Category Archives: Theatre Design

Panto Postcard 1, 2022.

The Chocolate Orange Test.

57.25 hours

**Blank canvas in a morgue! It’s only an old film set.**

Monday morning, Mick helped me with all my painting kit to the unit where I’d be working this week. We’d moored close to the Tramway, so it was only a short walk round to Power Park where I was met by Suzette and John from the theatre. I’d warned them in advance that I was still testing positive, I wore a mask and kept my distance as the set pieces were brought in for me to work on.

A covid filled brain didn’t help with the laying out of everything, but thankfully we managed to get half the portal flats laid out on tables, all facing the same direction, so hopefully I knew what was what and it would get painted correctly.

This is the third time these portals have been used by me, the markings on the back suggests they’ve been in at least another two or three productions. However this year they have had a make over and been recanvased with a nice fresh coat of white emulsion ready for me. Today’s aim was to get the basics marked out and base colours added so that it could dry overnight. I also joined a zoom production meeting for a short time to chat set and props, then excused myself.

Tuesday. Today NB Dusty would come past Oleanna, bags of coal, a new gas bottle and a top up of diesel had been ordered from them, but their arrival time could be anytime.

In panto land I drew out the designs on the three pieces of portal I’d based in, the stencils I’d cut out in Marlow proved very useful indeed and made the marking out very quick. Mick took time off waiting for Dusty to come and help me rearrange the flats as on Wednesday I’d be joined for a couple of days by Elise. I wanted to get enough flats based in and drawn up so that the two of us wouldn’t end up working on the same piece, helping to keep our distance as I was still testing positive.

The first few repeats on a border had the black painted in. Each one taking about 20 minutes. To paint both headers just in the black would take a good seven hours!

NB Dusty arrived, Jock and Katy were both well and very jolly as usual. Mick had a good catch up with them at a distance, our paths haven’t crossed for a few years due to the pandemic. They will be doing one more run before Oleanna needs to be north of their patch for the winter stoppages, so Mick should be able to stock up again before heading over the summit of the Oxford Canal.

Wednesday I was in early, drawing out the design before Elise arrived at 9am. I had just about finished when she arrived. A cuppa each and a chat before I set her going. Elise comes from a TV and film background and has only in the last couple of years swapped careers from researcher/assistant producer amongst other things to work in art direction.

It takes a while to gain confidence painting in intricate designs. I’ve been doing similar things for decades but today was Elise’s first time. The first section took her a while, the second was quicker, the third quicker still. I continued with the border, and by the end of the day this was completed and the second border based in ready for Thursday. It had been really nice having someone around to make cuppas and to chat to.

In the afternoon samples arrived of the cloths. These basically are giant colour photocopies taken from my model that are printed onto scenic cloth. As I thought the front cloth was a touch too dark, loosing some of it’s luminosity. Adjustments could be made before the big PRINT button would be pressed.

Mick during the day had headed to the service point to fill with water whilst the washing machine was in use. He managed to coincide with other boats using the lock so had assistance through it and at the lift bridge. Tilly had been patient for a couple of days so a mooring by Spiceball Park was required to give her some much needed shore leave. Unfortunately Mick had chosen a space opposite Fine Lady Bakeries, we couldn’t remember if the noise there would continue all night, it did! A new mooring would be needed.

Thursday. More of the same for me and Elise, painting black and keeping inside the lines. Elise today was storming ahead and by the time she had to head off to London for the evening there were only a couple of bits left to finish off on her second flat. The second border was finished too. A good days work. Only two more flats to be blacked in.

It still being October the time limits on visitor moorings haven’t as yet changed to 14 days. So Oleanna needs to keep moving to stay within the rules. We hoped that nudging up along the towpath by 100 yards would count as a move, after all we’ve cruised just about 1100 miles this year with a couple of hundred more to go. Thankfully the noise from the bakery was much less and we managed a much better nights sleep.

Friday morning I was on my own again. Two flats to black and a pod cast to listen to. Elise joined me for a couple of hours and put the finishing touches to the borders. On Thursday it had started to rain which had necessitated the moving of flats to avoid drips. Today a drip had started in the toilet above where we were working, slightly disconcerting getting dripped on when having a wee! By the afternoon this drip had managed to work it’s way through the floor and was dripping onto a finished flat! We moved things around very very quickly. That evening on Oleanna we celebrated with a glass of wine, we were both feeling better and I had my first negative test result for covid.

Saturday we had a lie in before Mick came to help me move flats about. There was red to add and a few bits to touch up on the portals. After a couple of hours the weeks mission was accomplished. There were also a couple of sliders that I started to give some attention to for the Piccadilly Circus scene. Sadly as I started to apply a wash of colour to them it became obvious that the base colour was lifting and mixing in. Not good, but fixable when they eventually dry. So it was time to pack everything up.

Meanwhile Mick headed to the arm just north of Banbury to wind, he then returned into town and pulled up just before the new glazed footbridge in the new development. Returning to the boat in day light whilst working on Panto is a rarity. Mick has been doing a very good job of feeding me this week, but his repertoire had just about runout. Having a Pizza Express opposite meant we could treat ourselves to a take away.

We then settled down to watch the latest Alan Ayckbourn play, ‘Family Album’, that is available to watch ‘At Home’ from the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. During the summer two of the actors had been staying in our house and we’d not had chance to get to see the show. A very good play that tenderly skips between three generations of the same family in one house, and the changing roles of women over the last 70 years. Well worth the ticket price whilst it’s available on line.

Sunday we woke to torrential rain. We were due to help load the van at 9:15 to get the portals back to Chippy so that they could be erected on stage this afternoon. The pick up was postponed hoping that the rain would subside and not damage the paintwork. I picked up some dust sheets on route and thankfully the rain was subsiding, by the time John arrived with the van it had stopped raining. Two trips to Chippy and the set was delivered. Tomorrow the rest of the set will arrive with the builders from Plymouth, the actors, the rest of the creatives and staff from the theatre will join together for the readthrough.

Mick, Tilly and Oleanna will move out of town tomorrow to find somewhere that is safe for Tilly to have some shore leave.

Why the subtitle of The Chocolate Orange Test? Well over the last ten days or so we’ve been having a segment as pudding after our evening meal. At first we could taste it, then as covid morphed itself we both lost our sense of taste and we could only enjoy the texture of the chocolate. After another two days the orange flavour started to return. Last night we both had full flavour back. Maybe this is a more enjoyable way to test for covid than sticking swabs up your nose!

1 lock, 1.55miles, 1 wind, 1 gas bottle, 5 bags coal, 67 litres diesel, 2 borders, 4 legs, 2 sliders, 2 days assistance, 1 chocolate orange, 1 Waiouru passing, 1 cat reminded about bringing friends home! 2 pizzas, 2 boaters negative and on the mend.

Can You Smell Banbury? 16th October

King’s Sutton Lock to Opposite the Old Foundry, Banbury

TEA in bed this morning, not Lemsip! Wonderful, if only I could actually have tasted it! It was accompanied by two paracetamol. Our drugs cupboard has sat just about unused for the last three years, looking in it for the next box of pills today it’s starting to look a bit depleted. Maybe sometime soon we’ll be able to go shopping again to restock.

All Mick’s siblings were present this morning for the zoom. Subjects included needy tomatoes in Scotland, Robins in Surrey and Eddie Reader. Whilst we were on line the two hire boats we’d been in line with yesterday came past starting their return to base, I wonder if the lady who was trying to keep her distance had lasted the night or jumped on a train back to Oxford?

**Paddle boarders using the bridge hole to get on their boards**

The final push to Banbury today, the sun was out, blue skies and deer jumping around in the field opposite our mooring. We pushed off and pootled our way passing several familiar boats, over the last few years we’ve spent a bit of time in these parts and you get to recognise the local boats.

Plenty of lift bridges passed under on our way to Grant’s Lock.

Here the burnt out Lock Cottage has been cleared of all the debris and charred remains. It was sold last year, hopefully the new owner will start work on it soon. With the sun out reflecting off the brickwork the interior glowed looking all cosy and warm.

Now we took note of possible moorings for the next few days. New lengths of armco look inviting and the new housing estate looks to be just about finished on the outskirts of town. However a long stretch of the towpath is still having works done to it, so it is very narrow at the moment. We’ll have to choose our moorings with giraffe legs and the towpath in mind.

We hoped for a space at Tramway but the last space had been taken by a hire boat. We asked if they planned on staying the night, but it was only a half hour stop for them. Maybe we’d come back if there was nowhere else. Pulling in just before the bridge I then walked round the corner and spotted a big gap opposite the old foundry, we moved along and settled in.

Last year we’d wondered if the foundry site would end up being redeveloped for housing, but it seems as though a car body shop or garage has taken it over. Here will do us for tonight.

Much of the afternoon was spent trying to put together a Click and Collect order with Morrisons which is just across the way here. But for some reason none of our cards would be accepted on the website. The government guidance to keep away from people for five days is almost up for both of us, so Mick will do a shop tomorrow.

Time to dig out things for work. The back steps needed removing to access where I keep my paint brush bag, drawing implements were rounded up, pencils sharpened and popped in the Bourbon tin.

Tomorrow I start work painting panto in Banbury. Tomorrow we’ll see how I get on. Tomorrow I needn’t do a lateral flow test. Tomorrow I will be doing a test. Tomorrow I’ll be wearing a mask a LOT until I’m on my own again. Tomorrow the blog will go onto Panto Postcard mode for the next few weeks. Mick and Tilly will be holding the fort, moving Oleanna as needed. There are winter closures coming up that we’ll need to be through, so he’ll be single handing up to the summit and I’ll be doing my best to get home at weekends, at least this first week I’ll be able to walk to work from the boat.

1 lock, 2.01 miles, 5 minute walk to work, 2 many bags of stuff, 1 bored cat, 1 noisy garage on a Sunday, 1 boater changing hats, 2 boaters who can’t smell Banbury, having covid at least has one advantage!

https://goo.gl/maps/ScSjNKt3kZnuH9DZ6

Leap Frogging For Coal. 14th October

Somerton Meadows to Belchers Lift Bridge 189

**With budget cuts will we get away with this substitution?**

The giraffe legs were back this morning, a touch of vertigo maybe. Time to be careful rolling up the covers, stepping on and off the boat a thing I do daily but right now foot and ground coordination can be a little bit patchy.

***They are black and white big really rather big!***

The cows that go this way and then that way arrived after a tractor had taken them some breakfast. They aren’t shy, the grass must have been extra tasty up by the boat, but they left the ropes and paintwork alone which is all you can ask for whilst mooring alongside their field.

Two Anglo Welsh boats came past in convoy, very slowly, we pulled out behind them an orderly queue already formed for Somerton Deep Lock. It turns out that the boats were being moved to Tardebigge, one with an oil leak the other we’d seen yesterday with the engine boards up. There had been a problem with the propellor, it had fallen off! The chaps now have five days to get to their destination.

We waited in line. By now drizzle had been falling for sometime. Mick had changed his trousers for waterproof ones, a wise move. A boat came down between the hire boats and another boat winded above the lock, so it was our turn to empty the big deep lock. I was glad this would be the only lock today as it tends to be heavy and hard work.

The bottom paddles wound easily, it was just the walk over the bottom gate with giraffe legs that got me. The gate opened, Mick brought Oleanna in, then it was time to close the gate. This big single bottom gate is heavy, but once you get in going, don’t let it stop, it’s not too bad. Handy places to put your feet on little walls by the herringbone path help greatly and waiting for Oleanna to be taken out of gear saves an awful lot of huffing and puffing.

The top paddles are stiff to get going. Adjusting where you start with your windlass to give more leverage helps a lot, then they wind up dead easy. I may have covid but Somerton Deep didn’t beat me today.

Chisnell Lift Bridge was open and a short distance beyond was NB Perseus on a mooring commanding the views. We bipped our horn and two heads popped out from the hatch. As Mick hadn’t met Julie and Simon yesterday there was plenty to chat about. It was time to move on when a boat appeared from ahead, we’d no doubt see them later as they were heading a bit further than us today.

Aynho Wharf was our next port of call. Fill with water and to buy some coal. We set the tap running then Mick popped a mask on to find the lady in the shop. 40kg of Excel now on the roof we can keep warm without worrying. We’ve placed an order with NB Dusty next week that will bring our coal reserves up to normal winter cruising levels.

***I don’t know how Tilly Too got there! Maybe she jumped!!***

We pootled on a short distance to get away from the road and moored up. Tilly was given nearly four hours and a warning to not come back too wet. Last time we moored here she returned far too soggy for it to have just been from damp grass!

NB Perseus bipped their horn as they arrived to leap frog us, another chat at the stern of the boats was had before they pushed off again, cruising in sunshine! We’d obviously followed the wrong weather forecast!

Lists of things needed next week were emailed through to Chippy. A possible extra pair of painting hands has responded, I don’t know if the producer thought they would be coming on work experience, but they have a daily rate which is bigger than mine, mine being a discounted mates rate!

A pork stew and jackets was put on to cook, the potatoes wrapped in two layers of foil and popped alongside the coals in the fire box of the stove. Mick said the stew was tasty, but I wasn’t so sure, it seemed bland. Maybe he was just being nice, or maybe my taste buds are being affected. Mick did offer me a taste from his plate of stew, but I knew that wouldn’t make a difference! He was just trying to be funny.

This evening the second box of tissues was emptied, Mick has less of a waterfall nose and mine has just about dried up, it’s just a shame about the vertigo!

1 lock, 3.15 miles, 40kg coal, 1 full water tank, 1 load washing, 2 wobbly legs, 2 leapfrogs, 1 damp morning, 1 sunny afternoon, 1 happy cat, 1 Tilly Too back in the window.

Thank you to the lady a Aynho Wharf today for her help.

Thank you for all the messages of concern and to Dave for offering to deliver us some coal.

https://goo.gl/maps/ky4YHZ5efCCaqfQp6

Giraffe Legs. 13th October

Kirtlington Quarry to Somerton Meadows

An hour or so was spent going through fonts and seeing what happened to them when saved as a pdf. A font was chosen, alterations done then it was whizzed off to Promptside to see if it was good enough to be printed 25 times bigger for the panto song sheet. Emails about cloths, confirmation of sizes before the big print button could be pressed. Emails about flats being primed, was the paint too thin? Would these emails continue all day? That might be a problem as we’d be going through the big black hole of everythingness at Allen’s Lock!

Today’s mission was to get as far as we felt we could manage. With one bag of coal on the roof and no NB Dusty until next week we’re needing another bag to keep us warm, so we need to reach Aynho in the next couple of days. We pushed off around 11am, still the emails kept coming about panto. I did my best to answer them as quickly as I could not knowing quite when the signal would vanish.

At Northbrook Lock a boat had just arrived above, but the chap waved us on, the lock more in our favour than his. It must have seemed odd us stopping quite a distance away for me to get off as the chap opened the bottom gate for us. Today I needed the boat to be stationary and close to the bank for me to step off, my legs having developed the wobblyness of one of those giraffe toys you used to get in your Christmas stocking. Even though I was well aware of how big a step there was my brain could not communicate this to my feet which reacted in the opposite way they needed to. Step/no step!

I walked up to the lock and explained to the chap who was very understanding and left me to close the bottom gate, he’d do the honours at the top end for us. I waited for Oleanna to rise before stepping back onboard, I don’t normally do ladders and today was most certainly not the day to start.

Dashwoods Lock came into view, Muddy Slipper mooring below it was available. Did we want to stop? We needed to carry on, but I wasn’t sure for how much longer. Mick today was starting to suffer from the waterfall effects covid gives to your nose and I just really wanted to sit down in front of the TV and stove for a snooze, but that wouldn’t get us coal or me to work next week. There was however a possibility that we’d end up stopping deep within the big black hole of everythingness. I warned those who were still emailing me that my responses may not return for a day.

After a short while the railway hugs the canal, not somewhere we’d choose to stop. Just about all the Oxfordshire Hire Boats were at home leaving a narrow channel to aim for through the base. There was a familiar named boat NB Perseus, Forged in Sheffield, another Finesse boat. No-one was at home.

Gradually as we approached Allen’s Lock we watched our phone signal drop away along with the internet, things hadn’t improved along this stretch. A boat had just come down the lock but closed the gate behind them, luckily for us a walker stopped and pushed the gate open for us, saving some energy.

New lock gates here have a geared paddle on the bottom gates with brakes similar to those you find at Hillmorton Locks. I wonder how many of the rotten gates will be replaced this winter? We’ve only looked at stoppages on the Oxford that will affect us and not for one’s in the new year.

Thankfully we couldn’t stop even if we wanted to above Allen’s Lock as it was full. Then not a lot further on there was a skip boat and some dredging happening. One man sat on top of his digger scouping out large chunks of reeds which he then span round to deposit in the skip boat. After a couple more scoups he helped a tug move the skip away, giving us just enough room to pass them.

Up ahead was where the dredgings were being off loaded. A bigger digger/crane was gouging out the sludge from a skip, a third skip and tug stretched right across the canal blocking it completely. The tug driver was doing his best to get the skip out of the way, pushing and pulling, adjusting the connections, pushing and pulling. In the end he had to disconnect from the skip completely and give it a damn good biff to get it of the bottom, if ever anywhere needed dredging!

**Heyford Common Lock the last for the day**

Heyford Common Lock sat filling itself up, leaks round the gate and from the cill. The bottom gate beam is still how it was last year, at least today I knew it would flex before I got any movement from it. This would however have to be our last lock of the day, energy levels were getting low even though we’d topped up with paracetamol an hour or so earlier.

*It’s still here! Everything’s in order*

We wound our way to Somerton Meadows hoping there’d be space for us and thankfully there was. We pulled in and kept ourselves to the end nearest where Tilly likes to climb the fencing and furthest away from other boats. Tilly headed off to do what she does whilst we had some lunch and a much needed sit down.

Around about 5pm there was a loud beeping. What was that shattering the peace? A boat was heading towards us, were we moored on a bend and someone felt they might hit us? We’ve moored here before and not had any problem! Then some shouting followed.

Hang on, this wasn’t someone with a problem, it was someone trying to get our attention. It was NB Perseus with Julie and Simon. Mick feeling rougher than me stayed inside by the stove whilst I headed out the back with Tilly to say hello. Standing on the bank I could keep my distance easier. A couple of months ago when we met up with NB Barbarella on the River Nene, Noni signed me up to a Whatsap group for ladies on Finesse boats. I believe Julie was the instigator of the group. We’ve had text message communication and a few comments on the group, but today we finally got to meet.

Have to say it pepped me up somewhat. A very jolly couple who moor at Cropredy, I’m sure our paths will cross again hopefully when we are feeling better. Very good chatting to you both.

As the evening progressed Mick’s waterfall nose increased in flow, mine subsiding. My head also started to feel a little bit clearer as if the clouds were starting to part over head. Here’s hoping so and that Mick follows the same track.

4 locks, 6.6 miles, 2 many emails, 7 fonts down 2 1, 1 black hole of nothingness passed through, 3 skips, 1 stuck, 2nd lady with Finesse, 2 giraffe legs, 3.5 hours shore leave, what will day 5 have in store for us.

Thank you to the crew of NB Hafren for your help today.

https://goo.gl/maps/H8FP3A6XY4H8MJft6

The Plague Boat. 12th October

Kidlington Lock 43 to Kirtlington Quarry

Lemsip in bed for both of us this morning. Mick was most certainly worse than yesterday and had had a bad nights sleep. We decided to leave the bed made up for ease of afternoon snoozing should one be required.

**Funny thing to fall through the hedge**

As we got Oleanna ready for the off a boat was just appearing above the lock, we left them to it even though the lock was in our favour, no rushing about anywhere for us and we’d be able to keep our distance from them too. Whilst we waited there was a noise in the hedge of the garden across the cut, it sounded like something weighty had fallen into it. Two cats sat and looked about as a Mutkjac Deer appeared, not that much bigger then the felines. They really didn’t know what to make of it, their instinct to hunt like lions kept them close, but the size of it was a touch off putting.

**Hope this one’s on the list for this winter**

Once we were up Kidlington Lock we worked our way along what felt to be quite a low pound to Roundham Lock. A boat was appearing out of the lock, but the gate was closed behind them, a helpful passer-by who hadn’t seen us apologised as he walked onwards. This was to be the first lock that took some getting into today, the water level low not helping. I quickly remembered to wait for Mick to take Oleanna out of gear before closing the bottom gate, it’s far easier this way with the big single gates and anything to make life easier was needed today.

A lady from a down hill boat walked towards me, I explained that she might not want to get too close and why. Locks are handy for social distancing, I stood on the off side ready to lower the paddle, the lady quite happy to open the gate up for us to leave.

**Someone’s keeping an eye on moorers!**

Round into Thrupp not yet filled up with winter moorers. Aubrey’s Lift Bridge now has flashing lights on both sides for road users. Last year we overheard conversations about this as too many vehicles had been crossing the bridge without it being fully down and causing damage. I don’t recall seeing any stoppage notices about the bridge this year so the lights must be working.

We pulled in, disinfected our hands for the umpteenth time today and filled up with water and dealt with the yellow water and rubbish. Thankfully none of the very friendly people from Thrupp came over to chat, so we could keep ourselves to ourselves.

Not far to where we should be stopping today, cruising hours reduced now thankfully. But we decided that if we could get that bit further today it would be good, not knowing what Covid might have in store for us over the next few days.

This year we’ve seen more and more boats moored up using their centre lines. This really isn’t good practice as it tends to encourage your boat to keel over more when boats pass and should there be any flooding this can end up sinking your boat. But this boat moored under the railway bridge was doing it in a completely different way, centre line upwards away from any harm to walkers up onto the railway bridge!

Shipton Lift Bridge 219 has been rebuilt, kept open to boat traffic with a sign saying not to use it until further notice. The water level at Shipton Weir Lock was in our favour, I stepped off and opened up the gate, just to see NB Peggy pulling up behind us also wanting to use the lock.

The lock being lozenge shaped meant we’d possibly be able to get both boats in at once, Peggy being a touch shorter than us. She nestled in nicely and the chap at the helm pulled her right over to step off with a rope. Even though we were sharing a lock with another boat we were still at least 6m away from anyone. The lady suggested I close up the bottom gate and she’d work the top gate and paddles, so no need to be close.

Back out onto a river, the Cherwell, some speed again. We’ve got rather used to it over the summer. Then we were up Bakers Lock and back on the slower water.

We pootled on to Pigeons Lock. No-one to help here, but that was fine, we hoped it would be our last lock as we were tired and starting to get cold, paracetamol levels dropping and aches setting in. Oh what a time for the bottom gate not to open fully, Oleanna didn’t want to fit through!

Time to try the waggle the gate about technique. Oleanna was brought out of the lock. I semi closed the gate and then swung it open as quickly as I could muster, maybe it opened a bit wider, but with extra umph Mick managed to get her into the lock. Phew, we’d not have to call C&RT out and sit and wait for assistance.

Jane’s Enchanted Tea Garden is no longer along the next stretch. The business was sold last year and has moved to Ducklington near Whitney. Sadly we never managed to be around when afternoon tea was being served on the banks of the canal. There are still the quirky buildings, Morris Minor and Cosy Caravan, but now it’s just for the owners.

We hoped for a space at the quarry and the moorings gods were looking our way, we had the place to ourselves. It took us time to moor up, everything so much slower than normal. Tilly was given 3.5 hours shore leave and we settled down to enjoy the effects from a top up of paracetamol and some food.

During the day I’d been receiving emails regarding a backdrop for panto. It has a practical doorway through it. Because models are quite often made certain sizes to accommodate card thicknesses the backdrop piece of model had a slightly wider opening than was needed. I normally like maths and making sure things are correct, but today it took such a long time to get my brain round the sizes, tolerances the carpenter was asking and translating it all into an opening for the cloth.

Then the very basic artwork for the Song sheet wasn’t good enough to be printed, could I resend it in a different format? Easy except the font I’d chosen altered itself between formats loosing all the characteristics I’d chosen it for in the first place. Why oh why couldn’t this all have happened last week when my brain functioned better!

Mick did a second lateral flow test this afternoon. A second line. We are now officially the Plague Boat!

5 locks, 1 shared, 6.3 miles, 4 lemsips, 8 paracetamol, 1 box of tissues in a day, 3.5 hours, 1 friend ejected, 1 cat with it! 2 lines, 2 boaters feeling sorry for themselves, 1 bag of coal left, 1 song sheet pain, 1060 or 1129? 1 brain full of covid fog, 1 plague boat.

Thank you to the crews of NB Waratah and NB Peggy for your help today.

https://goo.gl/maps/AXQDwSZdpeUF1cxR8

One Faint Line. 10th October

Isis Lock to East Street, River Thames

Today was to be a day in Oxford, making use of being in a city we know. A visit to the fish market, Whittards to stock up on tea amongst other things. But first we had time for a breakfast.

Yesterday I’d started to get a bit of a sore throat and in the evening I did a lateral flow test, negative. Today the soar throat was accompanied by a headache. After breakfast I decided to take another test. There on the indicator below the big control line was a faint line. Mick checked it too, only just visible but it was there. I wouldn’t be going out shopping!

This afternoon we’d planned on dropping back down Isis Lock so that in the morning we could get a supermarket delivery whilst I headed to Chippy to sort through things I’d be needing next week when I start painting the set.

I cancelled my trip to Chippy, I may have to have a hand held zoom later in the week so that I get sent what I need. The covid policy at the theatre is that you can return to work 5 days after testing positive unless you still have symptoms. Here’s hoping I’m better next Monday!

**Not enough room to wind above the lock**

What to do? We could stay put, but that wouldn’t get the boat to Banbury where it needs to be for work. So we decided to carry on with our plan and hope that between the two of us we can manage to get to Banbury without coming into contact with anyone.

Mick reversed Oleanna back to the lock, he’d already been stopped by a lovely Canadian chap called Greg. I worked the lock taking great care to leave as much room between myself and Greg as possible, it may have seemed a touch rude backing away.

Then once down the lock we winded , returned down Sheepcote Wash, turned left back onto the Thames and pootled down the river to East Street. Winded again and pulled into a space. The demolition works at the Power Station were quite noisy so we nudged round to be in front of the façade that is being kept. Here we can get a delivery, then hopefully we’ll start to make our way up towards Banbury, doing our best to avoid people. I’ll have a mask in my back pocket to try to deter people and hand sanitizer before I touch anything. Here’s hoping it remains just a bad cold and that Mick doesn’t come down with it.

Where might I have picked it up? Well almost certainly not from the lock keepers yesterday. Saturdays visit to the pub also seems a bit too close, but maybe my steak came with added covid! I think I’m most likely to have picked it up in Reading when I went on a hunt for shopping.

What will be, will be and only time will tell how we both do living in a confined space together.

1 lock, 0.54 miles, 2 winds, 1 left, 1 big delivery, 2 packets paracetamol, 2 boxes tissues, 1 big bottle of cough medicine, 0 shore leave for Tilly, 1 faint line, thank goodness it was this week not next!

https://goo.gl/maps/ipPtJR4ACPguK6Sj8

Halfway Up The Thames. 4th October

Marlow Lock Cut to Temple Island Meadow, Remenham

We allowed ourselves a cuppa in bed with the papers this morning, hours still need to be cruised but not quite so many a day. By 10:30 we were ready to make a move the board at Marlow Lock being blue (Self Service) I prepared the bow rope on the cratch board for ease of picking up with the boat hook.

Gongoozlers awaited our arrival, one of them filming our every move! I pressed buttons, got the bow rope, secured the bow, closed gates, pressed buttons, adjusted rope, etc, then we were on our way again.

A big pontoon sat below Marlow Bridge, two chaps stood looking up at something.

The big houses and their gardens stretch off into the distance, a balustrade wall with an urn full of flowers every 16ft or so marks the edge of their estate. We’ve seen staff moving around these properties in golf buggies before!

Temple Lock marks almost the half way point between London and Oxford on the river. Here two chaps who looked like they were working on the gates pressed the buttons for us, a big sign besides them with a phone number should you have any problems with the lock 24/7.

**So many coats of varnish o their boats.**

A short distance on is Hurley Lock, blue signs lied to us as there were two Lock Keepers on duty. There was just enough time to have a peek over the fence into Peter Freebody and Co to look at the pretty boats. Oleanna was the fifth boat they’d had through the lock this morning, a quiet day.

Just over three and a half miles to the next lock. We were wanting to be moored up before the weather took hold today, should we stop at Medmenham? There was plenty of space but we really needed to be at least another hour on especially if the weather tomorrow is bad.

Passing the weir cut for Hambledon Lock we waved to where WB Still Rockin used to winter, wonder where she is now with her new owners?

The wind was starting to pick up by now and dropping me off to work the lock took a while to get the bow in so I could head of with the boat pole. A couple were just entering the lock from above on a Kris hire boat. Their skills suggested they’d done this before a few times. The lock took forever to empty, I suggested the lady get back on and I’d open the gates for them. But still it took forever, not helped by very few of the lights working on the extensive panel, of which you only need three buttons! Then at last the gates moved, they were set free and the lock was now ours.

With no gate paddles obvious I suspected this to be a side filler. The bow rope was wrapped round the bollard several times, no lugs to hold it tight. I pressed the button to fill the lock and gently the water started to flow in. The bow rope was adjusted and as the flow of water increased Oleanna sat a distance out from the side of the lock, kept away by the filling water. Thankfully we could leave the top gates open as a cruiser appeared with perfect timing to go down.

It now started to rain. That rain that soaks you when you’re not looking! Our scheduled stop today was Temple Island the start of the boat racing in Henley. Waterway Routes suggested there were moorings beside the island, so we headed towards where there was a sign that confirmed this, however all along the bank were signs saying Private Mooring with names of boats on them. Winter moorings maybe, the signs didn’t look permanent.

Up ahead on the other bank were a few boats, a sign fixed to a tree suggested that maybe these were pay for moorings. We pulled in along the good edge, sign checked £12, but it would mean we wouldn’t have to battle onwards in the weather.

We were soon settled and the doors opened up for Tilly to explore. We knew she wouldn’t be too keen due to the manicured nature of the field and gardens.

After an initial explore she preferred to sit on the stern and watch the world go by, or walk along the catwalk keeping a close eye on the woofers. Inside I ticked off a few more jobs for panto and cut out another couple of stencils. A logo was drawn out, scanned and sent on to Jo the props maker, I quite like it and may see if I can get a t-shirt printed for first night.

**Cutting out the cats with supervision**

4 locks, 2 self service, 1 side filler, 7.5 miles, 1 blustery damp day, 1 sunny afternoon! £12, 1 tidy green mooring, 1 bored cat, 1 assistant, 2 stencils, 1 Petiti Pie, 1 stove lit, 2 cosy boaters and their cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/6wBpfKxW4qSgZXM78

Blowing Up The Rats. 3rd October

Marlow Lock Cut

Up, out of bed, breakfasted and walking towards the station this morning for Mick to catch a train into Maidenhead, then one to London, the tube, on to York and the final train of that leg to Scarborough. Our latest lodgers had moved out yesterday, so the house needed checking over and the grass cutting.

**Only a bit of space on York to moor today**

I meanwhile headed off to Sainsburys to see how much I could carry back to the boat ending up doing an intermediate shop which would keep us going until we reach Tescos in Reading.

The shop windows in Marlow have tantalising things in them. I SO wish I ate gluten still as one cafe had the most enticing looking bread in their window and trays of wonderous baked goods filling the counters. Oh well I most probably saved myself a fortune.

**I behaved and didn’t stock up on yarns**

A shop down a side street caught my eye, a crafty shop with fabrics and yarn. My bumbag needs the zip replacing, so I waited outside for the shop to open then purchased what I hope is the correct length zip for the job. Just need to find the time with enough daylight to put it in now.

**Alan, still King of the wall in Scarborough**

Today I was going to make use of the table whilst Mick was away and do a bit of prep work for panto. The elaborate portals that I’ve designed have quite a few things that repeat themselves, so a quick means of drawing them out is required. I could project them onto the scenery, a method I’ll use elsewhere this year, but as these are so repetitive I’m going to use stencils.

I gridded up the card I’d bought in London and transferred the designs across, trying to better the originals I’d used for the model. The correct lines were picked out from the mistakes with pen and later on in the day I started to cut them out. After two I’d had enough, the others can happen over the next few days when we moor up.

Around the lock was busy today. Plenty of boats coming and going. At one point I looked up to see a grey widebeam gliding past with no-one at the helm. They were sorting out their centre rope and ran back down the roof before the boat went off course.

**EA getting ready for some work somewhere**

A work boat and skip came down the lock. We’ve seen a few worky type vessels about the place, presumably getting ready for winter maintenance.

Several of the overstaying boats moved off too. Notices removed from windows. That left us and one other boat that looks like it is quite happy here.

**Thankfully no friends were brought home today!**

Council workmen arrived and did a bit of pruning in the park we’re moored alongside so whilst the chipper chipped Tilly was kept in. A big vat of carrot and orange soup was made from the remaining cheap carrots we’d bought at M&S, Not bad for 45p, a roast, a cake and soup.

Mick’s return journey from Scarborough wasn’t quite so good. The trains to London from York were cancelled so a detour via Leeds was taken. This train ended up stopping everywhere so got into London late. A fast train to Maidenhead got him slightly back on course where he caught up with a train he’d hoped to catch back to Marlow. He was back on board Oleanna just gone 10:30pm. A long day with a lot of trains.

0 locks, 0 miles, 9 trains, 2 tubes, 1 tidy house, 1 load washing, 1 catch up with neighbours, 2 bags shopping, 1 zip, 6 hours shore leave, 2 cancelled, 1 busy river out of season, 7 stencils drawn, 2 cut.

Skiving. 29th September

Teddington Lock to Shepperton Public Mooring

Blue skies greeted us this morning as we pushed away Teddington. This is going to be another trip up stream on the Thames where we keep saying ‘next time’ as we don’t have too much spare time on our hands. We always seem to go up stream on the Thames too, maybe ‘next time’ we’ll come down stream and see things from a different angle, we’ll also save on a bit of diesel too.

We pootled through Kingston, on past Hampton Court Palace, there was space to moor, but not enough time to enjoy ourselves. I wonder if they still sell off their fruit and veg every week?

Molesey Lock, our first on the none tidal Thames had a lock keeper on duty, we were his fourth boat this morning. On we tootled aiming for about four hours of cruising today, but knowing we’d be a touch short of that due to wanting a suitable mooring for Tilly.

Boat houses, big houses. One with a suitable 70ft mooring was for sale. If only we had rich relatives!

A Kingfisher darted along between boats one of several we’d see today.

Plenty of riverside houses are being revamped or started from scratch, most with big windows to appreciate the views.

One property had three sets of bubbles bubbling up from the deep. Was this to keep the duck weed away? Or was it holes in a gas pipe line?

Does anybody know what this thing is? Steps up to it, round like an air shaft?

Sunbury Lock was also manned, just the requirement to use bow and stern ropes and to turn your engine off. All the grass cut to perfection and flower beds still showing off some colour.

Little houses on stilts, looking like big beach huts.

Then there was a large pontoon in the middle of the river. The chaps wearing high vis sat about having their lunch break. It looked like there was a drill for collecting samples on the pontoon.

We took the route to the north of Desborough Island. Last year we’d moored on the island when it was raining, not a suitable place for Tilly though. Today the moorings here were chocka so we carried on hoping there would be space on the council mooring a distance on.

Brilliant, we were the only boat. Not so brilliant was the large group of school kids heading in our direction! Were they just on lunch of were they skiving? As they hung around all afternoon, admittedly quite a distance from us we assumed they were skiving. This was almost certainly confirmed when they all headed off at school kicking out time!

Tilly wasn’t too sure about it here at first. First there was a woofer that had to be avoided, then lots of screeching kiddies who tried to climb the trees. They were just spoiling it for everyone else, well me! Once they’d gone home for their dingdings I had the place to myself. If it hadn’t been for those pesky kiddies it would have got a stamp of approval!

A flurry of panto emails had come through that needed some attention. Then as it was Thursday I put a chicken in to roast, timed to be ready after catching up with the Scarborough Chums. We’ve not had a Chums zoom catch up for what feels like months due to life returning to some kind of normal. Lovely to see people again, a shame some had to be at work. There was so much to catch up with, moving to Scotland, selling houses, buying pubs, a giant cardboard horse and Spanish wedding plans!

2 locks, 9.83 miles, £10,000,000 house, 70ft mooring, 2 many kids, 1 mooring spike, 1 wombled kindling hunt, 5 staying put, but 6 moving to 7 with a 6 inch brail, 1 roast chicken, 1 Sunday on a Thursday.

https://goo.gl/maps/DTLS3x6PMJ4D84r9A

Crepes. 22nd September

Colebrooke Eco-mooring

Ahh, tea in bed again! Wonderful, well except it was quite early as we seem to have gotten used to early mornings now. Once breakfast was over I headed to catch a bus to Aldgate to buy some card.

4D Model Shop has just about everything a model maker could want, I think they used to be near Holborn and I visited them many years ago when I still lived in Brixton. What I was after today was some sheets of grey board, card that is fairly easy to cut and cheap that I could make stencils from for the panto portals, reducing the amount of time spent drawing things out to a quarter.

I did have a good look round. You could buy any tree or any colour at a variety of scales, plenty of scale people several having a great time in a bowl of breakfast cereal. All sorts of wood, card, styrene shapes, sphere’s of all sizes. I could have spent an absolute age here, but managed to refrain from it. Over the last couple of years I’ve been wanting to find a magnifying glass to help when doing very fine things. The chap showed me a pair of glasses on which you can change the lenses to increase magnification, Something to add to my Christmas list.

Once back on the bus there was enough time for a breather before we had visitors arrive. Siobhán and Patrick arrived from Australia on Monday, Siobhán is an old school friend of Micks. We’ve not seen them for several years as trips back to the UK were cancelled due to covid. They brought along with them Fionnuala, Siobhán’s sister who came to visit us once in Paddington.

We had a lovely few hours with them catching up, seeing photos of their new grandchildren. Tea on board was followed by a walk up into Islington for something to eat. We chose Crepeaffaire, who make crepes and buckwheat galettes. They were nice, but could have done with being a touch warmer and a bit more filling. The lady serving us whipped out her pay machine which was all of a bit sudden. Because Mick was the first to get a card out, the others protested and we ended up visiting Sainsburys so they could help top up our wine cellar.

A lovely day with great friends, another reason for dashing down to London.

The boat behind us this evening pulled away leaving a gap on the straight that Oleanna would fit into. So we pulled back and breasted up against NB Keeping up with the Jones’, a boat that many may know, but now has a new owner. Our new mooring meant that the very short boat on the inside would now be able to pull out when they wanted to this evening.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 buses, 8 sheets card, 1 pair specs, 2 antipodean visitors, 1 sister, 5 crepes, 2 boxes of wine, lots of laughs, 1 budget through, 1 painting space confirmed.

Because the blog is published a couple of days behind I thought it only fair to share a photo from the flotilla, to wet your appetite. There may be a delay in further photos as I’ve a lot to sort through from the day.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna