Category Archives: Theatre

Curtailed Shore Leave. 9th August

I’ll Race You! 22nd July

Basin Bridge to Rural Log 2 day Mooring, CHesterfield Canal.

A dry morning even if it was quite grey. Tilly had some shore leave, by the time she came we’d had our breakfast and started to get ready for the off. Our supplies required a stock up so we pootled up along the canal to find the bollards we both remembered where no overnight mooring is allowed, but the mooring is handily positioned for the shops.

The first bollards were not the one’s we were thinking of, they were a lock landing. Yes we could pull back a touch, but maybe where we were thinking of was above the two locks. The key of power and a windlass was requested and I went ahead to set the bottom lock.

Signs on the lock gates ask to not let swans into the lock. Above were a Mum and Dad with three cygnets, were these the ones being referred to? They had to be. Not much room for them between the two locks, but they seemed content enough.

As Oleanna got to a point where Mick could get off I signalled that I was going to walk ahead to set the next lock. A nod from Mick to agree, I walked ahead. The next chamber was just about empty just a small amount of water needed adjusting to level it with the pound below. I then opened the gate and waited for Mick to bring Oleanna out of the lock below and close up behind.

Mum and the kids were heading my way, slowly but surely. I closed the gate and would only open it when Oleanna got close, we know how sneaky swans can be getting into locks and then being obstinate about getting out again. The plan worked well and we rose with no swans. Above another swan family came along to meet us. This is why the signs were on the lock gates, two families living close together, best to keep them apart for all concerned.

An M on our map, we pulled in, still not the location of bollards we’d remembered. We headed for the shops. Now to visit the butchers or not? If we did we’d have to buy some lamb steaks for Misterton Lamb, but that requires the oven to be on for an hour, not really the right thing to do on a warm summers evening. We’ll hope for a cooler day on the way back.

Our cruising plans a little bit up in the air, a possible rendez vous and a meeting with panto set builders on the cards. How far should we carry on up the Chesterfield? Do we need to do a sprint to better rail connections. As we shopped an email arrived assisting with decisions. The rendez vous sadly won’t be happening due to water levels and family commitments, maybe if water levels improve in a month or two we’ll be able to meet up. The set building meeting, the builders not able to do the first available date, so we’ve another two weeks to get to better transport links. Maybe we should see how far we can get up the Chesterfield, take Oleanna onto new waters?

After lunch we planned our mooring for the day. We untied and then ‘I’ll race you!’. Me on foot and Mick and Tilly bringing Oleanna. I gave them a couple of feet head start, but knew who’d win. Apart from our little trip up the Chesterfield in April we’ve been on rivers or big wide deep canals. Oleanna able to swim along far faster then I could walk. Here the canal is narrow, despite it’s wide locks (at the moment), the depth is shallow. Trying to use extra revs just slows you down, so a steady speed is required, my steady brisk speed is much quicker.

We soon came across the bollards we’d been thinking of. Only two, closely spaced, serious innies to moor there.

Back in April I walked ahead looking for a mooring for us before the next winding hole. Back then I could see over the reeds, today there was no sign of any of the places we’d tried to moor, the undergrowth now over my head in most places.

At the winding hole I carried on walking, after the next bridge I started to recall places along the canal, a bit hazy now as it was nine years ago on NB Lillyanne.

On the offside an industrial area, piles of stuff, a couple of old chimneys, wagons, decaying portacabins. Under a tree sat two figures, they’ve been there a long time, their clothing decaying around their bones.

Huge sheets of piling stood up from the earth, part painted rusty white, a marina under construction, it’s been like that for quite a while!

Fields golden, if a bit soggy were soon followed by straw rolos. The plants at the waterside interesting. Somehow, now away from the waterways with the big skies there are more minute things to look at, slowing my progress slightly.

Up ahead I could see where we wanted to moor, two boats already in residence. I paced out the gap, plenty of room for us. A glance at the Nebo app and I could see where Oleanna was. I stood for a good ten minutes waiting her arrival. Something kept us from getting into the side, but we coped and tied off, the back doors flung open for Tilly.

This was a good mooring when we stopped here before. Tilly ended up staying out late! That was in the days before stamps of approval were awarded at moorings, today one was certain to be pawed out.

Time was spent being a theatrical landlady, sorting out the next arrivals and departures in Scarborough. A mooring for Oleanna was sought and achieved. Theatrical digs needed extra confirmation for myself for panto, landladies and admin staff getting their wires crossed. No time left for much else in the day.

2 locks, 3.3 miles, 59 minutes brisk walking, 1 box wine, 1 red pepper, 6 bananas, 3 lodgers sorted, 1 mooring obtained, 1 small double room just fine, 2 extra weeks to cruise, 1 rendez vous postponed, 2 salmon fillets, 1 big fat Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://what3words.com/rooting.bookmark.kebab

Stumpy And Me. 13th July

Huddles Ground Winding Hole to opposite Stanilands Marina

White top milk, W5, Trendy Walthamstow and National Bowls were topics today on the Geraghty zoom. Maybe the TV series Scrublands should have been included, set in the heart of Australia a journalist works his way through a tragedy that befell a small town. I say this as early on Mick spotted someone walking on the parallel track with a rifle in hand! They dipped down at one point, camouflage working a treat, presumably to take a shot at something, thankfully facing away from Oleanna!

We needed to make a move today, so we opted to get moving late morning, hoping some boats might have moved on from Thorne. Not far to go, only a mile and a half.

Ten years ago, as we set off to descend Gunthorpe Lock on the River Trent, I thought that I should maybe trim my nails before reaching our destination for the day. Well, today I opted to trim them the normal way, clippers and nail file, rather than the more drastic method I used for my little finger back then! All nine nails are now a similar length and shape with no rough edges from model making and no visit to hospital either.

We followed widebeam Lollipop in towards Thorne, so we weren’t rushing anywhere. They pulled in to moor at the first space, we carried on, finding that no boats had moved since yesterday. We opted to reverse back, but were beaten to the space by another widebeam that zoomed in to snatch the space. Oh well, we’d opt for the space on the bend with the wonky edging.

A shopping trip into town to stock up on veg and bananas, that was enough for today in the humidity, we settled down to potter away the remainder of the day. NB Watershed arrived and squeezed in infront of us, they plan to head to Vazon Sliding Bridge and hope to get through in the next couple of days when the overnight temperatures are due to be low enough for it to open. We will follow suit once we’ve finished in Thorne.

Front to back L to R
Heather (Lady A), Sir Alan, Laura
Sue, Ali, Paul, Jaye, Fleur, Emily, Dawn, Frank, Tigger
Andy, Kate, Lee, Ben, Michael, Ruth.
**What a wonderful bunch.**

Ten years ago we were headed to Newark, to moor at Kings Marina, pick up a hire car and drive up to Scarborough to celebrate the Stephen Joseph Theatre’s 60th birthday. This of course didn’t happen, Oleanna was returned to the pontoon moorings at Gunthorpe and we spent the day at Nottingham’s QMC. Today up in Scarborough the 70th birthday was being celebrated. A company of actors were to perform excerpts from plays performed at the Theatre through the decades and from it’s three homes. A large group of my contempories were in the audience to enjoy the afternoon. I wish we’d been there too to have a catch up, but I think today subliminally I needed to be on Oleanna.

0 locks, 1.5 miles, 1 bendy mooring, 9 nails manicured, 4 bags shopping, 10th anniversary, 70th birthday, 2 outsides, 2 woofer neighbours, 1 on a lead, 1 nips at children, 2.35 miles walked, 30 minutes briskly, 1 gunman in the friendly cover!

https://what3words.com/salary.whisk.helps

(Actually) 12th June

Granary Wharf.

Photos, lots of them of the model box. Time to do the white card version of the storyboard. Also photos of all the model pieces for the Production Manager to see alongside the working drawings, these still need updating.

During the day we started to plan our next cruise. Should we go that way or this way? Which lock? We’d need to chat to lock keepers. Mick got on with the job of booking our next tidal lock, checking times, asking for advice which at the lock we’ve chosen to go through, they don’t give as they are far more accustomed to bigger boats than us.

With the new storyboard forwarded to John I could now have a shower and get myself ready for an evening out. This meant I missed saying hello to Paul from Waterway Routes. Today he’d cycled from Wakefield to Leeds checking data for his maps. Mick sent him to check on some mooring rings above Office Lock to see if they should be included.

A train journey over to Huddersfield meant we had chance to say hello to Paul at the station as he waited for his train to whisk him off back to Bristol after a long day. It was nice to have a brief chat before we all headed for our trains.

There is a serious upgrade happening to the Transpennine route so trains go the long way round to Huddersfield or have been replaced by buses. A hobble down to the Lawerence Batley Theatre, taking a slight detour to see what if anything had been happening in the Piazza, this is where Dark Horse Theatre Company used to have an old shop where they rehearsed. The far end of the Piazza and the old undercover market has all gone, were they new concrete structures or the old ones behind the hoarding?

We weren’t here to see this, we were here to see a development showing of Dark Horses lastest show, We’re In Love (Actually). This has been devised by the ensemble, two members of staff assisting with scene changes and lighting, quite a scratch performance with some wonderful moments.

The actors were great as always. A quick rendition of Romeo and Juliet mixed with 90’s dreams of romance and lots of references to Romantic films. A video camera was used by the actors to follow the action projected onto a screen. Green screen was used to introduce the characters.

Highlights included multi faces projected and manipulated with large sheets of card. Some very tender moments between the lead actors. The fish tank scene in Romeo and Juliet with some florestry wrap. Claytons dance to amuse the ladies and the one that will be with me for some time must have been during a recreation of the Titanic, Toby appearing as the iceberg wrapped up in a sheet!

A very amusing evening, yes it was rough around the edges, but I haven’t laughed so much in ages. My face ached for hours afterwards.

We followed it up with a cheeky Nandos before getting the train back to Leeds. It’s funny going out for the evening by train, you don’t do that in Scarborough, but here in West Yorkshire I suspect it’s a frequent occurrence. A very good night out, thank you all at Dark Horse for inviting us.

0 locks, 0 miles, 250 photos, edited down to 70, 3 boats up, 1 hotel boat winding two times, 1 visit from Paul, 2 trains going the long way round, 0 cats at the station, 2.11 miles walked, 4 minutes briskly, 9 actors, 4 aching cheeks, 1/4 chicken each, 2 glasses of wine, 1 bored cat.

Guarding The Box. 9th June

Granary Wharf, Scarborough and Chipping Norton

A silly timed alarm clock for us onboard today. I was up breakfasted, butty made and on my way into the station at 7am, Mick stayed in bed, Tilly stayed curled up. Today I would be heading to Chipping Norton for the white card model meetng for Panto. Mick would be heading to Scarborough to do things he’d forgotten to do with a pint of milk and a key. Tilly would be snoozing a lot, but looking after the boat, a very important job.

First train took me to Doncaster, I had two seats to myself, so one for me the other for the model box which had only just squeezed into an Ikea bag yesterday for ease of carrying. Next train was from an adjacent platform, this would take me to Birmingham New Street, I had several tickets to cover me for this part of the journey which meant changing reserved seats. Instead I opted to pop the model box on the top of the luggage rack and sit opposite it on an available seat so that I could keep a close eye on it.

Next was a change at New Street and a wait, glad not to be rushing to change trains. The train would get me to Banbury, but my split ticketing (to save at least £100) had me moving seats several times. Blimey the train was chocka! Could I be bothered in fighting to reach my first reserved seat and then hope I wouldn’t have to move for someone else? The answer was no, instead an hour of standing protecting the model box as bets I could, moving out of the way for doors opening. I’m so glad I don’t have to do this as often as I used to when I lived in London, and the models then tended to be far bigger.

Hello Banbury, no aroma today! The familiarly coloured roof of John’s car/truck came into view, I had a lift rather than catching the bus out to Chippy. Time to catch up on lots of stuff during the drive, who had left the theatre since I was last there and who was new.

**All set up in order and ready to show the model**

We set ourselves up on the stage, all black tabs (curtains) and lots of speakers about the place. A table, angle poise, note books, laptop, everything to hand apart from a cuppa. The two of us were straight into working our way through the show with the model. A useful time. Should that move there, or here? The next scene change would be harder if we did that. How to transition between this and that, a few bits of writing required, it’s handy the director also being the writer.

A sheet of notes for me to address once home, one scene just nudged about a touch and a bit of model adjusting required for it, but generally all was good. We had eight minutes left before others would join us, time to finally make a cuppa and grab a few bites of chicken sandwich before we started.

**Not so neat and tidy after going through it twice**

Paul joined us (Technical and Facilities Manager) and a new lady who I think works in develepment and fundraising. Gemma (Production Manager) joined via zoom, sadly she’d not been able to join us in person. We worked through the model in a more practical way as John and I’d already done the arty bits. An hour and a bit later we’d got through the show, no indictation on how we were in regards to the budget though. Some chat about trying to get ahead more this year. Last year this had had to happen as their designer wasn’t hands on like me. So we need to find a balance between the two, enough to keep me occupied and far enough ahead to reduce hours during rehearsals.

Time to head back to Leeds. I had several possible trains I could get with my tickets and luckily Paul and his wife Helen gave me a lift back to Banbury so I managed to avoid the bus again.

Unfortunatly there had been a tree fall on the line which had held my train up by half an hour. On the southbound platform it was worse as there was a trespasser on the line further south, so all trains were being held at stations until the line was clear.

Time to go into guarding mode again, the train packed with people trying to get somewhere, anywhere. I stood in the vestibule, but thankfully after a couple of stops I spotted a spare seat. Time to sit with the model on my knee. Another change in Birmingham, another busy train, my journey now an hour later than planned, another seat with the model on my knee. Thankfully at Sheffield the train thinned out and I got the seat next to me for the model box, no need to watch everyone going past anymore. Finally I could get my knitting out and do a few rows, toe 199 coming along nicely.

Arriving back in Leeds just gone 9pm I was glad all I had to do was walk down to the South Entrance and back to the boat, only 2 minutes of brisk walking done today. Mick had been warned of my lateness, so he’d bought in pies and baked some potatoes, all accompanied by a much needed glass of wine.

Mick had traveled to Scarborough by the Coastliner from Leeds, so his bus pass came in handy, swapping buses in York meant he got a comfort break too. He did the few things at the house that were needed and tip toed around avoiding getting anything dirty. Then had caught a train back to Leeds using up a spare ticket he still had.

Tilly, what had she done? Well she’d watched the local swans swimming about showing off their cygnets and had a good old snooze for much of the day. It’s a hard life!

0 locks, 0 miles, 6 trains, 2 buses, 2 lifts, 5:50 alarm, 1 full on solid day, 3 bite lunch break, 1 warm welcome back to Chippy, A4 sheet of notes, 0 major, -1 pint milk, 1 shed door locked, 2.23 miles walked, 2 minutes briskly! 3 cygnets.

The Big Ship Sails. 7th May

Spicers Auctioneers to Sykehouse Junction, New Junction Canal

**Was it a cat last night or the ghost of one?**

With the washing drawer now empty and socks and pants fully dried in the tumble drier we could move on. First to the water point to fill with clean water, empty the yellow and put our first food waste into the new bins. A bag of coal was also purchased from the marina.

As I sat waiting for the tank to fill I watched social media following the campaign boats now out on the River Thames. So many boats had moored at Limehouse Basin last night there were quite a few lockings required. Once outside the Houses of Parliament the boats winded and stemmed the tide waiting for 11am when all 27 boats sounded their horns. King Charles went past them on an Uber Boat, he was there to look at the new super sewer really. They then all headed back down stream to West India Dock where they all fitted into the one lock to get off the tidal waters.

**Boats all gathered in Limehouse Basin ready for the off**

We winded again and headed down to Viking Marina service mooring. Here we pulled alongside NB Felix that was having some work done by Alastair to it’s gear box. The diesel tank was topped up, not quite to the top, when it reached 100 litres the pump stopped automatically, 89p a litre. We were actually a day early tomorrow the price will go down to 82p with the next delivery. A bottle of gas was manhandled along the gunnels to the bow, we were all topped up and ready to go again.

Ahead in the docks were a couple of new boats. One looked a touch strange and a bit too tall! Amadeus Saffir is a modern boat, built last year, with a wind-assist system, basically it has sails to help reduce it’s fuel consumption further than it’s diesel-electric propulsion can. An interesting boat.

Time to head off. I hitched a ride to Rawcliffe where I jumped off behind Syntan to walk the remainder of the way to Sykehouse Junction and the New Junction Canal. Mick headed off at usual cruising speed along these deep wide waterways, far quicker than I could walk, so he soon vanished into the distance after passing Off Roader that was on it’s return trip from Leeds. As it approached the anglers all shouted to each other to grab their keep nets, otherwise their catch would be dragged away from them as the big boat passed.

The area where the bank has been mended seriously needs a good water to help the grass grow. A nice aspect for a mooring, just a shame the M18 was audible and the cooling towers of Drax were just out of view.

As I approached the houses by Beaver Bridge a security system sprung into action. A loud BEEP then the camera with two flashing white lights followed my every move along the towpath. I wonder whether it caught me pausing for a quite a while at the bridge.

Here a pair of (I think) juvenile Peacocks were just as interested in me as I was them. Where had they come from? We’ve passed a barge with a peacock on it’s roof before at Rawcliffe and there is a peacock farm in Holme on Spalding Moor, but surely that’s too far away for them to have escaped from. All the same they kept me captivated for quite a while.

A big fishing match was taking place at the reservoir, anglers crammed in next to each other. As I turned onto the New Junction Mick messaged me saying Tilly was coming to find me. Well I was obviously too scary and she ran away back to Oleanna despite me calling for her. Hey ho! She did go back out and enjoyed much of her four hours, in fact she needed quite a bit of encouragement to come home!

I’d planned to go through the panto script again today making lists, but emails came through from John (writer/director) with various notes about the show and then a long list of people who have applied to be props maker this year. Sadly the wonderful Jo can’t give enough time to the show anymore, I knew this was likely as we’d chatted last year, so I wasn’t surprised. So now I need to go through CVs to see who should be considered. There is one name I know in the pile, but would they be the best person for the job?

This evening I’ve tried out a new gluten free pasta recipe, I made up a lasagne which we haven’t had for ages. A third each instead of half proved to be ample portions, one third left over for a working girl when she’s on her own.

0 locks, 6.6 miles, 2 winds, 1 left, 25kg coal, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 100 litres diesel, 1 gas bottle, 0 Alfie, 4.28 miles walked, 71 minutes briskly, 2 sails, 6 prop makers, 3 emails, 0 notes, 4 hours shore leave, no you can’t give this mooring yet another stamp of approval Tilly!

https://what3words.com/piano.hoping.efficient

Cat Burglar. 6th May

Spicers Auctioneers, Goole

At around 2am I was woken by a noise. The sort of noise that Tilly occasionally creates when she pears out of the bathroom porthole and moves the glass a little and it clinks against the frame. There was no Tilly curled up on the bed with me, maybe she was peeking out of the porthole. I went to see what was happening asking her to keep the noise down.

She was curled up on the sofa, nowhere near the porthole.

The lights at the auctioneers are really quite bright, I’d considered putting a bung in the bathroom porthole but hadn’t got round to it. I could see the shadow of a figure sat outside. I peeked round the glass just how Tilly does.

Sat staring straight at me was a smoky grey cat. I said hello, it didn’t reply. It leant forward and tried to open the window again, no luck. It peered over it’s shoulder then back at me. I closed the window expecting it to run away, but no it just sat there.

“Sorry Tilly’s not coming out to play tonight, she doesn’t like cats“, I said. It still didn’t reply. I closed the porthole and put the bung in, that should stop it from trying to break in again.

A walk after breakfast for some supplies. Down to Ocean Lock, across the top gates then into town. A stop off at Boyes to see if they had a caddy for our food waste, they did. Then on to Morrisons for the rest of of the shopping and some suitable liners for the caddy. Goole has the first food waste bin we’ve seen, (CRT is introducing better recycling across the network) so we need to start doing our bit, not that we didn’t before. Just need to find somewhere in the small galley to keep the caddy!

An email came from John Terry at Chippy regarding a scene in panto with a link to show what was meant. When reading the script yesterday I’d got a little confused at a scene in Act 2, things seemed to jump, then jump back. A previous version of the scene had somehow got mixed into the pdf I’d been sent. By lunchtime I had a tidied up version of the script 10 pages shorter. John had been in a rush to get a script to me before last weekend. Time to sit down and re-read the script this time highlighting bits as I went on the computer, I’ll print it out later.

Mick arrived back from Scarborough, the next stage of works completed at the house and an annual check up at the doctors all done. He was told he needed to be quiet as I still had more to read, this time it making a lot more sense, well as much as a Panto ever does!

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 train, 1 new caddy, 1 rucksack not zipped up properly, 0 shopping lost, phew! 1 cat burglar, 1 sleeping guard cat, version 1.2 of panto read and noted, 2 ships, 4.12 miles walked, 65 minutes briskly.

To Goole And To Work. 5th May

Stubbs Bridge to Spicers Auctioneers, Goole.

Tilly was allowed some more shore leave as we had breakfast, She could have taken the full 90 minutes, but chose to come in a while before it elapsed, the doors did not reopen. Overnight the laptop had finished doing what it had been doing for over 24 hours and thankfully all the folders and photos had synced too!

Yesterday the temperature had dropped, today it came accompanied by quite a head wind as we moved off. Blimey oh riley it was perishing out there! Extra layers had been donned but really weren’t enough, I looked forward to getting back inside to be by the stove.

At Whitley Lock we’d just been beaten by the crew from a small cruiser, he’d not seen us approaching and had just started to drop the full lock for his boat. Oh well. I asked how far they were going today, he said ‘we’re aiming to get to Manchester’. He did know that would be impossible to achieve today! He wasn’t sure which route they’d be taking, although the Leeds Liverpool is the only route across the Pennines that is currently open.

By the time I’d penned them up another boat was arriving below so I could hop onboard and let the next crew operate the lock for us. It seemed to be getting colder as the morning continued, a little jig was required to keep from getting frost bite or so it seemed. Along the next three miles or so, anglers lined the banks, a chilly pass time for this Bank Holiday Monday.

**Off Roader the new working barge on the Aire and Calder**

At Pollington Lock a lady beat me to the top lock panel, she opened the full lock for us. Below there were two boats waiting to come up, a narrowboat just appearing in the distance and the huge Off Roader Commercial Barge moored up on the lower lock landing. I opted to get back onboard and travel down with Oleanna, resting my key of power.

**A lovely little boat waiting to go up**

A cruiser was clinging onto the side of Off Roader just where the strong bywash wanted to send us. Mick had to seriously up the revs to avoid any possibility of contact.

The rifle range was very busy, we could hear them from miles away. Zooming in, there seemed to be crowds lining up to shoot guns, not an obvious choice for a Bank Holiday Monday for us. At Sykehouse Reservoir windsurfers zoomed across the lake with the force of the wind.

Straight on for us today, round the corner to face Drax Power Station. This is normally a sight we see at the end of our boating year, but it’s far from that now.

Heading towards Rawcliffe we could see quite a big boat approaching us. Was this Syntan, one of the Beverley Barges? I’d spotted on their Facebook group that they have moved their boats to Rawcliffe as the River Hull is currently closed due to collapsing banks. They must have sneaked past the banks to have got to the Aire and Calder. They are running boat trips for members from Goole throughout May. To become a member is only £10 which includes a ride on Syntan, we may consider joining.

**Hard to recognise under all the layers**

As we passed we waved and had our photo taken. Hang on, did we know the chap at the helm? Jeremy used to be the Production Manager at Watford Palace Theatre when I worked there many moons ago. He’s lived in Beverley for some years now and I knew he was connected to the barges. We last saw him at Lizzie’s 50th last year. I waved even more, but then Mick pointed out that he’d have no chance of seeing who we were due to all our layers!

**They came into Goole to wind later, I wasn’t quick enough to say hello.**

On into Goole. Where to moor? We ended up opting for a paid for mooring outside what used to be the Waterways Museum, now Spicers Auctioneers. The office was closed but word was to pay in the pub at the marina, £15 a night including electric. The stove could be allowed to go out and the Alde boiler could take over the heating whilst plugged in, the washing machine could also go on too.

Mick packed a bag, another trip to Scarborough tonight. We walked into town, Mick to the station and me to Tescos for something to eat this evening.

Back on board it was time to do some work. Whilst this lot prints itself out I’m going to take you back to the beginning of February when I received a two sentence email.

How was life without a panto?! Would you be interested in discussing this coming winter’s show, or was life better without?

When this arrived we were on our way back from visiting boat painters in Cheshire. Mick immediately and rightly reeled off the cons for doing panto again. The way it takes over both our lives for months and me being away for four to five weeks during rehearsals were the main ones. On my next walk I thought about it. I realised I’d been hoping such an email would land, but did I want to do panto again?

If it was possible to get the show designed earlier in the year, that would free up more time for boating in the summer. The first few years of working on Panto we were living onboard full time so Oleanna was on the South Oxford Canal, meaning I could return home at weekends. Maybe this would make sense to do again and then work our way back north around stoppages to reach the boat painters at New Year (rivers dependant). This would mean Oleanna could be lifted out, saving us some money on our CRT licence until she’s been painted. Also being there a few months before our slot means we might be able to be painted earlier if someone gets stuck because of flooding.

We don’t like leaving the house unoccupied during the winter, but if we can get some actors from the Christmas show in Scarborough that would be perfectly timed. In the last month we’ve already got one of our favourite actresses booked in! Just need another to bring the plan fully together.

With building work happening at the house over the next couple of months, we’ll have quite a few days where we won’t be cruising. So instead I can spend days working, spread out in the boat, whilst Mick is at the house overseeing things.

So, I have obviously said yes to Chippy Panto.

So today I started work. Time to read the script for Beauty and The Beast. Tilly wasn’t too enthralled so decided to empty the washing drawer instead! Thanks Tilly! It took me until 10pm to read through the first draft of the script.

On work days I’m wanting to concentrate on working, so we get to enjoy full days boating when we can. I’m hoping to still post everyday, but they may well be short posts, we’ll see. I’m aware that some of our readers now attend Chippy Panto on an annual basis, who knows more may go this year too, so I’ll do my best not to post too many spoilers.

2 locks, 14.7 miles, 1 straight on, 24567 anglers, 1 bitter day, 2 many layers, 4 sails, £15 a night, 0.75 of water, 1 load washing, 1 train, 3.29 miles walked, 43 brisk minutes, 1st reading of 128 pages, 1 panto out of the bag, 1 model box still in the cupboard, 1 Indian meal for 1, 1 bored cat, 1 woofer in Panto, 0 cats in Panto, She should have turned it down!

https://what3words.com/skippers.blossom.bagels

The Express Train. 12th April

Staniland Marina, Thorne

Tilly was left in charge today with her evening dingding already served before 9am, we were off for a day trip and some culture.

We took the train from Thorne North, the conductor on the train said we’d need to change at Goole for our Express Train to Scarborough. This made us both laugh. How can the train be an express when it stops at every stop and takes 1hour 58 minutes? You can drive it in about 1 hour 20 minutes!

The train arrived in Scarborough with plenty of time to spare before lunch so we decided to have a look at the new exhibition at the Old Parcel Office at the end of the station car park. Fruiting Bodies is an sculpture exhibition from London based art collective Changeable Beasts. There were a couple of pieces which caught our eye in a good way, a pear tree that has been trained for the last five years to be symmetrical, a pair of red trainers swathed in watches and some large wooden blocks that have been painted and carved with patterns. The rest of the exhibition looked like the pieces had been pulled out of poor unsuspecting human bodies and really didn’t do anything for either of us.

Time to pick up our tickets at the SJT and settle down for lunch. A big treat lunch at Eat Me of burger and chips, they do do other things, but their burgers are so good they can’t be resisted. Quite often we bump into someone we know, today was no exception as Duncan came in soon followed by Jaye old friends of ours. We also had a visit from Annie one of our lodgers at the moment.

With an hour to kill before the show I sped off to clock up some more minutes and left Mick to saunter to the Town Hall to look out at the sea. I walked across Valley Bridge and then down into the valley to check on the daffodils. One side of the valley past it’s best, the other still pretty good. These are daffodils for Marie Curie.

When I got down to the beach I had to change my planned route as of course it is the Easter holiday and the Foreshore was rammed, the beach pretty busy too.

I opted to walk to the Spa instead, a wedding soon to take place in the Sun Court, then back over Spa Bridge into town and back to the theatre where we met with Frank, who’d also come to see the show at the SJT.

Love’s Labour’s Lost (more or less) has been adapted by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane. A hen and stag do end up both taking place in Ibiza. Songs from the 90’s aid the plot with girl power, Cher, Meat Loaf, Shania Twain to mention just a few. Plenty of gyrating hips, mislaid love letters, Hawaiian pills from Swindon, Lara Croft, Blind Date and Stars In Their Eyes. It was as expected bonkers, very funny, great cast all round, but maybe just a touch too long. Having half of the cast staying in our house we had to come to see it, very glad we did. Only one week left of the run.

**Love’s Labour’s Lost when the show was at Shakespeare North.**

A cuppa with Frank and chance to briefly meet Jo for the first time, another lodger before we caught the train back to Thorne, changing this time from the Express train at Brough.

**My favourite quote from my last Ayckbourn show**

A very good day out.

*Where’s my dingding?!* In your tummy Tilly!

In Fund Britains Waterways Flotilla news, all boats have now ascended the Foxton flight, some have made it down Watford and are making their way south on the Grand Union. There may be a little delay in their cruise southwards as a lock is closed on the Marsworth flight, hopefully it will be mended quickly. If you haven’t already please sign the petition

0 locks, 0 miles, 4 trains, 1 exhibition, 2 many entrails, 2 burgers, 4 slices of extra cheese (between us), 1 more Duncan mention, 3.84 miles walked, 41 minutes briskly, 1 busy Scarborough, 1 wedding, 1 hen and stag do, 4 lodgers, 1 bonkers show, 1 cat with an empty bowl, 2nd dingding please, 0 chance Tilly.

The Last Art Shop. 4th April

Kiln Pontoon, Newark

With a few days before the next suitable tide for us to return downstream from Cromwell we have some spare time around Newark. Ten years ago we spent the winter months here so got to know it pretty well.

This morning there was a prescription to collect from Boots, grub screws to be hunted out as we’ve lost one from the handle of the front door. I’d come across mention of an artisan gluten free bakers, that had to be worth a visit and maybe even a suspension of my current avoidance of baked goods.

We set off individually, I headed to the bins by the flood lock trying to clock up brisk walking minutes and then into town crossing over Town Lock and up to near the castle where there is this house for sale.

Round the shops and the Friday market. No bakers in Chain Lane sadly, just cuddly toy pastries, pies and cakes in one window.

The market wasn’t half the size we remembered it to be and just where was that really good tool and hardware stall, nowhere to be seen. Maybe this was the wrong day for them. Some clothes, plants, a glutenfilled bakers and what seemed to be a cauliflower stall, the white heads piled up and very few other veg visible.

Into Boyes, would they have grub screws, nope! A walk down the other end of town where Wilkos used to be, some new development going up there. With none of the smaller items on my list found I then walked up Barnby Gate to find Hills the art shop.

But where was it? It’s always further than I think, but I was certain the shop front I stood in front of used to be the side with all the racks of paper and card. Next door thankfully showed signs of artist equipment. I went in.

I was after some heavy weight watercolour paper in an A3 pad and some mount board. I chatted to the assistant. They have had to let out part of the shop to keep going, their main business picture framing, the sale of the odd tube of white paint wouldn’t keep them going. We discussed watercolour paper pads, only one quite costly option, then mount board which was £10 a sheet! Flipping heck it’s been a while since I bought some. When the assistant returned with two very large sheets of mount I was told that they were £10 for A0, they could cut them in half, but half a sheet would still be £10. I chose to take all the sheet, but if they could cut them in half that would be far easier to store on Oleanna.

Before I left with my big package under my arm I made sure I thanked them for still existing, finding a good art shop is getting harder and harder and certainly one with stock that you can look at and feel near impossible. I may even have said we’d come to Newark specifically for me to visit them, only half a lie.

Back at Oleanna we had lunch, Mick had succeeded in buying a pork pie. I wrote some more blog, quite a bit to catch up on and getting on for 700 photos from two days of the Fund Britain’s Waterways Cruise to edit.

**Squeezed into the drawing board slot**

The Brompton then accompanied us back into town, our chosen supermarket was to be Morrisons, here we hoped to find everything we’d want under one roof at a reasonable price. After an hour we headed back to Oleanna the Brompton earning it’s keep once again as a sherpa.

Mick also spent some of today trying to get tidal locks booked. The West Stockwith phone number was on answerphone and suggested to call the main CRT number, which he did. They said you should be able to book on the number he’d called, but try Keadby.

Times and dates were discussed with Mark at Keadby. Our original plan had been to head to Torksey, wait for the level to be right to go up the lock for Tilly to have some shore leave for a day, before making our way onto West Stockwith, then should the tides be right we’d carry on to Keadby the following day. However we’re now into neep tides and the likelihood of being able to get over the cill at Torksey was slim. Our message would be passed on to West Stockwith.

**The Sonning no longer moored below the castle, now sold and possibly in Hull**

Later the Lockie from West Stockwith called, he’d had a missed call. Times, dates and tides were discussed. We changed our plans. Up to Torksey, no point in waiting to see if there’d be enough water to go top side. Instead we’d head onwards to West Stockwith the following day and have a couple of days on the Chesterfield canal before carrying on to Yorkshire. We were booked in at all relevant locks, three more tidal days. However Mark at Keadby had mentioned that Vazon Sliding Bridge was currently out of action! This would mean we’d only be able to get to Keadby and not onwards to Thorne. We left our bookings as they were, there was no official stoppage notice from CRT. Should we need to find a different route in a weeks time then we’d look into going round Trent Falls/End as we have somewhere to be. Hopefully by then the bridge will be sorted and our original plan will still work.

The Campaign Cruise made it to Nottingham County Hall steps yesterday, today they all cruised through Nottingham, some carrying on to the Soar, other stopping at Trent Lock where the Erewash, Soar and Trent all meet at one big cross roads.

Various photos and bits of footage have been gathering, so I thought I’d share them with you. Thank you to people who have taken photos of us on Oleanna, a rare thing as I’m usually the one behind the camera.

31st March

The flotilla turning out of Keadby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-F9NNCTv9Y

On BBC Look North 1st April https://www.facebook.com/767692647/videos/8980739002031183/

Going through Gainsborough https://www.facebook.com/1284892766/videos/586352897755148/

On BBC East Midlands 2nd April. https://www.facebook.com/767692647/videos/869484491969642

**Thank you Sue O’Hare, just before we passed West Stockwith Lock**

**Thank you Jo Sharples, Oleanna in Town Lock after storming the castle**

0 locks, 0 miles, 5.37 miles walked, 46 minutes briskly, 0 grub screws, 1 pork pie, 2 A0 sheets mount, 1 A1 foamcor, 1 A2 black, 12 sheets watercolour paper, 4 bags full of shopping, 2 boxes wine, 1 art shop still surviving, 11 years of being boat owners.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna