Category Archives: Pantomime

The Hunt For Oleanna. 21st October

Scarboreugh / Redhill Marina

The last week has whizzed by. It hasn’t taken us long to get back into the swing of house living. The first veg box arrived with giant onions and a whole lot of fresh organic goodness, the cauliflower did us for three tasty meals it was so big! After the first couple of days Tilly has gone into her house hibernation and is asleep most days until 3pm when she deems it is time for her evening dingding!

I’ve packed up a box of painty stuff to head down to Chippy ahead of my arrival. Constant phone calls from the set builder keeps me on my toes, plus messages from the props team and production manager, there are days when I hardly get chance for a peaceful walk around Scarborough.

On Sunday we managed a walk down to the seafront, a charity run taking place. The bridge to the Lighthouse is currently stuck in up mode so right now you can’t do a loop around the harbour. But the donkeys are still on the beach, maybe they’ll get time off when half term has been and gone. By Monday our colds were deemed no longer contagious, so we had a visit from Frank. He was on good form and talked to us for about an hour over a cuppa, we hardy managed to get a word in edgeways!

Today we were on a train at just gone 9am, heading southwards to East Midlands Parkway. Train timetables are such that we’d arrive at York just as the train we want is leaving, if the two trains connected it would save an hour on our journey, but such is. So we at least get a view of the North Sea and the Humber on our way via Hull and Sheffield, a route we are quite familiar with. The train goes through Goole where we’ve moored for the last few winters, it’s just a shame that we still have another two hours to sit on a train to reach Oleanna this winter. Our next trip down may well be by car.

Sat right under the cooling towers of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, East Midlands Parkway is an odd station, the steps up from the platforms have been there a while, but look like they are washed down everyday. The waiting rooms are large, a cafe, a big car park and then one of those roads off a motorway that seems to go to nowhere, except this one goes to the station and Redhill Marina. We’d both looked on Google to see if there might be a direct footpath, but no, the car park is in the way!

As we walked in we looked round at the boats on hard standing, no sign of Oleanna. Where was she? No sign of her out near what they call the hill where grit blasting is done. But time was ticking on, the marina cafe would be closing soon and it was a long time since breakfast. They had gluten free bread so we both had sandwiches and a large pot of tea to share. Very nice and reasonable. If we end up staying a night I now know I could have a very naughty, but nice, cooked breakfast as their sausages are GF.

Next we headed to see Mandy in the office to do the paperwork. She’d taken our money for lift out and hard standing before she’d headed on holiday. We’d left the form we’d been given on Oleanna and not filled it in in advance, so some of the boxes, like Boat Safety and Insurance couldn’t be filled in as the information wasn’t at our finger tips, so we’ll have to send them via email. I missed all this as Jamie called from Dawlish to check heights of windows and positioning of braces for panto.

So where was Oleanna? A chap driving a JCB was tasked in helping us find her. We’d been warned that the marina is a working environment and you certainly have to keep an eye on where you are walking, the ground is lumpy and not the tidiest of places. The chap pointed to Oleanna’s pram hood, there she was. We now just needed a ladder to be able to climb aboard. A wooden one was found for us.

We’d forgotten to take our sack barrow and the Brompton to the house with us last week, and my painty long handled small roller pole can now go back to being just that rather than a mooring aid for chains round armco.

Whilst Mick checked everything was okay with the solar etc, I got the tape measure out to calculate how long a hook up cable we’d be needing if we want to plug in. The nearest board worked out to be 37m away! Our current hook up cable is 10m. However the board we’d been pointed towards didn’t have a suitable spare outlet for us. A look around gave us another option which was maybe a few more meters away. Is it worth spending the money on an extra long hook up cable? It will mean the router can be put back on and Mick can keep an eye on everything and should it become really cold the electric heating would be able to kick in.

I emptied and filled all the damp traps around the boat. Cushions were lifted and cupboards opened to help with airflow. Mick tidied the roof, bringing in anything that might get blown away.

An inspection of Oleanna’s hull. She was last out of the water in 2021 when she was blacked, she had new anodes added then. The old and new ones, looked to me to be in a similar state to each other. We’ll see what other people think nearer the time to her repaint about them. Back in 2021 large areas of blacking came off with the jet wash, not being able to get her grit blasted back then, the chaps did as best they could grinding off any 2 pack that was loose. Today there were areas that could have been better, but I personally had been expecting worse. We could also spot areas that were missed when the top coat was applied four years ago, the coats underneath go grey after a while. When Oleanna is repainted she will be fully grit blasted, then 2 pack blacking is applied everywhere, not just to the hull and base plate, but also the cabin sides. This time she should have blacking that lasts that bit longer as it won’t be painted onto any mill scale.

**Everything left open for air circulation**

A final check to see if she was happy where she was, she’s still smiling, with her red lipstick! All covers poppered down, I gave her a pat as we walked away. Mick will be down sometime over the coming weeks to check on her, he may well stay over as the journey is quite a long one.

The door to the painters workshop was closed, aromas of paint coming from their extractor. Either they were busy or they had gone home for the day. We opted to send Tom an email and headed back the twenty minute walk to the station.

Free reading matter was picked up at the station, but I only looked at the pictures and hunted through Vogue for the fragrance samples I remembered as a kid, Vogue was the only magazine my mum got. Yes there are still samples, in slightly different format.

Up to Sheffield. We managed to get ourselves seats on the train to Scarborough which was good as there ended up being not much standing room left, but by Hull the train had thinned out, by Scarborough we were the only ones in our carriage. Unfortunately there were trespassers on the line so our train was delayed. Then at Bridlington we were delayed further as ahead there is a stretch of single track and we had to wait for the south bound train to arrive before we could carry on north. We were guaranteed to be shouted at by Tilly when we got home, she did not disappoint, WHERE’S MY DINGDING!!! You said you might be a bit late but it’s over twenty seven cat naps late!!!!

0 locks, 0 miles, 4 trains, 1 delay repay applied for, 1 cat home alone, 2 cobs, 1 large pot of tea, 1 form still to be filled in, 1 hunt for Oleanna, 1 wooden ladder, 8 cooling towers, 1 bazar station, 2 hours before return, 2 mini socks, 1 very hungry cat.

Packing Onto The Stern. 13th October

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Trent Lock to Redhill Marina

This mooring hasn’t been so enticing to Tilly this time around, maybe there are no friends left from our previous visits recently. She still managed a few minutes out on the towpath before returning to snooze in front of the stove.

**Quite picturesque, just a worry with the proximity of the weir!**

Breakfasted we made ready to push off. Not far today, but a move we couldn’t put off. This morning was a bit misty, but the cooling towers were still in view, just the tall chimney disappeared into the clouds. We turned left towards the River Soar. There has been a small cruiser sat down towards the weir for some time, it looks well settled, engulfed by its own island of pennywort.

**Oleanna’s last lock of the year and in her current livery**

Soon the red hill comes into view, then the houses built on stilts to be above flooding, then a few boats, then Redhill Flood Lock. This, even though we’d only be going straight through it today, would be Oleanna’s last lock for this year.

There was no gap outside the cafe or marina offices, so we breasted up next to a boat and went to see if anyone was in the office. Mandy was away on holiday, we’d paid in advance over the phone last week, but Graham would be about somewhere. Mick rang the number on the door, an old chap answered, asked lots of questions, maybe this was the owner. He’d let Graham know we were about.

By now a boat had pulled off from in front of the cafe, so we nudged along and tied as close to the bank as we could, the bottom being a touch too close to get right in. Graham came over to say hello, asked if before we left if Oleanna could be winded to face the slipway, then she could be bow hauled onto the trolley and pulled out by tractor. Sadly we won’t be around to see that.

**Oleanna is likely to sit in the shadow of these towers for a while**

After a bowl of soup and finishing off some bread from the freezer we walked up to see if we could say hello to Tom who will be giving Oleanna her repaint. Our slot is still some time away, but we thought we’d just let him know we were here now. However Tom had headed off early today, much better than watching paint dry.

**If dog’s are not allowed off lead here, then cats most certainly are not allowed out!**

No shore leave for Tilly and time to start packing things up. It’s always hard to know where to start. Knitting and socks first. I still have so much yarn! Then I moved onto work things, digging out bits that had been stored under the dinette and in cupboards. I don’t think I’ll get the chance to return to Oleanna before I head to Chippy so I need to be thorough.

Usually when we move back to the house Mick heads off to pick up a van from Scarborough, by the time he’s returned I’ve got quite a lot packed that goes straight into the van, then more packing can happen. This time is different.

***I’m going to stay here and guard Oleanna***

We needed to pack as much as possible, the stern under the pram hood was filled with boxes and a few bits ended up in the cratch too trying to equal the weight out, then the dinette started to fill up. We stopped when it was time for some food. More still to be done in the morning.

***There’s stuff down there that needs packing!***

Tilly quite enjoyed it all, getting to places she’s normally not allowed. The SECRET PASSAGEWAY!!! Then she tries to help by checking what is stored under the bed and being in the way of us lifting the lid. There’s nothing in here yet! The holdall soon filled up. Hopefully we’ll have enough Ikea bags, boxes and crates for everything!

During the day I’d had numerous messages about panto frames, a constant stream of whatsapp from the props maker, then more from the production manager, two ideal chairs that were to be picked up this week had been sold to someone else! Grrr!!!!

Chilli from the freezer tonight, it is almost empty, just one crust of bread and one bread roll left.

0 locks, 0.6 miles, 1 left, 1 flood lock, 2 bowls of soup, 6 ikea bags, 1 holdall, 1 empty space beneath the dinette, 1 quizzical cat, 1 hour in the passageway, 1 last night onboard, 2 lemsips before bed, 1 cat caravan hiding in the cratch.

https://what3words.com/birds.comically.sleepers

Fizzing Sinks. 12th October

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Trent Junction

Trent Junction was shrouded in mist this morning. It got worse as the hours went on, the sailing club opposite becoming a misty blurr by mid morning. No rush to do anything today. Mick was still snotty, but improving and so far, fingers crossed I’ve not succumbed to it. Papers were read in bed as the white mist enveloped more of our view.

Brandy snaps, Potato bobbing, underpass trees, contrary jasmine and frying pan discipline were subjects on the Geraghty zoom. Some people had views of the sky, others didn’t.

Chicken sausage sarnies for breakfast, not as good as a pork banger, but a more healthy treat from the freezer.

I spent much of the morning going through what flora we’d be needing for panto. So many roses and after the near mutiny a couple of weeks ago I’m hoping there will be enough money in the budget for what we need. I put together a long email with links and off it went to the Production Manager, fingers crossed.

Over the weekend Chippy posted a video across their social media with quite a nice view of my model.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1D8BXXUZQ1

Emails about props started whizzing around again today, so hopefully things will get cracking.

Oleanna’s sinks needed some attention, a clean out of the pipes. A few days ago I bought some bicarb of soda and white vinegar. Reading up about it, you pour the bicarb down the plug hole, then add a similar quantity of vinegar. Pop the plug in and leave it for a while before rinsing everything through with a kettle of boiling water.

I had a go at the bathroom sink first. The bicarb took a bit of persuading to go down the plug, then adding the vinegar created an expected frothing, plug in quickly. I then took the shower plug to bits, cleared out all my hair, then did the bicarb and vinegar trick. This of course on the shower would only reach the section before the gulper pump. It was left to fizz, hoping it was doing what it’s meant to.

An hour later I returned to the bathroom, kettle poured down the plug hole and pump turned on. Well I’m not convinced it’s done much other than a chemical reaction, but it was fun watching the frothing!

**The end of Harrington Mill from the footbridge**

Time for a walk, somewhere I’d not been recently. I opted to walk up the Erewash to Long Eaton Lock. Here a footbridge spans the canal, but to reach it you have to literally walk around the houses to find it. Along Milner Road are a series of single story mills. These mills superseded the larger multistoried lace factories that are across the canal. The large factories were driven by steam and had built in fire breaks and staircases on the outer walls should a fire break out. These smaller factories from around 1903 had DC powered motors to drive the machinery.

Across the bridge into West Park. This is a huge park which gradually expanded through the decades, it started off at 17 acres in 1905 and by 1949 it had expanded to 127 acres. Long Eaton is prone to flooding, so the park is used as a flood plane capable of holding 67 million gallons of flood water which can then be slowly released into the Trent. The flood banks make for a nice walk around the southern side of the park.

I then walked down snickets (ginnels, alleyways). More factories passed and quite a selection of graffiti, the best artist being Soap. Then down towards the river across fields close to Sawley. I chanced walking across the golf course, only one shout of FOUR! I think aimed at me, I had waited quite a while and hoped to be out of all possible areas of golf balls. I didn’t get hit, so that was fine.

Back along the river bank to Trent Lock, the cooling towers looking quite majestic in the lowering sunshine. I came across an article the other day in the AJ about them. The Twentieth Century Society had applied for them to be listed, but sadly their application was denied.

Back at Oleanna there were more props emails to look at whilst I put together a roast pork slop, the last left over pork, onion, red pepper, mushrooms, and tomatoes, brought up to heat and then popped on the stove top. A long chat with Lizzie up in Crick and then the final episode of Blue Lights was watched. Now just have to catch up on Bake Off and start Riot Women.

**Sun setting at Trent Lock for the last time this year**

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 slow morning, 3 freelancers emailing away, 300 plus roses, 26 garlands, 1 box tissues blown, 2 sinks fizzed, 1 not so bothered cat, 99 minutes brisk walking, 1 nearly empty freezer, 1 last cooling tower sunset.

Kind Tissues. 11th October

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Trent Junction

I took over the tea making duties this morning, one mug actually being Lemsip. The fire was stoked up and a shopping list put together. Mick stayed in bed for a snooze, I headed out to stock up on tissues that would be kind to noses and more cold drugs, plus a Saturday newspaper.

A couple of boats had moved off this morning from above Trent Lock, they’d been there on the 2 day mooring with all the other boats for getting on for at least two weeks. Maybe we’d move up ourselves, but with Mick full of cold we opted to stay put. Tilly stayed by the stove all morning but ventured out later on.

**Samuel Clegg’s Arts and Crafts house, click photo for more info**

I’d got boat jobs on my list for today, but with a snoozing Mick I postponed them until he was awake in the afternoon. Yesterday when mooring up I felt like something was missing. Where was the rosemary plant? We’d had it when mooring up at County Hall Steps as it got moved into the cratch to avoid being blown away by Storm Amy. Neither of us remembered moving it to get the hook up cable out from a welldeck locker when in the marina. Where had it gone? Maybe one of us had lifted it out of the cratch for some reason, or maybe an opportunist had picked it up when we’d stopped for soup the other day. That’s two plants down this year, the Thyme hadn’t liked being in Leeds and totally gave up when I re-potted it. Have to put some herbs on my Christmas list!

***I’ve used this outside all up now, can I have a new one?***

More links came through for pieces of furniture for panto, then some light fittings. Some perfect chairs and a choice of tables. Then a very long email from the props maker who has been very quiet since our four hour long meeting a few weeks ago. They’ve not got started yet for one reason or another, which is a touch worrying. But then they are only contracted to do a weeks work prior to rehearsals starting. I’m really hoping props don’t become bum squeakingly worrying!

The latest trailer for panto is out with a nice view of my model in it. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1D8BXXUZQ1

With Mick now up and about, blowing his nose still, I could get on with the autumn job of cleaning the window frames out. Normally this requires a touch of gardening as seeds green things have taken hold, but today there were only a couple of blades of grass. The fluffy strip the glazing sits on normally is quite gunky, however since the summer has been so dry this was not the case.

Each window came out, had a good clean on both sides. The grooves they sit in were hoovered and washed out and then the most important job making sure all the drain holes were clear. Ten year old cotton buds are bent to get through all the holes. It’s amazing just how much York silt we still had on the starboard side. Tilly got a touch confused when one window was lying on the sofa, The view wasn’t as good as I remembered it!

Stir fried chicken with noodles, followed by crumble and custard. The next pair of socks are nearly completed.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 cold Mick, 1 newspaper, 2 boxes tissues, 2 lemsips, 49 brisk minutes, 7 windows cleaned, 2 kitchen still to do, 1 level mooring required, 2 chairs, 1 table, 1 flurry of emails.

Autumnal Crumble. 10th October

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Beeston Changeline Bridge 19 to Trent Junction, again

A morning call from the set builder for panto interrupted my morning stretches. This was followed by several photos being sent to me, the workshop down in Dawlish in full swing making market stalls, there’s always a market or town square in Panto Land.

I walked up to the water point as Mick brought Oleanna. An angler had set themselves up on the service mooring. I explained that we’d be wanting to fill with water and needed to moor exactly where they were. They’d been down on the river when a sluice had been opened and got soaked, so they’d decided whilst drying off to come onto the canal. They moved up and Oleanna could pull in to fill up the water tank and make use of the elsan.

In yesterdays Boaters Update from CRT, there had been a section on Customer Facilities. Essential facilities, water points, rubbish, elsan and pump outs are set to have a boost over the coming seasons with a £4.5 million investment to standardise and improve them across the network. However, ‘Facilities that fall outside of the essential provision include showers, public toilets, washing machines, and tumble driers. As part of Phase 2 of the policy review and implementation, we are offering boaters and user groups the opportunity to lease and maintain shower and toilet facilities. Excluding the small number of showers and toilets where we have already received an expression of interest, and some toilets at key visitor destinations, all other non-essential facilities will be closed from Monday 3 November. Essential facilities housed in the same buildings as closed toilets or showers will remain available.‘ This will save the Trust around £2 million a year.

The majority of boaters now have showers and toilets on board, many have washing machines too, so other than having to top up and empty your tanks more often it really shouldn’t be that much of a problem for many. However, there are the few especially on older boats, who do not have so many home comforts. Coal boats, their boats are pretty basic and the nature of their jobs is dirty. Kat on NB Bargus currently only has one shower along her coal run, from 3rd November she won’t have that unless it is adopted by local boaters.

A boater moored in the winding hole asked if they could borrow our hose when we’d finished filling up, his hose didn’t reach up to the tap. We gave him a top up whilst I set the lock, his engine not working. Shame there wasn’t room for his broken down boat on the other side, but then that seems to be filled with either engine problems or long term health issues, there seems to be an epidemic of such things around Nottingham!

One cruiser has moved off the lock landing on the river side since we were last here, so at least it is easier to pull in to drop and pick crew up now.

Onwards up stream. Quite a grey chilly day out on the river. One of the houses on the south bank looks to have been recently underpinned, if that’s what you call it. New big I beams hold the house up hopefully high enough to be out of danger from flood waters.

At the shallow section Mick avoided us scraping the bottom as we’d done heading down stream, the current pulling us across towards the warning sign, the cruiser still tied to trees on the offside.

As we came in towards Cranfleet Lock we could see a boat was waiting below. We’d seen this boat yesterday moored at a very cautious distance away from Castle Lock in Nottingham whilst the crew went to set it. The number of fenders (possibly 20) suggested that they are always cautious no matter what. A boat came out of the lock, then we joined the cautious boat.

I chatted to the lady as we filled the chamber, they have travelled all over, this summer they’d been up the Chesterfield, half way and then to Lincoln. It was only as the boats were leaving the lock that I twigged the boats name NB Pretty Amazing Grace, we’d shared West Stockwith Lock with them when we headed to Cromwell. They are headed back to base now for the winter.

Up towards Trent Junction was popular today as I walked ahead. I called Mick to suggest he slowed down in case there was no space for Oleanna, he’d be able to pull in short of the railway bridges as there was space there. But I was able to give him the go ahead as I rounded the slight bend and could see a big gap, the space with a view that we like. We pulled in, opened the doors for Tilly. Soon Mick realised that there was a wasps next in the bank, thankfully there was enough space to pull back so we weren’t right alongside it.

The Thank you for coming home! Dreamies pot became empty. Just what was I going to do?! Thank goodness it has just been my birthday, the pot magically filled up. Catnip flavour, Brilliant!

This afternoon many lock flights around the country have reopened to help boaters get back to their home moorings after the drought this summer. Come November the winter stoppages will start and many canals will close again. The South Oxford remains closed at present, a window of opportunity later in the month. Here’s hoping those who need to move have enough water to do so as there is little rain in the forecast at present.

As I cooked our Szechuan pork this evening photos of furniture for panto were coming through from the Production Manager, it seems there is far more choice around Bristol than I’d found around Chippy. Hopefully a few gaps are now being plugged.

There was a tupperware of frozen blackberries in the freezer that I’d picked when on the Chesterfield so I made those into a crumble which will provide us with pudding for a few nights, custard already purchase back in Nottingham.

As we caught up on this weeks Traitors, Mick was blowing his nose, more frequently than normally. Looks like we’re in for a cold, here’s hoping it’s not covid!

2 locks, 5.5 miles, 1 full water tank, -1 boat, 1 soggy angler, 4 hours improved shore leave, 1 full pot, 2 stalls, 1 blackboard, 1 kitchen dresser, 1 table, 2 chairs, 1 list of props,1 dish of autumnal crumble.

https://what3words.com/verse.beans.focal

Toilet Roll And Tinned Spinach. 8th October

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Castle Marina and Scarborough

A request from the set builders came in this morning that hadn’t been passed onto me a while ago, could I edit the drawings so they only had the pieces they were building? Yes, but I only had limited time, I did as best I could and emailed them back. Bags were packed and Tilly’s biscuit bowl filled to the top along with tonight’s ding ding being put out before 11am! Brilliant! Don’t eat it all at once, it’s got to last you!

We were headed for the station and a train to Sheffield then a following one onto Scarborough. A four hour journey, the same amount of time it takes one of our lodgers to do door to door Scarborough to Brentford and we were only travelling from Nottingham.

As we passed the Humber Bridge sand banks could be seen, the tide was out. Hull Paragon Station is a dead end, so the train here heads out the way it came in requiring a change of seats to get the best view of the North Sea near Bridlington.

We walked to our house, lodgers busy doing a matinee of the latest Alan Ayckbourn play Earth Angel. I checked in with Frank, we opened mail, pulled out various bits from upstairs upstairs, then headed to the SJT to Eatme for a meal before watching the show.

Mick opted to have a steak and ale pie with roast potatoes whilst I had one of their burgers. This now seams to be what we do when we attend a show at the SJT, not a bad tradition, just so long as we don’t do it too often!

Before the show there was enough time for me to walk back to the house to collect Mick’s pills that he’d left, timings of one of his new drugs had been impressed on him by Derby Hospital. I was back in good time for the show.

Earth Angel may not sound like a barrel of laughs when you read the blurb about it. Gerald’s wife has recently passed away, at her wake neighbours fuss over him, but who is this stranger in their midst? He seems nice enough, but what are his motives? Should Gerald’s family be involved. What ensues is amusing observation, division, trust, mistrust, grief, social media, speculation becoming reality. It made for a very good evening’s entertainment. If you are around Newcastle-under-Lyme or Bowness where it is heading, it’s worth a visit to the theatre to catch it on tour.

Post show we caught up with our lodgers, Liza and Stuart along with Liz and Sue, sadly the bar wasn’t open so it was a chat in the foyer before we all headed off home. It had been a long day for them all, tomorrow will be even longer with two shows plus a talk back after the second show. Another good visit to the SJT.

**It’s a long time since I’ve seen SO much Andrex!**

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 trains, 1 taxi, 85 brisk minutes, 4 walks between house and theatre, 1 caravan, 2 lodgers, 1 SM, 1 production manager back, 1 more missing message, 1 props assistant, 2 pedalling videos, 1 pie, 1 burger, 2 beers, 91st Ayckbourn, 1 Tilly left in charge.

Tucked Away In The Corner. 7th October

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County Hall Steps to Castle Marna, Nottingham

Whilst we had breakfast there seemed to be a mass exodus from the steps, one boat just turned out to be winding so they could sand their starboard side gunnel. The boat behind us pulled out, beeping their horn to warn nearby rowers that they were turning. Mick had chance to ask which way they were headed, up onto the cut, we’d be a little while yet dropping our covers, so he suggested they shouldn’t wait for us.

Once we were ready I opted to walk to the lock. Wilford Suspension Bridge closed to pedestrians today whilst the love locks were removed and TV camera crews did interviews as men used big bolt croppers to snip the padlocks from the mesh. How insignificant Oleanna looked as she headed back down stream towards Meadow Lane Lock.

The boat ahead, NB Olivella, had already cleared the lock when I arrived, it just needed emptying then the bottom gates opening. Mick loitered below, then brought Oleanna into the lock and off the river which over the last few days has stayed in the green on the level board despite Storm Amy.

We’d a load of washing on the go and wanted to top up with water at the services, NB Olivella had done the same, so we had quite a long wait to be able to use the tap. Time to check emails and messages. Another from the printers, they so don’t understand about 20% fullness! I have to admit to giving up and giving them the go ahead to print, the width of the print is after all finally correct. But I have no idea if the front cloth will arrive gathered or just flat. If it’s flat then that will be another job that someone will need to do. I messaged the Production Manager about it.

Whilst we waited I made use of the parsnips we still had and made a pan of parsnip and apple soup for lunch, it was ready and zuzzed smooth before our water tank was full.

A CRT work party were busy cutting back the undergrowth along the towpath. A whistle was blown when boats or pedestrians were about to pass so the strimmers could pause. NB Olivella had pulled in, not where you’d choose to pull in. A pair of overalls and some orange mesh fencing had wrapped itself around their prop, all was clear now so we’d be able to share Castle Lock.

**My windlass has not been used so much as in most years**

I walked ahead to set the lock. A CRT chap walked up and offered to wind the paddle I was already lifting up. No Thanks, I’m fine. He then walked over to the weir to make sure it was clear of debris. Despite not quite reaching our destination for the day we pulled over near the footbridge for lunch. Silt keeping us from pulling right in, this explained why no boats had been moored there when we’ve passed recently. It didn’t matter to us, we were close enough to enjoy our bowl of soup and some toast.

Not much further we turned into Castle Marina and pulled onto their service pontoon. Time to check in and find out where we would be mooring. The marina has looked a bit sorry for itself for at least a year now, quite a few pontoons have been condemned and we were warned not to venture onto them. But Aquavista are planning a £1.5 million refurb, which the staff were excited to tell us would be starting in the spring.

Our mooring was down the far end, tucked in between a couple of boats so we reversed in so we could step off Oleanna’s stern as we’d not have a pontoon. We plugged into the electric and started to make use of the full water tank, several loads more washing followed the one we’d done on our way. Washing hung out in the pram cover and cratch to dry.

I made a shopping list up and headed over to Sainsburys, returning with what I hope will be just the right amount of fresh food, including a couple of naughty treats, one being a Sainsburys curry.

2 locks, 2.5 miles, 2 lefts, 3 winds, 1 full water tank, 1 vat of soup, 1 boat tucked in at the end, 5 meals worth, 4 loads washing, 2 bully boy batteries charged to 100%, 1 very bored cat.

https://what3words.com/length.wires.email

Trams And Trees. 6th October

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County Hall Steps

My turn today for a flu jab, sadly I don’t get a free one, too young. Last year I opted for a jab as we had David staying at the house and the Christmas show company in Scarborough were passing something round that I really didn’t want. Best to keep on with it as I’ll soon be mixing with numerous people in Chippy.

I marched up into the city centre, a mile and a half away to the chemists Mick had been to, I’d managed to book an appointment yesterday. A sit around for a while before I was seen and a complimentary blood pressure check was thrown in, well I’m over 40 so they get offered. Then back through town. A far more direct route was found than Google had been offering me.

**Standing in This Place by Rachel Carter**

Mick had tried calling Castle Marina on Saturday to see if they might be able to accommodate Oleanna for a couple of nights, he’d even filled out a mooring request form on line. Tumble weed. He had a go at ringing them again this morning and finally had luck. We were found on their system and quoted £19 a night including electric. He booked us in. Our other options had been to moor on the towpath in Beeston, or to have spent a couple of days going up the Erewash Canal to Langley Mill. Oleanna has yet to go up the Erewash, but we’d rather not be on a schedule and have spare days should there be any problems with levels.

**We’ll need a bigger bag than this when we go away!**

Over lunch we put the rest of our plan into action, booking train tickets, theatre tickets, checking there’d be room for us and booking a table to eat. Now we just had to decide what to do with the rest of the day.

The Justice Museum? Some art? It was a lovely warm day so we opted to stay outdoors.

We walked up stream to catch a tram to the other side of Nottingham, hopping off at the High School stop. This is very close to the uphill entrance to the Arboretum. I’d downloaded a PDF guide to the special trees so we knew where to find them as we sauntered around.

**A very nice place to sit in the sunshine**

The Arboretum is the oldest park in Nottingham, opened in 1852 by Mayor, Mr W Felkin and the Sheriff of the Borough, Mr Ball, in front of 30,000 people. It has a collection of over 800 trees some of which date back to the parks opening day. Today it is very popular with students, Nottingham Trent University more or less surrounding the park.

Way back in my twenties I applied to Trent Poly to do Theatre Design, in fact I applied two years running and was rejected twice. I don’t think I could talk the Trendy Bollocks* they wanted. I wonder where I’d have ended up had I been admitted. Have to say the day after my second interview I had my second interview at Croydon College (they’d offered me a place the year before), a more practical course. As I walked into the interview the course leader and scenic tutor welcomed me back and I realised I’d only wanted to go to Trent because it was still in the north! I’m quite happy they rejected me now.

**Quite a few of the trees have lines round them, what’s this about? Anyone know?**

In the park there were 36 trees for us to spot, all with signs by their trunks so it wasn’t hard. They ranged from a Red Oak to a Pagoda Tree to an Armenian Hawthorn to an Indian Horse Chestnut and possibly the oldest tree in the park the Cut-leaf Alder which is nearing its end, no leaves to show us today.

There’s a band stand, which had its shutters down. A Chinese Bell Tower with canons facing out to each corner. A fruit and Nut garden still in its early stages of growth. The Aviaries. Here it took us a while to see any birds. Locals donate birds which are cared for by the park staff. There were four of five Cockatiels with their blusher pink cheeks. The circular Aviary is Grade 2 and was built in 1892. Not only did birds inhabit the aviary, but there were famous visitors to the park, Henry the Goose and Cocky the Cockatoo who was brought to the gardens to amuse the children, a local paper reported his death at the alleged age of 114.

This morning I’d had the set builder of panto call and this afternoon there was yet another set of proofs to approve for the printing. I went through them with a fine tooth comb, raising a couple of questions. Either I’m not making sense, or the company have come from a very different background to theatre so the language is different between industries. Hopefully soon, very soon they’ll press the big red PRINT button.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 trams, 1 jab, 2 high, 1 cupboard to another, 98 brisk minutes, 2 interviews remembered, 1 trip coming together, 0 chocolate, 0 crumble again, 0 soup again, 36 trees, well 800, 4 canons, 1 final email?! 2 plates of creamy cabbage chicken pasta.

*Trendy Bollocks. A line from the play Beautiful People by Neil Monaghan, produced in October 2002 at the SJT.

Amy’s On Her Way. 3rd October

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Stoke Lock to Nottingham County Hall Steps

**There seem to be so many Egrets on the Trent this year**

Mick showed me the old drive plate this morning. It’s not meant to turn, well only if something goes wrong and it’s designed to be the thing that breaks protecting the gear box. Turning it over we could see how much it was moving about sideways too.

With the hope of not getting wet we wanted to be off and away in good time, but as we pushed off it started to spit, this gradually increased to light rain as we headed up stream waving goodbye to Stoke Lock. That’s another lock on the River Trent where we’ve had an incident of some sort, we’re up to three now!

At the 5km mark Mick radioed ahead to Holme Lock, the volunteer answered very quickly. He’d have the lock ready and waiting for us, ‘Come in on the green’. Walking through Oleanna I popped my waterproof trousers on, no point in getting soggy whilst penning up in the lock!

**It was good to be back on the move** **even if we got wet!**

Holme Lock is such a slow riser, but then again it is a big lock. Thankfully all the paddles at the top end work, you’d be there half a life time if they didn’t! More scaffolding was going up on the weir. No moving boats in sight, maybe we’d be the volunteer Lock Keepers only boat today.

A sign on a sunken boat made us both smile. I suspect the owner hasn’t found the situation amusing. You Sank My Battleship. Bankriver, Banksea’s lesser known cousin.

Two cranes were around parts of the new bridge, enclosures created up high and some welding going on. Formers were going together on both banks for concrete, the footings of the bridge soon to be poured. The local news suggested the bridge would be going into position next month sometime.

Under Trent Bridge and to County Hall Steps. Here hopefully we’d be far enough away from trees during Storm Amy. There are rings to tie to, which we’d need to keep an eye on if levels rise, these are quite high up on the steps and selecting the right rings for Oleanna’s length proved a little tricksy, but we got there in the end.

***Not if they’ve any sense in this weather!***

It was now raining pretty heavily. I suggested twenty minutes shore leave to Tilly. She managed to get two steps up the bank and endured twenty seconds before returning for some Dreamies. Rubbish, now I’ve got to use the on board facilities!

Yesterday I’d had a lengthy email from Chippy about the roses we’re aiming to make for panto. Four people had made around 20 in three hours, was this a practical idea? I know I can make at least 4 in an hour, if not 5 or 6 if I really got going. I’d made suggestions to lighten the load from volunteers, cutting the estimated number needing to made from 600 to 250, but we’d need to buy roses to fill the gaps. Jo the General Manager at the theatre had made another 10 at home last night, a bright pink star goes to her. It’s now down to those who hold the purse strings, that’s if they ever reply to emails!

The ducks were having difficulty swimming upstream against the waves and wind. Mick headed out to buy a few things and I walked around the block. This involved crossing Wilford Suspension Bridge. The bridge will be closed for a day next week to remove all the love locks, the owners have been asked to come and remove theirs. Walking along the north bank was quite blustery and I was always aware of the big trees.

I checked Meadow Lane Lock, it was still there, then turned to face the wind, blimey!! Crossing Trent Bridge I tried to keep to the outside edge, the wind pushing me towards the cars, then back along the bank to Oleanna. The wind too strong to have a longer walk today.

When we’d moored up today, Mick had used one of the new fender hooks, hoping it’s lower profile would mean that the pram cover could be poppered down all the way along, leaving little chance for the wind to catch a loose section. He’d used a buoy fender to keep us away from the bank more in the wind. However the weight of the buoy and the wind had meant the fender hook slipped off from the grabrail, thankfully the buoy floats and the boat behind had stopped it from being blown too far, so we didn’t loose the eye. We’ll try a more standard fender from it when the wind has calmed down, but so far it seems that they might be kind to paint work, but lack enough gripability.

Jacket potatoes went in the fire box, the coals not up to full winter heat yet so the potatoes cooked but didn’t get crispy skins. With them we had a chicken coleslaw using up the last of the roast chicken (from the freezer) and various bits of veg.

1 lock, 5.5 miles, 1 soggy morning, 1 far more soggy afternoon, 6 Egrets in flight, 1 NHS letter to London, 1 storm Amy not here yet, 1 noisy night ahead, 23 brisk minutes, 20 seconds, 1 slippy fender hook, 3 jackets, pair 105 knitted, pair 106 designed, 1 rose coup hopefully averted.

Ten Going On Fifty Six. 1st October

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Stoke Lock

My favourite, Webbox for breakfast!!! It’s rare She gives me Webbox, but today She gave me some whilst She and Tom were still in bed! Result! Apparently it’s because today I am ten. I’ve been warned not to expect Webbox every morning just because I’m ten now. Did I mention that I’m ten, She thinks it’s important, I think I am still a cat.

Have to say the bag She had smelt very good, it smelt very very good indeed, in fact it smelt so good I tried to get into it the wrong way. Inside was a furry, feathery, yummy smelling thing that just had to be licked to death. She said she now regretted getting me something that would be covered in lickingness. But I’m ten today so that doesn’t matter.

After some biscuits I headed out to check on the outside. Yes it was all still there, plenty to climb and scratch around in. She says my nails are filthy, but I don’t care, that’s because I’m ten today.

An email to the Production Manager for panto was needed for a catch up, things were feeling a little bit too quiet in panto world. She didn’t reply but within an hour Jamie, the set builder, got in touch saying they were about to start. He has concerns about one piece of the build and would I consider some adjustments to it. He made a suggestion, hmm. Not ideal. I thought some, asked a question with a suggestion back. This then morphed into a hybrid solution which would require some redrawing.

**1st of the month, time to annoy the spiders**

After lunch with Tilly back on board I’m ten today! it was time to head to the water point. This morning RCR had called saying an engineer would be with us tomorrow morning. If we end up without a working engine at the end of tomorrow we want to be prepared, batteries topped up and a full water tank. However this would mean having to move with part of the engine soon to fail, add into the mix that we are on a river and fairly close to a weir!

I insisted that the anchor was laid out ready for deployment, not on it’s prongs, but there on the locker lid ready should it be needed. Things were moved out of the way. We discussed the plan of action. We untied. Mick pulled us backwards away from the trees at the bow, then gently nudged us away from the mooring, winding to head down stream. All went well and we were soon alongside the high wall of the lock cut. The stern needed aligning with a ladder, which Mick climbed, bow and centre line were tied. Hose passed up, a small adapter required for the tap, then we could fill the water tank. The pressure wasn’t too great so we were there for a while.

Next was the slightly more risky manoeuvre of returning to the mooring. The lock cut wasn’t wide enough for us to wind in, so we needed to reverse out of it. The grinding noise was worse in reverse, but Mick took it gently, then with help from the bow thruster we turned to head up stream and pushed on back to the mooring. No need for the anchor thankfully. Just as well as all day we’d only seen a couple of boats come past who’d have been able to give us a tow back to land.

Sock pair 104 were packed up and then walked to the post box I’d spotted the other day in the village. I’d considered walking further today, but I needed to try to get the adjustment to panto sorted.

The other day I invested in the program I’d used to clean up the print for panto. A one off payment rather than a monthly subscription. I scanned in my drawing and was able quite quickly to adjust the width of the gate curly bits. This printed out at the correct size so I could amend my drawing quickly. Brilliant. I’ll still need the drawing board out to finish things off, but far quicker than doing it all by hand. I just need to keep finding reasons to use the package and learn new uses for it.

Kedgeree this evening, well we had to have something fishy to celebrate Tilly’s 10th birthday, she’s nearly caught me up now as in cat years she’s most probably about 56. Tilly had salmon in gravy! I had requested, frogs legs, clams, tuna steak with a bit of cod’s roe on the side and a fricassee of shrew. She said that with our current engine problems they’d not been able to get to specialist fishy froggy shops and maybe I was better off self catering.

0 locks, 0.1 miles, 0.05 there, 0.05 back, 2 winds, 1 full water tank, 10th Birthday, 56! 1 catnip kicker, 3 shrews, 1 mouse, 1 attempt at a squirrel, 1 boat back on it’s mooring, 1 engineer in the morning, 1 more thing to okay for printers, 200mm lost from gates, 2nd day of waiting.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna

Category Archives: Pantomime

The Hunt For Oleanna. 21st October

Packing Onto The Stern. 13th October

Fizzing Sinks. 12th October

Kind Tissues. 11th October

Autumnal Crumble. 10th October

Toilet Roll And Tinned Spinach. 8th October

Tucked Away In The Corner. 7th October

Trams And Trees. 6th October

Amy’s On Her Way. 3rd October

Ten Going On Fifty Six. 1st October