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...