Almyne 2009
Thu, 1 Jan 2009
New years day. Not a lot of fun, just trying to alleviate the pain. I know that I am going on about it but I have never experienced anything like this for as long as this. Rumours have it that it is actually the aching that you get with the flu but apart from a couple of nights of hot and cold sweats (that I thought might have been malaria) I have had no other symptoms of flu and the aches and pains usually come with the shivers not a few days afterwards.
Kept the fire going all day and spent most of the time reading and drinking hot water. Rosie thinks that my kidneys need flushing out and that I should only drink water for a few days.
Fri, 2 Jan 2009
Icebreaker
Icebreaker
Another day of water. That is not to say that I am not eating but my appetite is not very good and I am not eating a lot. Rosie is being wonderful and understanding, looking after me really well.
Went in to Wednesfield for Rosie's physiotherapy appointment. It seems that the thumb is not trigger finger but could be osteoporosis.
She was given a finger (thumb) stall and a series of exercises to do three times a day, hope it helps as her clicky thumb is making life difficult for her. Holding a fork or pen or brush is particularly difficult and because she does a lot of writing and painting she is getting frustrated not being able to do these things.
They also took an X-ray so we are now waiting the results of that.
I dropped Rosie off at the hospital and drove round to the car park to wait for her. She asked me if I could pick her up afterwards but I did not think that I would be able to find the hospital again so we arranged to meet in the car park. Call me Rodney again, as I drove to the car park I realised that of course I would be able to find the hospital, there were enormous signs pointing to it everywhere. I tried to ring her, but being in a hospital her phone was turned off.
By the time she had walked back to the car she was frozen, it is probably the coldest day of the year so far with a chill wind on top of it all.
I know that I am not much company and try to keep out of her way as much as I can because I feel that it is not fair to bring her down with me. Trouble is, by staying out of her way she is now feeling isolated and lonely.
Sat, 3 Jan 2009
I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but last time we went down to Streethay we spotted a tiny little stove on the top of a boat and made a mental note to try to speak to the guy and see where he got it. Spotted him at Fradley just before Christmas and he said that he would let the guy who makes them know that I was interested.
Well, mid morning there was a knock on the door and the maker of boat stoves was outside enquiring if I was the person interested.
'Why yes' I said, 'Come in'.
Kevin, his name, came aboard and we chatted for some time about the stove and how and why he had made it in the first place. It seems that he is a welder and general handyman and the more we chatted the more things that I thought of that he could help with, one of which was the tow bar for Dinky Doo.
Kevin is extremely knowledgeable about food for free and what you can and what you cannot eat from the tow path. Spent a very pleasant couple of hours chatting and enjoying company other than our own.
Sun, 4 Jan 2009
Keith turned up with the stove today, I did not even haggle at the price. It came complete with the stove pipe, ready to fit. Since it has been on the top of a boat for quite along time it does need some cleaning up before fitting, but that is purely cosmetic (he says glibly).
Mon, 5 Jan 2009
Major definite purpose today is to get some more of the pain killers that work. Went in to Lichfield to the doctors and was told that they could not repeat prescription this item and that I would have to see a doctor and they could book me in for Tuesday. When I explained the situation and that I really did not think I could go a whole night without the tablets the receptionist arranged for the duty doctor to give me a call sometime during the afternoon.
Did a little shopping and back to Almyne to rest again.
Tue, 6 Jan 2009
Slept right through till eight and then I got woken up by my legs again. I think that I am getting the dose right and the timing of all my pills right, and I think whatever it is, is going.
Sunny day, so I could not put off repairing the wheels and completed that task.
Collected the two remaining bags of coal from the Morris and took her for a run.
The forecast says it might drop well below freezing in some places, so topped up the Morris with the last remaining anti-freeze.
Although there was not a lot of rubbish to get rid of, I walked it up to the facilities at Fradley junction , leaving the engine on Almyne to run while I did that.
Rosie, in the meantime was making great progress with the new multi-fuel stove that we purchased for Dinky Doo. I must restrain myself and finish the current tasks on Dinky Doo before I fit the stove.
Fasting blood test tomorrow so took my medication just before midnight and went to bed hoping for a good nights sleep.
Wed, 7 Jan 2009
Fasting blood test today. Trouble is during the night I woke up, or should I say came to, and took a couple of Ibuprofen and read my book for a while. Then without thinking I opened the tin of quality street and ate a couple before I remembered that I was fasting. Spit.
Early appointment as most people like a cup of tea (or coffee) early in the morning and with a fasting blood test that is a no no.
Arrived at the doctors and went in to see the nurse. Explained what I had done and she said that there was no point in doing the blood test and to re-book. Went to the receptionist to re-book and the earliest she could book me in for was a week today.
I asked her if there was an earlier day on which I could have the blood test and she explained that people like to have an early (in the morning) appointment so as to rush off and have their first drink of the day.
It took a few moments to get us both on the same wavelength by telling her that I did not care if I had a midday appointment but I would like the blood test done as soon as possible, even if the fast was much longer than normal. She booked me in for Friday.
Thu, 8 Jan 2009
Took another load of washing to the launderette, including the stuff I forgot last time.
Fri, 9 Jan 2009
I don't spoil my dog
Today's the day. Up around nine to get ready to go to the doctors for the blood test that I messed up on earlier on in the week. Got there with half an hour to spare, which was fortunate as the doctors car park was chocker and I had to drive around a bit to find somewhere to park and then walk back to the doctors.
The nurse was friendly enough but had a bit of trouble finding a vein and made several attempts before she hit one properly, took five samples and off I went to book in to get the results.
Now I have an appointment for next Thursday to see what, if anything, that the blood tests have picked up.
Took D'fer
for a walk, the best he has had in a while, and ended up at Matt
and Ellie
's boat. Borrowed their twenty five litre jerry can and a funnel and when we got back to Almyne I drove up to 'Halso's' a fuel and oil distributor. Got twenty litres of Diesel to put in the tank. Although I had dipped it a few days ago and there was three and a half inches of fuel in it I was still getting worried about running out. Another job well jobbed, now we can run the engine to top up the batteries with impunity.
It is a year now since Geri
's demise and while I was doing the washing up my wedding ring fell off my finger into the washing up bowl. Call me silly, superstitious or what you will, but it exactly one year, to the minute, since she died, my wedding ring fell off. Perhaps she is telling me my period of grief is now over. I am not sure how I feel about it. I still think of her every day and I still ask her why? The sadness is diminishing and being replaced with acceptance, what has happened has happened and there is nothing that I can do to change it.
Sat, 10 Jan 2009
Dull and overcast again, stayed in most of the day reading and eating and stoking the fire.
Sun, 11 Jan 2009
Another day of rest, we seem to be having a lot of those recently.
During the afternoon Kevin turned up with the tow bar that he had fabricated for Dinky Doo. It looks just the business and all I have to do now is fix it to the back of Almyne, just three bolts and it is all done.
He stayed till quite late chatting about life on the cut and how he ended up living on a narrow boat. His previous existence prior to the narrow boat was as a traveller, but more in the sense of living close to nature than the popular image of 'new age travellers'.
He has many wonderful tales of life on the cut and how to survive on next to nothing - I admire him for his complete independence.
Mon, 12 Jan 2009
Off to Wednesfield so that Rosie can have a check up at the Diabetes clinic. Went well and I managed to pick up one or two little tips about what to look for and how to deal with what is happening.
It seems that Rosie has improved over the past six months, so the clinician was pleased, although Rosie tells me that she has lost about half a stone during that time.
We both weighed ourselves while we were there but the scales are calibrated in Kilos and neither of us understand that so had to convert.
I am down to nine and a half stone, at which weight I am very happy.
Did some basic shopping and returned to Almyne. It was cold, the fire had not been on all day and the temperature was down to 54. Took the first half hour to get the temperature up to 56 and another fifteen minutes to get it up to 59. Half an hour later it was up to a comfortable 77.
Rosie cooked a casserole on the fire which was absolutely delicious.
Game of cards and off to bed.
Tue, 13 Jan 2009
Slept like a baby right through till half eight. I usually take my tablets anytime between six and half seven when I wake up but because I was late waking the pain was back, so two tablets and a quick walk with D'fer (a walk does seem to help surprisingly) and back to Almyne for a cup of tea. Met Ellie on the way, she was walking Jack . We chatted for a while and she said that she would pop in for a cup of tea on her way back.
When she arrived I was busy updating the web site and while she was here we looked at dog harnesses, back packs and carts on the internet. There is a surprising amount of stuff available, but most of it from the US of A.
Spent nearly all day updating the site and then trying to get it uploaded, the signal here is a right pain, will need to move on soon as I will have a load more emails to send out before long.
Wed, 14 Jan 2009
Off to Wednesfield for Rosie to apply for housing. She filled in lots of forms, as per usual with this sort of thing, and was told that because of her diabetes she gets priority and can expect somewhere to live within thirty days. Quite exciting really.
For the afternoon we both went to the opticians for out annual checkup.
Rosie needs spectacles (as we both know) for reading and will be getting that sorted out in the next week or so. My eyes, unusually, have not changed since my last prescription, so this is a good time to get a spare pair of spectacles.
Back to Almyne for an evening meal, a game of cards and a well earned rest.
Thu, 15 Jan 2009
Doctors appointment at nine. Arrived in time and was ushered in to see him. All the blood tests show that I am a healthy, fit, vibrant young(ish) old man. With the pain under control all I have to do now is reduce the dosage of the pain killers till it all goes.
Back at Almyne did some tidying up and a little work on the web site before setting off to Wednesfield for Rosie's appointment.
Once she was sorted out we did some shopping in preparation for the trip down to see mum
tomorrow, picnic type stuff to eat in the car while travelling or during rest periods.
Back at Almyne Rosie cooked couscous with onions, mushrooms and diced chicken and stuffed big red peppers with it, accompanied by meatballs in a tomato sauce that she concocted. A meal fit for a king.
A couple of games of cards and we then set about doing the dishes and preparing tomorrows picnic for the journey before settling down to sleep.
Fri, 16 Jan 2009
Finishing the stew
Finishing the stew
Friday, off to see mum for the weekend.
Up just after nine, packed all the food, (it's going to be a long journey in the Morris) and set off before lunch.
Did the Alrewas, Tamworth , Nuneaton bit without mishap and then we were heading for Coventry . It was meant to be plain sailing, A444 into Coventry and the A423 out of Coventry and on to Banbury .
Have you ever driven to Coventry? Once you get to the inner ring road you go round and round and round in circles looking for the road that you want but they have cunningly decided to only signpost the most local destinations from the inner ring road and ignore the major destinations.
So that is what we did, we went round and round and round until we eventually just picked on a road that felt as if it might be heading south and took it.
After a mile or so Rosie spotted a destination and found it on the map and then skilfully directed me through a maze of roads until we were on the road to Banbury. (Many thanks to Rosie).
Halfway to Banbury there is a place called Southam and this is where the fun really started. Approaching Southam the Morris died. I managed to coast along the main road till I found a side turning which I pulled in to. Sat there for a minute or so and tried to start the Morris. No go. Up with the bonnet and checked the obvious. The petrol pump is there and working. The spark plugs are still there. There is water in the radiator and there is oil in the sump. Maybe not as much as there should be so topped that up.
Tried starting again and yes, it started, only to die again. Never say die, tried again. This time it seemed to be working so drove a little way up the road to turn round and it died again.
Now, although I was not on a main road I was still in a less than safe place so pushed the Morris back a few yards to a private driveway. The Ponderosa Stud! Walked through to the stables and found someone and explained that I was stuck in their driveway and wanted to call the AA but needed a post code. They supplied one and I called the AA.
Fair dues, they only took about fourty five minutes to arrive and when the AA man looked under the bonnet he noticed that the HT lead had become disconnected from the HT coil. This could explain it. Replaced that and tried to start the Morris. Well it kind of started. Tried again and it roared into life.
Plan A, can you follow me for a couple of miles just to make sure it is OK. Of course he said.
Got in, depressed the clutch and the engine died. Tried starting it again, no go.
Up with the bonnet again. He then checked things out, cleaned the points (and re-set them) and did some more fiddling. This time it started and kept running.
Plan A I said, OK he replied.
Off we went and after a couple of miles I put up my thumb and he went his own way.
Shortly after this the Morris started to make complaining noises, a bit like the fan belt but not quite. Carried on.
Got to Banbury and the Morris died again - at a set of traffic lights. When they changed to green the woman behind started beeping and waving, but there was nothing I could do.
Got it going enough to pull over into a side road again. Up with the bonnet, checked everything again and tried starting up. Ok, look good, sounds - well not too bad, so off we went again.
The fan belt type noise gradually got more and more, but by tiny stages, almost unnoticeably but nonetheless noticeable after an hour or so.
Just after Oxford the ignition light came on. Stopped and checked the dynamo leads, sure enough one had come off. This has happened before so I was not caught out by this one. Set off again. The same thing happened a few more times before we got to Burbage , but I could cope with that.
By the way, the reason it kept coming off was because the terminal that the lead connects to was a little corroded and not as 'whole' as it should be.
Did everything we needed to at Burbage and set off for mums. By this time the fan belt type noise was getting bad, I mean bad. Through Pewsey and on to Honeystreet , where I pointed out to Rosie that Honeystreet is the Crop Circle Capital of the world.
Past All Cannings and the fan belt screamed, possibly because it was hot, we both smelt the burning rubber. I knew I had to stop and also knew that there was a sort of farm track just ahead. Swerved across the road to get to the track as it seemed silly to be stuck on an unlit road in the middle of the countryside late at night.
Missed the track and ended up half in the ditch beside the track with the last two feet of the Morris still hanging in the road.
This time there was no dispute, ring the AA. They responded with the promise to have a tow truck out within the hour.
Rosie takes over
Ok folks, Chris has just passed over to me!!! Yes, he'd just told me that this place was famous for crop circles and of course there is a strong connection between crop circles and UFO's!!!!!!! (Noonoo noonoo!) It was pitch black by this time and my imagination was starting to run riot.
After about ten minutes I could see A red light flashing ahead of me and jokingly turned to Chris and said, "Oh look, the aliens are coming!" Chris recognised that it was a helicopter but my eyesight is too bad to see that far away. The one time I need my glasses and they are tucked away safely on Almyne with my spare teeth.
All of a sudden we could hear a loud rumble behind us and low and behold, there was another helicopter trying to creep up behind us. The first helicopter was still ahead of us but had crept behind a tree at the far end of the field. The one coming up from behind us was suddenly right beside us. The noise was deafening! It just hovered right beside us. It was sooo close that we could almost see the pilot and it looked as though the rotor blades were going to start pruning the tree right next to the car!!!
Now this is the only time I have wished that I didn't have such a vivid imagination because yet another helicopter came up behind us. The one was still hovering beside us. By now I was getting rather scared and was glad I had a change of underclothes in the boot! I asked Chris if he was sure they were British and not an invasion from Iraq or Mars. He was thoroughly enjoying it as yet another helicopter came up behind us but I was really starting to get scared. We considered the fact that they might have seen us stranded and wondered what we were up to as in "Hey Fred, there's a car parked in the ditch here, wonder what they're up to? Bet they're having nooky. Let's take a closer look."
Amazing how long an hour can feel. All I wanted now was the safe flashing lights of the breakdown truck, a bottle of Valium and a gallon of whisky (or anything alcoholic)
Chris had taken a pic of the closest helicopter and I was thinking "Oh my lawd, any minute now and we'll see a load of guys dashing towards us to confiscate the camera and lock us up! Or a load of men in silver shiny suits and green faces coming to see what the flashes were!"
Ok, back to Chris cos I've got goosebumps just remembering the night. All I needed now was for the recovery truck to tow us away, the boot flying open and all my clothes being strewed over the road cos NO WAY would I hang around to pick them up!
Back to Chris
You must have seen Close Encounters of the Third kind. Well, the trees do shake and vibrate, the road signs do wobble back and forwards, threatening to come off their posts, the wind does blow everything around so that you think you are in a tornado, and you do think that the aliens are coming!
As the most recent helicopter gently brushed the top of the Morris with it's landing gear it just took off and raced towards where the first one had been and disappeared over the hill.
Wow, I thought, that was an experience. Twenty minutes later the rescue truck appeared, pulled over and looked at where I was, half in and half out of the ditch. He scratched his head and asked what the problem was. I explained and he asked if I might be able to drive the Morris back on to the road. Seemed a reasonable request and thought that the fan belt would probably last that long, so he drove off to the next turning, turned around and came back, lining his vehicle up so that it protected me while I reversed on to the road again. With the Morris on the road behind the rescue truck we were stood in the road assessing the next step when those helicopters decided to buzz us again. The rescue guy ducked and nearly ran for cover and said, "What the hell was that".
"Oh, just a couple of helicopters", I said, "they have been hovering around us all the time we have been waiting".
With that he winched the Morris on the back of the rescue vehicle in double quick time and was moving along the road before he asked where we wanted to go.
I know that his was a new vehicle and the Morris is not fast at the best of times, but I have never done the journey from All Cannings to Trowbridge as quickly.
Once at mums we offloaded the Morris and had a cup of tea while we related the adventures of the journey, closely followed by a mum special of meat and thirteen vegetables and a glass of home made wine that Peter
brews, and excellent stuff it is I might add.
In fact we sampled several wines during the course of the evening and it was impossible to decide which was the best, although we did all end up with a glass of his cherry brandy before collapsing in to bed.
Sat, 17 Jan 2009
Up early but still not as early as Peter . He had the dynamo off and found that the bearing was locked up solid. Could not repair it so we set of to the local car accessory places to see if we could locate one. The first place did not have one but suggested another some miles away, so off we went there. Hooray, they had one and it was not desperately expensive either.
Returned home and Peter fitted it while I looked on, getting more and more anxious as I did not want to be late for my appointment.
Needless to say it was fixed in time and everything went smoothly from then on.
Sun, 18 Jan 2009
After an eventful journey down we must now attempt the journey back. Breakfast around half nine and Blynda
turned up so we stayed for a chat. Set off before eleven and everything went well. Arrived At Glynn and Trudi's by one and loaded up the Morris with all sorts of goodies, including a load of white crockery for Rosie to paint roses on.
As we were setting off I noticed that the rear nearside tyre was a little flat so looked for a garage to fill it. Found one and discovered that the air hose was jammed in the machine and would only come out about six feet so got in the Morris to move it closer, would it start, would it heck. Every time I pulled on the starter it was just dead, nothing, zilch, gone way.
Up with the bonnet and out with the spanners. Took a spanner and 'jumped' it across the starter switch, nothing. Checked the cables and tightened one on the starter up a tad. Nothing. Fiddled and swore and thought about calling the AA again. Got in and pulled the starter, Hooray, it started. I have no idea what it was but it kind of gave me a scare again.
Filled the tyres and off we went. The rest of the journey was comparatively uneventful apart from getting lost around Birmingham, but what do you expect when I am driving. I usually know when I am lost because I have been lost there before.
Back at Almyne by seven and then unloaded the Morris, after lighting the fire and warming up a bit.
Mon, 19 Jan 2009
Slept late today after an exhausting weekend, but still got up in time to go to Cannock to sort out more stuff that is clogging up the works. All went well there and we were back at Almyne in time for an early dinner and an early night.
Tue, 20 Jan 2009
3 locks 8 miles
We're Off! Early start, left Fradley for Streethay just before nine. By twenty past ten we had reached Streethay, winded and filled up with diesel. Returned to Fradley, picked up Dinky Doo, topped up with water, got rid of the rubbish and emptied the porta pottie. (My sister tells me that she is not particularly interested in when we filled up with water and empty the porta pottie but I am going to continue to report it as it is part of the daily routine of life aboard.)
Having done all that we set off towards Kings Bromley Wharf, our target for today.
Arrived there just after three, Rosie having put the chicken on the stove around eleven.
After so long being in the same place I found it quite tiring navigating Almyne and working the locks. Rosie took Almyne into and out of each lock, so that made life much easier.
D'fer was in his element again barking during the passage of every lock and running up and down the tow path at every opportunity. I think he is glad to be travelling and seeing new things again.
Wed, 21 Jan 2009
Cleaned Stove
400 yards
Up before eight. Breakfast a wash and off to get the Morris. It was only a walk of about two and a half miles, but I have done so little walking for the past month or so that I was soon more tired that I would have expected. By the time I got to the Morris I was ready to drop but after a few minutes I was ready to go again.
Drove into Alrewas and picked up the A513 towards Kings Bromley and promptly got lost again. Eventually found my way to Handsacre where I popped in to the local shops and purchased a jar of coffee, Rosie was almost out.
Looking at the Nicholson's Guide to the canals I managed to pinpoint my current location and the route back to Almyne. When I got there Rosie was out and about preparing the new stove ready for painting before fitting to Dinky Doo.
Moved Almyne just the few hundred yards that we needed to be near the Morris and spent the rest of the day pottering around doing dome of those little jobs that only take ten minutes but never seem to happen.
All in all quite a productive day.
Thu, 22 Jan 2009
Rosie has to go to Cannock today to see about finance so we set off just after nine. Five past and the Morris died on me. Pull over, up with the bonnet and fiddle with wires and leads and pipes and things. Tried to start, burst in to life and then died.
The more I fiddled the more I became convinced that the (almost) new petrol pump (it was brand new three years ago), was playing up. Off with the waterproof tape over the lid, off with the lid and cleaned the points on the petrol pump.
Brooom, brooom. Arrived ten minutes late for her meeting but that was acceptable as Rosie had rung in and explained the problems while I was fixing the Morris.
From there to Wednesfield to sort out a bank account, stopping off for breakfast at a cafe we have become enamoured with, and then calling in to see Julie . We caught up on loads ofgossip current affairs stuff while downing copious quantities of tea and coffee.
Stopped off in Rugeley on the way back to Almyne to get something to eat for the one evening as we are not expecting to be around for nearly a week.
Fri, 23 Jan 2009
Life gets complicated, don't it?
I have commitments at various places and Rosie has commitments at various other places.
Yesterday we were in Wednesfield , today we were off to Rugby where we met up with James (first met him at Alrewas) trying to sort out housing for Rosie, which took most of the day.
After the meeting with the housing people we had a late lunch with James, wandered around Rugby for a while and then returned to Almyne. At the meeting Rosie was told that the 'committee' meet on Mondays to discuss cases so we made our plans for the next week as she would be unlikely to hear anything till the end of the coming week.
We had planned to drive down to Chepstow on the Saturday to see Danu, on to see Ken and Jen on Sunday, off to Trowbridge on Monday, Worthing on Tuesday, Burbage on Wednesday, Devizes on Thursday and on to Shareshill on Friday for a funeral. A busier week than usual but we have not really done anything exciting since last weekend!
Shortly after getting back Rosie had a call from the housing people asking her to attend a meeting on Wednesday.
For them to act this quickly there must be something in the wind and it would be crassly silly to waste an opportunity like this.
So, bang goes Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Rosie goes to the meeting on Wednesday and depending on the result we will be going from there to Worthing, on to Devizes on Thursday and trying to make it back to Shareshill on Friday for the funeral.
Watch this space for developments.
Ok guys, it's over to me again!!! James just rang to see how I was feeling and I said, "Can I go 50 50 or phone a friend?" He reminded me I was talking to a FRIEND so how did I feel. Daft question as I DON'T know. I feel totally SICK (but excited as well!!!) When I woke up this morning I didn't expect things to move sooooo quickly. Yes, it's a long way from where I was before but it means the chance to make new friends.
I have decided (for once in my life) what I would REALLY like to do and that is to learn sign writing and to paint roses on narrow boats. This might be the chance I am looking for!
Yes, I'm scared but I have sooooo many good, loyal and helpful friends around me that I now know that I can at long last become the person I want to be.
Sat, 24 Jan 2009
Back to back
Up early, lit the fire, breakfast a bit of tidying up, unusual for me as Rosie usually does all the boat work, but she has had a tying time of late, what with me being ill (my legs) and all the other stuff that is going on in her life, so it is only right I give her some time off now and again.
Took loads of stuff off Dinky Doo, turned her around and backed her up against Almyne. Arranged like this I can work on the back of Almyne from the back of Dinky Doo. I had been dreading standing in the water with an electric drill in my hand putting holes in the button support to take the tow hitch to tow Dinky Doo. Now I don't have to. It was comparatively easy to mark the button support and drill three holes in both the towing hook and the button support. Now all I need to do is find some bolts to bolt them both together. There is nowhere in Lichfield that sells this sort of thing so we may have to wait till we get to Tamworth again.
Did a little more to the inside of Dinky Doo and decided what I need to purchase to complete the shelving portion of the work table. Rosie sent me shopping, big mistake. Although I did come back with enough for dinner I also purchased a maul for splitting logs. I have been splitting logs with a hatchet and a lump hammer - hard work. With the maul it was really easy. It gives me the incentive to get the chain saw out and cut up some more logs, because they will be so much easier to split.
Faggots, mash, brussels and broccoli for dinner, washed down with a glass of wine or two followed by a couple of games of Skip-Bo and an hour or so putting the world to rights. We are sure that we could make a much better job of running the country and getting the economy right than the current incumbents.
Sun, 25 Jan 2009
Up just before eight, lit the fire with some of the logs I chopped yesterday and put breakfast on. It seemed to be taking a long time and on closer inspection I noticed that the gas was very low. Time to change the bottle.
Did a little bit of tidying up and then - wonder of wonders, washed my hair! It felt really good afterwards.
Spent the next few hours revamping the web site. Now you can select 2008 or 2009 and when selecting 2008 it will take you to the start of the journey. One or two other little technical bits to make it run a little more smoothly and placed some of the pictures that I have missed out previously, so go back to the beginning of the year to see them.
Mon, 26 Jan 2009
Not a lot, all the plans for the week have been shot to ribbons due to the meeting that Rosie has on Wednesday, and what a meeting, it could be the best thing that has happened for her for a long time.
Tue, 27 Jan 2009
Not a lot again.
Wed, 28 Jan 2009
Early Lambs
Rosie has an appointment in Rugby today and I need to be in Burbage tomorrow.
Rosie packed some sandwiches and we bundled into the Morris just after ten for the run down to Rugby. Got there with loads of time to spare, which was good as Rosie wanted to have a look around.
Rosie finished her meeting by half four and we set off for Burbage via Worthing.
It was a long journey, but went without mishap, unless you call not arriving at Burbage till well gone midnight.
When we got there we put a load of washing in the machine and stayed up chatting to David, my nephew, who is stopping for a few days - till late.
Thu, 29 Jan 2009
Clambered in to bed sometime after dawn and was lucky to get up in time for my meeting at midday. Still, I got there in time and got that all sorted out.
Left David
at my sisters and returned at Burbage to get ready for the return trip to Kings Bromley wharf.
Packed all the clean washing and set off. Made it back in one piece with no mishaps, apart from getting lost around Coventry again. I swear that they want to keep you captive if you get there.
Fri, 30 Jan 2009
Didn't make the funeral, all the travelling had taken all the energy out of us. However, we did decide that with David meeting us on Sunday we could take Almyne down to Tamworth far a cruise before Rosie absconds to Rugby for a while.
Spent the day shopping for provisions for the trip.
Sat, 31 Jan 2009
7½ miles 3 locks
Set off about midday - it was cold, and I mean cold. Rosie stayed inside all day keeping the fire going and handing me hot cups of tea every twenty minutes or so just to make sure that my fingers remained flexible. Working the locks was almost a blessing as I got some activity which helped to warm me up.
Standing on the back of Almyne leaning on a piece of wood is fun and absolutely idyllic in the good weather, but when it is cold it can be bitter. Standing still with the breeze (wind) gently caressing your clothing and sucking all the warmth out of you is, by virtue of the situation, inevitable. You cannot walk around or slap your arms (you do have to keep hold of the tiller) and wearing gloves doesn't seem to work for me, well not he gloves I have. Perhaps I should go to a good hiking or camping shop and get a really good pair of insulated waterproof gloves.
Stopped off at Fradley briefly to top up with water, empty the porta pottie(s) and get rid of the rubbish and then carried on till dusk, eventually mooring up at the BW workshops about two miles south of Fradley.
It took me about half an hour to get warm enough to sit down and start to relax.
Dinner was most welcome, after which we had a couple of games of Skip-Bo, a couple of glasses of wine and an early night.
New years day. Not a lot of fun, just trying to alleviate the pain. I know that I am going on about it but I have never experienced anything like this for as long as this. Rumours have it that it is actually the aching that you get with the flu but apart from a couple of nights of hot and cold sweats (that I thought might have been malaria) I have had no other symptoms of flu and the aches and pains usually come with the shivers not a few days afterwards.
Kept the fire going all day and spent most of the time reading and drinking hot water. Rosie thinks that my kidneys need flushing out and that I should only drink water for a few days.
Fri, 2 Jan 2009
Icebreaker
Icebreaker
Another day of water. That is not to say that I am not eating but my appetite is not very good and I am not eating a lot. Rosie is being wonderful and understanding, looking after me really well.
Went in to Wednesfield for Rosie's physiotherapy appointment. It seems that the thumb is not trigger finger but could be osteoporosis.
She was given a finger (thumb) stall and a series of exercises to do three times a day, hope it helps as her clicky thumb is making life difficult for her. Holding a fork or pen or brush is particularly difficult and because she does a lot of writing and painting she is getting frustrated not being able to do these things.
They also took an X-ray so we are now waiting the results of that.
I dropped Rosie off at the hospital and drove round to the car park to wait for her. She asked me if I could pick her up afterwards but I did not think that I would be able to find the hospital again so we arranged to meet in the car park. Call me Rodney again, as I drove to the car park I realised that of course I would be able to find the hospital, there were enormous signs pointing to it everywhere. I tried to ring her, but being in a hospital her phone was turned off.
By the time she had walked back to the car she was frozen, it is probably the coldest day of the year so far with a chill wind on top of it all.
I know that I am not much company and try to keep out of her way as much as I can because I feel that it is not fair to bring her down with me. Trouble is, by staying out of her way she is now feeling isolated and lonely.
Sat, 3 Jan 2009
I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but last time we went down to Streethay we spotted a tiny little stove on the top of a boat and made a mental note to try to speak to the guy and see where he got it. Spotted him at Fradley just before Christmas and he said that he would let the guy who makes them know that I was interested.
Well, mid morning there was a knock on the door and the maker of boat stoves was outside enquiring if I was the person interested.
'Why yes' I said, 'Come in'.
Kevin, his name, came aboard and we chatted for some time about the stove and how and why he had made it in the first place. It seems that he is a welder and general handyman and the more we chatted the more things that I thought of that he could help with, one of which was the tow bar for Dinky Doo.
Kevin is extremely knowledgeable about food for free and what you can and what you cannot eat from the tow path. Spent a very pleasant couple of hours chatting and enjoying company other than our own.
Sun, 4 Jan 2009
Keith turned up with the stove today, I did not even haggle at the price. It came complete with the stove pipe, ready to fit. Since it has been on the top of a boat for quite along time it does need some cleaning up before fitting, but that is purely cosmetic (he says glibly).
Mon, 5 Jan 2009
Major definite purpose today is to get some more of the pain killers that work. Went in to Lichfield to the doctors and was told that they could not repeat prescription this item and that I would have to see a doctor and they could book me in for Tuesday. When I explained the situation and that I really did not think I could go a whole night without the tablets the receptionist arranged for the duty doctor to give me a call sometime during the afternoon.
Did a little shopping and back to Almyne to rest again.
Tue, 6 Jan 2009
Slept right through till eight and then I got woken up by my legs again. I think that I am getting the dose right and the timing of all my pills right, and I think whatever it is, is going.
Sunny day, so I could not put off repairing the wheels and completed that task.
Collected the two remaining bags of coal from the Morris and took her for a run.
The forecast says it might drop well below freezing in some places, so topped up the Morris with the last remaining anti-freeze.
Although there was not a lot of rubbish to get rid of, I walked it up to the facilities at Fradley junction , leaving the engine on Almyne to run while I did that.
Rosie, in the meantime was making great progress with the new multi-fuel stove that we purchased for Dinky Doo. I must restrain myself and finish the current tasks on Dinky Doo before I fit the stove.
Fasting blood test tomorrow so took my medication just before midnight and went to bed hoping for a good nights sleep.
Wed, 7 Jan 2009
Fasting blood test today. Trouble is during the night I woke up, or should I say came to, and took a couple of Ibuprofen and read my book for a while. Then without thinking I opened the tin of quality street and ate a couple before I remembered that I was fasting. Spit.
Early appointment as most people like a cup of tea (or coffee) early in the morning and with a fasting blood test that is a no no.
Arrived at the doctors and went in to see the nurse. Explained what I had done and she said that there was no point in doing the blood test and to re-book. Went to the receptionist to re-book and the earliest she could book me in for was a week today.
I asked her if there was an earlier day on which I could have the blood test and she explained that people like to have an early (in the morning) appointment so as to rush off and have their first drink of the day.
It took a few moments to get us both on the same wavelength by telling her that I did not care if I had a midday appointment but I would like the blood test done as soon as possible, even if the fast was much longer than normal. She booked me in for Friday.
Thu, 8 Jan 2009
Took another load of washing to the launderette, including the stuff I forgot last time.
Fri, 9 Jan 2009
I don't spoil my dog
Today's the day. Up around nine to get ready to go to the doctors for the blood test that I messed up on earlier on in the week. Got there with half an hour to spare, which was fortunate as the doctors car park was chocker and I had to drive around a bit to find somewhere to park and then walk back to the doctors.
The nurse was friendly enough but had a bit of trouble finding a vein and made several attempts before she hit one properly, took five samples and off I went to book in to get the results.
Now I have an appointment for next Thursday to see what, if anything, that the blood tests have picked up.
Took D'fer
for a walk, the best he has had in a while, and ended up at Matt
and Ellie 's boat. Borrowed their twenty five litre jerry can and a funnel and when we got back to Almyne I drove up to 'Halso's' a fuel and oil distributor. Got twenty litres of Diesel to put in the tank. Although I had dipped it a few days ago and there was three and a half inches of fuel in it I was still getting worried about running out. Another job well jobbed, now we can run the engine to top up the batteries with impunity.
It is a year now since Geri
's demise and while I was doing the washing up my wedding ring fell off my finger into the washing up bowl. Call me silly, superstitious or what you will, but it exactly one year, to the minute, since she died, my wedding ring fell off. Perhaps she is telling me my period of grief is now over. I am not sure how I feel about it. I still think of her every day and I still ask her why? The sadness is diminishing and being replaced with acceptance, what has happened has happened and there is nothing that I can do to change it.
Sat, 10 Jan 2009
Dull and overcast again, stayed in most of the day reading and eating and stoking the fire.
Sun, 11 Jan 2009
Another day of rest, we seem to be having a lot of those recently.
During the afternoon Kevin turned up with the tow bar that he had fabricated for Dinky Doo. It looks just the business and all I have to do now is fix it to the back of Almyne, just three bolts and it is all done.
He stayed till quite late chatting about life on the cut and how he ended up living on a narrow boat. His previous existence prior to the narrow boat was as a traveller, but more in the sense of living close to nature than the popular image of 'new age travellers'.
He has many wonderful tales of life on the cut and how to survive on next to nothing - I admire him for his complete independence.
Mon, 12 Jan 2009
Off to Wednesfield so that Rosie can have a check up at the Diabetes clinic. Went well and I managed to pick up one or two little tips about what to look for and how to deal with what is happening.
It seems that Rosie has improved over the past six months, so the clinician was pleased, although Rosie tells me that she has lost about half a stone during that time.
We both weighed ourselves while we were there but the scales are calibrated in Kilos and neither of us understand that so had to convert.
I am down to nine and a half stone, at which weight I am very happy.
Did some basic shopping and returned to Almyne. It was cold, the fire had not been on all day and the temperature was down to 54. Took the first half hour to get the temperature up to 56 and another fifteen minutes to get it up to 59. Half an hour later it was up to a comfortable 77.
Rosie cooked a casserole on the fire which was absolutely delicious.
Game of cards and off to bed.
Tue, 13 Jan 2009
Slept like a baby right through till half eight. I usually take my tablets anytime between six and half seven when I wake up but because I was late waking the pain was back, so two tablets and a quick walk with D'fer
(a walk does seem to help surprisingly) and back to Almyne for a cup of tea. Met Ellie on the way, she was walking Jack . We chatted for a while and she said that she would pop in for a cup of tea on her way back.
When she arrived I was busy updating the web site and while she was here we looked at dog harnesses, back packs and carts on the internet. There is a surprising amount of stuff available, but most of it from the US of A.
Spent nearly all day updating the site and then trying to get it uploaded, the signal here is a right pain, will need to move on soon as I will have a load more emails to send out before long.
Wed, 14 Jan 2009
Off to Wednesfield for Rosie to apply for housing. She filled in lots of forms, as per usual with this sort of thing, and was told that because of her diabetes she gets priority and can expect somewhere to live within thirty days. Quite exciting really.
For the afternoon we both went to the opticians for out annual checkup.
Rosie needs spectacles (as we both know) for reading and will be getting that sorted out in the next week or so. My eyes, unusually, have not changed since my last prescription, so this is a good time to get a spare pair of spectacles.
Back to Almyne for an evening meal, a game of cards and a well earned rest.
Thu, 15 Jan 2009
Doctors appointment at nine. Arrived in time and was ushered in to see him. All the blood tests show that I am a healthy, fit, vibrant young(ish) old man. With the pain under control all I have to do now is reduce the dosage of the pain killers till it all goes.
Back at Almyne did some tidying up and a little work on the web site before setting off to Wednesfield for Rosie's appointment.
Once she was sorted out we did some shopping in preparation for the trip down to see mum
tomorrow, picnic type stuff to eat in the car while travelling or during rest periods.
Back at Almyne Rosie cooked couscous with onions, mushrooms and diced chicken and stuffed big red peppers with it, accompanied by meatballs in a tomato sauce that she concocted. A meal fit for a king.
A couple of games of cards and we then set about doing the dishes and preparing tomorrows picnic for the journey before settling down to sleep.
Fri, 16 Jan 2009
Finishing the stew
Finishing the stew
Friday, off to see mum
for the weekend.
Up just after nine, packed all the food, (it's going to be a long journey in the Morris) and set off before lunch.
Did the Alrewas, Tamworth , Nuneaton bit without mishap and then we were heading for Coventry . It was meant to be plain sailing, A444 into Coventry and the A423 out of Coventry and on to Banbury .
Have you ever driven to Coventry? Once you get to the inner ring road you go round and round and round in circles looking for the road that you want but they have cunningly decided to only signpost the most local destinations from the inner ring road and ignore the major destinations.
So that is what we did, we went round and round and round until we eventually just picked on a road that felt as if it might be heading south and took it.
After a mile or so Rosie spotted a destination and found it on the map and then skilfully directed me through a maze of roads until we were on the road to Banbury. (Many thanks to Rosie).
Halfway to Banbury there is a place called Southam and this is where the fun really started. Approaching Southam the Morris died. I managed to coast along the main road till I found a side turning which I pulled in to. Sat there for a minute or so and tried to start the Morris. No go. Up with the bonnet and checked the obvious. The petrol pump is there and working. The spark plugs are still there. There is water in the radiator and there is oil in the sump. Maybe not as much as there should be so topped that up.
Tried starting again and yes, it started, only to die again. Never say die, tried again. This time it seemed to be working so drove a little way up the road to turn round and it died again.
Now, although I was not on a main road I was still in a less than safe place so pushed the Morris back a few yards to a private driveway. The Ponderosa Stud! Walked through to the stables and found someone and explained that I was stuck in their driveway and wanted to call the AA but needed a post code. They supplied one and I called the AA.
Fair dues, they only took about fourty five minutes to arrive and when the AA man looked under the bonnet he noticed that the HT lead had become disconnected from the HT coil. This could explain it. Replaced that and tried to start the Morris. Well it kind of started. Tried again and it roared into life.
Plan A, can you follow me for a couple of miles just to make sure it is OK. Of course he said.
Got in, depressed the clutch and the engine died. Tried starting it again, no go.
Up with the bonnet again. He then checked things out, cleaned the points (and re-set them) and did some more fiddling. This time it started and kept running.
Plan A I said, OK he replied.
Off we went and after a couple of miles I put up my thumb and he went his own way.
Shortly after this the Morris started to make complaining noises, a bit like the fan belt but not quite. Carried on.
Got to Banbury and the Morris died again - at a set of traffic lights. When they changed to green the woman behind started beeping and waving, but there was nothing I could do.
Got it going enough to pull over into a side road again. Up with the bonnet, checked everything again and tried starting up. Ok, look good, sounds - well not too bad, so off we went again.
The fan belt type noise gradually got more and more, but by tiny stages, almost unnoticeably but nonetheless noticeable after an hour or so.
Just after Oxford the ignition light came on. Stopped and checked the dynamo leads, sure enough one had come off. This has happened before so I was not caught out by this one. Set off again. The same thing happened a few more times before we got to Burbage , but I could cope with that.
By the way, the reason it kept coming off was because the terminal that the lead connects to was a little corroded and not as 'whole' as it should be.
Did everything we needed to at Burbage and set off for mums. By this time the fan belt type noise was getting bad, I mean bad. Through Pewsey and on to Honeystreet , where I pointed out to Rosie that Honeystreet is the Crop Circle Capital of the world.
Past All Cannings and the fan belt screamed, possibly because it was hot, we both smelt the burning rubber. I knew I had to stop and also knew that there was a sort of farm track just ahead. Swerved across the road to get to the track as it seemed silly to be stuck on an unlit road in the middle of the countryside late at night.
Missed the track and ended up half in the ditch beside the track with the last two feet of the Morris still hanging in the road.
This time there was no dispute, ring the AA. They responded with the promise to have a tow truck out within the hour.
Rosie takes over
Ok folks, Chris has just passed over to me!!! Yes, he'd just told me that this place was famous for crop circles and of course there is a strong connection between crop circles and UFO's!!!!!!! (Noonoo noonoo!) It was pitch black by this time and my imagination was starting to run riot.
After about ten minutes I could see A red light flashing ahead of me and jokingly turned to Chris and said, "Oh look, the aliens are coming!" Chris recognised that it was a helicopter but my eyesight is too bad to see that far away. The one time I need my glasses and they are tucked away safely on Almyne with my spare teeth.
All of a sudden we could hear a loud rumble behind us and low and behold, there was another helicopter trying to creep up behind us. The first helicopter was still ahead of us but had crept behind a tree at the far end of the field. The one coming up from behind us was suddenly right beside us. The noise was deafening! It just hovered right beside us. It was sooo close that we could almost see the pilot and it looked as though the rotor blades were going to start pruning the tree right next to the car!!!
Now this is the only time I have wished that I didn't have such a vivid imagination because yet another helicopter came up behind us. The one was still hovering beside us. By now I was getting rather scared and was glad I had a change of underclothes in the boot! I asked Chris if he was sure they were British and not an invasion from Iraq or Mars. He was thoroughly enjoying it as yet another helicopter came up behind us but I was really starting to get scared. We considered the fact that they might have seen us stranded and wondered what we were up to as in "Hey Fred, there's a car parked in the ditch here, wonder what they're up to? Bet they're having nooky. Let's take a closer look."
Amazing how long an hour can feel. All I wanted now was the safe flashing lights of the breakdown truck, a bottle of Valium and a gallon of whisky (or anything alcoholic)
Chris had taken a pic of the closest helicopter and I was thinking "Oh my lawd, any minute now and we'll see a load of guys dashing towards us to confiscate the camera and lock us up! Or a load of men in silver shiny suits and green faces coming to see what the flashes were!"
Ok, back to Chris cos I've got goosebumps just remembering the night. All I needed now was for the recovery truck to tow us away, the boot flying open and all my clothes being strewed over the road cos NO WAY would I hang around to pick them up!
Back to Chris
You must have seen Close Encounters of the Third kind. Well, the trees do shake and vibrate, the road signs do wobble back and forwards, threatening to come off their posts, the wind does blow everything around so that you think you are in a tornado, and you do think that the aliens are coming!
As the most recent helicopter gently brushed the top of the Morris with it's landing gear it just took off and raced towards where the first one had been and disappeared over the hill.
Wow, I thought, that was an experience. Twenty minutes later the rescue truck appeared, pulled over and looked at where I was, half in and half out of the ditch. He scratched his head and asked what the problem was. I explained and he asked if I might be able to drive the Morris back on to the road. Seemed a reasonable request and thought that the fan belt would probably last that long, so he drove off to the next turning, turned around and came back, lining his vehicle up so that it protected me while I reversed on to the road again. With the Morris on the road behind the rescue truck we were stood in the road assessing the next step when those helicopters decided to buzz us again. The rescue guy ducked and nearly ran for cover and said, "What the hell was that".
"Oh, just a couple of helicopters", I said, "they have been hovering around us all the time we have been waiting".
With that he winched the Morris on the back of the rescue vehicle in double quick time and was moving along the road before he asked where we wanted to go.
I know that his was a new vehicle and the Morris is not fast at the best of times, but I have never done the journey from All Cannings to Trowbridge as quickly.
Once at mums we offloaded the Morris and had a cup of tea while we related the adventures of the journey, closely followed by a mum special of meat and thirteen vegetables and a glass of home made wine that Peter
brews, and excellent stuff it is I might add.
In fact we sampled several wines during the course of the evening and it was impossible to decide which was the best, although we did all end up with a glass of his cherry brandy before collapsing in to bed.
Sat, 17 Jan 2009
Up early but still not as early as Peter
. He had the dynamo off and found that the bearing was locked up solid. Could not repair it so we set of to the local car accessory places to see if we could locate one. The first place did not have one but suggested another some miles away, so off we went there. Hooray, they had one and it was not desperately expensive either.
Returned home and Peter fitted it while I looked on, getting more and more anxious as I did not want to be late for my appointment.
Needless to say it was fixed in time and everything went smoothly from then on.
Sun, 18 Jan 2009
After an eventful journey down we must now attempt the journey back. Breakfast around half nine and Blynda
turned up so we stayed for a chat. Set off before eleven and everything went well. Arrived At Glynn and Trudi's by one and loaded up the Morris with all sorts of goodies, including a load of white crockery for Rosie to paint roses on.
As we were setting off I noticed that the rear nearside tyre was a little flat so looked for a garage to fill it. Found one and discovered that the air hose was jammed in the machine and would only come out about six feet so got in the Morris to move it closer, would it start, would it heck. Every time I pulled on the starter it was just dead, nothing, zilch, gone way.
Up with the bonnet and out with the spanners. Took a spanner and 'jumped' it across the starter switch, nothing. Checked the cables and tightened one on the starter up a tad. Nothing. Fiddled and swore and thought about calling the AA again. Got in and pulled the starter, Hooray, it started. I have no idea what it was but it kind of gave me a scare again.
Filled the tyres and off we went. The rest of the journey was comparatively uneventful apart from getting lost around Birmingham, but what do you expect when I am driving. I usually know when I am lost because I have been lost there before.
Back at Almyne by seven and then unloaded the Morris, after lighting the fire and warming up a bit.
Mon, 19 Jan 2009
Slept late today after an exhausting weekend, but still got up in time to go to Cannock to sort out more stuff that is clogging up the works. All went well there and we were back at Almyne in time for an early dinner and an early night.
Tue, 20 Jan 2009
3 locks 8 miles
We're Off! Early start, left Fradley for Streethay just before nine. By twenty past ten we had reached Streethay, winded and filled up with diesel. Returned to Fradley, picked up Dinky Doo, topped up with water, got rid of the rubbish and emptied the porta pottie. (My sister tells me that she is not particularly interested in when we filled up with water and empty the porta pottie but I am going to continue to report it as it is part of the daily routine of life aboard.)
Having done all that we set off towards Kings Bromley Wharf, our target for today.
Arrived there just after three, Rosie having put the chicken on the stove around eleven.
After so long being in the same place I found it quite tiring navigating Almyne and working the locks. Rosie took Almyne into and out of each lock, so that made life much easier.
D'fer
was in his element again barking during the passage of every lock and running up and down the tow path at every opportunity. I think he is glad to be travelling and seeing new things again.Wed, 21 Jan 2009
Cleaned Stove
400 yards
Up before eight. Breakfast a wash and off to get the Morris. It was only a walk of about two and a half miles, but I have done so little walking for the past month or so that I was soon more tired that I would have expected. By the time I got to the Morris I was ready to drop but after a few minutes I was ready to go again.
Drove into Alrewas and picked up the A513 towards Kings Bromley and promptly got lost again. Eventually found my way to Handsacre where I popped in to the local shops and purchased a jar of coffee, Rosie was almost out.
Looking at the Nicholson's Guide to the canals I managed to pinpoint my current location and the route back to Almyne. When I got there Rosie was out and about preparing the new stove ready for painting before fitting to Dinky Doo.
Moved Almyne just the few hundred yards that we needed to be near the Morris and spent the rest of the day pottering around doing dome of those little jobs that only take ten minutes but never seem to happen.
All in all quite a productive day.
Thu, 22 Jan 2009
Rosie has to go to Cannock today to see about finance so we set off just after nine. Five past and the Morris died on me. Pull over, up with the bonnet and fiddle with wires and leads and pipes and things. Tried to start, burst in to life and then died.
The more I fiddled the more I became convinced that the (almost) new petrol pump (it was brand new three years ago), was playing up. Off with the waterproof tape over the lid, off with the lid and cleaned the points on the petrol pump.
Brooom, brooom. Arrived ten minutes late for her meeting but that was acceptable as Rosie had rung in and explained the problems while I was fixing the Morris.
From there to Wednesfield to sort out a bank account, stopping off for breakfast at a cafe we have become enamoured with, and then calling in to see Julie . We caught up on loads of
Stopped off in Rugeley on the way back to Almyne to get something to eat for the one evening as we are not expecting to be around for nearly a week.
Fri, 23 Jan 2009
Life gets complicated, don't it?
I have commitments at various places and Rosie has commitments at various other places.
Yesterday we were in Wednesfield , today we were off to Rugby where we met up with James (first met him at Alrewas) trying to sort out housing for Rosie, which took most of the day.
After the meeting with the housing people we had a late lunch with James, wandered around Rugby for a while and then returned to Almyne. At the meeting Rosie was told that the 'committee' meet on Mondays to discuss cases so we made our plans for the next week as she would be unlikely to hear anything till the end of the coming week.
We had planned to drive down to Chepstow on the Saturday to see Danu, on to see Ken and Jen on Sunday, off to Trowbridge on Monday, Worthing on Tuesday, Burbage on Wednesday, Devizes on Thursday and on to Shareshill on Friday for a funeral. A busier week than usual but we have not really done anything exciting since last weekend!
Shortly after getting back Rosie had a call from the housing people asking her to attend a meeting on Wednesday.
For them to act this quickly there must be something in the wind and it would be crassly silly to waste an opportunity like this.
So, bang goes Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Rosie goes to the meeting on Wednesday and depending on the result we will be going from there to Worthing, on to Devizes on Thursday and trying to make it back to Shareshill on Friday for the funeral.
Watch this space for developments.
Ok guys, it's over to me again!!! James just rang to see how I was feeling and I said, "Can I go 50 50 or phone a friend?" He reminded me I was talking to a FRIEND so how did I feel. Daft question as I DON'T know. I feel totally SICK (but excited as well!!!) When I woke up this morning I didn't expect things to move sooooo quickly. Yes, it's a long way from where I was before but it means the chance to make new friends.
I have decided (for once in my life) what I would REALLY like to do and that is to learn sign writing and to paint roses on narrow boats. This might be the chance I am looking for!
Yes, I'm scared but I have sooooo many good, loyal and helpful friends around me that I now know that I can at long last become the person I want to be.
Sat, 24 Jan 2009
Back to back
Up early, lit the fire, breakfast a bit of tidying up, unusual for me as Rosie usually does all the boat work, but she has had a tying time of late, what with me being ill (my legs) and all the other stuff that is going on in her life, so it is only right I give her some time off now and again.
Took loads of stuff off Dinky Doo, turned her around and backed her up against Almyne. Arranged like this I can work on the back of Almyne from the back of Dinky Doo. I had been dreading standing in the water with an electric drill in my hand putting holes in the button support to take the tow hitch to tow Dinky Doo. Now I don't have to. It was comparatively easy to mark the button support and drill three holes in both the towing hook and the button support. Now all I need to do is find some bolts to bolt them both together. There is nowhere in Lichfield that sells this sort of thing so we may have to wait till we get to Tamworth again.
Did a little more to the inside of Dinky Doo and decided what I need to purchase to complete the shelving portion of the work table. Rosie sent me shopping, big mistake. Although I did come back with enough for dinner I also purchased a maul for splitting logs. I have been splitting logs with a hatchet and a lump hammer - hard work. With the maul it was really easy. It gives me the incentive to get the chain saw out and cut up some more logs, because they will be so much easier to split.
Faggots, mash, brussels and broccoli for dinner, washed down with a glass of wine or two followed by a couple of games of Skip-Bo and an hour or so putting the world to rights. We are sure that we could make a much better job of running the country and getting the economy right than the current incumbents.
Sun, 25 Jan 2009
Up just before eight, lit the fire with some of the logs I chopped yesterday and put breakfast on. It seemed to be taking a long time and on closer inspection I noticed that the gas was very low. Time to change the bottle.
Did a little bit of tidying up and then - wonder of wonders, washed my hair! It felt really good afterwards.
Spent the next few hours revamping the web site. Now you can select 2008 or 2009 and when selecting 2008 it will take you to the start of the journey. One or two other little technical bits to make it run a little more smoothly and placed some of the pictures that I have missed out previously, so go back to the beginning of the year to see them.
Mon, 26 Jan 2009
Not a lot, all the plans for the week have been shot to ribbons due to the meeting that Rosie has on Wednesday, and what a meeting, it could be the best thing that has happened for her for a long time.
Tue, 27 Jan 2009
Not a lot again.
Wed, 28 Jan 2009
Early Lambs
Rosie has an appointment in Rugby today and I need to be in Burbage tomorrow.
Rosie packed some sandwiches and we bundled into the Morris just after ten for the run down to Rugby. Got there with loads of time to spare, which was good as Rosie wanted to have a look around.
Rosie finished her meeting by half four and we set off for Burbage via Worthing.
It was a long journey, but went without mishap, unless you call not arriving at Burbage till well gone midnight.
When we got there we put a load of washing in the machine and stayed up chatting to David, my nephew, who is stopping for a few days - till late.
Thu, 29 Jan 2009
Clambered in to bed sometime after dawn and was lucky to get up in time for my meeting at midday. Still, I got there in time and got that all sorted out.
Left David
at my sisters and returned at Burbage to get ready for the return trip to Kings Bromley wharf.
Packed all the clean washing and set off. Made it back in one piece with no mishaps, apart from getting lost around Coventry again. I swear that they want to keep you captive if you get there.
Fri, 30 Jan 2009
Didn't make the funeral, all the travelling had taken all the energy out of us. However, we did decide that with David
meeting us on Sunday we could take Almyne down to Tamworth far a cruise before Rosie absconds to Rugby for a while.
Spent the day shopping for provisions for the trip.
Sat, 31 Jan 2009
7½ miles 3 locks
Set off about midday - it was cold, and I mean cold. Rosie stayed inside all day keeping the fire going and handing me hot cups of tea every twenty minutes or so just to make sure that my fingers remained flexible. Working the locks was almost a blessing as I got some activity which helped to warm me up.
Standing on the back of Almyne leaning on a piece of wood is fun and absolutely idyllic in the good weather, but when it is cold it can be bitter. Standing still with the breeze (wind) gently caressing your clothing and sucking all the warmth out of you is, by virtue of the situation, inevitable. You cannot walk around or slap your arms (you do have to keep hold of the tiller) and wearing gloves doesn't seem to work for me, well not he gloves I have. Perhaps I should go to a good hiking or camping shop and get a really good pair of insulated waterproof gloves.
Stopped off at Fradley briefly to top up with water, empty the porta pottie(s) and get rid of the rubbish and then carried on till dusk, eventually mooring up at the BW workshops about two miles south of Fradley.
It took me about half an hour to get warm enough to sit down and start to relax.
Dinner was most welcome, after which we had a couple of games of Skip-Bo, a couple of glasses of wine and an early night.
© Chris Giles 2021
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