Tag Archives: Tuesday

Aerial Chase, Making Tomorrows Theatre, Day 2. 23rd September

Beeston, Aspley Basin, Huddersfield

An all you can eat breakfast at Aspley, I double checked it wasn’t going to contain any gluten, thankfully their hash browns were okay, bacon a little bit dried out, but it was the thought that counted. Most people were away from the hotel before me, heading to participate in Well Being hour at the theatre before the days work began. Instead I walked up the hill via Sainsburys’ to get myself something for lunch.

Many of the same faces as yesterday were about, plus some new ones, some people having travelled from Glasgow, some from Kent. Todays proceedings were hosted by Nicky Priest, an actor, stand up comedian, advocate for autism conditions, oh and wrestler! A short performance by Dark Horse choreographed to music by Loz Kaye mentioning everyone who has worked and taken part on the Making Tomorrows Theatre projects.

Key note speaker was Tim Crouch, an experimental theatre maker, actor, director. He rejects realism and invites the audience to help create the work he does. With the aid of some photographs and one prop he got his audience to think out of the box, the first image actually being of a cardboard box. What else could that box be? Give it to a child I could become a car, rocket. I’d seen him pick up an orange at breakfast he placed it on the stage. What was it? What could it be? We were all wrong, it was his dog. But what did his dog look like? We were all asked to imagine what it looked like, was it sitting, sleeping scratching some annoying flea. If we’d imagined a Golden Retriever then we were wrong and quite boring! His style of theatre doesn’t require input from designers, as my job is taken over by the audience each creating their own unique surroundings, characters in their heads. I once had an argument with a director about having some part cutaway doors in a theatre in the round, this was so they could be left open and the audience sat next to them would be able to see the play. He wasn’t having it, he needed full double doors, he wasn’t willing to trust that his audience could fill in what I had left out. Tim Crouch wouldn’t have had even the partial doors, the door frame, the room! A very interesting man.

Protagonist George Webster followed. George is a BAFTA award winning presenter of CBeebies, he’s an actor, author and public speaker advocating for disability representation, he is also a member of the Separate Doors National Ensemble. He posed questions on how learning disabled and neuro divergent actors could and should become part of the main landscape. How could the industries of theatre, television and film become more inclusive.

Panels answered questions, panel members posed questions. A very thought provoking day. The quote Tim Crouch had used ‘No one is free until everyone is free’ is very true whether it be about race, disability, or anything.

As the conference drew to a close, there would be time to chat more to everyone, but also there was a three hour train journey back to Beeston. I checked the times of buses back to Brighouse and the connecting trains, I had 25 minutes, time to say my rushed goodbyes and head off. A shame I wasn’t included in the company photo, but many of the National Ensemble had already left too. What a fantastic two days it had been.

Back in Beeston, Tilly was bored, still! Mick got on with installing the new Victron gear, I’ll let him explain a bit more about this.

Mick here. Technical stuff coming up. If you get bored skip the next four paragraphs.

For some time, in fact for a few years, I’ve been thinking that our 24 volt100 amp domestic alternator isn’t up to the job of fully charging our LiFePO4 batteries. The alternator doesn’t output the 28.4 volts required to get the batteries up to full capacity. It seems to stop short at about 27.5v leaving the batteries liable to “under voltage over charging”. This is where the individual cells can become over charged even though the voltage doesn’t reach the point where the battery management system (BMS) cuts off the charging when the cell is full. I do wonder if this is what caused one of our original LiFePO4 batteries, as supplied by the boat builder, to fail. About 21 months ago we suffered an alternator failure and I did wonder if the replacement from Beta Marine would work better, but it made no difference.

The system we had, as installed by the boat builder, was such that the alternator charged the LiFePO4 batteries directly and the 24v lead acid bow thruster bank was wired in parallel with them via a voltage sensitive relay (VSR). I had considered getting a Mastervolt Alpha Pro alternator charge regulator and indeed I had contacted the boat electrician Ed Shiers to get him to come and fit one. But we never seemed able to find somewhere suitable for him to come and visit us at a suitable time for both of us. I had considered fitting one myself but it involved taking apart the alternator and I wasn’t confident of doing this. Then last winter a new product was launched by Victron: a battery to battery charger (B2B) that was capable of taking a 24v DC input and providing a regulated 50 amp 24 volt DC output. This was capable of being programmed with a LiFePO4 profile specifically to charge our batteries properly. It was cheaper that the Mastervolt and as no tinkering with the alternator was required I could do the job myself.

So while we were at the house last winter I ordered a Victron Orion XS 1400 from 12 Volt Planet. I have bought stuff from them before and they have always been quick and reliable and apparently have good technical support, although I’ve never needed their advice. While Pip was away for 2 days I decided to install the B2B. I ran in the necessary cables on day one. In my career as a telecom / IT technician I only ever had to deal with thin wires (just lots of them!) and big thick chunky copper cables are not my idea of fun. But I got the cables in and terminated them with the required lugs at each end. I mounted the B2B in the electrics cupboard with the thinking that it would be cooler in there than the engine bay. The next day I connected everything up. So now the alternator is connected directly to the lead acid bow thruster bank and the B2B sits in between the alternator and the LiFePO4 bank via a fuse. I programmed the B2B with the LiFePO4 profile and changed the settings in the BMS so they would match the B2B. All the correct lights came on on the B2B and I started the engine. After the programmed 60 second delay the B2B went into “bulk”charging mode and the batteries started charging properly.

It all seems to be working well with the batteries charging quicker than they used to. I have still to connect the B2B up to our Victron Venus GX monitoring system. I need to shift the GX to the left because the USB socket is too close to the wall of the electric cupboard and I can’t plug the plug in. Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow.

At some point in the afternoon, someone on an electric bicycle came whizzing along the towpath, Mick thought they may have been doing 30 to 40 mph. They wore a balaclava hat and hood. What had they done? Up above them they were being followed by a Police helicopter! I wonder if they caught them? Or was the bike too nimble for the police on the ground to be able to catch them?

**Front seat on the bus back to Brighouse**

My train journey back to Beeston went with only slight delays which were helped by delays to the connecting trains. Then a walk back to Oleanna in the dark to be greeted with the smell of dhal being warmed up for our meal tonight. It may take me sometime to download my photos, I really hope I’ve something that will be useful for illustrations.

0 locks, 0 miles, 3 more trains, 1 bus, 9 ensemble, 2 panels, 5 provocations, 76 replies, 1 orange/dog, 1 high speed aerial chase, 1 Victron Orion XS 1400 installed, 1 afternoon of regretting that chicken last night, 1 cosy boat with a cat on my lap.

Crunchy Under Foot. 16th September

2 Replies

Massey’s Bridge 12

Today we’d be waiting around for a phone call from Mick’s GP surgery from the person who can prescribe drugs. Before Mick went into hospital with his stroke they had just changed some medication, so this would be a follow up appointment for that. He jotted down other things he wanted to talk to them about as when he’d been to the surgery last week for a blood test etc. the person he’d seen couldn’t answer any of his questions. There were also his new drugs to be added to repeat prescription and as yet his discharge letter from Derby Hospital hadn’t appeared in his notes.

We were wanting to move on, but didn’t want to move from somewhere with good phone signal. Mick had called the surgery yesterday to see if they knew what time it might be, ‘it could be anytime’. Time to be patient again.

The morning was pottered away. The wind reduced from yesterday, but still quite blustery. A few boats were on the move, we stayed put, Tilly got busy in the outside.

No call by lunchtime. We had lunch. We waited.

Mid afternoon and I needed to stretch my legs, hopefully a walk would encourage the surgery to phone.

Back to the viaduct, this time I turned right and headed for the River Trent. The flow seemed quite strong, levels up a touch after the recent rainfall. Good in one respect that there is more water in the system, however this water is heading straight out to sea and not helping fill the reservoirs, but maybe that is happening too, fingers crossed. Today there have been more CRT notices regarding a few more areas. On the Macclesfield stop planks are being lifted to help the canal fill up, although they do warn that levels will still be low for navigation. Hopefully things will improve up on the summit pound for boaters and boats being fitted out too.

The area around Kings Newton was used by Sappers in WW2 for training, building and dismantling bridges and work on railways. I wondered if my Dad had been trained here, but research later suggested that he was too young and would have been posted elsewhere. But I’ll check his diary at some point just in case.

The track goes onwards towards Loughborough, it is Route 6 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network, this actually stretches from London to the Lake District. A good surface to walk on, interrupted occasionally by lines of rivets.

Yesterdays wind had blown down hips onto the towpath, up on the railway it was acorns which made for a very crunchy walk. Later they would be joined by red apples and chestnuts. Natures bounty strewn on the floor.

Not much view from along the track which soon clings to the side of the hill that Kings Newton sits on, trees on either side of the track and bridges crossing overhead. I wasn’t sure if there’d be access points at some of the road bridges so I opted to take the steps of love up the side of the bank. Gosh these were steep steps, I hope my knees, now quite happy with walking distances, will cope with climbing ladders whilst working on panto!

I joined the roads through the village, passing modern houses, 1940’s houses, Victorian houses, Shazza’s Cafe. Up to the cemetery with its chapel and many many headstones. On the way to a snicket a young girl sat on her Dad’s shoulders reaching up high with a stick to encourage one of the last red apples still clinging on to drop into her hand. I don’t know if she succeeded as I was busy trying to get away in case any apples were to fall on me!

Saturday is Derbyshire Day, I’ve seen posters for various things happening in villages. Here and in Melbourne (not the one in Australia) there is an art and architecture trail happening. If we were still to be around the area it looks like a good thing to do, but sadly we need to be elsewhere by then.

I caught a glimpse of some older buildings before crossing a road to join a footpath back towards the railway line which had great views northwards. Stiles with dog access too. Then back along the railway line, across the river and back to Oleanna.

Still no phone call from the GP’s. Maybe they’d call after surgery hours? Maybe they wouldn’t? Maybe we should move Oleanna to get water and tackle Weston Lock? Maybe we should stay put and carry on waiting.

Mick’s phone pinged. A text message from the GP’s! They were happy with recent results, so keep taking the new medication. But hang on! What about the stroke? He’d be needing other new drugs adding to his repeat prescription! Thankfully there was an option on the text to reply. Thankfully the repeat prescription wouldn’t be going to Burton! Texts went back and forth for a while, one including Mick’s discharge letter. Maybe a phone call would have been better.

The person Mick was communicating with was only aware of his change in meds for blood pressure and not that he’d had a five day stay in hospital after a stroke. A text message was all that was required for the surgery with the info they had. He’d had a long day waiting for a phone call, if we’d known it would be a text we could have moved this morning. A touch frustrating.

Mick sent an online question to the GP regarding a vision test to see if he can get his driving licence back, also to get the ball rolling on a follow up with a stroke person. We’ll see what happens tomorrow, see if he can get to talk to anyone, maybe even a doctor!

Chicken and cauliflower Macaroni Cheese tonight, we’d forgotten about the cauliflower on Sunday!

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 less windy day, 1 very long wait, 1 sausage day for cats, 1 litre pink or is it magenta? 67 brisk minutes walking, 2 dog gates, 1 long cycle track, 4 texts, 1 online question, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

Legs. 9th September

1 Reply

Mercia Marina to Lowes Bridge 15

An hours shore leave before we pushed off this morning. I’ve been having difficulty accessing documents in the Chippy shared folder for panto, so some emails needed to be sent about it so I could finish updating the props list.

A few boats were moving so we joined in, pootling along to our next mooring which we hope will serve us well for a couple of days. I walked as Mick brought Oleanna behind. The wooded areas along the canal are rather pleasant, in amongst them there are a few ponds and ditches. When the railway was built, ballast was required for the tracks, suitable material was found at nearby sites. When the gravel was dug out the holes that were left filled with water, the biggest became known as Ballast Hole Pond. However when the power station was built in the 1950’s the ash produced needed to go somewhere and landowners were paid to fill in the ponds and ditches on their land. I’m sure the amount of ash far exceeded the local area and other places had to be found for it’s disposal.

**O dear, hope that wasn’t the banner we lost on the River Trent!**

Two volunteers were clearing pennywort from above Stenson Lock, they asked where my boat was, not far behind, I was the advanced party. No sign of boats arriving below so the lock could be filled. No sign of boats arriving from behind to join us so we descended the lock on our own, bywashes happily running along this stretch of the canal. Chatting to the volunteers, we were their second boat of the day, they needed four more to beat Sundays record of five. It certainly feels that all the boats on a dash back to there home moorings have achieved their goals, and now it is continuous cruisers and the occasional boat from a marina just nudging their way along the cut. Most boats are becoming quite familiar now.

Handing my windlass back to Mick I then walked the near three miles towards Swarkstone Lock. A few emails came in regarding the budget for panto. At least one major item wasn’t mentioned, I quickly sent a note to the production manager. Two months ago the budget looked good if we could nudge the build cost down just a touch, but today we were now a couple of thousand over! Oh blimey, the last thing I want to be doing now is amending things, especially two months after the Final Design meeting. The producer was doing their best to find the extra, but I know there will need to be some cuts as we still haven’t had the price in for one element of the set and I really don’t think the amount being suggested for foliage and roses is enough and that is an element that can’t be scrimped on! So my walk today wasn’t one of enjoying the scenery.

The railway hugs the canal for some distance and then moves away. I’d made notes of possible Tilly friendly moorings on our way west, now we hoped there would be space for us. The first stretch had several boats, generators running. I walked ahead to the next stretch under a bridge. A slightly more open aspect, armco and a good stretch away from the road bridge to be happy to let Tilly out.

An afternoon of exploring for Tilly, props list updating for me and a snooze for Mick. A catch up phone call with Frank who is so far coping well with his treatment. I order him his repeat prescriptions and am a little bit out of sync with it at the moment.

Time to send off the latest pair of socks, I found the nearest post box which was down towards the River Trent and strode off, crossing the railway and fighting my way through all the traffic queueing to cross the river. I walked back around the houses picking up more free apples and pears on route. Sock pair, I think 102, have arrived with Deena so I can now show you her socks. Her word was DUCK. So I chose to knit some Mandarin Duck socks.

After an afternoon of exploring the new outside, Tilly returned with a bit of a limp. She won’t tell me what happened, bit has let me feel her legs and paws, nothing obvious. We’ll see what she’s like in the morning.

Chilli again tonight. The rest will go in the freezer.

1 lock, 4.4 miles, 2 outsides, 1 big Grrrr! 100 brisk minutes, 2 very long legs, 1 limping leg, 103 socks dispatched, 2 apples, 2 pairs.

https://what3words.com/tester.broached.bead

Released! 2nd September

Burton on Trent / Derby Hospital

I’d set the alarm clock, but I was awake long before it was going to go off. Tea with breakfast, no shore leave for Tilly, there were far more important things to do this morning, I hoped!

Mick messaged. The new shift of nurses arrived at 7am, ‘You’re going home today!’ one of them said. Next news that the missing box of pills had been dispatched from the pharmacy. It now depended on the route the hospital drugs run took around the hospital as to when it would arrive.

Breakfasted, I headed into town, to the Market Square where a queue of Bus Pass holders waited for it to turn 09:28 for them to be able to tap onto the 09:30 bus to Derby. At 09:58, as I got out of the lift on the 4th floor of the Royal Derby Hospital I got a message from Mick.

Dressed and packed and released Waiting in reception

I pressed the bell to allow me entry onto the ward, there he was sat with all his things, checking his paperwork! The nurse had been, delivered his last box of pills, he’d signed things then been left to get dressed and pack his bag. He managed to say goodbye to Brian in the bed next door, but the other two inmates had their curtains closed. Everyone was busy, no-one to say thank you to, we thanked the receptionist and headed on our way, the first time Mick had seen any of the hospital really.

**A free man out in the sunshine again**

No ambulance crew to help him, not that it was needed. We waited for the bus, checked which stop would be nearest to Oleanna with the current road works in Burton. Then I pointed out the sights as the bus whizzed it’s way along the A38, Willington Cooling Towers, Clay Mills pumping Station.

What to eat this evening? What would the released inmate most like to eat? I ended up having to offer various things, chicken pie and a jacket potato came out top. A few items would be needed from Sainsburys where the bus would drop us off.

A few items purchased then we took our time walking back to Oleanna. This is the first time Mick has seen this side of Burton on Trent, he had been going to explore whilst I worked for a few days. Being outside was one thing, moving through the outside another.

Back at Oleanna Tilly was keen…. to go out! No healing head nudges for Mick, there was the great outside to explore! Lunch followed by an afternoon kip for Mick. A phone call regarding an MRI scan back at Derby in a few days gave us something to think about. Water and bus routes to be kept in mind. I worked on better scans for panto, piling up books to get things as flat as possible took up most of the afternoon, just a few pesky little areas not quite in focus.

A catch up phone call with Frank was interrupted by the sound of a boat engine, NB Bargus with Kat, Teddy and Bella. A few days ago I’d placed an order for a top up of diesel and some bags of coal, not knowing whether I’d be onboard or not. Kat topped us up and chatted away as Teddy her admin helper scurried along the top plank making sure she only delivered the right amount of coal to us, keeping a tally on their stock. Diesel £1.01 and coal £15 a bag. Yes we would have saved by topping up at Shobnall Marina, but we try to support the coal boats whenever we can as they are a life line in the colder months.

Having first hand information about the level at Alrewas was good. Kat had struggled her way to Fradley with one boat towing another pushing through bridge holes on the Coventry Canal a few days ago. Yesterday the locks around Fradley had gone onto time restrictions, that today had reached Bagnall Lock, the one above the lock onto the river section. In Kats opinion it won’t be long before Alrewas closes too due to lack of water. Below the canal is fed by the river, so venturing as far as Wychnor Lock should remain possible.

**Chicken leek mushroom and tarragon pie**

For dinner, there was the chicken to use up from my Sunday roast and the remaining pastry in the freezer from our Whitsunday Pie. Individual pies were made up with leeks and mushrooms in a Tarragon sauce, jacket spuds cooked in the oven too with some nice green crunchy broccoli. Not one packet of salt or pepper in view. We may even have had a glass of wine too!

It’s very good to have him home.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 buses, 1 leek, 2 pies, 2 jackets, 1 afternoon kip, 75 litres diesel, £1.01, 3 bags excel, 12 more scans, 7 books, 3 box sets precariously balanced, 1 box of pills, 1 Mick back with his boat.

Raindrops And Bins. 26th August

Willington Visitor Mooring to Opposite Shobnall Fields

Proper old fashioned rain woke us this morning! Do you remember it? Only half an hour, but still it was a step in the right direction. Still in bed, with cuppas in hand we watched as more boaters came with rubbish, more rubbish added to the ground of the compound. Then a Biffa wagon arrived, today with a crew of two. They looked at the state before them, walked round to the side and opened up one of the sides, from here they could move one of the skips to be emptied without having to move any of the bags on the ground. It was emptied, positioned close to the compound but not in it, as now the mountain of bin bags had fallen over. Photos were taken and the crew of two climbed back in their cabin and headed off to the next site.

Soon the locals were around to inspect the compound. One lady arrived and added a bag to the floor mountain, then chatted away to a chap who’d come to take photos. According to him the bins had been emptied on Friday, did he know that Biffa had been yesterday? They chatted for a while, he was on the case with CRT and had been asked to take photos for them.

A while later two more people arrived with bin bags. One just dropped their bag on the floor, the other actually found the empty skip and used that. Later a couple arrived, the empty skip was manoeuvred closer and the chap spent a while filling it with bags from the floor, the skip was then slotted back into the compound, not all bags of rubbish were off the floor, but a tidy up might mean the skips could be accessed now to be emptied.

There are several problems with the bins. Biffa only empty bins, they don’t move rubbish. Boaters feel it is okay to add their rubbish to an already overfull compound, yet this just means the bins don’t get emptied. If boaters kept their rubbish and came back the next day the bins might all be empty. Sorting waste on board means you can get rid of the smelly things more often, after all we are one of few boaters using the food waste bins, so there’s plenty of room! Bin compounds are fewer than they used to be, boaters still produce the same amount of rubbish, so the compounds maybe should be of a larger capacity to cope. Fly tipping is also a problem, both by general public and boaters. We do our bit, if only others would do the same.

We obviously had time on our hands this morning whilst we waited for Sainsburys to arrive with our shopping. A handy picnic bench meant we could see their arrival whilst watching boats come and go, but thankfully be away from constantly watching the bins!

It was after 2pm by the time everything was stowed onboard, sadly I’d omitted to buy some smoked mackerel! I’d looked at it, bought all the other things to go with it but not added some to our basket!

We opted to move on, back to the mooring towards Burton, Mick had a GP phone appointment about some medication, so maybe it was better to move sooner than later, phone signal patchy here and the internet quite dodgy. As we made ready to push off a CRT van arrived, more photos taken of the compound, they then climbed back in their vehicle and drove away. We winded, cruised just over a mile to the stretch of armco, tied up, put the kettle on and gave Tilly the good news 3 whole hours! Time for a very late lunch.

I’d spotted a sign on the towpath the other day, a circular walk round a nature reserve. I stripped the chicken, so I could drop off the carcass in the food waste bin back in Willington, plenty of space in that bin! Mick had his phone call. He wanted to chat about various things that have been happening in the last week or so, including his trip in the ambulance. They chatted through the cough that has come on, maybe a side effect of a rise in his medication. He was given a link to a community optician that he might be able to access in Burton for other symptoms rather than having to return to Scarborough.

After finding an optician and calling them, describing what was happening, they suggested he should be seen at A&E. The nearest Emergency Department is in Burton, just across the way from Shobnall Fields. We apologised to Tilly for curtailing her shore leave and closed the rear hatch, but we wanted to move on into Burton today.

Under one of the road bridges are four murals designed by local children. I especially liked the sheep on one of them. Not much else to note on the walk back into town that I hadn’t seen before. We followed behind a single hander who I leant a hand to at Dallow Lock, then worked us up behind. As I walked round to close the bottom gates my right foot felt funny. It wouldn’t follow me as it normally did. It felt like I was dragging it, a quick look and a sit down on a bollard and I found the problem a big fishing hook had got caught in the sole of my shoe, I was now attached to something at the other end of the lock. I managed to undo myself and collected the long line of line, that would have seriously hurt if I’d been wearing sandals.

It being after 6pm Shobnall Fields was just about full, well a good smattering of git gaps. We opted to pull in opposite, this would mean Mick could head to the hospital in the morning and I could do some work for panto.

1 lock, 4.9 miles, 1 wind, 37 photos of a bin compound, 2 Biffa, 1 Crt, 27 more bags of rubbish, I do wonder how much less rubbish there would be if people used the food waste bin!! 4 boxes wine, 3 hours curtailed to 1! 1 disgruntled cat, 0 mackerel, 1 new drug, 1 dropped, 1 visit put off till tomorrow.

https://what3words.com/cape.tennis.makes

An Aphrodite Rescue. 19th August

Turnover Bridge 19 to Henry Knibb Bridge 3A, Trent and Mersey Canal

Eggs and mushrooms on toast for breakfast, they needed eating so we just had to. The water point was free by Beeston Lock so we made use of it, filling up the tank and disposing of rubbish. A boat came through the lock just as I was heading up to set it for us.

Beeston Lock has a paddle painted red at either end, these should be left up when you leave the lock so that there is enough water flowing down the canal through Nottingham to feed the locks. During the summer Beeston Lock only has a rise of a few inches, of course sometimes it has a much bigger rise when the river is in flood. The lock landing pontoon on the river side seems to be inhabited by several boats, thankfully leaving enough space for a narrowboat to pull in to drop off or pick up crew from the river.

Up stream we counted several of the huts/houses up for sale on the off side. Were these still the same ones we’d seen a couple of years ago? I think one of them is. Did there used to be two lovely old boats along this stretch having work done to them? Only one moored now all under wraps.

With the lack of rain the river is lower than it normally would be at this time of year. Near Barton Island we could make out what might be a submerged wall which was creating a shallow weir effect, was this where NB Legend had ended up getting stuck and requiring RCR to rescue them a few years ago. We did our best to keep well clear.

There are two more warning signs in the river, more signs on the banks, most of which are overgrown by willow trees, so it’s hard to see which side of the river you should keep to. Round a bend, up ahead we wondered what was going on. A cruiser seemingly adrift towards the east bank and a narrowboat doing his best to pole himself off the bottom near the west bank. The cruiser turned out to be tied to a distant tree and looked to have an anchor down, no need to worry about them.

Could we help the narrowboat. At first we thought it was facing downstream, then the penny dropped it was a boat we’d seen on the canal with a pointy stern and a tiller more the type you get on a butty. A chap was stood on his gunnel with his pole pushing and getting nowhere, no life jacket in sight.

We slowed asked if we could help, he nodded. I headed up to the bow, the chap walked along his gunnels to get his centre rope. We’d be using our bow line to pull him backwards off the sandbank, not his, which might not take the strain. Mick reversed us back. I coiled the rope to throw to the chap, he stood on his gunnel, I asked him to step back to a safer place, I’d rather throw the rope numerous times until he caught it than have to try to get him out of the river! Once caught I asked him to tie it securely to his stern T stud, he wrapped the rope round a few times. No it needed to be secure, I tried to explain how to tie it. In the end I got on his boat and did it for him instead, knowing it would now hold.

Mick reversed, his aim to try to dislodge the boat whilst not getting stuck ourselves. The other boat was also in reverse, it got back afloat whilst biffing into us, it’s tiller going right over. Rope untied, we just needed to get out of his way so he could come backwards more to avoid returning to where he’d been stuck. But no, he went forwards! We managed to get out of the way and stay clear of the sand bank. Next move was to try pulling him free at the front, no room for us behind now without getting stuck ourselves.

As we got ready to back up to him, we could see that his bow was floating, the current was taking it round. Brilliant, he was afloat. He just needed to turn back to face upstream and follow us. This took quite a bit of time, his boat ending up almost passing the warning sign on the wrong side, eventually he was back on course. We slowly made our way up stream, he was far slower than we were, maybe his engine wasn’t strong enough, maybe he just liked travelling at the speed he’d do on canals against the flow of the river.

Round the next bend there is another warning sign. We did our best to keep him in sight, but he seemed to have gone off course again and was heading for the east bank behind what once had been a warning sign. Should we turn? We really didn’t want to get stuck ourselves. It’s one thing pulling a boat off a sandbank in a shallow river, it’s another going past a warning board where things are more than likely to put you at risk too.

The next stretch of river up to Cranfleet Lock was done as slowly as possible. I hopped off at the lock landing, Mick secured Oleanna and walked to the end of the long pontoon, the boat wasn’t in sight. I emptied the lock opened the gate, still no sign. I worked Oleanna up, we’d helped as much as we could, should someone else take over now? But who should we call?

Mick found a non emergency number for the Fire Brigade. They listened and suggested we contact CRT. We called CRT. They listened too, we were concerned that this chap was now stuck on the river somewhere it would be hard for other boaters to help him. Their attitude was if he was stuck he’d call them himself, maybe we should call RCR. This chap was quite unlikely to be a member, so we decided we’d done what we could, unless he called for help he’d be stuck. To be honest he didn’t really seem to know what he was doing, we hoped he was okay, maybe he knew of a mooring on the east bank that we weren’t aware of.

**The Lock Keepers today weren’t much help**

Which paddle to open first on Cranfleet Lock, someone once told us, but I couldn’t remember. The order I chose seemed to work, well nearly. Now there was just the task of opening the top gate. The water was level, but could I get the gate open. I ended up asking some cyclists to lend me their bums, that worked.

At Trent Lock we turned to head upstream passing new mooring rings on the bank. How many times in recent years have we hoped for a mooring on the pontoon only to find it chocka block? So how come today when we needed to cruise further on there was only one boat moored there?!

At Sawley Lock a hire boat was just coming down, we swapped places with them and were soon joined by another boat that had been on the service pontoon on the river. Earlier in the day we’d heard that Derwent Mouth Lock was open again, levels had improved, so we followed our new lock companion across the river section and onto the Trent and Mersey Canal.

A boat was coming down, we swapped with them. Our companion was going to pull in above the lock to decide what to do, where to go as closures seem to have followed him for the last few months. We’d decided to head on through Shardlow and up the lock so as to be off the pound that had lowered at the weekend. The level had been good, water running over the by wash, but we really didn’t want to get stuck tomorrow.

We pulled in just after the permanent moorings and opened the doors. Tilly was ecstatic with this outside, we hardly saw her until it was dingding time when she came in with five minutes still to go.

5 locks, 9.4 miles, 1 almost straight on but slightly to the right, 1 rescue, 1 helmsman course required, 1 boat off course, 1 unicorn lock keeper, 3 spaces free! 1 level back to normal, 2 hours shore leave, 1 hour spent buying 7 train tickets, £100 saving.

https://what3words.com/wonderful.clicker.wisdom

Below links to the houses for sale.

https://www.sdlauctions.co.uk/property/47564/lodge-for-auction-nottingham

https://www.auctionestates.co.uk/property/prickle-pin-lodge-trent-side-barton-in-fabis-nottingham-ng11-0bl-299028

https://copeandco.co.uk/properties/4-bedroom-house-house-for-sale-in-canal-bank-shardlow-derby-derbyshire-de72-2gl/437295

Straight Out Of An Agatha Christie Novel. 12th August

Retford and Worksop Boat Club to Log Rural Mooring

There was the hire car to return this morning, a Sainsburys delivery to arrive, water to fill up and the yellow water to empty. Mick headed off to Worksop with the car, he thought he’d topped it up, but according to the computer and Enterprise it needed another 2 litres of petrol! Soon sorted and he got a lift back to the boat club where I was waiting for our shopping. We swapped over and I headed back to fill with water then stow our shopping.

**Thank you RWBC for our lovely stay with you**

Phil this weeks warden arrived a bit after 11 to read the electric meter for us, we now needed to go down and pay at the club house along with using the elsan for the yellow water. All checked out and our dues paid. Thank you to the boat club for a very friendly stay. Having electric was great, over the 8 days we’ve stayed with them we used a little over £8 and did quite a few wash loads and used the immersion heater and topped our bully boy batteries right up.

Our aimed for mooring was quite a distance away so I hitched a ride. We’d already gone a few miles when I decided on my walking plan, I’d hop off at Wiseton and walk on from there, we’d have lunch at Drakeholes then carry on. Mick checked that he’d given me the key of power after using the elsan. No he hadn’t. Maybe he’d left it at the bow when stowing the yellow water container. No he hadn’t. I checked everywhere inside, doing a girl look rather than a boy look. No. A phone call back to Phil at the boat club, Mick thought it might be on the window cil in the service block. Phil rang back, it was there, he’d happily drop it off with us at Wiseton as he had a job to do using his car. What a star, that saved either my legs walking or Mick cycling back for it. It only took Phil five minutes to catch us up and drop off the key.

I walked into Wiseton whilst Mick carried on along the canal. Blimey I’d just walked into an Agatha Christie Novel. Straight ahead was Woodbine Cottage built 1830, with it’s white picket fence, lead windows and ivy covered frontage. I turned left hoping to find a track which would lead back to the canal further on, only to stumble on a For Sale sign.

**You’d need a sit on lawnmower for that lawn**

Cedar Cottage built around 1860. What a lawn and flower beds. Yours for £515,000 quite a period piece.

Further on were big wrought iron gates, no view of the hall. A hunt round on the internet suggests a new hall was built in 1771 for Jonathon Acklam. This was extended in 1787 by William Lindley of Doncaster. During WW2 the house became badly dilapidated and ended up being demolished in 1960. In it’s place a Neo-Georgian house was built for Major General Robert Laycock in 1962 on his return from the governorship of Malta. It stayed in the Laycock family until 1992 when it was sold to a colliery owner Richard Budge who then sold it in 2012. More info on the hall can be found here.

Opposite the gates is an extensive stables block built 1899. Sadly private signs are everywhere so the track I’d hoped to walk was out of bounds. But every cloud has a silver lining as it meant I got to walk past more wonderful houses.

I stopped to take a look at the octagonal chimney stacks. I said hello to a fellow sat outside, he told me that the houses used to be the Laundry for the Hall and the large chimneys were needed for the big fires under the coppers used to boil up the washing. I congratulated him for having such a wonderful house and chimney.

Back onto the canal I soon caught up with Oleanna going under Lady’s Bridge where I’d hoped to walk to from the village. The 2 day moorings were full at Drakeholes so we pulled in at the end to have lunch in the shade, it was starting to get really quite warm out there.

Now to walk the last stretch of the canal that I’d missed on the way up, over the top of Drakeholes Tunnel. I paused to say goodbye to the people on NB Misfit from the boat club then carried on up the grassy bank. I thought that the tunnel carried on under the road, which gave me a chance to look at The Duck which recently closed. Opposite behind fencing are the gate houses for Wiseton Hall (early 19th C) which look like they are undergoing renovation. I soon noticed my mistake and back tracked to walk along a gravel track leading to the other side of the tunnel.

I reached the locks before Oleanna and had time to set them, it did take a while before I could open the top gates as below the water was boiling out from under the gates. At Shaw Lock I spotted a stall at the nearby farm house, so once Oleanna was down I went to have a look. A lot of homemade chutneys and sauces for sale along with some veg. I suspect the owners have had enough marrows as these were free! Having just stocked up on veg I didn’t feel the need to help them out.

Not much further the Log Rural Mooring came into view, no boats moored so we could choose the shadiest section. Chairs were put outside in the shade and Tilly was given a couple of hours of towpath time.

A barbeque was on the cards this evening. Salmon with ginger and lemongrass, potato salad and sweetcorn. All slowly cooked over the coals. At one point it started to rain, Mick brought a brolli out, but it really wasn’t going to spoil anything and soon everything had dried up in time for us to eat. A perfect mooring for a hot afternoon, shame we don’t think we’ll find one for tomorrow.

2 locks, 6.4 miles, 1 tunnel, 1 full water tank, 4 boxes wine, £8.37 electric, 1 left key of power (which do have our phone number on them!), 1 hero Phil, 1 Agatha Christie village, 5 moving boats! 84 brisk minutes, 29C, 2 rain showers, 2 salmon steaks, 2 cobs, 1 bowl potato salad, 4 glasses wine, 2.5 hours after cat curfew permitted shore leave.

https://what3words.com/dating.juggle.guests

Pump Problems. 5th August

Mile marker 23 to Ranby 2 day moorings

I’**m in here for a very good reason, honest**

Floris was still whipping up the air this morning, we opted to stay moored for a while. This meant Mick could do an oil change, a little bit over due but now we’re through the assisted passage we’ve a day in hand. Overalls on, back doors pulled closed, the wind was blowing right in at the stern, he lifted the engine board and got started.

It was handy not to be working locks as some time was required as Frank’s medical PA.

Tilly wasn’t being too busy outside, maybe she’d used it all up yesterday. So to keep her occupied we went for a walk Blackberry hunting. The ones alongside the boat were already wizened as though they never really come into fruit, but maybe a bit further on they would be better. My hunch was correct and quite a mass of almost overly ripe plump blackberries were ready to be picked. Tilly wasn’t much help, but a new patch of sideways trees kept her busy whilst I filled a pot with almost half a kilo of berries. I feel some baking coming on.

I got the wood glue out, time to restick some of the edgings on shelves and cupboard doors. The glue seems to be giving up being sticky in some parts of the boat. So some encouragement for the glue to go in the gap, a good squeeze, wipe down and some tape to hold it in place whilst it dried. Job done.

Mick wasn’t having much luck. The sump drain pump had stopped pumping, not good when you want to pump the oil out! He’d had a go with an electric pump he’d bought from Lidl a while ago, but this would take forever and possibly drain our starter battery. After trying numerous things he ended up giving up today. Maybe rigging up the electric pump to the 24v-12v dc-dc converter in the electrics cupboard so the domestic bank could be used instead?

After lunch we opted to move on a bit to the next mooring.

**It’s a good view here when the wind stops**

This morning a CRT tug had come past with a skip boat, as we made ready it came back without the skip, would we be slowly following this to Osberton Lock? They crawled past us, but as soon as they had gone past they cranked up the speed. We followed, at a far slower speed.

This stretch of towpath is currently closed right up to the lock, the next stretch is where the problem bridge is. From the canal it didn’t look like anything was wrong, but looking up the side it’s had quite a wallop and bricks are ready to tumble onto the towpath.

Above Osberton Lock, CRT were just leaving having removed the skip to further up stream, we actually now had a lock landing to land at, then a limbo under the once five bar gate. I lifted the paddles to set the lock just as the heavens opened! Both of us retreated to the shade of the trees, thankfully the downpour didn’t last long. I opted to walk the remainder of the way, knowing I’d not be getting my full quota of steps or brisk minutes done.

**Here she comes giving me a reason to be stood here**

Past the green/cabbages/cauliflowers again, if only there was a way down into the field to see what they were. I soon approached the Ranby Moorings. Here at one end sat the boat from The Lock Keeper, they have a cat called Nutmeg, so I headed to the far end of the mooring and loitered for Oleanna. Not only am I now a mad cat lady, but I also loiter on the towpath!

1 lock, 2 miles, 1 blowy day, 1 litre of oil pumped out, 1 litre of oil put back in the engine, 0.5kg of blackberries, 5 edges stuck, 1 cat walk, 1 sharp shower, 0 climbing trees, 1 mad woman waving to the other boat.

https://what3words.com/workroom.prune.improvise

Ruination. 29th July

Retford and Worksop Boating Club to West Retford Visitor Moorings

Mick headed off to collect a trolley and await a Sainsbury’s delivery this morning as I waited for Sean, this weeks warden at the boat club, to come a take a meter reading of our electric use for the last few days. All good unplugged, our bill should be a little over £5. On his way back from picking up the shopping Mick got chatting to a boater a few boats back and was reminded of an assisted passage on the outskirts of Worksop that we’d forgotten about.

Last night we’d worked out where we’d be mooring each day so that we could reach the navigable end of the Chesterfield Canal and be in the right places at the right times for other things. Now we needed to factor in the two locks that are open for two hours twice a week. This took the grey cells a bit to work out and means we’ll need to be a bit swift up at the magical top of the canal if we’re not to be held up by several more days.

We pushed off a touch late with a bit further to cruise today than we’d originally planned. I walked on ahead with windlass in hand ready to set the last of the wide locks for us. I’d not checked how far away it was so ended up carrying my windlass for three miles.

Walking past Narrow Bridge Cottage campsite it was hard to miss the convex mirror on a post, maybe this was so people could see under the canal bride if boats were coming. Then there is a big finger post sign, we were headed to Ruination!

A few unusual plants caught my eye today. A funny fluffy thing on what looked like a rose stem. Apple Rose?

Then the biggest seedhead I’ve seen, similar to a dandelion, but bigger with fewer seedy fairies. Yellow Salsify?

The cruise was slow, I reached Whit Sunday Pie Lock well ahead and called back to Mick. There was a boat following him, so we’d be able to share the lock. He should give me a heads up when he was close so I could empty the lock and have both gates open waiting. There was time to see if I could find out why Whit Sunday Pie Lock had its name.

Well local folk law has it that a lady from a nearby cottage baked a large pie for the navvies building the canal who were working on a Whit Sunday. A nice tale. However somewhere else suggests if you hunt for maps that predate the canal then you will find a field called Whit Sunday Pie Field. Sadly I’ve not had time to hunt out the map in question.

However it appears that it is a tradition of the Retford and Worksop Boat Club to celebrate Whit Sunday at the lock with steak pie, carrots, peas and mash, sometimes followed by trifle. Maybe on our way back I should make us a steak pie, even if Whit Sunday is long gone.

Right, Mick was nearby and still being followed. Time to lift the paddles and empty the lock. Ah except this numpty had walked those three miles with a windlass, but had no key of power to unlock the locks to be able to lift any paddles! It at least gave me chance to look at how big a tree had been that had recently come down totally blocking the navigation below the lock.

We shared the lock with NB Fleur, the owners second time out on her, they were very new and wished that there were a few more pubs along the canal. We let them go first and followed on behind, me walking the towpath expecting to pull in at the Hop Pole mooring for a late lunch.

There’s a steep bend under a bridge at the pub. Once under the bridge I realised I’d need to be on the off side so I returned and crossed over the road only to find the pub well and truly closed and gates padlocked down to the moorings. Back over the road to hitch a ride on Oleanna. There would have been space for us on the water point, but we don’t like to sit on water points for lunch, then the other gap available was nowhere near long enough. We’d have to carry on a while into Retford where we did find a space.

From here on we are on narrow locks. Retford Town Lock being the first. Looking back the other day to nine years ago, I wrote that this would be the last narrow lock we would do on NB Lillyanne. Well that turned out to not be true as our hoped for plan of moving onboard Oleanna in Sheffield didn’t come true, in fact it was April the following year and we’d locked through may more narrow locks by then.

The top gate has a bridge on it as it’s a busy footpath across the canal. Two chaps stood and watched, a group of young lads fished above the lock concerned that our boat would scare the fish away. We paused above the lock, access to the port side to be able to empty the yellow water tank with ease, then continued on.

The canal passes over the River Idle, back pumping up from the river where there was quite a healthy flow. Up West Retford Lock and on into the woods. Here a 2 day mooring was our destination for the day. No-one else around, it had already been awarded a stamp of approval before we’d even tie up! Only an hour and a half of shore leave was granted, an extra ten minutes taken! We may have to try to stop here on the way back.

3 locks, 6.6 miles, 1 broad lock, 2 narrow locks, 4 boxes wine, 1 fridge jam packed, 83 minutes brisk walking, 0 sharks, 0 pie, 0 key! 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://what3words.com/inhabited.lighters.commutes

I’ll Race You! 22nd July

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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