Busy few weeks, Grumbling guests and 'the heat wave'.

 What a rough few weeks it's been.  Since our little diversion up the Caldon, we got 'Ellis' back to where we needed to be to pick up the next cuntstomers.  

It was supposed to be a trip from Middlewich to Anderton... DOWN the boat lift and then ending in Northwich Quays... a simple 3 night trip with a time to visit Lion Salt Works and the final afternoon free to explore Northwich.

Of course, despite assuming the boat lift would have re-opened at the time of planning (2 years previously), it wasn't - ergo, we had to do 'something' - whilst still ending in Northwich to pick up the next guests.. (albeit not the marina as planned but the Broken Cross).

The best option seemed to be pick up the punters as planned in Middlewich, chug down the locks and towards Anderton.  The guests hadn't arrived by the planned 1.30 start but HAD Made it to Kings lock pub... I went to find them and direct them to where we were moored. Luckily just up Wardle lock and after the 1st bridge.  

It all seemed fine when they arrived and after the usual blah blah and glass of bubbly, we chugged off down the locks.  American couple, friendly, engaging all happy to be on a boat.  The next day (after a quiet evening at Brambles Cutting) we chugged on to Lion Salt works for a lunchtime visit.  Our guests didn't seem too enthralled by the museum and only spent an hour in there.    Hey ho.  Anyway, we then went on to Anderton before the boat lift visitor centre closed so they could at least have a quick look around there too.   The original plan would have been to moor in Anderton, go down the lift first thing, chug up the Weaver and be tied up by lunchtime.

Obviously, as this wasn't going to happened, there didn't seem much point hanging around Anderton so we had a late finish instead and went on through the tunnels towards Dutton.  Weather wise it was miserable and the rain pretty much didn't stop.  We made the best of it and thought the tunnels would have been appreciated as a bonus.

During dinner (which was one of my best if I DO say so myself) the guests expressed their desire to take us OUT for dinner the next night to show their appreciation.   Sometimes we decline such offers so as not to waste food already allocated...  on this occasion, we accepted and we agreed to go to the Broken Cross Pub (which was the now planned final destination) and next morning we chugged on to the winding hole, back through the tunnels and re-traced our chugs.  Everything seemed ok... the weather had improved and we stopped for lunch about 12. During lunch, I explained we'd have to go past the Broken Cross pub to the winding hole and return so as to be pointing the right way to go for services once they'd left the following day... HE seemed a bit anxious to double check we would still be ending at the Pub - presumably to arrange their transport for the following day and I reassured him we would.

Anyway - we arrived outside the pub (well ish) about 1.45.  Having moored up, I nipped off to eh Coop down the road to get some fresh bread rolls for the next mornings sausage sarnies.  Once back aboard I noticed the fella had gone a bit quiet and they were sitting in separate parts of the boat.  This isn't unusual - couples OFTEN have squabbles so I put it down to that and went out the back to lay in the sun and read.

The bosun did the same and periodically we nipped inside to offer drinks.  The atmosphere was decidedly frosty but we kept out of the way.  Anyways, around 5.30 after a couple of bottles of wine, things had improved and we all went off to the pub.  The food was ok - nothing special but everything seemed friendly by the end of the meal and on return to the boat, we shared another couple of bottles before retiring.

It came as quite a shock on departure when, having carried their bags off the boat, hugged the woman and went to shake the fellas hand, he got agitated and (I'll have to paraphrase 'cause I can't remember the exact wording) said "I'm really not happy with you because you stopped working yesterday afternoon far too early and on short trips we would expect more time chugging".

I have to admit I was totally taken aback and annoyed on several levels...  I apologised and explained there wasn't anywhere else we COULD have chugged without having to go a long way passed the planned ending point  and also pointed out we HAD chugged a lot longer the previous day towards Dutton through the tunnels which we wouldn't have done, had the boat lift been open.  

This didn't seem to placate him and we parted company on sour terms.

I ruminated for an hour or so whilst stripping the bedding and beginning the laundry etc but couldn't get it out of my head.  I'm really not easily offended but his passive aggressive strike on departure had really gotten under my skin.

Anyways - I emailed him to further explain ... without being overly apologetic but for me, actually quite diplomatic.  The content basically being I was sorry that he hadn't brought it up AT THE TIME when I could have actually DONE something about it... we COULD have chugged on for a few more hours and come back... and more to the point, if he'd asked at the time, we WOULD have.

Naively, I thought there might be a reply thanking me or at least acknowledging our miscommunication .  SILENCE.  Hey ho.  it's done now and I doubt they'll be back.  It STILL left a sour taste and I can honestly say they were the first American guests who weren't happy with our offering.

                                                                             *

Moving on - The next couple of days were spent loitering near Anderton - walking down to  Northwich and back to restock the boat a few times... usually in the rain.  It's a nice walk down by the river through the woods on the way THERE but the return journey with full back packs and carrying a couple of carriers each, it gets a bit tiring. Still, we made the best of it despite grumbling that when the trip was planned, we would have been moored on the riverside NEAR Asda rather than1.6 miles asway.

Our next visitors - ALSO from America couldn't BE any nicer.  This was their 3rd return trip and once again, even though disappointed not to be going up the boat lift, we made the best of things by going towards Dutton again before setting off to Nantwich on the planned trip.

Weather wise, things were generally improved with only a little bit of drizzle.  As we got a bit ahead of schedule with them, we decided to detour towards Bunbury and chug up to Beeston Castle... this was fun as we palled up with a hire boat and shared the staircase with them - really good company.

ON the return leg, we went a bit too far so ended up over-nighting on the Cheese shop moorings where we had a lovely sunset.

Our trip with (the nice) Americans ended in Nantwich as planned after lunch and the Bosun cooked a Bulgarian special of his for our final dinner.

Another few days were spent around Nantwich restocking the boat etc. before our next guests (Aussies this time) joined us for yet ANOTHER revised trip... Nantwich to Chester and back.  We HAD originally planned to go to Llangollen with them but due to the breach, that was no longer an option.  Instead,  Chester and back seemed a good plan and HEAT wave a side, it was.  

For the Aussies, the heat was normal... for us, well me in particular, it's been awful.  Maybe it's a ginger thing I don't know but I've been liquifying pretty much 24 hours a day for the duration.   Even finding shade to moor under was difficult due to the blooming shelf on the shroppie.  One night it got up t 34 degrees inside!

On return from Chester, we decided to take them up to Wrenbury and back so as to have least been on SOME of the Llangollen Canal.  Nice enough journey but WAY too hot a day to be working the locks... and once up them, the horseflies were horrendous.  I've been eaten alive.  Truly the worst they've ever been.  I don't know if it's due to the new medication (statins/blood pressure/thinners) but my body's reaction TO the bites has also been much worse than usual.  Luckily for everyone else, they only seem to seek ME out!

In fact, as I type this, I'm sitting covered in cream, doped up on Piriton trying NOT to scratch...it's a killer.

Thankfully, the heat has calmed down for a few days but the weather forecasters are warning of more heat to come .  At least this time we'll be on our own so won't HAVE to move from under a tree OR cook meals... that's a killer having to put the oven on in an already baking boat.  For now, we've moved on to Middlewich for a few days to meet friends and play pool (badly) before a trip back to Northwich for more shopping.  Only 2 more sets of guests to go this year and nearly 4 weeks on our own until the 1st trip.  I hope the water holds out  (as in canal) cause we plan on going from Nantwich to Stone up Heartbreak Hill rather than the boring way.

Until next time...

A Segway up the Caldon Canal

 It's funny how hard it is to 'do' nothing... I'm really bad at it.  I've got one of those brains that can't go to sleep unless I've a list in my head of things to do when I wake up.  Actually, lately that's not strictly been the case - tbh, I'm still feeling very fatigued following on from the incident.  Having done a bit of googling, I've discovered this is totally normal as the brain recovers.  

I wish it would hurry up.  I've ALWAYS liked a little 'nana-nap' of an afternoon but at the moment, I'm managing LOADS of em.  Oh well - luckily we're quiet this year so it doesn't really matter.

Having spent a couple of days moored in Stone, on Sunday morning (after a quick visit to Morrisons so the Bosun could experiment with some sea-food for breakfast)

, we chugged off up through Stone and Meaford Lock-flights and went on as far as Barlaston... or rather Wedgewood.    I WAS expecting to lose the bosun to the bathroom ... the last time I tried the things, I spent an hour on the floor trying to vomit up a kidney.

He got away with it!

The weather was glorious  - most unusual for a bank holiday weekend and my ginger lallies are finally getting their summer colour... well by colour, I'm meaning that the freckles are joining together nicely. Monday morning was another lovely day and enjoying my morning coffee, (already in the shade of a parasol) it was nice to see the cows coming into the canal for a drink... they ARE stupid creatures though - drinking from one end and emptying from the other at the same time.

I think we chugged off around 8.30 and soon worked our way up to Stoke - on arrival at Etruria Industrial museum, a brief bit of excitement as smoke was coming from the chimney... it's rarely open so we were excited at the possibility of having a nose around... SADLY... they were prepping it for the following weekend Steam rally/historic boaty thing.  

Tail between our legs, we ummed and arred a bit as to what to do.  Should we continue our plan to get to Middlewich (slowly) or take a diversion up the Caldon Canal?  We turned round, moored up and had lunch whilst thinking about it.    

It really was one of those  yes / no decisions that kept changing with every mouthful.

The outcome (after many changes of minds) was stuff it, lets go.  It was only about 2pm anyway so rather than sit in sweltering sun, we may as well create a little breeze and move the boat.  

Dob's not overly familiar with Staircase locks yet (only done a few) but I sent him up to work it out for himself .  The instructions (which I've never looked at before) are ONLY for going one way ... only CRT could get that wrong. 2 boards, with the same wording.

They should say "whether you are going up hill or down hill, the top lock needs to be full and the bottom lock needs to be empty" .

Oh well... we made our way up and enjoyed the chug through Hanley park in the sun - it's a lovely looking park - especially given where it is.  It's a bit of a shame it doesn't feel safe of an evening to moor overnight.  I suppose that could be a load of rubbish but I for one, are happy enough to continue on to after Ivy lift bridge before stopping overnight.  THAT said, I'll happily moor up for an hour or so to nip into the new Lidl store.

In our case, we went nearly as far as Engine Lock to moor up in the shade for the the remainder of the day.

and even then it took MANY hours for the boat to cool down enough for comfortable sleep.

Thinking about it, this was the first trip up the Caldon in nice weather... every other attempt has usually been wet and miserable.  It REALLY is a pleasant canal in the sunshine.  

We'd wanted to go down to Froghall (or is it Frogall?) but as per usual, CRT had issued a strange notice about locks being closed between 10am and 2pm Mon to Wed but then changed it to Thursday... knowing our luck, we'd get stuck down there when something broke and the season would be shafted.  SO,  expecting  CRT to bugger things up as usual using our experience from previous stoppages, we took the safer course of action and went up to Leek instead.

STILL very hot, we moored in the shade again and I took a couple of  (my now many) afternoon naps .

When I'd woken up, the sun had found it's way back to the boat so we moved along again lol.

I forget which day it was, but by the time we'd finished with the Caldon for this year, we headed back to Etruria.  Dob had a couple of errands to run and I nipped to Morrisons for a camembert to bake for supper... check me out... calling tea, 'supper' .  I must try and stick to my roots!

Chores complete, we went onto Westport Lake and moored for the night.  I didn't bother to make a booking  for Harecastle tunnel for the next day - it's all a bit of an un-necessary faff these days... easier just to turn up at the end of an allotted passage window and if they can tag you on, they do... if not, you just wait an hour until the 'open passage' window which runs from 10 until 2 (I think) .  As it happened, we got there about 9.15 and the last boat of the 'booked convoy' was just going in so the chap waved us in at the back.  

Not the nicest place to be with a couple of hot smelling boats up ahead and once the door closed and tunnel fans came on, my tunnel phobia returned - with extra imagination of being suffocated in a potential tunnel fire. 

Glad to be out, we began our descent of the Cheshire locks - more commonly know as 'Heartbreak Hill'.

We'd heard towpath rumours they were already short of water but we found them MUCH better than recent years. STILL knackered and leaky but plenty of water around to make up for it... for now at any rate.

The plan HAD been to take it easy and split them over 2 - possibly 3 days.  Problem was, with the weather being so nice again, we felt obliged to continue... so we did. getting stuck behind a couple of oldies making SLOW progress - the latter of which let us go ahead in one of the twin locks and we ended the day down in Middlewich about 8.30pm.  

In hindsight, that was too long a days boating for me atm and because of the uncertainty as to whether there'd be space below Kings Lock, we hedged our bets and moored in the first space we could - sadly, next to the noisy road.  

We presumed we'd be so tired we'd not notice the road overnight - we were wrong... the night went on forever and we were very relieved to move on the following morning.

Working our way down the Middlewich lock flight, we topped up with water after Anderson Boat yard and then came across 'Big Lock'... I still have no idea WHY it's a double lock on a narrow canal but more worrying was the broken balance beam.  Clearly rotten as hell and no doubt CRT will blame it on Vandalism - the reality being that a few blokes from the pub drinking beer simply sat on it during the sun and it snapped.  

This made us re-think our plan to nip to Anderton.  IF CRT slap a closure notice on it before we get back through, we'd have to re-route our ALREADY re-routed upcoming customers again.

We pretty much abandoned the Anderton plan, chugged to the winding hole and went straight back up the lock.  On to the Middlewich branch of the Shroppie to kill some time.

Luckily at the bottom of my mate Dave's back garden was available so we'll spend a couple of days here before chugging on to Calverley ... there's no rubbish disposal in Middlewich and we need bins so a 10 hour round trip coming up in a couple of days... meanwhile, time to begin my new book and have another afternoon snooze in the sunshine.

Until next time...

Back to normal and a busy week

 Well here we are then - It's bank holiday Sunday... I awake minus hangover (a rare occurrence on a Sunday morning I admit)...  This cutting down on drinking malarky is miserable and I hate it isn't so bad after all... or so they tell me!

After last weeks funny turn, I 'll be honest - I was feeling fragile and quite vulnerable... ergo, I wanted to be around people in a safe place.  With that requirement in mind AND a trip up to West then North Yorkshire ahead of me, going back to the marina seemed the best course of action.  OK, I was still sulking a bit about paying for something that was already paid for but sometimes the 'bigger picture' is the important thing.

Thing is - although a bit scared it might happen again, my logical brain was telling me I'm taking blood thinners and taking things easier than usual AND barely drinking anything pleasurable, so WHY would it?

That's all well and good in theory but having the protection of boats around - not to mention an easy address to give emergency services DID provide peace of mind.  

Resting up for a couple of days, I was amazed HOW tired I was... having 2-3 hour naps during the day and then a solid 12 hours over night.  NOT like me at all.  I'm also still VERY emotional - I 'm still crying at everything and anything. 

 Anyways feeling more like my normal self, I suggested the bosun might want to come 'up north' on Sunday for a bath night before the Doctors in Wakefield on Monday morning... THIS being an already planned test to keep an eye on my kidney function which hadn't been too good since starting on Statins.  We stayed at Tankersley manor near Barnsley - about 20 mins drive from Wakefield and as my appointment was 8.30 am, I suggested he stay at the hotel and I'd pick him up on my return home... hoping I didn't forget he was there as atm, my memory isn't great.  

Once at the docs, (30 mins early) it occurred to me that the gp WOULD need to see me following the discharge letter from the hospital so I joined the queue to see if I could get in whilst I was there... How Naïve of me!

No -  I'd missed my chance by 8.15 so would it would have to be a telephone call the following day.  Oh well.  

Bloods done and I was back at the hotel to pick up the Balkan - he was mid game so I put my feet up and had a coffee and waited patiently.

I quite like the Mercure hotel group - they usually give me the gold member upgrade without being asked so whilst tired, we HAD been given a suite for only 54 quid for the night.  Result.

Back at the boat, Dob decided to get creative with some plastic flowers kill me now which have certainly brightened up the the bow.

They HAVE since been added to since I took this snap - well I mean you can't have TOO much plastic tatt  too many flowers on a boat can you?

Tuesday was my 'all day telephone' gp appointment... a bit like waiting in for a sofa to be delivered but without the excitement of having your first snooze on the thing when it eventually arrives... probably at 1 minute to 5.  The difference here being that the call came at 6.15 pm and he wanted me to come in and see him at 11 tomorrow.  THAT sent my plans in to a bit of chaos, you see I WAS intending to drive up to North Yorkshire (Harrogate to be precise) on Wed afternoon to spend a couple of nights in an air-bnb I'd booked  on the basis that given my current frailty, driving up and back in one day for the funeral  of my best friends father on Thursday would be too much.  It kind of worked out ok as it just meant I had to leave earlier and detour via Wakefield.  To give him his due, he was 5 mis AHEAD of schedule so I was in and out by 11.05 WITH an additional blood pressure meds to add into the mix and a promise to keep a weeks diary before our next telephone appointment early July.  

Btw - the accommodation I booked via booking.com rather than air-bnb also turned out quite ok.  150 quid for 2 nights in the centre of Harrogate plus 14 quid a day for parking (which irked).

That bath was lovely... 

Thursday morning arrived and stage 1 of the day, involved a drive up to Leyburn by 10am to have a tooth repaired that  I broke a month or so ago on pork crackling.  I called in to see my dad and neice in the garage on route and even ended up back near the church half an hour early.  I've got to admit, I don't go to many funerals - the last one being my mums.  IT did appear that most of the oldies like to get in early - I thought being 30 mins early, I'd be able to sit at the back away from the action but oh no... the 'professionals' already had that covered... which meant I had to be way too close to the family... even though she's my closest friend, 'I didn't' want be snivelling behind her.  

Painful as it was to see her enduring such pain, it was over and done with as effecitently as possible...after which  there was that awkward hovering around a grave yard bit whilst the internment was done and then pleasantries ... or rather in my case, a few sarcastic words to a few people I didn't like from the old days... I worked with some really snooty waitresses (I was just the washer upper) and although I shouldn't bear grudges - I do.  It was nice to be able to say "oh hello... goodness me you've got wrinkly".  Cruel  I know but well deserved .

The bun fight was civilised and gave me chance to stand in the kitchen away from the hoard for a while before I admitted defeat - exhausted, I went back to  Harrogate for a late afternoon nap - toasting her father with a glass of wine in the bath later on.

Here we are now - back in Stone.  We left the marina Friday afternoon and came up to town.  no space where we'd have liked to have been, but a sturdy fence on the opposite side which we've slung mooring lines to and have full sun on the solar panels.  OK it IS too hot, but it did mean that yesterday, I didn't run the engine at all - using the immersion heater on batteries/solar to give enough water for 2 decent showers.  

I'll do a proper update on the changes I made to the panels /solar charger at some point, but it was nice to be getting 50+ amps from the solar when the immersion was on... meaning the batteries only had to throw in 8.5a each which won't do them any harm - they're on their 3rd year anyways so already have paid for themselves... 

Anyways - it's time to get a load of laundry on as we intend moving on today and there's a tap in the next pound to top up on.  Before then it's a long trek to the bins and wait for Morrisons to open so I can get some bread and coffee beans... the former being foolishly fed to the cygnets that visited first thing - meaning no breakfast for me.  Will I ever learn?

Until next time...

Bit of a do!

 Well it's been a funny old week.  Since my last missive I've spent a couple of days in hospital.    Let me fill you in - We'd moored up back in Stone so as to pick up the car ready for next weeks planned Doctors, Dentists and funeral visits to West and North Yorkshire.

Having checked all the places I could think I might have stored the black trousers/white shirt and shoes LAST worn for my mothers funeral (and not being able to find them), I presumed I must have chucked them out.  Bugger.  SO, rather than spend a load of money for 2 hours, Dob and I decided to have a hunt through the charity shops around Stone for aforementioned items - well, minus shoes... I draw the line at 2nd hand shoes.  

It didn't take long to find a crisp white shirt and 2 pairs of black trousers - neither fitted perfectly but as there was a week to go I thought I'd try and lose a few pounds to make the better of the pairs fit but if I didn't manage it I'd have the larger (polyester yuk) pair as a back up.

Purchases made, it was about 11.30 and  as we were both feeling peckish, we decided to pop into spoons to get an all day breakfast.  As we walked in the door and sat down I began to have a hot flush and feel dizzy - ordering a pint of coke and food, I went outside for a bit of fresh air.  By then I was feeling rather dizzy and my vision was blurring.

Dob (thinking I was taking a long while) came out to check if I as ok only to find me slouched on the steps in a bit of a bad way.  At this point I WAS still able to talk and with help walk so I requested he help me back to the boat via Ginger Boats (Canal cruising co) to be around people if things got any worse.  

They did.

It was like an out of body experience... I could hear what folks were saying but couldn't properly respond.  Very confused, shaky and tearful - for no apparent reason.  It really was scary.  Dom phoned a mate of his (a paramedic) who came straight over and took a look at me - asking questions about what I Was feeling etc.  He pointed out that he was unable to take me in the ambulance as no 999 call had been made but it would be a good idea to get me into A & E ASAP... Kim bundled me into the car and took us to Stafford A & E.  By the time we'd arrived there, I couldn't stand un aided and my ability to speak totally gone - also I couldn't swallow.  

Confusion now made things worse,  as Dob being Bulgarian wasn't aware we were in A & E and having checked me in using my driving license (and being told to sit and wait, was doing just that).. as my symptoms worsened.  He panicked a bit and phoned a mate who said to dial 999 - which he began to do WHILST in the waiting area.  It wasn't until a couple of the people waiting there insisted I was given help straight away, that I was taken through (still being held up and unable to speak) to be triaged.  By now I was hyperventilating. crying uncontrollably and shaking.  Partially aware of what was going on but unable to communicate.  Like an out of body experience so to speak.  

Anyway - within minutes I was ono a trolly being and being fast tracked.  They assumed I was having a stroke as the right side of my mouth was a bit droopy and I couldn't respond to questions.  Dob did his best to answer some - problems with translation then happened because when asked about alcohol consumption, he meant to say we drink every other day and probably share up to a bottle of gin sometimes this however came out that we drink a bottle of gin each, each day.  This side-tracked things a bit and I was still unable to speak to correct this...  it took about half an hour for my speech to return and explain I was NOT in alcohol withdrawal but by this time, the doctor was convinced.  That said, they wheeled me into majors, did an ECG, sent me for an x-ray and then CT scan on my head.  

At the same time, my blood pressure peaked at  235/170 which scared me even further.  By then they were trying to get a canula in but my veins weren't having any of it... when the doctor eventually did (3rd time lucky') they hooked me up to a drip, giving me blood thinners and then diazepam to try and calm me down.

It became apparent (it now being about 8pm) they were going to admit me onto the acute medical unit.  Feeling much calmer ( I rather liked the diazepam tbh) I insisted Dob get a cab back to the boat and I'd be in touch before switching my phone off later (to save battery) and then back on again in the morning at 7am) with an update.

I was wheeled onto a ward with 4 other old blokes all hooked up to beepy machines, drips and nebulizers and then given a 'something' via the drip quickly followed by fluids for 8 hours over night... during which they checked my BP every 15 mins...when first on the ward it HAD dropped a bit

 but it took all night to come down  to a more acceptable 160/117- despite even MORE diazepam  - at one point when I'd SOMEHOW managed to drift off, they woke me up to give me something to help me sleep lol.  A Doctor/consultant came to see me at 3am and said the CT hadn't shown anything up so they'd booked me an MRI on my brain for morning.  At this point he said their working theory was a TIA but that they don't always show up anyway on the MRI so that might prove inconclusive although they had finally abandoned some ones initial withdrawal theory.

It was a very long night!

7am - lights on... everyone woken up and morning washing/bed changing began.  I suggested I'd be ok given I'd only been in the thing for 6 hours and was pleased to be allowed a shower - complete with emergency wash  supplies.  

I've got to say, the staff on there were very good - we literally had eyes on us ALL night ... I was in bed 1 by the door and a nurse sat at a table with paperwork literally feet away in the doorway all night ... well when she wasn't attending to one of the other fellas.   I DID pick up on the fact that 2 of the side rooms had patients in with norovirus - watching the staff all double glove and mask/apron up every time they had to attend gave it away - well that and my spidy sense hearing lol. 

By about 10am I was feeling properly normal but needing to wee SO much - a combination of all the fluids AND the water I'd been sipping all night ... I was up and down like a yoyo until they took me for the MRI about 11.30.   

I've had MRI's before on my back... I didn't like them... I didn't like the one on my head even more... it seemed to take an age and this raised the blood pressure again.  More pills later and a few more checks when back on the ward and it was back to acceptably high rather than dangerously.   

About 5, another doctor came to see me and say there didn't appear to be any lasting damage and despite being inconclusive, they have put me on dual antiplatelet therapy  - which I think is just aspirin and something I cant pronounce... clopidogrel and discharged to the care of my GP.

Having escaped by knotting sheets together and jumping out of the window been given my discharge papers and meds, I booked an uber an went back to the boat.  

I Slept the sleep of the dead that first night... the next day had 2, 3 hour naps DURING the day AND another 13 hours solid over night.   All that remains now is a bit of a headache and an overwhelming emotional response to anything... ie, I saw the first cygnets of the season and burst into tears yesterday...  in short, anger, sadness, happiness, frustration and even humour has me crying for no reason at the moment.  I DO hope it subsides.  OTHER than that, I feel like normal.  I'm at the docs tomorrow to see how we're going to get a better grip of the blood pressure AND obviously have to cut down my gin supping...  hmmf.  

Still, it's better than being a vegetable.  Busy week ahead too as the Funeral and Dentist are both on Thursday - It's a 178 miles to the dentist so I think I'll have a hotel night about half way on Wednesday and break up the return by doing the same after the funeral on Thursday... then it's a few more days R & R before we begin boating again to get to where we need to be to pick up the next guests.  Luckily Dob is getting more proficient in boating now so even that won't be too taxing and I hope by the time I'm in 'Captain Ellis' mode, I'll be totally back to normal and NOT crying randomly.  We'll see.

Until next time...

Calmer days on the whole but an encounter with a bat shit crazy woman, tarnished the end of the guests trip.

 Apologies for the other nights moan - tbh, WHAT I moaned about wasn't actually what was keeping me awake at 3.am... it was something else.  

In short, I'm rarely the chap who  (whom?) asks for a favour - usually the good Samaritan performing one.  You see, I have a belief in Karma... - naively, I'd convinced myself I've done more good/useful things this winter during our marina stay than taken liberties.

REWIND a bit.  A mate of mine has a paid for mooring up until June but has taken his boat elsewhere  on brokerage - it sold straight away.  Given his mooring is paid for but now empty AND his bollard is about £40 quid in credit,  it seemed like a fair request to squat on it for a few days as my best friends father has died unexpectedly and I'd feel more comfortable leaving the bosun in charge of a boat Plugged into the mains rather than on the cut...  explaining this to the manager in truth, I honestly expected he'd say that whilst a little bit against the rules, it would be ok given the favours I do for them when I'm there in the winter months...  especially as he knows this year is a bit tight for us  - having been briefly involved with a cryptocurrency scam last year and private medical treatment, ANY way to save a few quid would have been welcomed.

Sadly he said as he'd already told the owners my mate had gone and has re-let the space (from June) he couldn't help me.  It really irked.  It's not like he even like he offered to have a word with the directors and ask to be able to do me this (free to them) favour.

I can't believe I'm STILL sulking about it.  Churlish I know.  

Hmmf!

ANYWAY - I'm hoping to feel more forgiving when I call in for a  diesel and a pump out next week - thing is, NOW that I'm not a Moorer over the summer, I'll probably get charged "non Moorer's" uplift for the Diy pump out then too.  I've half a mind to go back up to Stoke and use the one at Etruria.

MOVING on (or rather backwards) - you'll remember we'd gotten stuck in Manchester due to the Ashton flight being closed...we made the best of it by introducing our guest to the wonders of the gay village.  Drag has never really been my thing, but I'm better at NOT being scared any more - and tbh, once you buy them a drink, they direct any vitriol towards someone else.  the penultimate place we went into was quite empty but we had partaken of quite a few libations... especially the Balkan.  I think it's fair to say he really was enjoying himself...

There is SUPPOSED to be a video above here which shows in preview but not posting for some reason?

ANYWAY - we took a gamble and worked up the infamous Rochdale 9 to sit and wait for the Ashton to open.  They don't get any easier.

The guest dropped a windlass in and the first use of the new magnet proved (surprisingly) successful at recovering it... I DO need to remember to add a jubilee clip to  the new polished chrome ones I got last year in case the next time it's one of them!  On this occasion when we got to Piccadilly village, rather than go into Telford basin (and get trapped) because it was such a lovely day, we stayed along side and enjoyed the sun going down. 

Next morning, once the flight was re-opened (albeit only for 15 mins) we raced (well as much as you can in shallow water) up the  Ashton flight (as already mentioned) with no water and then the next day, up the Marple flight (also many empty pounds)and ended our guest's holiday in Bugsworth Basin.

It was up there - right at the top of the basin where there is an old loading 'port' we met the craziest/angry/volatile bat shit crazy angry woman.  There is space for 2 boats and we've often been in there WITH another boat no problems.  On arrival, I noticed the boat there and rather than go forwards in, turned around and began reversing... pretty well I might add.  

It was then the fecking crazy bint  on the already moored boat started shouting that this is a mooring spot for 1 boat and we should feck off go forth and multiply.   I was quite taken aback tbh.  I presumed she thought she was being funny or was TRYING to be funny... no ...  she was ffing and jeffing - at me and the guest on the helm with me.  

This aggravated the Balkan.

You see, they're a loyal and friendly bunch unless crossed... and her actions had crossed a line I didn't know about.  Her husband then popped his head up and said if we were staying then THEY would go.  

I took the higher moral ground and apologised for HIS troubles with her and suggested extra medication.  I don't think that helped but we DID move off and moor elsewhere.  The Balkan ready to scuttle their boat and the guest stirring things later on by sitting on the bench by their boat and taking holiday snaps lol.

ON the plus side, this encounter whilst tarnishing the final day of his trip, it did give us all an excuse (not that we need one) for a tipple - which led to a few more and then a visit to the war memorial club just up from the Navigation pub (currently closed down)... WHAT a lovely friendly night we had with the locals ... tail end of a christening so a few plates of sarnies around and really good value drinks.  As usual, the Balkan got chatting with the stewardess whilst I met the secretary etc and the guest worked the room as only a Canadian wish AS burgers can.  Random strangers offering drinks all evening.  a TRULY lovely place.  We'll be back again!

We dropped the guest off in Whaley Bridge on his final morning and then began our trip down the Macclesfield.  The water in the upper peak AND Macc. is very low.  no wonder really given how much Marple needed to make it navigable and Bosley Locks weren't much better.   

The Lower Macclesfield obviously is fine - for now.  Whilst moored at the bottom of Bosley, we did a bit of flower maintenance

and I enjoyed a laze in the afternoon sun.

The plan HAD been to meander our way back to the marina to dump the boat so I could go visit my bereaved bestie but as explained above, that has now changed to float about a bit and kill time until the funeral.  It does mean I've travelled to pick up the car and are now remembering what a pain it is to move a car around to where the boat is.  Hey ho.  1st world problems.

That's about it for now - I've got to arrange a visit to Wakefield for a fasting blood test (to do with the increase in blood pressure and statins I'm now on) and I'm hoping to sort that for the end of this week.

Until next time...

.

A massive moan

 ok.   I've been crap again... but in my defence, the universe is sending major challenges my way....Stoppages, bereavement and incompetence.

Keep up at the back  (and remember I'm writing now after WAY too many no where NEAR enough, gins.)

We managed to get up the Ashton Flight (during the 15 minutes it was politically open).... I say that because lock 12 (the alleged NEW problem) was already fucked **I.ve given in trying to censor now... 2 weeks ago BEFORE the stoppage to mend 10.

Back track.

Wed got into the flight about 8.30..... met a t crt chap after lock 1 who was going to CHAIN it off 'cause it's now closed.

Fair play to him and his workmate.... accepting  we were already IN it (as were the other 4 boats  coming down)   he did let us continue up stream and  suggested phoning them when we get to the top to ask to be let out.

NO WATER.

It truly was a pain in the arse.

nearly 6 hours on the bottom////////// having to send our own water down to get to the top

And then  having to phone them to ask them to come "unlock" the top lock.

The guys on the ground are CONSTANTLY fire-fighting and it's not fair on them.

I've YET to encounter a boater who thinks things are ok.  PROBLEM is, CRT are not accountable  to ANYONE it seems... Especially not the license paying (in my case DOUBLE the amount) boaters.

All this " life is better by water crap" is all well and good but MOST of those (enjoying  'life is better by water bollocks') DONT pay a penny towards it's up keep.  I GET the whole "friends of CRT shit" - I truly do. but it's not enough.

What irks most, is the 'volunteers' trying to engage with ME to pay MORE for something that ALREADY  doesn't meet my ( as a "cuntstomer") expectations/business needs. .... (correct spelling btw).

We're all doomed to be a linear floating wildlife  park with no moving boats.

I hope I wake up tomorrow feeling more up beat!

until next time...

City Centre Pricing, Duck raping season and another CRT let down.

 Good title eh?

We'll start with Manchester.  It IS a friendly place... most folks chatty enough and always engaging when you're trying to catch a few zzz at the back of the boat.   I TRY and be patient with folks... I remember walking the canals just hoping a boater would chat to me before  I lived aboard.  Always hoping for an invitation to take a look around their floating homes.  

THESE days however, folks are a lot more cheeky than I ever was - often starting a conversation with "How much did your boat cost mate?- I fancy living on one"... swiftly followed by  "can I come in and have a look around please?... more often MISSING the 'please'.   More often than not, I come  up with an excuse along the lines of my mothers onboard asleep and is poorly... not a total lie given she's dead and you can't be much more poorly than dead can you?

I digress.  So - mooring in Castlefield Basin (noting other boats moored in the 72 hour section)... We went to a wander up the canal as usual to the city centre proper planning on a game of pool and couple of drinks.  This was Friday afternoon. 

we're both rubbish and play 'reverse pool'  - i.e.. you pot the black FIRST.  THAT way a game doesn't end too quickly when if a ginger idiot pockets the black with his 3rd shot by mistake.

The plan had been best of 5 games but when we came to leave, the heavens had opened so we turned right back around and did best of 10... which meant more drinks consumed.  After which, we ended up on a Friday afternoon pub-crawl in the gay village.  When I was younger, I avoided the place with a passion. NOW I don't care what the pretty boys are thinking of me... I'm fabulous anyways so they can kiss my wobbly ginger bum lol.   We decided by about 6pm we'd drunk enough and were hungry so started looking for a take-away.  Oh my lord... Chinese sprung to mind and so it was decreed we'd have a chicken chow mien each (yeah I know not very exciting)... £13.90 per portion!  You can shove that thank you very much Manchesterford centre...  The result being sausages and chips each from the chippy near the basin and even that was 15 quid... even cheap food is now expensive.  I remember when I passed my driving test, I'd be sent to Bedale to get 3 times, 2 peas and a curry sauce and it came in at £4.50.

Cheaper times.

Anyways - still fancying a Chinese, that was put on the back burner until we get somewhere better value.  

Saturday came and I had to take a train to Stone to collect a prescription ... I'd forgotten to change my nominated pharmacy to one closer.  NOT a good time to be trying to use trains as damage had been done to the overhead cables in Manchester meaning utter chaos.  Luckily I could use a diesel powered cho cho and I managed the journey there and back (via a change at Stoke) by lunchtime.  This was a relief as we'd arranged a visit from a mate who was in Manchester for the weekend with some mates who were running the Marathon.  The 4 of them turned up in the afternoon (with their own beer) and we chatted rubbish whilst crammed into  'Ellis' - they all being over 6ft 4, making the boat feel tiny.  Also, them being land lubbers, drinking beer meant the toilet got a lot of use - I could feel myself getting narked by it... silly really.

When they went - we were a little tiddly so decided to chug off to Stretford and get a cheaper take-away...  we moored not far from the Marina (stopping to top up with water and getting excited of Jean or Steve's double adaptor lol

simple things...

Anyways - 2 chow mein came in at 16.90 which whilst still expensive, didn't seem quite as extortionate.

Whilst tied up eating out tea, we heard the dreaded "duck raping" commotion I hate this time of year, when the lady ducks that didn't pair up become a target of the frustrated single males.  If you're not familiar with it, its basically a 4 or 5 drakes gangbang of a poor female - often to the death as they often drown during the process.  IT's savage it really is.  Last year, Dob saw it for the first time and was distraught.   We were in Chester then and tried to buy a catapult to intercept them.  Sadly, you can't buy black widows or Barnet diablos any more... we had to settle for a water pistol.  Of course THAT did no good whatsoever... LITERALLTY, water off a duck's back!

Sunday we had a wander up to Lidl to get some bread etc. only to come across the Manchester Marathon.  Literally thousands of idiots trying to kill themselves. committed runners.

The stream of masochists runners literally went on for about 4 hours - by then we were back at the boat and heading towards Pennington Flash to continue with the roof painting.

Yesterday (Monday) we set ourselves up to mark the roof out ready to apply the  non-slip sand) and I notice a missed call from CRT... shortly followed up by an email confirming they had cancelled our booking to go into Liverpool... that really ruined our day AND the customer due to arrive for the trip too.  

Needless to say, painting was paused and trip re-routing began... I've given him 3 options all with a train service linking him to Liverpool where he planned to spend a few days after the trip with us.  It's SUCH A pain in the bum and makes me question (yet again) WHY I pay for a business licence when it's impossible to run a business on their network.

Yours grumpily, until next time...

Manchesterford Bound and a surprise stoppage notice.

 The weather wasn't actually too bad after the weekend so we DID manage to get the blacking on the starboard side touched up down to the waterline.  Having done so, the decision was made to head back down to Marple and go down the flight whilst the weather was nice.

It's only 6.5 miles from Buggy to Marple but they're a "slow" 6.5 due to all the moored boats. Suffice to say, we arrived circa 2pm and (with a couple of libations in us) decided to get Marple done and dusted and moor at the bottom

I think it was the 2nd or 3 lock from the top that had been fenced off due to a void...  they've shoved some muck in it but It's going to need proper attention before long as it's bowing quite badly - HOPEFULLY it'll last until we get back from Liverpool Next month... the last thing we want is getting trapped over here.  Considering the Marple flight was closed for so long in 2018/2019, you'd think it would be in better condition.  Sadly it isn't.   I got caught out by a pisser and soaked before my brain kicked into action.  

Anyways - we did the flight in decent time and there was just enough space to squeeze in at the bottom of the Aqueduct where we over nighted.  We did consider going on to Portland basin for the night but having stayed there a couple of times and never really felt safe, we stayed put.  This of course meant the following day we could have a late start and aim for Droylsden.  Just enough space to moor outside the houses before the top lock - in reach of the water point which was handy.    Also handy was the Tesco a few hundred yards away so I stocked up on heavy stuff.

Whilst filling with water I got chatting with a single-hander  (who we'd apparently moored near the night before ) and he was planning an early start down the Ashton 18 the next day.  That being our plan too, we agreed that Ellis would go ahead so that Dob would backfill the locks and leave the padlocks off to make his life easier.  

7am next morning arrived and we set off.  I'd forgotten how horrible that flight is - nothing in it's favour... loads of locks with only 1 working paddle and just miserable.   That said, we made good progress until lock 12 when we needed to deploy the 'Spanish Windlass' and crowbar technique.

Basically - loop a rope around the end of the gate and bollard, shove a bit of 3x2 through it and twist to crack the lock open enough for the water to come in faster than it was leaking out the other end.  The crowbar being used on the other side to limit to strain on the balance beam

I didn't think to take a photo of it in use... I've long since learned generally to leave my phone on the boat!!!

We waited for the other bloke to arrive as in all honesty, there would have been no way he'd have been able to get through on his own.  

Lock 10 was the next problem... only one working paddle and leaking out the back massively.  Now APPARENTLY CRT had issued a stoppage notice the night before (circa 1600hrs) to say the canal was closed between lock 9 and lock 12 due to aforementioned difficulties HOW do I know this? - well it wasn't from spotting the notice... it was from a very angry crt man who came running down the tow path about 10am (so first thing)  shouting at us to STOP - the lock is closed!  I rather indignantly pointed out that if that was the case, given there is NOWHERE to moor in that flight of locks, shouldn't they have chained up the top and bottom to prevent accidental entry like has happened? ... he didn't like this but it was a very valid point... by which time, by use of said rope and crowbar technique, we had the gate open and were descending.  

To give him his dues, perhaps due to  me pointing out their error the day before my friendly disposition, he and his colleague DID work the other chap through too.

We made it to the bottom lock in about 5.5 hours from starting, which given the obstacles was actually a pretty good time.  Somehow,  the other fella had lagged back a bit but having already said we didn't plan on going down the Rochdale 9 until the next morning, I flagged down a scaffolder and asked him to relay the message to turn left after the last lock into Telford Basin to overnight if he wanted to share the locks next day.

WHICH he did so we spent a quiet night in there... agreeing an 8am departure to get down to Castlefield Basin next day.

Due to the problems a little further up the Rochdale, not as much water as usual was coming down over the gates so we actually made good progress down them.

It never ceases to amaze me that men of a certain type, 'lurk' and perform lurid acts under  here... it's awful NO way could I manage an erection under such conditions. It's vile - certainly no need (in my case) for the signs warning not to do such things!

Canal street brightened up the journey as always and in less than 3 hours we were safely down and moored in Castlefield... quite near a tap initially so I filled up again, did some laundry and we're now near the Hotel.  It can be a bit noisy down here but it DOES feel safe and plenty of CCTV around .  

Until next time...

I've gone off painting

 I used to quite enjoy painting... during 'the fairground years'  when the weather didn't have a bearing on progress.  These days however when I'm trying to get the roof done before the first guests arrive, it's proving rather frustrating.  It wouldn't be so bad if the weather forecasters could actually get it right once in a while... all this doom and gloom weather warnings about end of the world wind and rain are rarely on point... but the one time you ignore the forecast (based on the previous days totally opposite weather to that predicted) your fresh paint gets rained on before it's even gone tacky.

We left Marple and headed up to Bugsworth Basin once the noisy stuff was done - calling in at New Mills Marina to top up with diesel... having taken a mortgage out to fill the tank and have a nice hug off Sue who I've not seen for a few years.  I do like it up here... ok so it's shallow and a lot of boats don't seem to move around much (live and let live is an aspiration of mine), (one I rarely manage if someone is selfishly handily unfortunately broken down on a water point) it's friendly and the views are nice.

Bugsworth used to have a man on a boat who's wife sold coffee and cake etc but apparently CRT got rid of him.  He used to help keep the place tidy and suggest folks who overstayed, move along.  From what I can tell now, it's a bit of a free for all.  I suppose at this time of year, it doesn't matter.  The little book exchange/shop stall no longer is open... probably due to the fact no loos are available now .  I GET the reason behind closing the toilet facilities around the network - I've often thought how much money could be saved not having to clean and maintain but whilst broadly approving of the decision, there are occasions when exceptions could be made and I feel here is one of them.  Marple perhaps too - especially given all the money they must have spent building a BRAND new service block recently - only to close it!

We did manage to get the 1st gloss coat on the roof ... it's a good job we're not at home to 'Mr. Perfection' ...adopting more of a 'it's near enough for a country spot' approach.  The roof wasn't perfect before applying the paint but as it's going to get sand on and 2 more coats I hope the imprecations will not be too obvious.  At the end of the day, it' gets a lot of clambering around on anyway so will be dirty soon enough anyway.

Dob also wanted to paint the shroppie shelf wheels (I could be repeating myself here - I said "I  could be repeating myself here") - vectra space-saving spares that get in the way all year round but come into their own on the shroppie.  Some people get away with using wheelbarrow wheels but for Ellis that didn't work... we must be too deep.  ANYWAY - that don't look too bad with a band of black left.  They double as plant pot holders anyway to stopo them blowing off the roof.

Having made a trip to the nearby Tesco on Sunday morning... using the weather forecast (will I ever learn?_ as a guide, we'd hope to get a dry window between 12 and 2pm... the plan being to cover up the patches on the port side and slap some blacking on down to the water line... we DID manage it but a rain shower broke up the process.  Like I've mentioned  (or not, I can't remember) we're not doing a proper job just a tidy up until the full repaint at the end of the season.

Having done that, we nipped to the tap to fill up and then relocated further into the basin so as to be able to repeat the process on the starboard side.

That had to wait until yesterday morning as a) we were knackered and b) it kept raining and we'd thoroughly had enough.

The aches and pains have not yet subsided but it has proven to us we need to put more effort into maintaining mobility the algorithms on my phone already picking this up and bombarding me with exercise videos.

hmmf!

Until next time...