The Geraghty zoom conversations included Zack, Library banning, hose pipe dispensation, the final Waverely trip, and Ardingly Reservoir. Afterwards we pushed off with the aim of finding a mooring better for Tilly than last nights.
Frothy Man
Some days you spend waiting for news. Today was one of those and I have to say not knowing what was happening in Scarborough for most of the morning made me feel really quiet nauseous. We worked our way through the locks towards Gailey, several boats coming towards us, most locks empty waiting for our arrival.
Some awkward mooring by Rothens boats on the lock landings
At Rodbaston Lock just after I’d opened the bottom gates my phone rang. This lock is pretty close to the M6, not the best place to hear what had been happening further north this morning. The troops were rallying for Frank. At least I knew what had been decided, but there was still more waiting, news available in short messages for much of the day saying there was no news.
BIt of a Boggy day
I walked all the way to Gailey, Boggs Lock with its temporary beams, another with a cage round it, I was scared that if you sneezed, it might just give up and fall to pieces. I hope they are on the winter stoppage list.
Below Gailey Lock
At Gailey there were crew from a downhill boat who came to watch and not help, one of the bottom gates eventually got closed by a chap sat on a bench smoking his pipe.
Not quite THE photo but the extra crew were too eager to open the top gate
I carried on walking, checking a few things for Waterway Routes. The chemical works along this stretch has lost lots of its pipe bridges, new trees now fill the gap where a footbridge had been and a newly surfaced towpath means we’d most probably not choose to moor alongside it for fear of loose chippings hitting our new paintwork.
I hopped on board for the last while, round by Hatherton Junction, pulling in at a mooring soon before Moat House Bridge. No other boats other than those passing. We had a late lunch and Tilly got busy in the friendly cover, doing a touch of self catering.
More waiting. Time to finally get round to putting our Fund Britain’s Waterways banner up on the bow. Time to position our escape ladder at the stern. The banner was quite easy tying it round the cratch board. The ladder was more involved as we wanted to attach it to where the stern fender attaches. D shackles were undone, straps slotted on, but then reattaching everything took both of us.
I wonder who’s paws those were?!
A bit of a wipe down of the paintwork on the starboard side, someone had left their muddy paw prints! I’m also aiming to keep on top of the dribbles below the windows. These came off really easily, but I suspect if left too long they may get stubborn to shift. All this helped with the waiting.
Late afternoon the news came through that Frank was headed back to hospital and the hunt for a care home was seriously on. Jobs were allocated for the morning. Then Frank called me to say where he was, in A&E waiting to be seen.
My Little Thug on Thug watch
Tilly kept herself occupied all afternoon and she lost sight of the time, maybe because her mouth was too full! I’d started cooking, pork chops and dauphinoise potatoes, but Mick ended up having to finish things as messages were flying around the Frankness whatsapp group. Hopefully tomorrow things will get sorted for Frank and then things will start to calm down for everyone, especially Frank.
Hooray for Kingfishers
5 locks, 5.2 miles, 1 very long wait for news, 1 very very long wait for Frank, 2 frothy locks, -2 pipe bridges, 1 pipe smoker, 3 friends at least, 1 rally of Frankness, 1 ex-Production Manager, 1 stage manager, 1 ex-wardrobe assistant, M6, 3 Mrs Tilly stamps of approval?!
Cranfleet Cut to Aston Lock to Weston Cliff Bridge 10 to Shobnall Fields
Saturday
Morning view
Tilly had an hours shore leave whilst we had breakfast on board, she did a bit of self catering earning this mooring a stamp of approval! Ben was on the phone with an update from Scarborough early on, concerns, plans, can’t find this and that, to chat about. Poor Ben is certainly being kept busy, I know it would have been me had we still been in Scarborough.
Paddling with Ratcliffe in the back ground
Time to push off, a right at Trent Junction, but not right right. The river was busy with sailing boats, canoists and paddleboarders. At Sawley Locks we were directed to the right hand lock, a volunteer penning us up. He was relieved that someone was at the bow with a rope, this made for a far easier rise in the lock.
Sawley in the sunshine
Back onto the River Trent, past the weir and on to where the Derwent meets the Trent and the start of the Trent and Mersey Canal heads off. Today it felt like we were entering the amazon, the amount of pennywort, only a small channel to cruise through and this apparently is after quite a bit of it has been cleared!
Amazonian T&M
Up at the lock was a hire boat rising, I helped them close gates, they asked how far we’d be going, to Aston Lock today, the lady nodded. We shared Derwent Mouth Lock with a small cruiser. The chap with a windlass lifted his ground paddle quite quickly which meant Oleanna’s bow was pushed over towards the cruiser. Not ideal. But both boats rose up, they headed to moor to get themselves some lunch as we carried on.
I walked on ahead, easier to do now we’re back on the canals. I’d half expected the hire boat to be waiting for us to share Shardlow Lock to help save water, but when the lock came into view they were nearly up. Hang on, bottom gates don’t leak that much, there was quite a boil in the water. I tried squinting to see if there was a paddle up, my pace quickened. They were doing a very good job of running water down. Thankfully the pound above is quite long so no real harm done.
Approaching Aston Lock a boat was coming towards us, maybe the hire boat would be waiting for us now. They were, treading water below. I walked up to see if I could lend a hand, another boat rising in the lock. As the levels equalised another boat was pulling in above. A lady with silver hair, could this be a boat we expected to meet with today?
Cobweb heading for a lick of paint
Yes it was NB Cobweb, owned by Vicky and David. Vicky used to work at the SJT in Scarborough front of house, a longtime ago and a few years ago she’d made a comment about the Princess Anne Bridge in Thorne on a facebook group, we reconnected. Recently we’d exchanged massages about repaints as NB Cobweb was requiring a bit of a spruce up. They’d been seeking quotes after one painter fell through, these ranged from £14,000 to £2,000. They’d opted to go with Robert Naghi who quite often uses the polytunnel at Redhill, so today they were heading there. There was time to chat as we worked Cobweb down, hopefully we’ll manage that drink in a Scarborough pub this winter to exchange boating tales.
The hire boat shared the lock with us, as another two boats arrived above. A chap walked down, he seemed to be familiar, but where from? Was he a boat mover? The penny dropped, he works at Redhill and is one of the team who move boats about the yard. He and another two chaps from the marina had been out for a week and were headed back today. It felt like I knew everyone now we were back on the cut, such a small world.
Squeezing past a breasted up pair also on the move
On our original plan had been to moor here for the day. We pulled in and let Tilly out, an hour that’s all she gave me! An hour!! As it was such a lovely day we wanted to move on, do a bit more after lunch, an aim of trying to get two days ahead of ourselves would be good to catch up with another boat. I was just about to stick my head out of the side hatch to call Tilly in when she came running along. She’s forgotten that I can tell the time! Bang on a hour, Thank you!!
As I walked on to Weston Lock, I had a long chat with Frank about some of the detective work I’d achieved for him. We just need to find the other paperwork this relates to it in the boxes at his house, not a five minute job! It was good to hear him enthused about things.
Weston Lock with it’s b**tard heavy gates
Up at the lock there were masses of young people with scooters, a few mums and dads, plenty to watch us go through the lock. One chap suggested they stay and watch to his son, I suggested they could help with the big gates. The lad came to help, but I suggested Dad’s help would also be needed. This made for the easiest rise at Weston we’ve ever had, thanks to our extra crew.
Just why was the towpath so busy?! Well there was a scarecrow festival going on, three scarecrows here on the canal. Scar Crow (by the little hut), Victoria Plunge (alongside a cake boat) and Bart Boatman (at the next boat, he spoke too!) all very amusing.
We carried on to a gap in the trees with a length of armco. Tilly was given shore leave, and we had a nice little walk along to a bench overlooking the river below. Tilly then amused herself as I got out the new paints. This morning I’d noticed a rub mark and a chip on the grabrail which had gone back to the steel. Keep on top of the paintwork Tom had said, so I got out the 2 pack blacking, mixed the smallest amount in an old jar, guessing the 4 parts paint to 1 of hardner and touched in the two areas. No idea how they had happened or when, but at least they now had some protection. I’ll get round to the red another day when the towpath is on the right side.
Back in her natural habitat
The huge courgette went into a bolognaise sauce, padding the mince out into three meals for us, I’ll have to shoehorn one lot into the freezer.
Sunday.
A cooked breakfast on board. Our new poach pods seem to be a bit thin, so the eggs cooked in an odd way, think we’ll have to find some more. I like poached eggs, but like a runny yolk not the white.
Yummy!
The weekly Geraghty zoom followed, subjects included mice (Tilly’s choice), Hamlet, Lisa Nandy, Aran and peanut butter lids. Only one sibling missing today due to them travelling to visit Anne for her birthday.
Swarkstone Pavillion
I walked on ahead. One lady on a passing boat exclaimed at how far I was going to be walking to the lock. Strangely enough, I knew exactly how far it was and I’d still be walking some more after the lock. I paused when I saw the cooling towers of Willington for the first time and stopped for a glance at Swarkstone Pavillion, the subject of a painting I did earlier this year.
Far busier at locks than on the Trent
At the lock there was a scout troop having a rest and snacks. I did suggest to one of their leaders that sitting under a lock beam maybe wasn’t the best place for them, especially as I needed to access both sides of the lock. Once Oleanna was in the lock I clocked that a paddle was still just up at the bottom end, the scouts had to move for me to sort that out!
Leaving Stenson
We swapped with a downward boat and I hopped on board to catch a lift up to Stenson. There were two volunteers at Stenson, I went to lend a hand, but ended up chatting instead. They knew their lock and how it works, the opposite way to the vast majority of locks on the network. It was a very gentle ride up. We then pulled in for a break to have lunch.
He’s the captain
On our way towards Mercia we had a young lad in a canoe follow in our wake, he was meeting people at the marina, hope they’d told him whereabouts as it is vast! The new buildings that had been going up last year look now to be completed, similar to those around the marina.
Pair 135 I think
I got my knitting out to work on at the stern as we made our way along the long pound towards Burton. We were pushing on a bit further today with a rendezvous in mind tomorrow. I hopped off around bridge 29A and walked the rest of the towpath to Dallow Lock, the first narrow lock. The first narrow lock we’ve done this year in fact. We’d wondered if Stenson would be our last broad lock but then realised we’d have two broad locks to do on the River Avon before reaching our mooring for panto.
Dallow
A couple walked past and helped with the bottom gate, then a chap and his son asked lots of questions as Oleanna rose up, they also helped with the top gate. There was quite a bit of room at Shobnall Fields, last year Tilly and I spent quite a bit of time moored opposite them whilst Mick was in Derby Hospital after his stroke. Today it was deemed too late for Tilly to have any shore leave, she however didn’t agree with our decision!
Lock
A chicken went in the oven to roast. We’re a little bit out of practice with our boat oven, we’ll need to adjust the amount of time we roast carrots and parsnips for, as they turned a little bit hard and bits resembled charcoal. Oh well isn’t carbon meant to be good for you?!
19.5 miles, 8 locks, 1 boat met, 1 boat to catch up, 1 change of plan, 1 rendezvous arranged, 3 boat yard chaps, 3 scarecrows, 2 many messages, 1 pooped Frank, 3 Mrs Tilly stamp of approvals in 1 day!
Sunday we dug out Tilly’s magic food bowl and set it ready to open in 8 hours time, topped up her biscuit bowl, then packed bags and popped the cheesecake into a cool bag and set off to walk to Newark Northgate Station.
Moo planters
Our train was delayed, engineering works had overrun so our train was held in London, this made for a slower walk to the station. Stood on the platform we had speeding train after train whizzing through the station, all trying to catch up with themselves. I wonder if the delay repay on such occasions gets handed onto Network Rail?
Museum Gardens moorings in York
In York, Mick caught a bus to Fishergate whilst I walked to the London Leckenby’s flat. I chose to walk past Clifford’s Tower and then alongside Castle Mills Lock to see if the works on replacing the gates were complete. At the beginning of June we’d seen new lock gates sitting alongside the lock and a work boat in it. Today the work boat was still there, so were the dams either side of the lock. There was a lot more fencing up around the place and acros spanning the lock. At least the bottom gates looked to have been installed, the top ones still sitting on the bank. At least something this year is taking as long as Oleanna’s repaint!
We were here for a lunch with an old family friend Ian. Ian was one of the younger friends of my parents, he used to work at Rowntree’s and soon after starting he joined the Rowntree Players, the factory’s amateur theatre group, and he got a part in Billy Liar. Ian was a favourite with me, as for a while he worked in the jelly department and at Christmas he’d arrive with a big box (possibly 12 packs) of Rowntree’s blackcurrant jelly, which I used to eat in chunks straight from the box.
It was very lovely to see him, Andrew and Jac have seen him quite recently at various fundraisers he’s been holding to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity. He set up the Janis Connell fund three years ago with the goal of raising £100,000 in memory of his wife which he achieved recently. There was talk of more fundraising. Sponsored walks, sky diving, Jac may just have been signed up to that one!
Some lovely slow cooked lamb, with potatoes and a salad were followed by my cheesecake, quite a bit of wine but more importantly lots of conversation. I don’t think Mick, Josh or I had seen Ian since my Dad’s funeral in 2012, so it was wonderful to catch up with him.
Some of the conversation had been about my best friend Emma and her sister Jane. Jane’s second husband, an actor had played Inspector Goole in the National Theatres production of an Inspector Calls in the West End quite some years ago. This prompted us to nestle down on the sofas to watch the BBC version. It was interesting compared to the stage version with added scenes which put the time line off just a bit. It was still enjoyed by those who managed to keep awake after our lovely meal.
28th September
Skeldregate Bridge
Everyone was up early. The flat was to be packed up, trains to be caught in differing directions. Josh headed back to Manchester to attend his first lecture of his third year at University. I was next to leave to catch a train to Scarborough, shortly followed by Mick heading to York hospital for a blood test (this saved him going back to Scarborough) but in the end it may have taken far less time as he sat waiting in the blood test queue for an hour and three quarters! This left Andrew and Jac to pack their car and head back to London.
Breakfast with added sanitiser
In Scarbrough I had a day planned to help with things for Frank. Tucker an old work colleague picked me up from the station and we headed to Franks house to try to find some documents and to meet a cleaner. James was a very nice chap and knew exactly what was needed at the house. Sadly Tucker and my hunt proved fruitless.
I got a lift to our house to pick up the second toothbrush charger and Brompton bag that we’d forgotten. Anna our lodger had left out the copy of an old program from a Theatre In the Round production in 1957 which has Alan Ayckbourn playing a part and as the Stage Manager. A wonderful piece of theatre history.
I had a chat to various people keeping them up to date over the phone, then walked over to Scarborough Hospital to visit Frank and update him too. There were things he needed to read, more visitors arrived who patiently waited as I chatted to Frank about important things. A catch up with Steve before I left Frank, Geoff and Steve to have a far more interesting conversation. My tasks were done apart from posting a form for Frank which was dropped off at the Post Office on my way back to the station.
This cat will talk to absolutely anyone!
A catch up chat with Ben, who is back for a week from touring with The Calendar Girls. Ben is one of the original Frankness group and we had lots to chat about. This would be my last visit to Scarborough for some time so passing on some jobs that needed to be done.
Mick had arrived back at Oleanna earlier in the day, another £10 M&S pie deal had been purchased. This was enjoyed with a very large glass of much needed wine.
0 locks, 0 miles, 5 trains, 14 years too long, 1 lovely lunch, 1 odd time line, 1 sandwich for breakfast, 1 ex Technical Stage Manager, 1 Film and Live Streaming Co-Ordinator, 1 ex Senior Technician currently Sound No 1, 1 ex Master Carpenter, 1 ex Resident Designer, 1 form of ID, 1 cleaner, 1 plan coming together, 2 pies, 1 portion of mash left for another day.
Here’s hoping our blogging woes have all been sorted. One thing that will be a bit different for a while is that Mick will be updating our blog roll manually, as and when, rather than it being automatic. We also think we’ll be reducing the number of blogs we have links to with the hope of returning the roll to automatic at some point in the future.
So, whilst we’ve not been posting I’ve been writing blogs in word to try to keep on top of things and remember stuff. They now need photos adding and formatting etc which all takes time. So because we’re also on the move now I’ve decided to update you all by putting two days together until we’re just about caught up.
19th September
Stoke Lock, River Trent
Tilly was given 8.5 hours of shore leave this morning as we’d decided to stay put for the day. There were jobs to do. Tilly came and went, had a roll around on the bank where the silt was at its best, turning her sleek black and white to a dusty grey! But once this was done, she seemed to come and go purely for the Dreamies, I’d bought catnip flavour to help attract her back to the boat and it was working, working very well, every five minutes!
There were people to message, a receipt for rent to redo as I’d missed a couple of payments, oops!
Then I had a chat with Jamie regarding the set build of panto. We briefly went through each item Jamie will be building, any problems I’d designed into them that could be rectified, maybe widen a base a little for stability, was there room for maybe an extra inch for structure? I made a list of jobs I needed to do, questions I need to ask. Work done for the day.
Serious fishing
After lunch I headed off for a walk, retracing a walk I did last year to Burton Joyce. Past the lock, along the long access road where numerous vans were parked up and what looked like a very serious fishing match was on going. If Gongoozler is the name for a person who watches boats going through locks, what is the name for people who watch fishermen? One group had brought their chairs and a picnic to watch one chap.
With an audience
Along a stretch of road, through a wooded area and into another field where the fishing match continued. When the match ended how would they notify one end to the other, the wind today was really rather strong and was likely to blow away any call, maybe the stewards had horns that they could sound in relay down the river bank to stop fishing.
I turned into the village, crossed the railway line and then headed for the Co-op. It’s quite a long way to walk for a Saturday newspaper and a parsnip, but the Co-op is of a reasonable size. Mid afternoon they still had a paper of our chosen flavour but sadly no parsnip, maybe some sweet potato would do for the roast instead.
Tilly’s km Marker
My return walk was via the road, over the level crossing at the station, this is possibly where Tilly and her brothers were rescued getting on for eleven years ago, abandoned by their original owner at around four months old.
I like village signs, this one has 2.5D details!
The under sink cupboard in the galley was cleared out, given a wipe down along with all the things inside it. Thankfully I managed to put everything back in a slightly more ordered manor, at least I now know what’s in there! There was only one empty bottle to remove.
Chicken Tagliatelle tonight and some knitting with Tilly sat on my knee.
This evening we discovered that maybe our new 5G router was interfering with the TV signal. Mick turned it off and the picture returned to normal. The router was put on to 4G and we could all now watch TV without it breaking up.
0 locks, 0 miles, 5.07miles walked, 3 for a fishing picnic, 1 newsapaper, 2 sweet potatoes, 150 or 200 treads, 350 or 450 bar, 1 clean cupboard, 5G bad!
20th September
Stoke Lock to Hazelford Lock, River Trent
The blog is starting to run reeeallllyy sloooowly. Taking an eternity to load photos when normally it takes a second or two, in fact it was soooo slow at doing anything! During the day I battled on when I had time, but soon it was apparent that there was something happening beyond our control so I gave up. The blog is normally a couple of days behind us anyway so I always have a bit of leeway.
A Mick breakfast followed by the Sunday morning Geraghty zoom, included subjects that I now can’t remember, but it was an interesting zoom.
We made ready to push off. I walked up to check whether there might be a lock keeper on duty today, the light at the lock was on red not amber, someone was about! Mick radioed to the lock, no answer came. He tried again, still no answer, but then a chap wearing blue appeared at the top of the steps, ‘Morning, are you okay?’ We were, just wanting to use the lock please.
Gongoozlers at Stoke Lock
With covers rolled we headed towards the lock, down the lock cut there was a widebeam getting ready to go down too. He asked if we could take the starboard side of the lock as his throttle is on the port side, of course we could oblige. I think last time we shared Stoke Lock with a widebeam the crew had no idea how to keep their boat under control in the lock, but todays crew were totally in control. Up above by the lock control tower there was a group of walkers who’d been invited up there to watch what happens, the Lockie was very informative. Once down we headed off first, the widebeam would be mooring at Gunthorpe, but they’d come and work the lock for us as we’d helped them.
The next reach is so pretty. Grassy fields down to the river, the blue sky and sunshine glistening on the water. I think it’s our favourite reach of the Trent. Geese a gogo, sheep, it’s just lovely.
The widebeam following on
We seemed to be quite a distance ahead of the widebeam so we pulled back on the throttle to let them catch up. Plenty of space on the Gunthorpe Visitors pontoon, but it is quite a distance from the lock, they’d be an age coming to help us. I saw them pull in, the lady jumping off the bow to moor up. We loitered in the lock cut, maybe we’d be quicker if I climbed a ladder to work the lock. Then whizzing along the road came the chap on an electric scooter, very happy to press the buttons at the lock for us.
Gunthorpe Lock, for those who have followed the blog since our Lillian days will know this is my least favourite lock and why. I checked to see if I could see a large fish or a clone of myself, but the water was too cloudy for that. Mick brought Oleanna in gently to THE blue riser on the port side. I passed the end of the rope round it. Was that an indentation to the blue plastic coating?!
Now on towards Hazelford Lock, our chosen mooring for the day. More walkers fewer fishermen on the bank. I looked at Nebo and spotted a Lancaster Bomber Memorial on the the map, maybe a good location to walk to this afternoon.
Tugs and crane boats above Hazelford
The Lockie responded to our radio call and penned us through, only one sluice operational on the bottom gates so it would take a while to empty the lock. Below we winded to face the current coming over the large weir and pulled in to moor on the lower wall, it’s still quite a way up from the bow, far bigger than a step.
Long shadows at the big steps
Tilly was given an hour or so whilst we had lunch. She needed a bit of encouragement to get to the top of the big steps, but there lies a cats wonderland of who knows what! After a while she returned to use the onboard facilities at quite a rush. Hmmm, she had a dodgy tummy, time for her to have a snooze inside!
The path back to Gunthorpe
My walk took me over the bridge below the weir and back along the river bank we’d just passed. Moored boats, narrow tracks, then out into green lush fields, a big lake reaching off to the west, sheep, horse riders, and Trent clapper gates. The sun shone what a lovely walk.
At the far end of the boating lake stand two tall stones, a memorial to two Lancaster Bombers that crashed close by in 1945 two weeks apart. They had been on training flights from RAF Syerston, one’s portside engines had caught fire, the other had over ran the runway, all the crew of both planes had died, Canadians, New Zealanders and British airmen.
Hazelford Weir just before sundown
On my return a joint of pork went in the oven and then my attention turned back to panto. Updating the technical drawings for Jamie. Asking questions of the lighting designer, Checking a few depths, all good.
3 locks, 9.7 miles,2 lock keepers, 1 zooming scooter, 1 poorly cat, 2 Mark 3s, 5.21 miles walked, 1 joint of pork, 9 big red crosses, 1 sock up to it’s heel.
Saturday morning, clothes packing. Finding a bag big enough to pack our dirty washing was one job.
I’d made a list of things not to forget, the Christmas hamper, Tilly Too, my scene painting straight edge and some big rollers for panto. I walked up to Sainsbury’s to get provisions for food this evening.
Yes that’s a suitable way for Tilly Too to travel.
Anna our lodger had baked us some of her lace biscuits to bring with us and we gave her instructions about the central heating as she may be needing it in the next few weeks.
Lunch, the last few items into the van. Were we ready? Was Tilly ready? Last call for the pooh box Tilly! No takers. It was washed and packed in the van.
All morning Tilly had been following me round the house, she’d had a final snooze on the back of her favourite armchair, had sniffed at the cat caravan which was sat ready in the shed. She knew exactly what was happening. She positioned herself behind a table in the living room where I could see her, but it would be tricksy to pick her up, was that a purr I could hear?
Do I really need to be in here!?!
She and Tom sat down! What’s that all about? You are meant to pick me up and bundle me into the caravan. I’ve heard you closing all the doors in the hallway! They just sat there, I thought ‘Come on! Get on with it!!’ She lunged, but I slipped through. Ah nearly had you there!
On the third approach from Tilly, who was very quietly purring, I succeeded in picking her up and popped her into the caravan. Shouts of dismay came from within as she was carried out to the awaiting van. Time to say goodbye to Scarboreugh Tilly.
Only one cat comfort break on our way south was required today. It was very obvious that she prefers straight roads at a constant speed. On these she fell quiet and laid down. But approaching junctions, slowing turning corners these had her shouting at us. Next time we’ll consider using the A64 to Scarborough as it has far fewer twists and turns and roundabouts.
As soon as the van door opened Tilly knew she was back to boat life, not sure she recognised Oleanna from the outside, but inside things required checking out. First things first. Try to gain access to the secret passage, fail! Check high shelf, tick. Where’s my food bowls? Houdini shelf, tick. These curtains look different, might save them for later. What’s happened to my water bowl? I need a drink after all that fastness!!!
New access to the pooh box
Tilly has a bigger pooh box now, so some thought was needed as it lives under the bathroom sink, and I’m nearly 11 you know! So access needed to be thought about as she gets in it from above. We’ll see how having one corner sticking out works for us all.
More unpacking and attempting to stow things, when will it ever stop! Last of the frozen food items from Scarborough were consumed and then we spent sometime going through our click and collect order deleting all the things I’d added to go in the freezer. Minimum fridge items too.
Then time to sit on the sofa and relax. Normally we have one light on above the sofa, its sufficient light for everything, even knitting. But it seems that this one light has given up on us. We decided to turn on the other lights which feel like the Blackpool Illuminations and require eclipse glasses so as not to go blind! Another job to add to the list.
New mugs and a lace biscuit
Sunday morning. The very last day of the Redhill Marina Cafe, she was open from 8:30 until she ran out of sausages, breakfasts only today. We felt we needed to go and support her on her last day, unlike Friday morning it was raining, so we had no view.
It would have been rude not to
The Geraghty zoom followed. Subjects included Social Services for cats, O level German umlauts, bus shelters or the lack of them, carpet gardens and silver sofa surfers.
The click and collect was collected. Chicken wrapped in two insulated bags until later when it would be roasted. Items in the freezer/fridge were edited to accommodate items that have to be in a fridge.
Pictureskew
In the afternoon the sun came out which meant we could film the reveal of Oleanna’s livery from the other river bank. It took a few goes at finding somewhere with enough sunlight to light my model and be able to see Oleanna sideways on.
Conversations were had with our friend Steve in Scarborough who had gone to visit a friend whose health has been failing. After a discussion, they decided he’d be better off in hospital. By late evening I had a call saying he was in A&E, he already sounded so much better. I’ve spent the last three weeks trying to get him assessed for walking aids. Hopefully now someone at the hospital will sort him out, rather than me being passed back and forth, time after time, between social services and the GP.
Mick checked out the light above the sofa. The bulb is fine, we’re hoping it’s the fitting and not the wiring. Plus there seems to now be a loose connection on the temporary fridge!
Looking towards Redhill Flood Lock
Having not been for a meaningful walk for a few days I decided to see what Trent Lock looked like from the other side than we’re used to. I crossed over the bridge by the flood lock, across the next bridge to get off the island then along the towpath where I could then start to head north towards Trent Lock.
Trent Lock
A lovely early Sunday evening, the sun shining across the fields and I could hear a squeeze box, fiddle and guitar drifting from Trent Lock, a very jolly jig. The corner of Cranfleet cut was chocka block with boats, but there was space for two on the pontoon. Sods law as we don’t want to move until the engine has been serviced and we’ve taken delivery of the new fridge! A nice walk away from stowing items on the boat.
Fields and sky
Sunday roast chicken was enjoyed. Now that all three of us were aboard, we’d planned to crack open the bottle of champagne we’d been given by Mark one of our witnesses for our Tuesday Civil Partnership. However, not having a fridge or space in the temporary one means that we will now hang onto it to celebrate us all being back on board with brand new refrigeration!
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 cat safely moved, 2nd mate settling in, 1 box of biscuits, 1 chicken not 2, 2 much STUFF!!!! 3 9’s, 1 right decision, 1 failed light 2 add to the list, 1 box of warm white wine, 2nd cooked breakfast in a week, 0 knitting, 2 boaters 1 cat back on the waterways, lets hope there’s enough water to get us places!
An update at the end of a week when the weather showed potential but then turned out to not be on our side!
Oleanna was moved out from her resting place of the last eight months on Tuesday. Yes this is now the longest we’ve been on dry land in twelve years. She was moved round to the hill ready for blasting on the next dry day. Her baseplate was blasted and then she was lowered ready for the cabin and hull to be done. Friday was ear marked as a possible day.
Blue skies in Scarborough
Friday came, Mick headed to watch Yorkshire play cricket and I headed to London for my white card model meeting for panto. Both of us had lovely dry days. Sadly a raft of showers were forecast to cross over Nottingham, Redhill Marina actually, so the blast was postponed till after the weekend.
Blue skies, with clouds in London
Whilst on my train heading south I had a phone call from Tom, our boat painter. He was removing all the fixtures and fittings before the blast could take place. They leave windows in to avoid ingress of the grit, but nav lights, aerials, cratch and pram, plank and pole rack amongst other things, all get removed. He was having severe difficulty in removing the cratch A frame. He could reach inside the gas locker and feel that there were three bolts, but none of these had nuts on them. Did I know anything that might help as they didn’t want to force the A frame and end up breaking it.
I recollected a conversation with Ricky at Finesse, when he told me that the cratch was there to stay, we’d never get it off! Handy when you want to repaint your boat. It appears to have been glued on so well that it will end up staying in situ. The blaster has been advised to give it a wide berth, then Tom will strip the paint right up to it by hand, protecting the woodwork. Oleanna will be given coats of rust-inhibiting paint and Tom will make the join between wood and paint work water tight.
Photos and measurements have been taken for a new hole in the gas locker, so that it actually vents to the outside. This will happen once Oleanna is stripped and moved into the paint shed. Tom said to expect to be inundated with photos early next week. I’m so hoping it’s very early next week as I’ve lots of work to do on Panto and could do with uncrossing my fingers!
The cricket it going well, Yorkshire achieving lots of runs. It’s nice for Mick to be able to make good use of his Scarborough Cricket Club life membership for once.
My model meeting went well, a few notes which I expected, indeed even asked for. A new draft of the script now needs reading to check through in case I don’t know about something that’s been added or removed. Then I can get on with adding colour to the model and finalising the drawings. I just need to find someone in Scarborough with an A3 scanner as the printers and architects I used to use have both closed now.
Tom Tom, please get on with it, they keep taking me to the VETS!!!!
I hope to post again , once Oleanna is stripped and ready to paint. So tata for now.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 stripped bottom, 1 stubborn A frame, 2 boaters wondering if they’ll ever get their sea legs back, 1 cat whisperer beaten, 1 more notch in my tail! 1 design meeting at the National, 1 thumbs up, 3rd WC alteration, 1 more mention for Duncan, 1.5 pairs of socks knitted, 3 days of cricket in a row.
Breakfast followed by the Geraghty zoom. We tried using two laptops for the zoom, but sadly the sound echoed so we all got cosy on a sofa to chat to everyone elsewhere. As I’m writing this a week later, the subjects we discussed have mostly slipped my mind, although the Romans and Hadrian’s Wall were discussed.
Gates and lamp posts along the street give away the designer
A ten minute walk from Anne and Alasdair’s house is Hill House a Scottish National Trust property which our English membership cards gave us free entry. Just walking in through the gates from the road you could see who had designed the house, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
The box around HIll House
When built, Mackintosh wanted to use a modern render, so roughcast cement was used over brickwork and red sandstone, the underlying construction materials not of high quality. However, the cement wasn’t the best at keeping water out and being in Helensburgh there is a large amount of precipitation! Over the decades the house has grown increasingly damp and something needed to be done, so a ten year (now possibly 15) conservation programme started in 2019. The render has mostly now been removed, and the building is being left to dry out. A decision on what material will replace the render is still to be made. Should it be something from the era the house was built in, or should the latest and best waterproof material be used, possibly something Charles Rennie Mackintosh would have chosen should he be alive today?
A box, or chainmail cage has been erected around the house, so that the render could be removed and then the building would be able to gradually dry out protected from the elements by the box. This means that there are walkways all around the building giving you views from above the house, it was really quite interesting seeing things that only builders would have seen.
Through the modern ebonised wooden visitors centre/shop/cafe we walked into the house, welcomed by a friend of Anne and Alasdair’s. The dark dark wood lit from Mackintosh lanterns with squares and circles with pink/purple stained glass. Wow!
Beautiful
A guide came past with a key to open up a desk in the drawing room. I quickly headed through to see what was to be revealed. Almost chinoiserie in style the cupboard was opened up to reveal squares of mother of pearl and a beautiful backing which glinted in the light from a phone. Stunning.
Now it was time to take time to appreciate the interior of the house. Dark due to the box construction outside and some of the windows having been covered over for protection, we didn’t really see the rooms how Mackintosh had intended, yet they didn’t disappoint. A man for great detail with everything, his design showing through on items of furniture, windows, fireplaces, lanterns, carpets, stair rails, beds, curved niches in bedrooms. Even in the servants areas hearts had been cut in cupboards and the square motif continued on.
Tulips reaching up to books
The library shelving had symbolic blades of grass, tulip stems reaching to the tops of the woodwork where they opened with a open book. The house, commissioned in 1902, was built for Walter Blackie, a Glasgow book publisher. Squares on part of the shelves pull out to create a small writing desk, everything thought out.
The Hill House is considered to be Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s domestic masterpiece. Walter Blackie commissioned the up-and-coming architect and artist Margaret Macdonald, who worked collaboratively to create almost everything.
Back in the drawing room, white or cream, hard to tell in the lighting, every corner had been considered. A mosaic fireplace with pink/purple insets, the fine curves of some tiles likely to have been ground rather than cut. This was a room that so needed the full natural light to appreciate it and warrants a second visit when the cage is gone and the render replaced. In one corner of the room sat a chair from a very different world. This was Mrs Blackie’s armchair, she insisted on having a comfy chair to sit and read in, rather than a design masterpiece. Don’t blame her really!
The bottom of the staircase
The staircase, ebonised with lanterns, woven carpet and stained glass, exquisite. Up to the bedrooms. Mrs Blackie’s room white/cream again with Mackintosh roses, wonderful cupboards. Can you tell I liked it? A stunning house on the inside and interesting on the outside, the box making it more so. Here’s a link with some photos before windows were covered over for the conservation.
Lunch was enjoyed in the cafe. Onion bhaji wraps with mango chutney, butternut squash soup and a scone. All very nice.
Some seriously posh houses
I headed off to walk down to the seafront, whilst the others headed back to the house to collect our car. Thankfully Anne is quite small, she managed to squeeze onto the back seat but needed assistance to escape! My walk had me passing large posh houses that the Glasgow elite had lived in, they commuted to work by steamer on the River Clyde. The railway cuts across the hill, so you have to walk round to avoid the tracks deep in a cutting. Along Queen Street there were a whole load of vans, something was being filmed.
Sunny but windy!
I arrived at a similar time to those in the car, a walk along the seafront was a windy affair, with a strong aroma from seaweed on what was visible of the beach. The walk ended up being curtailed, we all headed to shelter in Dino’s for some chilled medication, the darkest chocolate ice cream I’ve had in a long time.
Dino’s medication
With room for only 2.5 people in the car I walked back up the hill, filming still on going in a modern house nestled between two Victorian properties. An afternoon of chatting, knitting and watching a mine sweeper down on the loch before we climbed into the bigger car to head to Masala Twist for a very tasty curry.
Another lovely day. One which left us wondering if we should add something Mackintosh to Oleanna’s bow maybe. A tulip or rose wouldn’t be right, as they would be horizontal, flowers grow vertically. But maybe we’ll adjust her dashes and dots to something with a nod to the man to match her original sign writing.
We hope your Christmas was jolly and filled with good times with friends and family. Unfortunately, ours didn’t turn out quite as planned this year.
A pre-Christmas trip over to York was enjoyed to meet up with the London Leckenbys. As expected, plenty of yummy food, drink and conversation. We’d chosen to head over by bus, but after waiting for half an hour at the end of our road the Coastliner hadn’t arrived, in fact we saw it coming into the Scarborough, an hour late, so we opted for the train instead, for an extra £30!
Painting for the Leckenby flat in York of Lady Peckett’s Yard
Back in Scarborough I just managed to get back to the house to see our veg box being delivered. Each year the Tree Top Press kids help deliver Christmas veg and poultry hoping for donations to their chosen charity, this year donations were going to the local branch of Parkinson’s UK. I just managed to catch them to add our donation to their collection tin. Mick picked up our duck from the butchers, now all we needed was for the rest of the shopping to arrive Christmas Eve and a slight niggle in the back of my throat to be banished.
York Station selfie, the last time I went outside
Christmas Eve, I felt really quite ropey. Sausage rolls for lunch were made and eaten, by the end of the day a gammon joint and dauphinoise potatoes were cooked, but no prep for our Christmas Day feast was managed. Messages were sent to friends to see if Frank could join them, I really didn’t want to give Frank my lurgy. Thankfully space was found for him at a table and he suggested we postpone our festive meal. This was hardly surprising, it’ll mean he’ll get to have two Christmas dinners!
Pair 109 delivered in York
Father Christmas arrived, we’d been good. Lots of Dreamies, 15 pairs of socks between us, 2 chocolate oranges and some orange bites for Tilly, 4 M&S salted caramel millionaire bars and the usual scissors, post it notes (of the giant variety) and other bits and bobs.
Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon were enjoyed without the usual bucks fizz. Followed by presents. A goody bag from Hook Norton Brewery, a lovely weekend bag, new big thin mugs for Oleanna, a new outdoor sensor for the weather station (hopefully this one won’t end up in a CRT bin somewhere), a smart top I’d really wanted from Seasalt, new waterproof trousers, a very nice blue glass water jug, a carry bag for a water bottle, a Victron Energy IP65 SmartShunt 300A so that the bow thruster batteries can be monitored, an Ant Savage narrowboat t-shirt that looks a bit like Three Bridges, and a book on foraging weeds! Photos to follow if I can be bothered. A pretty good present haul. Thank you everyone.
Christmas dinner of left overs
Mid afternoon we enjoyed more of our Christmas Eve gammon, then some improvising was required for my birthday cake. In a drawer in the kitchen Mick had found some celebratory candles. These only lasted a short while before they extinguished themselves, even before being blown out! But one of the millionaire bars came in handy with the posh candle Mick had bought. Not quite the baked French cheesecake I’d planned, but at least I got to make a wish as I blew out the candle, I also got to eat the whole of the cake myself, so as not to share my germs with Mick!
Improvised birthday cake
Boxing Day. I was a touch concerned that should we leave the duck until I felt well enough to have Frank round it would have gone off, so I finished the Christmas Day prep, stuffing and gravy making and baked the cheesecake. Mid-afternoon 25 hours later than originally planned, we tucked into Christmas dinner. Mick said it was very nice, my taste buds had gone on strike so I couldn’t comment. No room for cake and in fact I seemed to take a downward turn in the evening and headed to bed early.
Yesterday we got chance to try the cake at last at lunch time. When in the oven I’d slightly panicked that the tin hadn’t been big enough for the mixture, but thankfully it had just risen up and not gone over the edges. I refrained from making raspberry coulis to go with it, even without it was very tasty, surprisingly considering it was made with sweetener rather than sugar so Frank could have some, at least I could taste it!
Breakfast in bed
Hopefully in the next couple of days we’ll get Frank round for a dinner, pull some crackers and consume the nice wine he’d brought round in advance and help us finish off my cake. We’ve also still got tree presents to unwrap when he’s here.
So we got lots of nice things for Christmas and one lurgy! We’re at least a day behind ourselves, maybe we’ll catch up before the New Year and get to go for a walk, my first time outside the house in nearly a week!
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.
Not much of a view this morning
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.
Fake roses coming out of my ears
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.
Emails about props started whizzing around again today, so hopefully things will get cracking.
Fizzing away
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.
Berry berries
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.
Alongside Long Eaton Lock
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.
Time not quite blown away yet
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.
What a view
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
Deep black, Paris drivers, the Waverley replacement and cinnamon roll whirls were topics for this mornings zoom. There’s been a touch too much hospital leap frogging going on recently with Mick’s siblings, so it was good to see everyone at home again.
I hate those black birdies! Such kill joys.
The wind had died down, Tilly had an explore, but that got thwarted by a crow. The down pours had stopped, time for a trip out somewhere. We had an early lunch and headed off to catch a number 9 or 10C bus to Ruddington, hoping to time our arrival perfectly for the Framework Knitters Museum as it opened. We’d checked the website earlier on, the cafe would be closed on Sundays from now on, no point in going for lunch.
Look it says it’s open
A pleasant 20 or so minute bus ride, then a walk through the village to the museum. A couple stood near the doors and a chap was taking photos. It was a minute to go before the museum was due to open, but because there was an OPEN sign in the window Mick had to check the door, a bit like he checks paddles on locks occasionally. The door was firmly locked. More people arrived, no lights went on inside. A small notice on the door confirmed that the cafe was now on winter opening hours, so closed on a Sunday, but no mention of the museum!
The bin says it all really
Nine more people arrived, some like us had travelled a distance to get there. I hunted around on the website, looked at their social media. A post from last weekend on Facebook said that last Sunday was their last Sunday open before winter. Well you really had to hunt round to find that information!! Later in the day Mick had another look at their website which suggested that a new exhibition had just opened yesterday and at the bottom it had their Sunday hours as 10am to 4pm! We relayed the info to everyone else who was stood around waiting for the doors to open. What a disappointment all round, I’d been looking forward to our visit today! No more opportunities for us to visit!!!
What to do with ourselves? Maybe Ruddington Village Museumwould be interesting, only open on Thursdays between Maundy Thursday and the end of September! At least they were honest about it on their website.
Tracks
I’d spotted a transport museum not that much further out of Nottingham, the website suggested it was open until 4, it was just approaching 2, hopefully that would be long enough to make it worth the extra bus fare for me. We found the bus stop and waited. Only about four more stops to the end of the route at Rushcliffe Country Park. Here we found the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, a miniature railway showing us the way as people sat crouched on the back through the woods.
Some old rolling stock, a couple of engines out to see. A shop. But where was the entrance? There didn’t seem to be one. A big shed sat with its roller door firmly rolled down. We didn’t want any jigsaws or memorabilia from the shop.
No access for a closer look
Buses tightly packed into another shed, at least the doors were open here. You just couldn’t get inside to have a closer look.
Blurred because he was going at such a speed
The miniature railway was a hive of activity, grown boys sitting behind their mini engines, some carrying passengers, whistles tooting and level crossing lights flashing. We could have got on board ourselves, a ride only £1 after all! But a child under 5 would have improved the experience, we didn’t have one with us.
We walked round some more, trying various doors, all locked. It seems much of the world is now closed on Sundays in October, only the fanatics around to ride their mini trains. Thankfully the toilets were open, so we made use of them.
A lovely Ford Popular was parked up, a chap climbed inside. Mick asked if the windscreen whippers were vacuum operated, these went slower the faster you drove and were pretty much useless when it rained. They were, he tends not to drive it in the rain.
Not much to look at really!
Not much else to look at, so we left the chaps on their mini trains to it and caught a bus back towards Nottingham. I hopped off a few stops early to top up on brisk minutes walking back to Oleanna whilst Mick carried on making use of his bus pass.
The end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was watched and a chicken was popped in the oven on our return.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 dragon boat, 1 rubbish outside, 3 buses, 1 bus pass, 3 x £3 bus fares, just for a wee! 0 frameworks, 5 train drivers, 2 engines, 1 Popular, 1 roast chicken and veg, 2 beers, 1 calmer day on the buses, 1 anomaly in this post, can you spot it?
