitheroe’s and Osterley Locks, then up the Hanwell flight, hoping there would be a space in the longer Three Bridges pound to moor for the rest of the day , all before it got a touch too hot. Cuppas were made, mine in an insulated mug to drink between locks.

**5am with the first flight due overhead any moment**

The covers were rolled up and we pushed off, just starting the engine before the land was let go so as to wake as few people as possible. We pootled up to the first lock Clitheroe’s, not far away. All empty, so we could go straight in. I started to fill the lock only for Mick to raise a hand. I lowered the paddle, there was a big branch jammed between the bottom gates, it needed removing.

Once cleared, I lifted the paddles and set things in motion again. A couple walking their dogs crossed over the lock chatting as they went. All good with the world on a beautiful sunny morning. Well it was until a few moments later. All of a sudden I got the feeling that a migraine was about to kick in, a blank spot in my vision a tell tale sign.

Once Oleanna was out of the lock and me on board I headed to the drugs cupboard to find suitable pills. This took some time as the box I was looking for was anonymous, it’s hard enough for me to read at this point of a migraine anyway, scanning the shelves with a blank spot in my vision! Pills found, Mick was asked to check they were what I thought before I took any.

At Osterley Lock I walked round to operate the paddles, up and over the footbridge rather than across the gates. Once we were up the discission was made to pull in and moor up for the day. The first length of bank near to the bottom of the Hanwell flight we saw we pulled into.

***The outside was even trying to get inside out of the hot!***

I knew something was up. They’d tied an outside up and then She said I had 12 hours! All before my morning Dingding biscuits!!! Was this a sausage day?

Tilly made use of the cool morning air. I had a snooze, then got up for breakfast. Tilly by the looks of it had done some self catering by the amount of cobwebs on her head. More snoozing whilst Mick went off to check his old flat was still there by The Fox.

The temperature rose and we gradually lost what shade we’d started off with. I dug out one of the white sheets we’d bought on the Great Ouse, today it was just hung inside the side hatch to keep the sun out. We all retired in doors for a very lazy warm day.

Mick chatted to a boat that had been in Teddington Lock with us yesterday, they were setting off up the locks, did we want to join them? Then the other three boats came past at varying times of the day, all a touch warm I suspect. We just stayed in doors.

Late afternoon Tilly ventured out again but not for too long. I managed some knitting but not much else.

**Last of the on board chilled medication**

Tomorrow we’ll need to do our best on another hot day to catch ourselves up.

2 locks, 1.6 miles, 5am start, 5am first flight, 1 blind spot, 1 early early stop, 4 extra strong pills, 7am start across the way, 12 hours, only 3 taken, 2 hot for cats, 0.75 of a sock knitted, 2 warm to knit at times.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3EHmqEz5ZSQ9EcQD9

Bloomin’ Heck. 14th May

Lidl to Bridge 41

There were a couple of things we’d missed yesterday on our shop, so Mick valiantly headed all the way back to Lidl! Some double cream and dark chocolate baking necessities for next weekend! I sat and updated the blog before we moved up closer to Leamington Spa to do a couple of things in town.

Clare and Graeme were only a few bridges up ahead, they fancied listening to a pianist in a church this morning whilst we were busy, then the plan was to team up again to work our way up the locks ahead. Well that was the plan!

I stood up from the dinette table, all of a sudden it felt like we’d got ten bags of coal on the roof and Oleanna was very top heavy. I fairly quickly realised that it wasn’t Oleanna swaying, it was me. I steadied myself and carried on with the setting off jobs, slowly. Stepping onto the bow to untie the bow line I still felt wobbly. Was this vertigo? It felt a bit different. As we weren’t moving far I stayed up front and sat down, ready to moor up, less to do, hopefully less wobbly head.

There were loads of boats through Bridge 41, the most we’ve ever seen. We pulled in behind the long line, NB Lottie Jane a couple of boats ahead. Mick stood waiting at the stern for me to tie my rope, I needed his assistance, the thought of stepping onto the bow again not appealing. Time to sit down.

I had planned to check on possible presents here in Leamington Spa and visit a new mural which from photos looks amazing. But that simply wasn’t going to happen. Was this vertigo or something to do with the tooth I’d had taken out last week? My gum is still quite sore. Mick bobbed into town to do the things he needed to do and I called my dentist for advice. The receptionist booked me back in for an appointment this afternoon.

The news was passed to Clare and Graeme, Clare bringing me a get well soon purple iris. They would stay today too.

Arrangements to get our new Bully Boy Battery delivered to us was simpler than we’d thought. A boat yard we will be passing was very happy to receive a large heavy package for us and keep it safe until we arrive. We just have to get there now.

Mick and I caught the train back into Birmingham, so much for me saying goodbye to the city yesterday! A walk to catch a tram across town and then a sit down in the waiting room at the dentist.

Colin checked around my mouth. No normal signs of an infection, but the clot itself didn’t look normal. I was given two options and I opted for pills, he agreed. Three days of antibiotics, started straight away before I left the surgery. If I had any concerns I was to ring. No alcohol for me for the next week.

One good thing about the day was being able to admire the gardens at Leamington Spa Station. A few years ago we’d been on a tour around the deco station. The architecture, chrome and lovely doors are just one side to the station, the flower beds and hedges another. The topiary steam engine is still there plus these wonderful flowering shrubs, with such delicate flowers. Does anyone know what they are please? Sorry for the bad photos.

Back at Oleanna, Tilly gave me a head nudge then complained about being cooped up for two days in a row! Mick cooked dinner and I cast on sock pair 20. Hopefully my head will start to improve in the morning.

0 locks, 0.4 miles, 200grams dark chocolate, 200ml double cream, 1 bag carrots, 1 new broom, 1 wobbly head, 2 trains, 2 trams, 9 pills, 1 green engine, pair 20 cast on, 1 mural left for next time.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4gvsZSKWiZ3apdbCA

Gailey Walking. 2nd May

Penkridge visitor mooring to Moat House Bridge

Waking this morning there was some good news, the bits and bobs we win from time to time on our premium bonds were a little bit bigger this month, enough to cover some of the work my molar requires. Quite a relief.

After breakfast we were the only boat left on the visitor moorings, time for us to move too. Up at Filance Lock a C&RT work boat was coming down with ample crew. Mick had to tuck Oleanna out of the way for them to pass, then brought her into the lock. A couple were busy trimming their hedge, it sounded like it hadn’t been done quite right, not quite flat enough on the top.

Thankfully there was space near The Cross Keys on rings so we pulled in, collected our shopping bags and set off to walk up to the Co-op. We think this is the larger of the two Co-ops in Penkridge and this mooring the closest you can get by boat. They had a reasonable stock of things and we filled a few bags which would keep us going until we can get a delivery next week.

**A good tree house with a spiral staircase**

Midday by the time everything was stowed away. We opted for an early lunch rather than stopping again in an hours time.

The canal now turns to run along adjacent to the M6 for a stretch. Penkridge may be set back from the motorway but its rumble is ever present no matter where you moor in the town, now it would get louder. At Otherton Lock a boat was coming down, our turn next as two more boats arrived above and another behind us, we were head of the queue again. As the lock filled the foam surrounded Oleanna’s bow, maybe I should have given it a mop at the same time making use of the suds.

I hitched a ride to Rodbaston Lock, no queue there and then walked the rest of the way to Gailey working the next three locks. Don’t think I’d noticed before that around each lock beam the whole area is bricked. It’s quite normal for the curved route you take below a lock beam to be brick or stone, but here there is a full semi circle of bricks.

As I walked up to Gailey Top Lock there was a sign saying Volunteers were on duty, some helping hands for the cranked beams. Sure enough up top there were two chaps waiting to help a length of rope holding the bottom two gates together. It was nice to see the little shop in the tower open again, the lady chatting to the Lockies. Up Oleanna came to the summit pound, time to wiggle our way through the moored boats.

It was warm, but quite grey as we pootled along. Past the chemical works where you are not allowed to stop, then the wiggly windy bit around Calf Heath. If we could turn left here a proposed restoration would have us climbing up to the Wolverhampton level and popping out to join the Cannock Extension Canal or the Curley Wurley on the BCN. But no chance of that just yet.

**Maybe I should get a piggybank for a tooth fund**

Now we were away from the M6 we wanted to find a mooring before the railway joined us. Somewhere suitable for Tilly to spend a few hours today. The first stretch was filled with several boats, but round a few more bends a length of armco presented itself and we pulled in. Shore leave rules were recited, two hours today and off Tilly went.

As we were taking Oleanna out of cruising mode a couple walked past and stopped for a chat. They love walking the towpaths and have a plan one day to own a boat, but first they will buy a motorhome to explore with. We chatted for quite sometime, they have an old cat whom they’d like to take with them on their travels. Tilly showed them what being a boat cat was about, climbing trees and pouncing.

**This chap was pretending to be a gull at first, the length of his beak gave him away.**

During the day we’d had a phone call from the boiler people. They were wanting to try to make a new appointment to upgrade the boiler in the house. Mick had been there for the last appointment which was cancelled on the day. This appointment would require a special trip, so he asked if it was possible to put a note on the job sheet not to cancel it this time! We opted for an appointment on a day when I’d be at the dentist, then a few hours later realised it coincided with rail strikes! We didn’t want to cancel it, but how could we make it work. Mick spent a long time on the computer trying to work out if he could actually do the trip by train, getting there easy, but returning only possible if he left Scarborough at 3pm, not returning to the boat until 11pm. Other options were concidered including an overnight somewhere. But in the end the easiest option was to hire a car, it was working out at a similar cost too. They had better not cancel this appointment!

6 locks, 6.1 miles, 0.5 of a tooth paid for, 1 frothy stretch, 4 light bags of shopping, 1 appointment, 1 week of train strikes, 1 slight detour planned, 2 hours shore leave, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cCpAGZPNvwaTph3h8

But Which Way! 1st May

Above Longford Lock to Penkridge 48hr mooring

Only half a mile to travel today as we needed to be in Penkridge for a couple of reasons. Pootleing in towards Penkridge Lock we were surprised at there only being one boat moored here. The mooring directly below the lock can be a bit bumpy when the paddles are lifted, but it’s handy for town.

We passed another house for sale, only over 55s can purchase this one, a bit different from yesterdays house by the M6.

**Not much foot space on the back today**

With not much space available at the stern due to the bully boy battery I was glad to get off and get the lock ready for us. No-one on the water point! Are we really in Penkridge? Where is everyone?

Once up the lock we pulled in at the services. Set the water filling, emptied the yellow water, disposed of rubbish etc. A chap came along from the moorings with a wheelbarrow to empty his cassettes, he was very chatty. We chatted away and lifted the bully boy battery box off the stern of Oleanna. That was one task achieved, now to get the battery to a UPS access point in town. That wheelbarrow looked handy! But we didn’t ask as we had another solution in mind.

By the time the water tank was full there was a boat waiting in the lock and another had just pulled up below. We were in Penkridge! A queue forming for the services, it’s just we were at the front of it for once. Mick pushed Oleanna off and over to the moorings opposite whilst I stayed to guard the battery, it may not be working and be exceptionally heavy but we still didn’t want anyone to struggle away with it. Once Oleanna was secure Mick came back and called for a taxi, £5 to the access point, I left to have an early lunch and get myself ready for an afternoon in Birmingham.

The station is a bit of a walk away, but nice to walk through town. The Co-op has moved, there are two now at opposite ends of town. I walked up through the church yard filled with graves and blossom. The 12:45 had me passing alongside the Wolverhampton flight, no boats in view. In to Birmingham New Street, I just needed to find my way out now! Easier said than done!! I thought of following directions on the bright sign post, but the direction of Brindley Place was blocked by red and blue lounges! I ended up walking out of the wrong exit and taking quite a while to get to somewhere familiar, thank goodness I had an hour to spare.

**Is this just art or a useful sign post?**

Not one boat on the Oozles Street loop and only five moored by Lego, loads of room. I walked the now regular route up onto Sheepcote Street to my dentist, a regular check overdue. After my emergency visits to a dentist in Leeds six weeks ago I’ve known I still had a problem. Colin started with his friendly chat asking about our travels, but I knew time was short and this wouldn’t just be a see you in six months visit.

5 xrays later, I had a choice to make, keep a tooth and spend money on it, or loose it. It’s one of my main chewers so at the moment I’ve opted to keep it, just could do with a set design fee to pay for the work! Three new appoitments in the diary, hopefully coinciding with us being in Birmingham or an easy train journey back. I suspect there will be more once the first stage of treatment is done.

It’s easy finding your way into New Street Station, I just wish it was simple coming out of it. I was soon back alongside the Wolverhampton 21, one boat spyed going down. Recent reports from NB Alchemy and NB Bonjour have been that the majority of the locks were empty as they came down the flight, which will be good for us when we go up.

Mick had moved a touch further on, not very far but away from where he felt we were on the end of the lock landing. I’d noticed he’d been on the move with messages coming from our Nebo link, even if it didn’t show an actual journey as he’d only moved 50 yards or so.

A catch up between ourselves. A chat about possible places for me to return to the dentist from and did we need to have a trip to Scarborough to fill up our compost bins. An email was sent to somewhere we’ve made deposits before to see if they still take them. After finishing off the chilli I’d made last night, we settled down to watch the next episode of Narrow Escapes. No need for the stove today as the temperature had risen. Infact we had the side hatch open until after 8pm listening to the moorers enjoying their first evening sitting out this year.

1 lock, 0.4 miles, 2 budges up along the way, 1 full water tank, 1 load washing, 1st in the queue, 1 empty yellow water tank, 1 bully boy on its way, 2 trains, 1 expensive tooth, 1 membership signed up to, 15% discount not to be missed, 7 more lemon biscuits, 1 broken down boat heading to Ireland? 1 miffed off cat.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/tFXgHbWvbBmwXc3o6

It’s Neither. 26th April

Between Locks 45 and 44

An early start for Mick who left the boat before 8am and walked up the towpath to the station. NB Halsall was above the top lock and by the time Mick got on the train they were pulling in behind a few other boats waiting for the first passage through Harecastle Tunnel. After stoaking the fire, Tilly and I enjoyed a cuppa in bed.

***It’s a nice day to go friend hunting***

Boats started to come past, an almost constant stream of them up towards the tunnel, being met by down hill traffic. Most boats slowly passed as their crews walked from lock to lock. Others sped past aiming for a lock in their favour, this made for a bumpy morning.

A walk up the towpath to visit both Tescos and the new Lidl. Lidl doesn’t have much in the way of gluten free items so the extra paces were worth it for my prefered breakfast cereal and yoghurt. The remainder of my list was done at Lidl. Last time we were through here I don’t think the store had opened, so it was nice to see that there was access to the towpath just above the locks. As I headed back down the hill, NB Autumn Haze were just turning onto the Macclesfield and another boat we’d seen in Middlewich was climbing the last couple of locks to the summit of the Trent and Mersey.

Meanwhile, Mick’s journey back to Scarborough had him pass the cooling towers in Willington. The River Ouse in York was back within it’s banks and boats were moored at the bottom of the Museum Gardens. In Scarborough he made his way to the hospital where he was almost an hour early for his appointment. A wait of twenty minutes before he was seen. His ultrasound to check for an abdominal aortic aneurysm took about ten minutes. It was clear, no babies and no aneurysm. So no knitting of diddy baby socks required.

**The most we’ve seen of our bluebells for years!**

After lunch he headed to the house to pick up a box from when the bully boy batteries were delivered, bulky but light he managed it back to the station and started his return journey. Connections meant that he was back in Kidsgrove a little before 9pm.

Tilly and I had a quiet afternoon. She tried to bring a friend home, but didn’t suceed and I gave the inside of Oleanna a bit of a tidy and sweep through. Then the sock knitting came out and I watched Effie Gray (2014). The film is based on the true story of Euphemia Gray, a Scottish model and writer. She married John Ruskin and moved down to London to live with his parents. Their marriage was never consumated and was finally annulled leaving Effie free to marry again. Her second husband being John Everett Millais the Pre-Raphaelite artist. Throughout there are numerous images based on paintings of the time. A suitable film for a Friday afternoons knitting.

0 locks, 0 miles, 14 tickets, 7 trains, 10 minutes of ultrasound, 0 girls, 0 boys, 0 aneurysm, 3 bags shopping, pair 17 nearly finished, 1 barred cat and friend.

Soggy Socks And Paws. 16th April

Bollington Underpass

No tea in bed this morning, Lemsip instead. Fortunatly Mick was starting to feel improved. He did plenty of chores, filling the coal skuttle, got another bag of coal off the roof. Emptied the ash pan and left the bin on the stern deck for ease of access. Between us we emptied the yellow water tank. Then he packed a bag.

**Why can’t she clean her paws before coming in?!**

A doctors appointment, dentist, an engineer coming to sort something on our new boiler and a turn around of lodgers have all nicely fitted into a few days, so Mick was headed back to Scarborough. We could have stayed in Manchester making the journey back shorter, but for a few days that wouldn’t have been so good for Tilly. A bus would take Mick to Altringham where he’d then get a tram before a train to York, then another to Scarborough. I wonder when/if they will ever reinstate the through trains to Scarborough?

**Thank goodness Mick didn’t have a Vicar of Dibley moment!**

But first he had to negotiate the underpass! This leads from the towpath to Little Bollington where he’d catch a bus. With all the rain this year this has become a small lake and with a bus due Mick had to walk through it, deeper than his shoes! Soggy feet for the rest of his journey. I had been thinking of a walk into Dunham Massey, if I do I’ll be digging my wellies out!

**I hope I can do better than the gaffa tape**

Tilly and I pottered away the day. Some mending of Mick’s slipper required. It was coming away from it’s sole and he’s worn a hole in the toe of it! Being sheepskin and very good for keeping your feet warm they need mending as the left foot is still very much in good order. Uhu used as a contact adhesive stuck the sole back on. Then I cut a patch to cover the toe from an old Ugg boot that moths had attacked in the house. I’ll leave the glue to go off overnight and then have a go at stitching the patch on. I’m not looking forward to that bit!

A few last ends to weave in on some socks. Six pairs now waiting to be sent off. First they needed their photos taking. Then the next pair were cast on whilst watching The Duchess 2008. The period drama based on the true story of Georgina Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. The line on the poster says it all really, ‘There were three people in her marriage.’ It stars Keira Knightley and Ralph Feinnes and won Best Costume Design in the Academy Awards. The frocks were rather lovely.

The weather has improved, less windy but still the occasional thunder storm. At one point today I wondered if we were taking on water, a distinct bubbling noise coming from close to the hull. It turned out to be rather large hail stones landing in the canal.

I spent as much of the day with my feet up. Over the last week my left foot has become a touch uncomfortable, a bit like having your shoe lace tied too tight. The top of my foot had become a touch fat at the end of days working locks, but last night my ankle had blown up too. Not sure I’d get a shoe on it, so it has been elevated on a stool for as much of the day as possible. It doesn’t hurt, so I’m not sure what has happened.

**A rather nice sunset to do the washing up by**

My plan to walk round Dunham Massey, have a bus ride into Altringham to visit Alty Market are on hold. I need my ankle to be better for the Cheshire Locks, it would also be handy if it fitted into a shoe!

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 bus, 1 tram, 2 trains, 1 doctors appointment, 6 pairs ready, 1 very wet sock, 1 slipper stuck down, 1 sheepskin patch cut, 4 muddy paws, 119 photos on a none moving day, 1 flooded underpass, 1 fat ankle.

15.25 pairs knitted

37 pairs spoken for

36.75 to go

£825 raised so far

https://www.justgiving.com/page/pip-leckenby-1704636205453?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fpip-leckenby-1704636205453&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna

Category Archives: Medical

Ronnie, Tinkerbell And The Queen. 19th July

A Butty In Wycombe. 18th July

Beware Of Black Jack. 16th July

Lunch Break. 15th July

Early Start, Early Finish. 25th June

Bloomin’ Heck. 14th May

Gailey Walking. 2nd May

But Which Way! 1st May

It’s Neither. 26th April

Soggy Socks And Paws. 16th April